Right-wing bloggers at annual conference admit to being ‘outgunned’ by progressives.
Right-wing bloggers at annual conference admit to being ‘outgunned’ by progressives.
ThinkProgress and nearly 2,000 other progressive bloggers and activists are currently in Pittsburgh for the annual Netroots Nation conference. Speakers at the event include White House adviser Valerie Jarrett, Gov. Howard Dean, and President Bill Clinton. But also going on in Pittsburgh is the RightOnline conference for conservative bloggers:
The RightOnline conference starting tomorrow morning at the Sheraton Station Square will have about a quarter of the 2,000 attendees at the liberal conference in the convention center, and only about 20 speakers to the 400 at Netroots. …
Right-wing activists know very well they are being out-gunned by the left online, which is precisely why they are holding the conference. They held the first RightOnline convention in Austin, Texas, to coincide with last year’s Netroots Nation meeting there, too.
Erick Erickson from RedState said that on the right, the focus has been “on punditry as opposed to activism.” “It has been focused on bloggers trying to be the next Rush Limbaugh or the next columnist, not on urging readers to call members of Congress or go to tea parties,” he added.
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Right-wing bloggers at annual conference admit to being ‘outgunned’ by progressives.
As well as “out-brained” and “outwitted.”
August 13th, 2009 at 12:49 pmZooey says:
“Right-wing bloggers at annual conference admit to being ‘outgunned’ by progressives.”
As well as “out-brained” and “outwitted.”
Outstanding! *polite golf claps*
August 13th, 2009 at 12:50 pmShorter Erickson:
“All we’ve got going for us are dysfunctional personality cults”
August 13th, 2009 at 12:52 pmErick Erickson from RedState said that on the right, the focus has been “on punditry as opposed to activism.” “It has been focused on bloggers trying to be the next Rush Limbaugh or the next columnist, not on urging readers to call members of Congress or go to tea parties,” he added.
Cuz we see how well that’s working out for the Teabaggers…
August 13th, 2009 at 12:52 pmLuis Chapulin M says:
Outstanding! *polite golf claps*
August 13th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Too funny.
August 13th, 2009 at 12:53 pmThe republicans idea of activism is Obama-bashing and flag waving
August 13th, 2009 at 12:55 pmwhile driving their SUV’s to corporate church.
Well the left wing bloggers have the advantage of having, you know, REALITY on their side
August 13th, 2009 at 12:55 pm**
Erick Erickson from RedState said that on the right, the focus has been “on punditry as opposed to activism.” “It has been focused on bloggers trying to be the next Rush Limbaugh or the next columnist, not on urging readers to call members of Congress or go to tea parties,” he added.
*
“activism”
**
“At what point do the people tell the politicians to go to hell? At what point do they get off the couch, march down to their state legislator’s house, pull him outside, and beat him to a bloody pulp for being an idiot?
At some point soon, it will happen. It’ll be over an innocuous issue. But the rage is building. It’s not a partisan issue. […] Were I in Washington State, I’d be cleaning my gun right about now waiting to protect my property from the coming riots or the government apparatchiks coming to enforce nonsensical legislation.”
***
not “punditry”.
:|
August 13th, 2009 at 12:56 pmZooey says:
Not to mention “out-truthed” and “out-facted”. Okay, they’re not words, but you get my drift…
PEACE
August 13th, 2009 at 12:58 pmAt this point the right has give up all hope and semblance of rational discourse. They just flat KNOW that arguing the merits of their ideas with facts and logic will get them nothing but destroyed so its lies about healthcare, Birther idiocy and fanning the flames of stupid among their rabidly gullible and brainwashed base. They SHOULD be ashamed but Cons get that shame gene surgically removed at birth so as not to be a hindrence in pushing the myths and stupidity they now totally rely on. Facts, truth, reality, the right no longer has any use for any of them
August 13th, 2009 at 1:02 pmYou really can’t overestimate this advantage.
