Many thanks to Pajamas Media for sending me as a representative of the press to cover YearlyKos. Not only was my sojourn among the netroots instructive, but the trip supplied enough blog fodder to keep me writing for a week – if I so choose.
Don’t worry. I have no intention of being that boring. However, allow me to share some of my pithy observations and razor sharp insights into what was going on both above and below the surface.
The number one thing I learned was that liberals are people too. This may not seem an earth shattering observation. After all, we’ve suspected for years that lefties shared many of our genes and that they may, at some point in their evolution, have even used stone tools and decorated their bodies with various kinds of artwork.
I can assure you that they are at least as similar to us as chimpanzees – except chimps are cuter and don’t constantly interrupt you when you’re speaking and trying to make a point. However, all that aside, liberals are pretty normal. They have a different sense of humor of course. And they may not laugh as much as conservatives although I wonder who will be doing the chuckling on election day 2008?
They have their radicals. So do conservatives. Both manifestations of extremism are humorless, boring, and smelly. Radicals are so intent to push their ideas on the rest of us that they’ve forgotten their way to the bathtub. And where conservative radicals tend to be younger (age being a leavening factor among conservatives) lefty radicals tend to be older. Also, liberal extremists may have a few years on their conservative counterparts but they try to look young and act young anyway. Lots of near seniors were present with body piercings and tattoos. And I swear some of them were wearing “earth shoes” and Jesus sandals.
Political red meat tossed to the attendees by speakers, panelists, discussion leaders, and presidential candidates was pretty harsh stuff. If I didn’t know any better, I would say that our republic has less than a year and a half to live – unless we elect all Democrats and throw many if not all Republicans in jail. Or behead them, or something. John Edwards, by the way, must be prevented at all costs from becoming President. First of all, the obvious reason that America governed by this metrosexual priss would be an invitation to every terrorist, thug nation, and rogue beauty consultant to descend upon this country en masse and make our lives a living hell. Not only terrorist attacks as a regular occurrence but just think of the damage to our masculinity.
John Edwards will be tougher on rich people than he will be on al-Qaeda. That might make us all feel better, seeing people like Bill Gates and Warren Buffet reduced to paupery and forced to sell old copies of Windows ME and junk bonds in the street. Will it make us safer? I report. You decide.
I actually wouldn’t mind seeing Dennis Kucinich as President. We’ve never had a gnome as chief executive before and at the very least, it would be a novel experiment in discovering if psychoses are contagious.
Mike Gravel might make things interesting for a few years. His ideas of what constitutes global warming would be slightly skewed as a result of spending all that time in Alaska. Minneapolis would seem a veritable tropical retreat while Chicago might seem equatorial in climate.
Would someone please wake Chris Dodd up and tell him he can go home now?
As for the rest of them – Richardson, Obama, and Hillary – any of them would probably be alright. At least until Republicans regain their equilibrium. Then again, they only allow a President to serve two terms, right? Might want to make plans for that GOP Victory Dance in 2028 or so given our past experience on the back benches of government.
One observation I would never have dared put in a piece for PJ Media or anywhere else I write is that for a movement and party that prides itself on inclusion, the gathering appeared very white. There were definitely more people of color than there would be at a conservative or Republican event. But as I scanned the faces of attendees to the Presidential Leadership Forum where almost all YKos was gathered, my rough estimate was 75% white – perhaps larger.
I read nothing untoward into this figure. The conference had no control over the color of those signing up (unlike the Democratic convention that mandates racial diversity in precise amounts to the decimal point). And it can hardly be called hypocritical when attendance was voluntary. I’m also sure they didn’t turn anyone away because of race.
And yet, there it is. Does that say something about the netroots? About America? Or is it inconsequential?
The fact that is that if it had been a GOP event and that high percentage of whites were in attendance, we’d never hear the end of it. So perhaps the netroots will grant conservatives a little leeway in their criticism next time, right?
Right.
Lastly, I will sound this warning to the GOP and conservatives a lot between now and next summer. Ignore or make sport of the netroots at your own peril. Underestimate them and you will get the holy living crap kicked out of you in 2008. These people are organizing far beyond blogs and blog readers. And that organization extends almost down to the precinct level as I’m sure next year’s Netroots Convention will show (they’ve decided to rename the shindig in order to move it away from one guy’s blog).
