How exactly does the way the combined netroots page at ActBlue works NOT make you corrupt?
You said yourself that netroots refers to all of us who are involved with politics via the Internet, and you "and this site" claim to be supporters of "people-powered politics"
Yet the decisions of who to put on the page at ActBlue called the "netroots" page is made by 4, and only 4 people.
Yes, I realize you've asked for suggestions/nominations. But it looks like what you've done is choose whoever you were going to choose anyway.
So explain exactly why your process is not corrupt.
I'm mildly curious, precisely who put a gun to your head and made you click in MyDD? Who is preventing you from starting your own blog?
The netroots page is those 4 guys page. Sure they have one hell of a readership and can push it. But it's their page. Create one yourself, put the candidates on it you want, then post about it where people will find out about it.
Will you draw like the Netroots page? Probably not. But that's the perks these guys get for being successful - they actually have readership who will make such a page very active.
But nothing is stopping you from plugging the hell out of one of your own pages...
Start your own blog and 'netroots' page or quit-yer-bellyachin' please.
It's not like Chris is making any money off of it. He's helping choose which candidates get a particular endorsement. So?
One of the two candidates I nominated are on the list. Linda Stender is an excellent choice, and I am glad my input was considered.
I mean, really!
Personally, would it have made my day if my friend Bill had gotten the netroots bid? Of course! But he didn't, and life goes on. He'll still be receptive to the 'roots, and do what he can, and hopefully, we'll whip Tancredo's ass in November.
Netroots support isn't a given, man; you've got to earn it. And it's not a substitute for doing the hard working of organizing voters for your candidate.
If you think that your candidate is worthy, then make a case for that. Don't just whinge and moan about Chris and the Gnomes of Zurich who together hold the keys to the netroots cash stash.
John Laesch (IL-14) -
With the way things are going for Dennis Hastert right now, we need John's campaign powerful enough to throw Denny an anvil. That takes major money & support.
Supporting Laesch would be money well spent, IMHO. He can keep Denny at home, protecting his own seat, instead of out helping other Republican candidates.
Laesch seems like a good guy, from what I can gather. My only concerns about his race are:
1. Only one sitting House Speaker has failed re-election since the Civil War (Tom Foley, in 1994).
2. The '04 numbers for Bush v. Kerry show Bush winning by a fairly solid margin (10 % pts, which is technically landslide territory).
3. Coach Denny isn't a polarizing figure, more a lovable loser/buffoon type.
Do you have any head 2 head #'s showing Laesch within striking distance now (10-15 pts behind)? And who's covering the race, netroots-wise? I know that you've got SoapBlox Chicago, but what else? And will the ethics stuff stick and snowball?
From my experience, that's the sort of thing that gets you Big Boy netroots attention.
I agree. This is why I am not very excited about his race. Maybe next cycle it will become competitive, especially if Denny retires.
Coach Denny isn't a polarizing figure, more a lovable loser/buffoon type
CORRECTION: He WASN'T a polarizing figure...He is now. The people in his district - Especially the REPUBLICAN Farmers - Are ready to tar & feather him over his "highway". It will cut right through the middle of farms that have been in their families for generations.
His FORMER supporters are now LIVID!
Also, the demographics in his district have changed dramatically in the last two years. Kendall County is one of the fastest growing areas in the US right now.
Democrats are moving in, in droves.
Ah, a "branding" concernista. So if it were called the MyDD/DailyKos/SSP page, this complaint wouldn't exist.
But because we call it the "netroots" page, now we're corrupt.
Of course, the term isn't trademarked - anyone else can create a page and call it the "netroots page."
And, of course, if people didn't respect our judgment, they could ignore the page entirely. It only has as much worth as people give it.
How exactly does the way the combined netroots page at ActBlue works NOT make you corrupt? You said yourself that netroots refers to all of us who are involved with politics via the Internet, and you "and this site" claim to be supporters of "people-powered politics." Yet the decisions of who to put on the page at ActBlue called the "netroots" page is made by 4, and only 4 people. Yes, I realize you've asked for suggestions/nominations. But it looks like what you've done is choose whoever you were going to choose anyway.
by bobdoleisevil on Wed Jun 28, 2006 at 08:04:18 PM EST
Hmmm, interesting trail of logic.
Let's take a quick run at Merriam Webster:
CORRUPT -
1 a : to change from good to bad in morals, manners, or actions; also : BRIBE b : to degrade with unsound principles or moral values 2 a : to become tainted or rotten b : to become morally debased 3 : to cause disintegration or ruin
Let's look at "netroots fundraising page" -
http://www.actblue.com/page/netrootscand idates
No incumbents there, all progressive or progressive-friendly candidates.
I conclude that there is nothing to indicate any change in morals, manners or actions, no "quid pro quo" (quite the opposite, actually), nothing tainted or rotten or morally debased, nor any cause of disintegration or ruin.
So explain exactly why you think the process is corrupt?
With the exception of Eric Massa and Francine Busby, I would never have heard of these candidates, would never have had the opportunity to contribute to their campaigns, or have the chance to support BlogPAC. I commend Chris, Matt, Jerome, et al, plus the stream of diarists who have contributed to this effort, and MyDD. I'll wager you take exception because your considerations are not reflected in the selection of candidates, or you simply want to make a stir. Either way, start your own blog, pick your own candidates, and have a nice day.
-GFO