August 13th, 2009 at 1:04 pmSpencer’s mom says:
Not to mention “out-truthed” and “out-facted”. Okay, they’re not words, but you get my drift…
PEACE
August 13th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
Drift is good….in fact, highly desirable. ;)
August 13th, 2009 at 1:10 pmIt’s a pretty stinky gig propping up failed Republican people and policies. Through words, actions, and stunning incompetence; the Bush Administration pretty much closed the book on the “America is bad because of Democrats” thing.
August 13th, 2009 at 1:11 pmThat could be because the liberal bloggers actually have an education to write.
August 13th, 2009 at 1:12 pmWhere the hell is watchdog…
August 13th, 2009 at 1:17 pmPosting as Juggernot on the open thread
August 13th, 2009 at 1:18 pmWhere the hell is juggernot?
August 13th, 2009 at 1:19 pmLet’s not get too cocky. The right-wingers have the advantage of money, control of corporate media, organized astro-turfing, expertise at ‘messaging’, Gawd and Baby Cheesus on their side and a legion of half-witted followers.
August 13th, 2009 at 1:23 pmRepublicans are planning to rebrand themselves as a marginalized powerless minority (which they are) speaking truth to power (which they aren’t). Good luck with that, guys.
Parties of the moneyed class tend to think they are the natural rulers of society, and that arrogance leads to what we saw at those town hall meetings. Left-wing causes can be just as loud, dickish and obnoxious but very rarely does it manifest itself in the enormous sense of entitlement that emerges from the powerful who see their power slipping away.
These townhall disruptions have a level of anger that only comes from people who are used to having things a certain way (their way) being unexpectedly challenged. Their behavior doesn’t acknowledge the fact that they’re now in the minority (politically and culturally) — they still act as if their way is the one true way of seeing things and nobody else is entitled to being heard.
I guess the point I’m trying to get at is that martyrs (which the Republicans are definitely NOT no matter how hard they pretend to be) share certain qualities, the most important being a lack of power. That certainly doesn’t describe these people who utterly dominated our government and media for eight years and continue to do so today.
August 13th, 2009 at 1:24 pmMaybe it’s just harder for Reichwingers to come up with the lies and misinformation, it hurts their brains too much.
Truth is much easier to do…
…Reichwingers have to try (sometimes) to make their lies make sense…
…oh, wait…their lies only make sense to other morons.
August 13th, 2009 at 1:26 pmRight-wing bloggers at annual conference admit to being ‘outgunned’ by progressives.
really?
ya think?
’cause what i’ve seen, it looks more like team obama got beat
by their own game…
they may not be representative of the whole, but it sure LOOKS like it…
WHERE ARE THE DEMS???
see, when TP ran that story about the Rudeness Plan, that’s when we should’ve been activated to drown out the idjits…
imo…
August 13th, 2009 at 1:27 pmpoor little right wingers, always playing the victim and whining
why can’t any of them grow a spine?
August 13th, 2009 at 1:30 pm“Right-wing activists know very well they are being out-gunned by the left online, which is precisely why they are holding the conference.”
*snark*
But uh they still control talk radio and that’s how all the cool kids get their information.
August 13th, 2009 at 1:30 pmChuck Feney says:
Let’s not get too cocky. The right-wingers have the advantage of money, control of corporate media, organized astro-turfing, expertise at ‘messaging’,
e x a c t l y .
August 13th, 2009 at 1:32 pmFunny how alternate reality doesn’t play as well on the internet as it does on radio and TV.
August 13th, 2009 at 1:35 pmIt could very well be that we’re generally smarter, and frequently ‘right.’
August 13th, 2009 at 1:38 pm“they may not be representative of the whole, but it sure LOOKS like it…
WHERE ARE THE DEMS???”
Very good point. It doesn’t seem like we’re nearly as motivated to get out there and fight for this thing…
Then again, peaceful protest and actual action on trying to solve problems doesn’t make for as good of a “story”. I’m gonna have to give the media most of the blame for allowing such blatant misrepresentations of the facts… as usual.
