On November Fourth, the Netroots Should Be More Than an Afterthought

With the obvious caveat that the outcome of any election is uncertain until voters vote, it's fair to say that the triangle of media, political establishment and the online community have come together around the view that the McCain-Palin ticket has zigzagged off course, that Barack Obama has displayed tremendous discipline and steadfastness and that his election as our 44th president is at hand, an occurrence whose import will only be fully realized from the vantage point of history. It's an axiom of elections that things can change overnight, but this coalescing of opinion is devastating to McCain's prospects.

In the final days of the campaign, the netroots, whose ranks (and influence) have swelled since 2004, will redouble their efforts, working around the clock to elect Obama and expand the Democratic majority in Congress. They will attack McCain and Palin, fact-check the press and help lift Democrats to victory in races across the country. In their role as a central conduit of political information and opinion, they will calibrate, amplify, and disseminate the messages and themes that shape people's beliefs and bolster their convictions, providing the impetus for organizing, fundraising and GOTV. They will serve as the media's validator of first and last resort, confirming or denying traction on a daily flood of stories. And on November 4, 2008, eight long years of doing battle against the excesses of the Bush presidency will come to a triumphant conclusion.

In that seminal moment, much will be celebrated. And much forgotten. One thing that shouldn't be overlooked is the tortured path to that day and the ragtag group of activists who, from the fear of knowing that America had taken a terrible turn at the dawn of a millennium, embraced a new medium and labored tirelessly, thanklessly, defending the Constitution and the rule of law. Day after day, they congregated on websites, blogs, message boards and any other online forum they could find to write, debate, argue and resist a radical administration and a lockstep Republican Party. Mocked and feared, dismissed as 'angry' and treated with disdain, they fought their opponents, fought their own party, fought the media, fought one another, all to a single end, the defense of inviolable American ideals against a brazen onslaught from a shameful and shameless administration.

When we look back at the eight years beginning with a grim night in 2000 when George W. Bush was declared the victor over Al Gore, we should give credit to those who held tough when Bush was at the height of his swagger; we should honor the 'ten percenters' who took pride in opposing Bush when his approval rating was near 90%, the media fawning over him, the likes of Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice, Ashcroft, Yoo, Addington, Wolfowitz, Rove and Gonzales holding sway over the nation, with Coulter, Hannity, Savage and Limbaugh spewing hate and liberals labeled traitors.

We should acknowledge that the netroots kept hope alive when our system of checks and balances was in mortal danger, kept hope alive when civil liberties were fast becoming disposable niceties. We should realize that back when Billmon and Bob Somerby and a gentle soul with a sharp pen named Steve Gilliard were required reading, when Digby was a mystery man and Firedoglake was a new blog with an intriguing name, when citizens across the country began logging on and conversing from the heart, there was no glory in political blogging. There still isn't. No one knew if blogs would become quaint artifacts. Many hoped they would. Blogging was about speaking up for America's guiding principles, liberty, justice, equality, opportunity, democracy.

In 2005, I published an essay (mostly out of frustration) arguing that the netroots, forged out of a common purpose, weren't big enough or respected enough to change people's views but could raise their voices enough to pressure the media and elected officials and thereby influence the public debate. Things have improved -- though many bloggers still feel that their voices aren't fully appreciated. I hope that on November fourth and beyond, we will look back on these online progressives as we do others who have spoken out when it was heresy to do so, their patriotism doubted, their motives questioned, words like 'treason' used to intimidate and silence them.

The 2008 election is a watershed and when my newborn daughter is old enough to understand, I'll share my pride (as fathers do) in the small part I played in a presidential race where two brilliant and dedicated Democrats, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, smashed through impenetrable barriers and changed the world. I'll tell my daughter about the despicable ways women are treated across the globe and how she should fight every day of her life for fairness and dignity. I'll talk to her about the unspeakably ugly chapter in our history that so many brave men and women sacrificed their lives to bring to an end. Then I'll tell her where, when and how I cast my vote for President Obama, about the moment a thoughtful, decent and courageous man took the oath of office, when he reclaimed the White House, changed America, and when George W. Bush receded into that place in our minds where bad nightmares reside.

I'll tell her how the triangle closed and hope returned. But I hope I don't have to tell her that the netroots never received proper credit for their lopsided, outsized role in crushing Bushism, initiating a seismic shift away from rightwing extremism and laying the groundwork for a progressive resurgence.

Follow Peter Daou on Twitter: www.twitter.com/peterdaou

Comments

[atila]

I'm pretty sure Senator Obama knows and appreciate the netroots work,to me this has been the great difference between 2004 and today elections,thanks to all the bloggers!