They are determined, well funded, optimistic, committed, and excited. The GOP is uncertain, underfunded, hopeful but pessimistic, dispirited, and seemingly leaderless, rudderless, and without an agenda.
Who do you think is in better shape going into next year’s contest?
UPDATE
I’m not the only one who noticed how white the gathering was:
For all the talk about the increasing influence of this growing group—“We are a community . . . a movement . . . an institution,” Cooper said in a speech Saturday night—what gets scant attention is its demography. While the Huffington Post and Fire Dog Lake, both founded by women, are two of the most widely read blogs, the rock stars are mostly men, and many women bloggers complain of sexism and harassment in the blogosphere.Walking around McCormick Place during the weekend, it became clear that only a handful of the 1,500 conventioneers—bloggers, policy experts, party activists—are African American, Latino or Asian. Of about 100 scheduled panels and workshops, less than a half-dozen dealt directly with women or minority issues.
All snark aside, this says more about America than it does about progressives, conservatives, or either party.
In order to come to YKos and participate, you have to be able to:
1. Afford air fare from wherever you are coming.
2. Afford to stay in a hotel like the Hyatt for two nights (won’t find anything cheaper in the city – not with the special group rate Ykos got).
3. Afford to be able to take off 2 or 3 days from work.
4. Afford to feed yourself at Chicago prices (largest restaurant tax in US)
Minorities who may have wanted to attend might not have been able to afford the trip as easily as their white counterparts.
It’s that simple.
8:11 am
[...] Update 8/6 9:05am Eastern. Must-read of the morning–Rick Moran reflects on his adventure at YKos. He reports on nutroots zeal, the unbearable whiteness of the left-wing blogosphere (and the double standards in making such observations), and concludes with a warning that I’ve made myself before: Ignore or make sport of the netroots at your own peril. Underestimate them and you will get the holy living crap kicked out of you in 2008. These people are organizing far beyond blogs and blog readers. And that organization extends almost down to the precinct level as I’m sure next year’s Netroots Convention will show (they’ve decided to rename the shindig in order to move it away from one guy’s blog). [...]
8:32 am
[...] Others posting on this topic: Rick Moran / Alexander / Did You See This? / Hennessy’s View / Bill’s Bites / Webloggin’ [...]
10:14 am
Ignore the nutroots at our own peril? Seriously, the vastness and un-tapped power of the Internet aside, legions of liberal minions all blogging one million hours straight will not take over the world. I really don’t think they are any more capable than any other constituency. They may be more active only insofar as their work, or lack therein, affords them more time to blog. Conservatives may be more hard-working, hard-playing or even more practical and smart, they just need to be realistic that the liberals, like cockroaches, are toiling away in dark corners, out of sight, intent upon ascending to the top of the food chain. The right is just as capable if not more so. Having listened to Air America recently to understand the liberal mind, I’m convinced the left are comprised of decent people who just happen to be timid and need to be cared for. The nanny-statism of the libs must be appealing. Therein, is the opportunity. Eschewing compassionate conservatism which has been ruined forever, the GOP needs to demonstrate how they’re helping people, the environmnet and economy and change their rhetoric. It’s not really a matter of changing our principles but reframing them into more populist terms. Everything the GOP stands for, aside from the pitiful implementation from our current administration and representatives, is the right thing for America. We just need to package and deliver what we say and believe. Otherwise, we’re just democrats in GOP clothing.
10:26 am
[...] Check this out from Michelle Malkin  Must-read of the morning–Rick Moran reflects on his adventure at YKos. He reports on nutroots zeal, the unbearable whiteness of the left-wing blogosphere (and the double standards in making such observations), and concludes with a warning that I’ve made myself before: Ignore or make sport of the netroots at your own peril. Underestimate them and you will get the holy living crap kicked out of you in 2008. These people are organizing far beyond blogs and blog readers. And that organization extends almost down to the precinct level as I’m sure next year’s Netroots Convention will show (they’ve decided to rename the shindig in order to move it away from one guy’s blog).They are determined, well funded, optimistic, committed, and excited. The GOP is uncertain, underfunded, hopeful but pessimistic, dispirited, and seemingly leaderless, rudderless, and without an agenda. [...]
10:28 am
Web Reconnaissance for 08/06/2007…
A short recon of whatÂ’s out there that might draw your attention, updated throughout the day…so check back often….
10:43 am
A Diversity Issue At YKos?...