Dear Right Wing,
Please allow our democratically elected Government to peacefully do the job that the majority of Americans voted them into office to do (such as Health Care Reform) without the fear of you becoming violent in an easily misinformed rage. You had your chance and you blew it.
Sincerely,
August 13th, 2009 at 1:40 pmDemocracy
But, they will never be able to compete on the internet because of their authoritarian nature. They need their authorities on Pox News and right-wing talk radio to spoon feed them pre-digested corporate propaganda to be regurgitated when threatened with reality. The internet is mob rule, and the truth is too easy to find, so they feel vulnerable and afraid.
August 13th, 2009 at 1:45 pmthat explains why the trolls always turn-up on left blogs…no place else to go for intelligent discourse….naw they have no intelligence
August 13th, 2009 at 1:48 pmGee it seems so far that us on the left has been out gunned at lease the only ones that are gunning for something is the ones bring the guns.
August 13th, 2009 at 1:48 pmshoeless says: ————————————————————-
But, they will never be able to compete on the internet because of their authoritarian nature. They need their authorities on Pox News and right-wing talk radio to spoon feed them pre-digested corporate propaganda to be regurgitated when threatened with reality. The internet is mob rule, and the truth is too easy to find, so they feel vulnerable and afraid.
______________________________________________________________
I agree with you, shoeless; but, is our strength more politically effective than their strengths?
August 13th, 2009 at 1:51 pm666cicadas says:
Perhaps many of us are disappointed to see what has, and hasn’t, taken place since Obama took office. No investigations of the past admin’s crimes, continuation of signing statements and warrantless surveillance, no promised transparency (closed doors with healthcare execs?), no repeal of DADT, wars escalating, lobbyists still getting access, no release of WH visitors log, no more discussion of the public option/willingness to forego it, no rollback of taxcuts on the uberwealthy (don’t just wait for them to expire!), Geithner playing with the treasury, no regulation on Wall Street, no meaningful mortgage relief or consumer protection from credit card companies… the list goes on.
I, for one, am tired of fighting the good fight only to see all the campaign promises being delayed or overturned.
I miss Candidate Obama so much. I had such hope…
PEACE
August 13th, 2009 at 1:51 pmWhere the hell is watchdog…
Licking his wounds?
No, seriously…after his showing yesterday comparing screenname hijacking to rape, I can tell you were I
August 13th, 2009 at 1:54 pmWhere the hell is watchdog…
Licking his wounds?
No, seriously…after his showing yesterday comparing screenname hijacking to rape, I can tell you were I HOPE he is – at the bottom of a very high cliff off of which he took a flying leap.
August 13th, 2009 at 1:54 pmSorry about that…the wordpad freaked out on me.
August 13th, 2009 at 1:55 pmDemocrats in full throated support of real health care reform that includes a public option at the very least and ideally single payer must take the day.
It will force those in the Christian-right GOP to question their hideous strategy and end-game on a public stage.
Progressives must put together.
August 13th, 2009 at 1:58 pmSpencer’s mom,
I’m actually right there with you. It’s certainly hard to tell if it was the plan all along, or if things changed once he learned more than was public… Bottom line though, there’s no excuse. It has certainly taken much of the wind out of my enthusiasm, to be sure.
August 13th, 2009 at 2:04 pmc’mon, mom…
don’t YOU start losing it…
remember…
August 13th, 2009 at 2:13 pmThat is a good question. They have the money, orgainization, and propaganda machine supplied by their corporate masters, and we have an uncontrollable tool for discovering and spreading the truth. I think the answer is that their strength is greater in the short run, but ours proves to be greater in the long run.
August 13th, 2009 at 2:14 pm666cicadas says:
Very good point. It doesn’t seem like we’re nearly as motivated to get out there and fight for this thing…
August 13th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
_______________
It’s a bit difficult, though, since there’s no one thing we’re fighting for. There are four different bills floating around, some with public options, some without, all likely to get mangled with amendments in the full chambers and then hacked apart in conference, and all containing plenty of gifts and concessions to the insurance and pharmaceutical industries.
