DISQUS

Poopyman · 11 months ago

Well look, I imagine that I'll be very pleased with most of what the Obama administration does. But I also want a vehicle available to me such as ActBlue and MoveOn where I can combine resources with like-minded folks - outside of Obama's sphere of influence. Somebody has to be ready to hold his feet to the fire, and it may serve my/our interests better to oppose the administration by being able to prod senators and representatives on our behalf on occasion.

I'd be very leery if the existing netroots come under the direct or indirect control of the Executive branch. I'd be very leery about how I cooperated with an Obama grassroots.

meemers · 11 months ago

Off topic: Kudo's for Mr. Koester
This just in from our local news channel here in Ann Arbor:

IMMEDIATELY upon notification of Senator Jim Bunning’s vote regarding his stance on the automotive industry, Jim Koester, President and Founder of Gibraltar Trade Center canceled the contract between Mr. Bunning and Gibraltar Trade Center for an autograph appearance that was scheduled Sunday, December 14th, 2008.

Mr. Koester said, “Being a business owner in Michigan for over 30 years, I simply cannot support anyone who, in my opinion, votes against the economic well being of our great state.” Mr. Koester went on to say, “The contract between us and Mr. Bunning was signed well in advance of the auto vote.”

Indigo · 11 months ago

Speaking of "political autarky," what have you heard from your blogger guys and relatives in Greece?

Poopyman · 11 months ago

Here's what's in the top post at FDL right now...

Protesters in Spain, Denmark and Italy smashed shop windows, pelted police with bottles and attacked banks this week, while in France, cars were set ablaze Thursday outside the Greek consulate in Bordeaux, where protesters scrawled graffiti warning about a looming "insurrection."...

...More demonstrations were set for Friday in Italy, France and Germany.

Still, the clashes have been isolated so far, and nothing like the scope of the chaos in Greece, which was triggered by the police killing of a teenager on Saturday and has ballooned into nightly scenes of burning street barricades, looted stores and overturned cars.

KerrynowCampau · 11 months ago

"autarky"

Boy that one wasn't even in my old paperback dictionary!

Thanks for the new (to me) word.

Steve_in_CNJ · 11 months ago

autarky = self sufficiency (esp. economic independence)
autarchy = self government (connoting absolute rule by an individual)

KerrynowCampau · 11 months ago

Thanks Steve, but I did find it by typing it in a word document and researching....

Just thought it was funny it wasn't in my trusty old dictionary. Probably time to get a new one.

Vermonter · 11 months ago

I disagree...

Obama just didn't embrace the Netroots "leaders."

The campaign was more than willing to work closely with people who consider themselves part of the Netroots, but who didn't expect any access or credit in return.

TimRusso · 11 months ago

your ego is showing, john.

Gregory Lyons · 11 months ago

Well, it's a truism that Democrats are faithless whores and traitors to the Democratic base, so it would seem that whatever Obama does independently would be all to the good.

sconset · 11 months ago

John: I have mixed feelings on this one--the O campaign has about $30 million left over after expenses--on one hand I would feel better if they split it with the 2 groups--but it appears that they want to go their own way. I don't know what to think really.

By the way, the pop-up for adoption should include me--my cancer has come back after almost 14 years in remission and I desperately need surgery and after paying my health insurance company $19,980 for premiums this year, they consider it preexisting--even though it is a new form of ca. I have lost on appeal and need to raise the necessary funds myself. So, if you need a photo to put up, email me. I feel like an orphan--we need to do something really fast in this nation so that people don't have to go through a lot of nonsense and mental anguish over something as basic as health care when needed.

PS: I think of you John, when I read or see anything about the riots in Greece--what a beautiful country.

scottinsf · 11 months ago

Sorry to hear about that. Hang in there. You should write up a story of your experience and send it to Tom Daschle. He's looking to hear from folks like you and it might be psychologically therapeutic right now if nothing else.

beemer · 11 months ago

I'm not very impressed with the Obama cult's efforts to help enable small organizations to enact change on their own levels. For weeks now, I've been trying to get a response on a request to use some of the same voter outreach tools for my county's Democratic committee. Not the data, mind you, just the tools. Not only have they sent me the same canned responses, they've been inundating me with requests for more donations. Why does a group with $30 million in the bank need MORE MONEY?

Older_Wiser · 11 months ago

Well, IMHO, grassroots should always be independent. I first saw this post and thought, WTF? How can it be grassroots when it's controlled by administration loyalists? That's more like "taproots." No matter whether progressive or not, it loses its grassroots status.

And yes, I voted for Obama, but no, I'll retain my own grassroots, thank you very much.

Poopyman · 11 months ago

I believe the term "astroturf" works here.

Older_Wiser · 11 months ago

Bush has decided and signed an order that govt agencies, not independent scientists, will determine whether or not an action is environmentally harmful (you know, like drilling next to national parks), as well as leaving petchlorate in drinking water, allowing coal companies to dump in streams, etc.

Bush will do anything to harm the country for short term gains for his asshole buddies...

fredndallas · 11 months ago

Smells to me like a cultish control mechanism. This is a celebration of diversity? I don't think so. If we haven't learned anything about the enormous dangers of "controlled information" and an executive branch operating in isolation of diverse input in the last few years, we've got our heads in the sand.

Just look at today's news on how Obama's Rahm Emanuel is hiding and stonewalling. This is the change we voted for? I don't think so.

Nor do I think it is a good idea to "nationalize" the input for the new administration. Does not smell good and I think John is very well aware of it.

PS: I'm furious that NONE of the Obama administration plans or materials (that I can find) makes even one mention of a review or emphasis on preserving/restoring citizen constitutional rights. Clearly a broken promise already.

Older_Wiser · 11 months ago

Speaking of Jane Hamsher, she's on MSNBC right now debating an idiot from the Heritage Foundation who said that "liberalism" was the cause of the country's problems...but can't seem to get a word in edgewise.

hawkseye · 11 months ago

Control of messages is what the Obama camp wants. Everyone is free to do what feels best. We can all move from camp to camp or not.

sherifffruitfly · 11 months ago

So why don't *YOU* get on board HIS train?

Oh - that's not what you want.

Which is fine, but just don't deceive people by suggesting it's just Obama who's not playing nicely with people.

Debo · 11 months ago

I agree. We all need each other. On the last day of voter registration in Ohio I was at Kinko's getting copies of the registrations our Obama field office had gotten. At another copier, MoveOn was doing the same with their hundreds. And Vote Early, another group had another huge stack. It was a beautiful thing and we had all reached out to different constituencies.