The Washington Post and Rick Moran agree on one thing: the YearlyKos convention looked monochromatic for a multicultural movement. With few exceptions, the gathering could have used Procul Harem’s “Whiter Shade of Pale” as its theme song, according …
10:51 am
[...] The Washington Post and Rick Moran agree on one thing: the YearlyKos convention looked monochromatic for a multicultural movement. With few exceptions, the gathering could have used Procul Harem’s “Whiter Shade of Pale” as its theme song, according to these reports: It’s Sunday, day 4 of Yearly Kos, the major conference for progressive bloggers, and Gina Cooper, the confab’s organizer-in-chief, surveys the ballroom of the massive McCormick Place Convention Center. A few hundred remaining conventioneers are having brunch, dining on eggs, bagels and sausage. [...]
11:58 am
A better description of the Republican party I have not read.
I think a lot of conservative bloggers and right of center radio talk show hosts are dismissive of the nutroots. I agree that to ignore them is to whistle your way past the graveyard. These people are committed to their cause, and they are unified by one thing: Bush Derangement Syndrome. They want to guarantee that no Republican who agrees with Bush about anything is elected. And they are putting their money where their mouth as fund raising shows.
Of course, I could be wrong.
1:55 pm
[...] Aug 6th, 2007 by mvdg Rick Moran has a good (and funny) post up about this year’s YearlyKos convention. YearlyKos is, as most of you will know, the yearly convention for the netroots (bloggers and blogreaders who support Democrats). Although Rick is a conservative himself, he had quite a good time. One of his conclusions: liberals are humans too. Yes, it surprised me as well, but if Rick says it, I believe it. [...]
2:19 pm
Classic conservative foolishness.
Yes, all those minorities are too poor to attend YKos. The more accurate point would seem to be that the internet in general with regard to blogs is a pretty white phenomenon. Just look over at The Corner, TNR, Salon, or Little Green Footballs. A bunch of mostly white guys. Not even so many women.
It would seem to be more of a cultural divide than a monetary divide.
3:58 pm
It’s interesting that the Democrats won the presidency in 1992 in part thanks to the far left muting itself—or having its more vocal precincts muted by a lack of political coverage—which allowed Bill Clinton to run as a moderate, after the party had tried and failed to win in 1984 and ‘88 running with a straight-up defense of liberalism.
The Kos factor goes directly against that strategerie and more towards the Walter Mondale campaign of 1984, new buzzwords and phrases nonwithstanding. While Markos seems to be catching on, i.e. his purging of some of the more damaging on-site posts, it’s hard to see this group being all that willing to keep their mouths shut during next year’s campaign, especially since they truly believe they’re the Wave of the Future. That doesn’t mean their inability to stop typing means the GOP is going to win, but it does mean someone like Hillary would be wise to keep their distance from the group, unless they want to find themselves defending some of the more Amanda Marcottian-like statements that are bound to come out of the left side of the blogosphere between now and November of 2008.
5:17 pm
[...] A black eye? Maybe, maybe not. But Rick Moran, who attended, is right about one thing for sure: Lastly, I will sound this warning to the GOP and conservatives a lot between now and next summer. Ignore or make sport of the netroots at your own peril. Underestimate them and you will get the holy living crap kicked out of you in 2008. These people are organizing far beyond blogs and blog readers. And that organization extends almost down to the precinct level as I’m sure next year’s Netroots Convention will show (they’ve decided to rename the shindig in order to move it away from one guy’s blog). [...]
8:18 pm
‘..America governed by this metrosexual priss would be an invitation to every terrorist, thug nation, and rogue beauty consultant to descend upon this country en masse and make our lives a living hell.”
Heh, heh.
Right on! Lets elect a drag queen instead!
“...as I scanned the faces of attendees to the Presidential Leadership Forum where almost all YKos was gathered, my rough estimate was 75% white – perhaps larger.”
Gee Rick, what percentage of the American population is “white”?
10:06 pm
Superb. Absolutely superb.
7:36 am
I wouldn’t worry about the Kos Kids honky confab…. there was plenty of color… RED!!
9:57 am
Rick, I don’t believe that it is accurate to say –
“Minorities who may have wanted to attend might not have been able to afford the trip as easily as their white counterparts.”
Poor white people will have just as much trouble paying for airfare and high food prices as poor minorities.
While there are many poor minorities, there are a lot more (by number) poor white people.