It’s easy for the conservatives. They can just say no to everything, throwing out scary words like “socialism” and “Obamacare” and “Mexicans” to rile up the brainless red staters.
August 13th, 2009 at 2:23 pm“What Do We Want?”/”Full Reimbursement of Medicare Claims for Periodic Reviews of End-Of-Life Options” just doesn’t pop as a chant, you see.
August 13th, 2009 at 2:25 pmWell, of course, right-wingers have focused on trying to be the next Rush Limbaugh or the next columnist, because that’s where the payoff comes. They’re interested in it for the money, not the cause. Why should Erickson delude himself into thinking that most of his fellow travelers have any interest in anything other than their own bank accounts. That’s the whole essence of the modern conservative movement – “I got mine, screw you.” Everything else is just a distraction from the getting theirs. As Frank Zappa’s old song used to go when discussing this crowd “You ain’t number one – you ain’t even number two.”
August 13th, 2009 at 2:29 pmRepiggie bloggers censor comments, if comments are even allowed, from folks who disagree with them.
Why even waste your time on those blogs? They are usually written by pissed off aging white guys who are furious at every attractive woman that has rejected them.
August 13th, 2009 at 2:34 pmGood. Those crazy dumbfcuks NEED to be outgunned.
August 13th, 2009 at 2:50 pmokie dokie says:
——————————————————————————–
The republicans idea of activism is Obama-bashing and flag waving
while driving their SUV’s to corporate church.
August 13th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
——————————–
No. We drive our SUV’s to work. So while all of you are spending your days in here b!itching and complaining, us conservatives are making the money that you can’t wait to hand out. I don’t have time to go to a meeting in Pitsburgh. Who’s the moron who decided Pitsburgh?
And what’s wrong with flag waving and Obama bashing? You didn’t fly your flag and bashed Bush for eight years. I hope I don’t have to do the same. And from the looks of it, I wont. 48% approval rating. Dropping faster than a Bushie.
August 13th, 2009 at 2:54 pmjusasoldier says:
——————————————————————————–
that explains why the trolls always turn-up on left blogs…no place else to go for intelligent discourse….naw they have no intelligence
August 13th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
———————–
No. I come in here to laugh. Inteligent discourse? You people are so full of yourselves, and that’s what makes you funny. Don’t ever change.
August 13th, 2009 at 3:01 pmSouthernMan: “And what’s wrong with flag waving and Obama bashing? You didn’t fly your flag and bashed Bush for eight years.”
Do you recall a lot of shouting and obstructing discussion at any of Bush’s “town meetings?” Do you remember what people like you called people who complained about Bush? I seem to recall that Bush enjoyed approval ratings in the 80’s right after the 9-11 attack. The nation was in trouble and most of us rallied around Bush. The nation has been in huge trouble now for some months – do you see conservatives pulling behind the Commander in Chief like liberals supported Bush in a crisis? I mean really. Stop pretending that the treatment Obama is getting is anything like what Bush enjoyed.
August 13th, 2009 at 3:05 pmSouthern Man: “No. I come in here to laugh. Inteligent discourse?”
If you’re going to complain about intelligence, at least spell the word correctly.
August 13th, 2009 at 3:06 pm#46–
May I add this to your Zappa comment: “… Who you jiving with that cosmik debris? Now what kind of a guru are you, anyway? Look here brother, dont waste your time on me…”
August 13th, 2009 at 3:06 pmConservatives wouldn’t know intelligent discourse if it jumped up and bit them on the arse.
See comments 47 & 48 for examples.
August 13th, 2009 at 3:13 pmShoeless says:
“The internet is mob rule,and the truth is too easy to find, so they feel vulnerable and afraid.”
There is an ominous trend beginning that will potentially stifle the truth being so easy to find. Rupert Murdoch plans to make all Newscorp newsites available only by paid subscription. WSJ already has started doing so, and the rest of his media stable should be charging “within a year.”
While it might not be a bad thing that Fox News, Fox Nation etc. will be harder to access, can the rest of the real news sites, and even blog sites, be far behind?