[Candyx]

i second that

[southernfried]

good point

[jeanrenoir]

Don't forget Netroots role, but also don't be stupid enough to want Obama to govern as a suicidal ideologue! Obama's central theme has never been "progressi­vism." If it had been, he would have lost. His theme has been creating a new pragmatic politics which will UNITE the country--rich and poor, black and white, red and blue--behind government that WORKS for a change. Obama will not be a disgusting Clinton triangulator whose only principle is what's good for my standing in the polls. But he WILL be an FDR compromiser, thank God. In the Sixties, uncompromising (and terminally politically stupid and self-destructive) "idealists" on the Left destroyed liberalism in America for FORTY years, FORTY! Obama wants to sweep aside the stupid polarized "idealisms" of both sides of the crazed Boomer divide of the Sixties (Hillary, when she was truly Hillary, on one side, and Bush at Yale on the other). Obama wants a new Gen-X politics which is non-ideological and which measures everything by the normal Gen-X, IT standard: Does the damn thing WORK? Netroots fanaticism will NOT work. Only moderate pragmatism will. If Netroots starts attacking Obama for every "betrayal of principle," Netroots, not Obama, will be the loser. If Obama succeeds where the rubber meets the road, no one outside the tiny minority that is Netroots will give a damn about his "principle­s." Pragmatism, not idealism, is America's great contribution to the betterment of mankind.

[Liberal2]

Maybe " bloggers," the professional ones, should stop using that stupid term. You people are 21st century journalists: "IJournalists", Sound professional, you're not dateless geeks playing with a 1990s Apple II or IBM 80386.

[Peace15Progress]

Good point.

[SheriChardonnay]

i like that Ijournalis­ts.....i will stick with blogger b.c. i am not talented as the netroot ijournalists.

[PitBullWoman]

In time "blogger" won't seem such a stupid word. It will just be the word. It's a good and simple word and it's a fun word to say. It feels good.

[dcoxucla]

OBAMA KNEW NETROOTS ---MOVEON.­ORG WOULD COME OUT FOR HIM AND HIS CAMPAIGN HAS FOCUSED ON KEEPING THE BASE AND GETTING INDEPENDAN­TS...NETRO­OTS ARE IMPORTANT BUT ONLY ONE FACTOR

[sueno]

I totally agree-
Netroots should be given some credit-
but not all. Netroots reach a small segment
of the population.

[GeoLee]

Well the Netroots generation better get off their duffs in NC. David Gergen just said on CNN that early votes in NC are finding under representation of young voters....­so young voters, get a move on and get in there and VOTE for Obama. This 62 year old swayed by you all will be really upset if you let this election slip through your hands by your laziness..­.If you are form NC and under 21, I don't want to read any posts from you until after you get back from casting your vote...I am heading to the polls in 40 degree rainy weather here in a state that will stay Red most likely, but I can hope for a change my by vote. Hope is not enough...v­otes are. Get movin' y'all.

[AshleyMarie]

It is still very early!!! I, for one, love voting on election day and won't do it early.

It is a gross generalization to call all young people lazy. Of course -if on Nov 4th they say that the youth vote didn't turn out, then you can name call.

Until then- find a chill pill and swallow it.

[JamesAndre]

Wow Ashley, maybe instead of offering people 'chill pills' you should reassess the importance of this election..­.and go vote early.

Senator Obama is asking his supporters to do so. If he thinks it is important, why would you second guess him?

http://mentalshift.newsvine.com/

[Gary47]

"Lazy" isn't name-calling. And it's not a gross generalization. It's a fact regarding past elections. Look it up. We all hope and pray that y'all will make it different this time. GeoLee was just admonishing you to do so. I'd look at it as a patriotic honor to fulfill his request.

[Mr Grey]

If Sen Obama is elected President, which is I believe he will, and the Democrats get control of Congress, which I hope; this is just the beginning of things to come. The Netroots will need to push for, and demand real substantive change in America's future. We must generate support for rebuilding American infrastructure, bringing green energy online, restoring the economy, ending the war, fighting global warming, and giving ALL Americans health care. It will be a hard won fight, but, one we must win. After all it is only our future of every single person. It will mean the difference between a positive future or impending disaster.

[wild2]

adding to the Meta - Physical..­. the blogs, and growing numbers and contributors, consumers, and extended community influenced and enabled by netroots nation... we are the water, not the rocks in the stream. In time, water will shape and eventually erode the rock. The rock will change, not the water.

The rocks in the paths of streams and rivers have for way to long dictated the course, speed, health and vitality of the river. Finally things are changing thanks to all who clean up, drink, dive in, swim, maintain and engage the river. And we join to create a Sea of Change, and a healthier environment for all.

I have personally changed so much and found renewed strength over these past four years thanks to the contributions of progressive blogs. You all have given me the motivation, tools, and hope to change my life and the way I do business.

