Redstate

Posted at 5:28pm on May 7, 2008 Netroot betrayal: a retrospective.

Nope, not something about to happen. Something that *did* happen.

By Moe Lane

First, watch this clip from Hot Air.

(Relevant bits from the transcript after the fold)

Three observations:

1). As Allahpundit noted, Chris Matthews totally insulted Markos Moulitsas with that last comment. Not that Markos cares: it is, after all, good for business.

2). If you're wondering why Ms. Bernard is endorsing Rush Limbaugh's comments about the Democratic Party's historically shabby treatment of the African-American community (another example of Rush's argument here), it's probably because she's a member of the Independent Women's Forum, which is in fact a conservative group (an angry, Leftist take on the IWF may be found here). The Daily Howler noted this several months ago, which means that Chris Matthews has been helping a conservative spokeswoman get to a place where she can whack on the monolithic lock that the Democratic Party has on African-American voters - and from a ostensibly pro-Obama stance, to boot.

3). None of the players involved have a very high opinion of the ability of progressives - particularly online ones - to work this all out for themselves. Which is... fair, because it's not immediately obvious that many of them have actually noticed what's going on inside what is apparently one heck of a blind spot for them. Shoot, I wouldn't even mention it myself if it wasn't too late to do anything about it Presuming that they actually could have, of course, which is always an open question with the netroots. All in all, the casual and largely justified contempt shown to them by their betters would be pathos-inducing if it weren't quite so funny.

Ha! I guess that I had four observations, then.

Moe Lane

Posted in Chris Matthews | Liberals | MSNBC | Suckers! — Comments (6)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 5:25pm on Feb. 1, 2008 *Dag-gone*, Senator Clinton.

How much did that *cost* you?

By Moe Lane

I mean, we all figured that the Moveon folks would have been able to avoid keeping their membership from endorsing Obama with that 67% cutoff, but 70%? Whoever set that up for you, give him or her a raise; it's earned.

MoveOn endorses Obama
By Klaus Marre
Posted: 02/01/08 12:17 PM [ET]
MoveOn.org announced Friday that it will endorse Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) for president, adding to the momentum that Obama hopes will carry him past Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.).

The liberal group, with its 3.2 million members, is expected to provide a boost to the Illinois senator ahead of Super Tuesday. MoveOn said it has 1.7 million members in the states in which voters are going to the polls next week.

[Snip of text attempting to paper over the uncomfortable truth that Moveon.org's principles only activate during Democratic Presidential administrations. Not In Your Names.]

MoveOn voters favored Obama over Clinton by 70 percent to 30 percent.

More here. I'm glad that you're happy for the endorsement, Senator Obama: goofy of you not to be with them at their time of need, but hey, it was just politics, right? You're all one big happy family now: you, Moveon.org, International ANSWER, CodePink...

Hmm. Now that I think of it, I guess that means that you approve of the way that the City of Berkeley's trying to push out the Marines. Isn't that right, o... centrist?

No, I wasn't particularly expecting an answer, either.

Posted in 2008 | Not In Your Name | Rooting For Injuries | Suckers! — Comments (20)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 12:52pm on Jan. 22, 2008 In which we thank Mother Jones Magazine for services rendered.

No, really, guys. It's a *cooperative* effort, getting the GOP candidate elected.

By Moe Lane

[Whoops! Sorry: H/T Protein Wisdom]

What does it take for Mother Jones to get a favorable mention on RedState, anyway?

Why, writing something useful, of course.

Did the Clintons Try to Whack a Cat?
By Stephanie Mencimer

Hillary Clinton has what pollsters call high negatives, which essentially means that lots of people really don’t like her and never will. But her supporters have long argued that she is a formidable candidate despite these negatives because those numbers aren't likely to go any higher. As the theory goes, Americans are already well acquainted with the Clintons' dirty laundry—Whitewater, Monica, etc.—and as a result, any more mud slung at Hillary isn’t likely to stick. Unlike the less-seasoned presidential contenders, she's been through the mill, and is still standing. But if last night’s Washington premier of Hillary: The Movie is any indication, this particular case for Clinton the candidate is wishful thinking.

Created by the conservative political group Citizens United, the anti-Hillary movie makes the Democratic primary season look like a polite college-debate tournament. It hurls all the down-and-dirty opposition research her opponents have thus far declined to touch. Moreover, it doesn’t simply recycle the old anti-Hillary stuff; it raises a new slew of charges to spin the New York senator as a cross between Machiavelli and Lady Macbeth. The movie offers a preview of what the general election could look like should Clinton become the Democratic nominee. Despite far too much ranting by Ann Coulter and a few silly moments, the movie hits hard at Clinton’s weak spots and lands some solid punches that can’t be dismissed just because they come from the right-wing’s usual suspects.

Do you know, I hadn't even heard of either Citizens United or Hillary: The Movie before the magazine brought up either? Go figure.

Read on.

Posted in 2008 | Audacity of Hope | Great Netroot Betrayal | Suckers! | Thanks for the Free Gift — Comments (5)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 9:57am on Jan. 20, 2008 Hoping to *win*, betting against the *House*? [Updated and bumped.]

Tsk, tsk. Who did you people think you were, Republicans?

By Moe Lane

[UPDATE]: And, right on schedule, comes a noted independent Democrat to lecture Obama supporters about trying to salvage their guy's campaign. Amazing how these pieces of unsolicited and disinterested advice always seem to rebound in the Establishment's candidates' favor, isn't it?

:wandering on, singing:

Well, early one evening
Just as the pubs were opening
A stranger came wandering down
A dark and windy street
He saw a door ajar
Entered the public bar
Said 'Landlord, I would like a drink
And something nice to eat...'

What? Oh, hi. How are things, o progressive movement?

Not well, huh?

Yup, not well.

By the way: have you worked out yet that, as of this moment, John Edwards' campaign is a luxury for you guys? 'Tis true, 'tis true: every day that he stays in the race increases the probability of Hillary Clinton getting the Democratic nomination by a small, but measurable, amount.

Devil of a problem to have, nu?

:wandering off, singing:

'I fancy some crusty bread
The roast beef of old England;
Fresh butter, from the churn
And a pickled onion, too:
And, if you think you could,
Draw some bitter from the wood;
I'd be quite content to sup a quiet pint, or two...'

Posted in 2008 | Audacity of Hope | Suckers! | Youth and Inexperience versus Age and Treachery — Comments (4)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 12:52am on Jan. 10, 2008 Skill vs. Enthusiasm Watch, 01/09/2008

Or, "Age and Treachery will always beat youth and inexperience, Part MCMXXXIV."

By Moe Lane

The trap jaws have already sprung shut, but, hey: at least they're trying. For all the good it will do them:

Voters Face Confusion in Michigan Dem Race
By Peter Slevin

CHICAGO -- Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is the only top-tier Democrat on the Jan. 15 Michigan primary ballot, but followers of her chief rivals are hoping to wound her all the same.

A fresh poll suggests that running nearly unopposed will not mean winning nearly 100 percent of the vote.

The campaigns of Sen. Barack Obama and former senator John Edwards are urging their supporters to cast ballots for "uncommitted," according to state Democratic party chairman Mark Brewer. The Obama campaign says there may be "grass-roots efforts," but that the Chicago-based campaign is not involved.

Via Protein Wisdom, and more here.

Read on.

Posted in 2008 | Amateurs | Florida | Michigan | Suckers! — Comments (20)/ Email this page » / Read More »