Thoughts on the DKos Strike Colbert Report Story

by TooFolkGR, Thu Mar 20, 2008 at 11:58:25 AM EST

(Cross-Posted at DailyKos) Not sure of why I'm posting this. I sympathize with the way the strikers feel, and have been called a "Scab" for some of my comments. At the same time I think the actual strike is pointless, and invited some derision. That said, I was simultaneously surprised and fascinated to see Alegre's name in big orange letters on The Colbert Report last night.

I still don't know how powerful the Netroots are. I know it's somewhere between "powerless" and "all-powerful" but that's kind of a ridiculous range. I do know that when Liberal Lion playacting as Conservative Killa Stephen T. Colbert does a segment about you, you're reaching the right people. But what are we reaching them with? In this case it was all a joke. And it's easy to look at the strikers and say, "Wow way to go. We're on the Colbert report and it's about your dumb strike," but there's more to it than that. The strike and strike diaries--which I still feel were unnecessary--WERE precipitated by other events here. They are decisions that WERE MADE based on the way people were treated there. Was their skin too thin? Possibly. Does that mean they had no point? I don't think so.

I look forward to a conclusion to the primary process and seeing what happens next. I think Obama wins and I hope we come back together. I think there will need to be serious reflection on the way some issues were treated here, and the way some individuals were treated. I think there needs to be some soul searching by supporters of BOTH candidates. We cannot claim that "one candidate" is "tearing the party apart" while we throw cheap shots at supporters of that candidate. Even if we feel they have somehow earned it, what are we accomplishing.

I got quite a chuckle out of Colbert's line. If I find a transcript I'll put it in here. He said something along the lines of Clinton supporters striking due to how Obama supporters were treating them and then said something like, "Hoping them to death."

Anyway I don't believe all news is good news. I think The Netroots' overall mission and the recognition we earn for it can be more positive than this. And I suppose if it weren't something this silly (and on some level both 'sides' feel it is silly) it wouldn't have been on Colbert in the first place... but it still serves as a reminder that there is an audience for these diaries and these comments. The things we say CAN have an impact on the actual world.... I for one will have to try to start thinking harder about how I say them.

Poll
Who Was the Coolest G1 Decepticon?
Astrotrain
Thundercracker
Blitzwing
Starscream
Megatron
Devastator
Shockwave
Soundwave
Other (Please Specify)
Non-Nerd Exemption

Votes: 10
Results : Vote Link : Polls


Tags: Meta, DailyKos, Strike, Colbert (all tags)

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Permalink :: 10 Comments :: Post a Comment


Re: Thoughts on the DKos Strike Colbert Report (none / 0)

Clearly Soundwave.


by rfahey22 on Thu Mar 20, 2008 at 12:03:05 PM EST

Re: Thoughts on the DKos Strike Colbert Report (none / 0)

Sorry, but Starscream was the coolest.  He could've been the leader, but was alsways being held back by Megatron.


by NewOaklandDem on Thu Mar 20, 2008 at 12:24:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Thoughts on the DKos Strike Colbert Report (none / 0)

No way!  Soundwave had the best voice of any Transformer, plus with the faceplate he looked like an evil Optimus Prime!


by rfahey22 on Thu Mar 20, 2008 at 01:12:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Thoughts on the DKos Strike Colbert Report Sto (2.00 / 1)

Good, reflective diary.

I appreciate how you tried very hard to get your point across without attacking anyone.


ENOUGH!
by JDF on Thu Mar 20, 2008 at 12:17:00 PM EST

Re: Thoughts on the DKos Strike Colbert (none / 0)

I want the tee-shirt, "I'm being 'hoped' to death".

Really do.


by Sensible on Thu Mar 20, 2008 at 12:18:56 PM EST

Ditto on those t-shirts! n/t (none / 0)


by bobswern on Thu Mar 20, 2008 at 12:21:53 PM EST

I doubt that the netroots (none / 0)

are going to come back together, join hands, and sing kumbaya unless there is a unity ticket, and I think a unity ticket is something we can expect to find in Cloud Cuckooland.


That's it, baby; let's go win this election!
by Beltway Dem on Thu Mar 20, 2008 at 12:58:12 PM EST

Alegre does not (none / 0)

actually exist.


by bigdcdem on Thu Mar 20, 2008 at 01:03:41 PM EST

Re: Alegre does not exist? (none / 0)

I have met her.  She does indeed exist.


That's it, baby; let's go win this election!
by Beltway Dem on Thu Mar 20, 2008 at 01:20:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Thoughts (none / 0)

There was no alternative to gathering together and refusing to participate in the hate at DailyKos. The option of simply saying NO MORE OF MARKOS' HATE "META" only came after months, and months of Democrats vilifying Clinton. It was just time to take a stand for progressive values.

I've read a numerous threats from Obama supporters that if Hillary Clinton is the nominee [superdelegate decision] then they'll riot in Denver this summer.

Kumbaya?

There will be no unity ticket, says Pelosi.

Kumbaya?

Florida and Michigan will not be counted says Dean.

Kumbaya?

No, we won't come together and sing Kumbaya; not now; not in November.

It's too late for that. Because it wasn't just Hillary Clinton that was vilified.

I observed the vilification of dozens of progressive commenters, bloggers, and even progressive journalists at DailyKos--and I do mean shockingly vicious vitriol, even from front-page editors, and administrators.

When DailyKos vilifies Joe Wilson, because he supports Sen. Clinton, it is crossing the line from candidate support into sheer obsession.  

Clinton supporters who have decided to boycott or strike their participation at DailyKos were not in the least "thin skinned."

There is simply no question that Clinton supporters were outnumbered, attacked, and their candidate repeatedly smeared with the most vile hate-filled language imaginable. And, they were led by Markos in that tone and language.

We tried to debate; we were troll-rated. We tried to point out facts; we were ganged into losing ratings ability; we tried to point out hypocrisy or fallacies being disseminated; we were disappeared. One by one, all Clinton supporters were blog-swarmed into silence; troll-rated into submission, or disappeared altogether. Why any progressive would support such right-wing tactics, tone and fascist attitudes, I will never comprehend.

I erased my bookmark of the site, and I don't read it anymore. If enough people do the same, the numbers will translate into revenue loss. If not, so what? At least my conscience is clear; I've taken a personal stand for my own personal integrity. I sleep just fine whether Colbert mocks it or not.


"I never give them hell. I just tell the truth and they think it's hell." Harry S Truman
by Tennessean on Thu Mar 20, 2008 at 01:59:43 PM EST


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