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NYT Lauds 'Crashing the Gates'

By Jeralyn, Section Media
Posted on Sat Mar 11, 2006 at 11:11:04 PM EST
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Major Kudos to Markos and Jerome--check out the New York Times' great review of their book, Crashing the Gates:

Much of the authors' criticism of the party establishment is dead-on. They rail against political consultants who take 15 percent commissions on media buys while giving bad advice. They are especially incensed by what they see as the self-defeating role of special interests, notably Naral Pro-Choice America's decision to endorse Senator Lincoln Chafee, a Rhode Island Republican, over two pro-abortion-rights Democrats. If Mr. Chafee wins, he could ensure that the Republican Party, which has an aggressive anti-abortion agenda, keeps control of the Senate.

....For all the talk about having to crash gates, the netroots are well on their way to becoming insiders. Mr. Armstrong is an adviser to the political action committee of Mark Warner, a leading candidate for president in 2008. When dailykos holds an offline convention this June in Las Vegas, Harry Reid, the Senate minority leader, will be a speaker.

The Democratic establishment could not hold the netroots back even if it wanted to. Their ability to raise money, recruit volunteers and shape the debate will make them indispensable.

If you haven't gotten your copy of their great book yet, now's the time.

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    NYT Lauds 'Crashing the Gates' | 2 comments (2 topical)
    Re: NYT Lauds 'Crashing the Gates' (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Mar 12, 2006 at 08:40:03 AM EST
    Kos and co. view the internet methods of organizing political participation as a technology which can give a voice to grass-roots dem discontent and equalize the right establishment's brilliant use of radio and direct mail (computers) as an effective political juggernaut underlying the conservative hegemony of the past generation. But Kos pats himself too much on the back for his naive view that technology and the mechanics of the election process trump little things like ideas and an underlying consistent philosophy of, well, life itself and the purpose of government. Kos and the other front-pagers' often abrasive and censorious style about what they see is shucking inconvenient images in the interests of winning elections is not so different than the cravenness of the DNC. Two examples: Kos and its recommended diarists/readers have little appreciation for criminal justice reform issues of burning importance to libertarian libs: the war on drugs and prison reform, and the site outright bans postings suggesting electronic vote fraud (e.g., Diebold and fair voting initiatives) as being "tin foil hat" conspiracies. He views the drug reform movement that has a considerable voice on TL and blogs like Drug WarRant, Last One Speaks, D'Alliance, Grits for Breakfast etc. as "hippies". Yeah, just what the big demographic bulge of boomer voters wants to hear from a bunch of whippersnapper gen-xers. Instead of looking at solving these social problems as opportunities for political organization, they shun them (and ppl concerned with those issues) who are off building brigdes to the libertarian "right wingers" (drug and voting fraud issues get a more sympathetic hearing over at Free Republic than on Kos).

    Re: NYT Lauds 'Crashing the Gates' (none / 0) (#2)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sun Mar 12, 2006 at 10:39:30 AM EST
    Et al - As much as I enjoy the Internet, and see it as a long term changer of the world, politics, as in intelligence, remains a "person" operation on several levels. First, statements by the "converted" on both sides can easily be used to stir up the other party's base and swing votes who might otherwise not vote. Most people do not vote FOR anything, but AGAINST something. The Internet offers a wonderful way to track, and publicize "knuckle headed" statements. At present it is the Demos who are losing this. Based on the past records of Howard Dean and various Hollywood types, I expect the Repubs to continue their winning streak. Secondly, the vote must be gotten out. No matter how you try, an email doesn't get people from their homes to the polls. For that you need local support using the telephone and even providing transportation. (If the other party doesn't slice up the tires of the vehicles.) Based on tire slicing ability and other past records, I give the Demos the edge. (Repubs are better at pushing and shoving, or at least as it was reported.) So while the complaints about the Demo party's cliques by KOS may be factual, he doesn't have the way to change them. I'm not sure if that is good or bad.

    NYT Lauds 'Crashing the Gates' | 2 comments (2 topical)