Thank you everyone!

[spartanmom]

Beautifully said

[GrainneKathleen]

Amen to that, I was inspired and given hope in a dark time; the net roots made me realize that every choice I make is political and change starts with ME. I am so excited to cast my vote for Obama, but till then, we need to pitch in with the Obama campaign. I don't expect him to be a Progressive's dream - he has a lot of Bush-bunnies to clean from under the furniture in the White House. And the country will be slow to accept some of our platform. But Obama, I believe, is a great start and will be a game-changing president. But till then, go onto Obama;s website and do what you can, especially making calls from home and assisting people, if need be, to get to the polling stations.

[mjc]

The moderator for this particular thread or perhaps is the particular time of day doesn't like any comments I make if I MENTION Senator Clinton's name but here I go again; shorter version but nevertheless the gist of what I said two responses ago. Obama, because he is inexperienced, is going to be reluctant to go against the smooth talking Rubin and Larry Summers and they are perpetuating Greenspan's myths about the economy and interest rates. Our economy is no longer the same as it was 25 years ago and our policies in re big global corporate entities cannot be hands off, no regulation, free trade, or really free for all trade. Having a small army of advisors for the economy or for foreign policy isn't the same as having some dealings of your own, say in the
Senate, and having ideas of your own, especially in light of the total instability in the financial markets. I hope you are right Mr. Daou and that Obama will choose a different course than Bill Clinton on our economy but I fear that he may not. Your blog is wonderfully informative and should be required reading.

[Truthmeter]

No way... everyone I talk to is voting McCain...I­'m in CT and don't see hardly any Obama bumper stickers..­.and the ones I do are on teenagers cars...I guess that's the Obama voting base.

[karronna]

RCP Average 06/26 - 10/14 -- 55.8 36.8 Obama +19.0
Rasmussen
10/14 - 10/14 500 LV 56 39 Obama +17
SurveyUSA
09/24 - 09/25 686 LV 54 38 Obama +16
Research 2000
06/30 - 07/02 600 LV 57 35 Obama +22
Quinnipiac
06/26 - 06/29 2437 LV 56 35 Obama +21

[PBW44]

I'm also in CT, Fairfield County to be exact, and 27 of 28 people in my office are voting for Obama. I don't know where in CT you live, but Fairfield County is definitely Obama country.

[SheriChardonnay]

notice you said "everyone I talk to"...that is like Rush saying "everyone I talk to hates minorities­"...come on....you are chatting with us....DOH!

[GreatDemocracy]

Seems to me that all the writer wants to do is have a Democrat in office regardless of his principles, plans and or experience. Hello, we are supposed to be electing a president that will help lead this country out of its woe's. Don't just vote party line. Vote for who has the best plan. Not who has the best dream. Side note, please be careful of who you vote for in Congress. I plan on voting for who ever voted against the bailout. The bailout only helped the greedy and unapologetic CEO's and the lobbyist that catered to them in the housing crisis.

[naschkatze]

Here's to the blogs and all who blog. Please, Mr. Daou, encourage all your readers to vote on November 4 no matter if the election is declared early on for Obama. We need to give him a popular vote landslide as well as an electoral college one, and we need to vote in Democratic senators and representatives all over the country as well as get the ballot measures dear to our hearts passed. Please get your fellow bloggers to spread this message. We need to vote from sea to shining sea with no one staying home because they think Obama has it locked. Thanks.

[NateLowery]

"The 2008 election is a watershed and when my newborn daughter is old enough to understand, I'll share my pride (as fathers do) in the small part I played in a presidential race where two brilliant and dedicated Democrats, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, smashed through impenetrable barriers and changed the world."

Changed the world.

Really.

Kinda early to be projecting those kind of results from an election that hasn't happened yet, isn't it?

While we're on the subject of inconsequential hubris, would it be safe to say that just from the self-indulgent paragraph I just quoted that your entire involvement in this election is to somehow spin yourself as a cog in the political machine? That's kind of selfish, isn't it?

The netroots. Hallowed be thy name.

Unquestionable, wrapped in a digital flag.

A cadre of failed journalists looking to reinvent themselves through the internet when print rejected them, backed up by people with an unimaginable sense of unwarranted self-importance, seeking to use politics and current events to fill a hole where a personality should be. Republicans and Democrats alike.

The cold, unrelenting and ultimately hilarious reality is: The netroots matter....­..on the internet.

[gabbinjane]

Look out for the "Vast Right Wing Machine"!! It just might take its guns and religion underground and foment another American Revolution against Socialism/Communism using the web!!

[Dystopic]

by the time these luddites figure out the web as it is, it will be something else they don't understand­...