Since the internet is the last bastion of unlimited access to real, unfiltered information, its only logical that it too becomes a target of the far right to be resticted by any means possible.
(I’m not sure how to post a hot link, but see article at Guardian UK Aug 6 2009 for reference.)
August 13th, 2009 at 3:17 pm***
so who wants to be the first
dumb fu(k to copy and paste
s. man’s comment in his response?
:)
August 13th, 2009 at 3:24 pmThe G.O.P. is scared of two things…
1) Obama succeding in turning around the economy and health care, if he does he will OWN the middle class.
2) The right wing base. Moderate Republicans cant stand em but have lived off the fuits of the looney base for so long there is no way for them to “distance” themselves without Beck,Limbaugh,Coulter,Savage using their influence to bring them down.
August 13th, 2009 at 3:31 pmIt is times like these when we all long for Jeff Gannon.
Along with Futt Bace and Johnny Bu$hwipe, Michelle Maglalang, the Slush Report, the FR eeper biles and Wing Nutz Daily Lies.
Remember, they have their credibility at stake.
August 13th, 2009 at 3:40 pmErick Erickson from RedState said that on the right, the focus has been “on punditry as opposed to activism.”
i.e. on entertainment via clowns, buffoons and airheads as opposed to anything of real substance like, heaven forbid, actual information.
August 13th, 2009 at 3:45 pm…let’s not forget they’re also:
outmanned
and
outclassed
hooray righties! don’t forget to wear some camo and take your misspelled-in-crayon signs to the big waah-in!!
August 13th, 2009 at 3:55 pmyou know why they’re outgunned?
August 13th, 2009 at 4:20 pmIt’s not because they’re wrong–God knows peoples’ abilities to believe lies is well documented.
It’s because their core belief is “I hate liberals.”
They’re incoherent–a mishmash of quasi-libertarianism, strained fundie christianity, and support for their Glorious Leader (whoever that is.
They’re libertarians who like being wiretapped and who don’t like reproductive choice–fundie Xtians who support adulterers and homosexual predators–self-styled intellectuals who worship at the feet of idiots. The only thing that matters–and the only thing that unites them–is to ‘make the libruls look bad.”
They don’t have a health plan worth the name. Their answer to skyrocketing gas prices was ‘drill baby drill’–a ’solution’ not even its proponents thought would work, and should have been relegated to the ash-heap of history when gas prices fell by half without a single bit biting soil–but they’ll still say it, and why? Because it irritated the liberals.
It’s all reactive. Compare the mainstream wingnuts to the Ron Paulites. smaller, crazier, but they raised huge amounts of money and had influence far out of proportion to their numbers because (IMHO) they believed in something that they could point to.
Randists and fundamentalists hate liberals for entirely different reasons–the Nascar folks and the Wall Street folks are natural enemies. All they’ve got is us.
Erick Erickson from RedState said that on the right, the focus has been “on punditry as opposed to activism.” “It has been focused on bloggers trying to be the next Rush Limbaugh or the next columnist, not on urging readers to call members of Congress or go to tea parties,” he added.
In other words, they were more interested in making a pile of dough than organizing. That’s your republican party at it’s finest.
August 13th, 2009 at 4:41 pmHi Southern Man 2:
August 13th, 2009 at 5:32 pmI’d stick around to gobble you up with my intelligence but I am off to my second job so STFU about that not working shit you lame ass…
When winning it is important to remember the sage words of Robert Townsend in “Up the Organization” reminding us that hubris is invariable followed by nemesis; i.e., “Ye who relish being on top today are going to experience a reversal in the future.”
August 13th, 2009 at 5:35 pmZooey – you said it all. There’s nothing left to say about this.
August 13th, 2009 at 5:36 pmAs long as blogging and functional illiteracy are mutually exclusive, the Right will be suffering from a lack of bloggers, as well as leaders and ideas.
August 14th, 2009 at 12:32 pmthanks vey…
August 16th, 2009 at 6:26 am