Other than that
9:58 am
... great post. Liberals are human? Who knew?
2:53 pm
Your analysis of the actual convention seems to lack anything that I would call real substance, i.e, issues addressed at the conference. Maybe readers would want to drift over to Daily Kos to get a better perspective.
10:15 pm
Submitted for Your Approval…
First off… any spambots reading this should immediately go here, here, here, and here. Die spambots, die! And now… here are all the links submitted by members of the Watcher’s Council for this week’s vote. Council li…
5:09 am
Weds. Morning Links…
Heck, I’d pay not to read Frank Rich and Maureen Dowd. Times to drop Times Slelect What is it about Wagner? TimesOnlineI don’t watch these candidate debates, but my take on the Repubs is not too far from Willisms’As you may know, it is a felony to …
7:10 am
“They have a different sense of humor of course.”
Yeah, liberals just don’t get teh funny. Unlike all the great conservative comedians out there. Let’s see there’s ummmmm…..ummmm…wait, it’ll come to me. Dennis Miller! Yeah! He’s really funny. And PJ O’Rourke, who hasn’t written anything in years. But when he did…. And, wait…
Come on, help me out here!
Yeah, that most famous of all drug-addled comedians, Rush! Is his name appropriate or what?
9:36 pm
Submitted 08/08/2007…
This week’s Watcher’s Council Nominations are in. Bookworm Room leads of with Always look on the bright side of life. In it she considers the field of Republican candidates for President and, despite the supposed doubts, finds herself impressed with …
1:18 am
I can’t wait for 2008. Your heads are just going to explode.
1:21 am
Just visiting here from the left side of the blogosphere. And who knew, the Republicans really are the party of hate.
Wow, I am so shocked to have my opinion of the right validated.
But of course I dont get your righty brand of ‘teh funny’.
10:57 pm
The Council Has Spoken!...
First off… any spambots reading this should immediately go here, here, here, and here. Die spambots, die! And now… the winning entries in the Watcher’s Council vote for this week are My Excellent Adventure At Yearlyko…
7:45 am
Watcher’s Council results…
And now… the winning entries in the Watcher’s Council vote for this week are My Excellent Adventure At Yearlykos by Right Wing Nut House, and Bread and a Circus, Part II of II by Michael Yon. Thanks to everyone for…...
8:24 am
[...] The Watcher’s Council has announced its picks for the most outstanding posts of the preceding week. The winning Council post was Right Wing Nut House’s post, “My Excellent Adventure At Yearlykosâ€. Second place honors went to Done With Mirrors’s “Tancredo and Tonic” These were the posts I voted for so I’m quite gratified at this result. Even though I disagree with Callimachus’s conclusion I did think it was one of the best Council submissions for the week. [...]
10:39 am
I would have sent me, but then, that’s only because I would have mistakenly thought there’d be an open bar.
10:53 am
[...] I’m late to this, but here’s Rick Moran’s coverage of Yearly Kos, sponsored by Pajamas Media. [...]
5:19 pm
[...] Are we really willing to stand by now and watch these quasi-totalitarians appropriate what comes to count as the political “center,” too? — just because, you know, they’re people just like “us”? [...]
10:59 pm
The Coalition of the Willing…
As you may or may not already be aware, members of the Watcher’s Council hold a vote every week on what we consider to be the most link-worthy pieces of writing around… though I don’t actually vote unless there happens…...
5:30 am
[...] you may or may not already be aware, members of the Watcher’s Council hold a vote every week on what they consider to be the most link-worthy pieces of writing around… per theinstructions, I am submitting one of my own posts for consideration in the upcoming nominations process. Here is the most recent winning council post, here is the most recent winning non-councilhere is the list of results for the latest vote, and here is the initial posting of all the nominees that were votedon. [...]
4:44 pm
Dr. Winner and Mr. Loser…
At it must every week, around rolls the weekly wash of winners—and the lashing of losers. Council All we can say about our own nomination, Gonzales, Intelligence, and Perjury: The Penultimate Word, was that we didn’t come in…...
5:28 pm
[...] My Excellent Adventure At Yearlykos Right Wing Nut House [...]
6:48 pm
[...] The votes are in from this week’s Watchers Council and the winner in the Council category is yours truly for my post “My Excellent Adventure At Yearlykos.” Finishing second was “Tancredo and Tonic” by Done With Mirrors. [...]
4:11 am
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