Oh, how I do like Glenn Greenwald. He’s the type of guy who seeks out the truth no matter where it leads. Reminds me of somebody, he does; ME. Anyway, here is what he said that has me clapping:
GLENN GREENWALD: Well, I think one of the most significant issues of the Obama administration has been what role progressives-the progressive infrastructure has played in applying pressure on the Obama administration. One of the very first things that the Obama administration did-and Rahm Emanuel has specialized in trying to control and silence the left; I mean, that’s how he built his power base-in the House of Representatives was, they created these weekly meetings called Unity ’09 and Common Purpose, where members of all of the allegedly progressive groups devoted to progressive causes meet every week on Tuesday, often with members of the White House communications team, including oftentimes Rahm Emanuel, and they coordinate their messaging. So, instead of being devoted to, for example, pressuring the administration on issues relating to labor or to choice or to gay issues or to war, instead they’re coordinating their messaging to insure that their real allegiance is to serve the interest and the agenda of the Obama administration. And it’s really enabled the Obama administration to annex large aspects of the progressive infrastructure and to remove what ought to be an important pressure point.
I think they’ve done the same with lots of progressive pundits, who aren’t necessarily attending these meetings, but who have voluntarily ceded their role in the progressive world and in progressive opinion making and activism. And you see this conflict more and more, I think. For example, the Huffington Post had an article critical of the Obama administration, reporting, for example, that they were working behind the scenes, in contrast to what Obama was saying, to sabotage the public option. And you saw in various places, on Daily Kos and others, suddenly declarations that the Huffington Post was suspect, and they were right wing, and they were the enemy, because anyone who reflects negatively on Obama has to be discredited. And I think you see that conflict, and I hope it will continue to grow, because it’s healthier than having progressives devote themselves to cheerleading for the President.
Ok… let me highlight it…
For example, the Huffington Post had an article critical of the Obama administration, reporting, for example, that they were working behind the scenes, in contrast to what Obama was saying, to sabotage the public option. And you saw in various places, on Daily Kos and others, suddenly declarations that the Huffington Post was suspect, and they were right wing, and they were the enemy, because anyone who reflects negatively on Obama has to be discredited. And I think you see that conflict, and I hope it will continue to grow, because it’s healthier than having progressives devote themselves to cheerleading for the President.
Hey, how many diaries did I post at Daily Kos that was negative to Obama where I got “troll rated” because I dared to say it? Yet, this Daily Kos diary that points out that Glenn Greenwald said it is a rec’d diary.
Can I say WOW? Why, yes I can! WOW!
Sure, Glenn states things diplomatically. He IS a lawyer. Where he uses a scalpel, I guess I use a sledgehammer. Guilty!
It didn’t stop people in the comments from attacking Greenwald, OR, Democracy Now! Again, let me say WOW!
I’ve been ignoring Greenwald and Democracy Now (90+ / 0-)
Recommended by:
Kitty, fladem, Tuffie, hannah, Dounia, AaronInSanDiego, Rimjob, Fishgrease, bawbie, magurakurin, Shadan7, rian90, KayCeSF, valadon, xndem, vcmvo2, Harkov311, freakofsociety, Elise, Sam I Am, Lying eyes, zeuspapa, basquebob, Brooke In Seattle, LABobsterofAnaheim, begone, third Party please, Triscula, Bush Bites, RussTC3, Hedwig, Doodad, Mike McL, Jaleh, dmh44, CenterLeft, ubertar, gchaucer2, alba, kafkananda, dotster, last starfighter, Mother of Zeus, pamelabrown, smartdemmg, Irixsh, jonnie rae, in2mixin, lookit, soms, Exquisite, FORUS50, seeta08, mdmslle, sherijr, spyguy999, Sleepwalkr, carmenjones, RinaX, raf, BrighidG, dvbernard, stegro, tjcj, voracious, boriquasi, indepenocrat, jonimbluefaninWV, BoxNDox, sfkat, nickrud, damned if you do, gwh, calchala, toftme39, Inkin, Captain Antelope, freesia, vc2, soothsayer99, cyeko, Coilette, majii, Escamillo, theone718, cassandra123, littlebird33, Gatordiet, rmrice, KiBfor several years now. It has created almost no problems for me.
Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.
by bugscuffle on Sat Oct 31, 2009 at 01:28:51 PM PDT
90 rec’s for ignoring Democracy Now AND Greenwald. OMG.
And the GOP thinks they have a civil war going on? Looks like the Democratic Party and the grassroots are going to have the same civil war.
25 comments
Skip to comment form
Author
Now, 40% of the posters at that site (according to the poll in this diary) are Obamabots. I wonder how many of them are employed by the administration, directly or indirectly, to neuter dkos.
He needs to come here. ;-7
Since I have been lurking at Dk since 2003 (finally got the “courage” to create an account in 2004) there have always been the handful of purists unwilling to accept any criticism of the hero du jour be it Dean, Edwards or Obama (Hillary was always the “demon” as per “them”. hehe. in the Blue Dress). They are loud, obnoxious, nasty and unreasonable and in some cases, blatantly ignorant.
The biggest problem at DK is a minority of users there have driven away most of the loyal opposition by tactics that are tantamount those used by the right. The ironic part of that is they are now calling anyone who dares to hold Obama’s feet to the fire “teabaggers”. They get away with name calling and personal invective and when anyone calls them out on it, their buddies appear in swarms in defense. Heh, I hr’d one of them for calling names and got called a new derogatory name created just for us DDer’s. It was also sexist but it got up rated. Yet, even under the “new rule” that may not constitute stalking. I am the enemy because I am not of the “let him do his job and STFU” school and I defend my friends, the people who will NOT be quiet and get banned for it. Funny, I haven’t really looked but when kos or Meteor Blades criticizes Obama do the Obama purists call them out, too? I bet NOT.
Greenwald nails it and so does Lefty Coaster. LC was one of the bloggers (I won’t call him a “kossack” to me these days that is a derogatory term) I met this summer. I sat with him and a few others until the wee small hours discussing national security, torture, war crimes and where the Obama administration appeared to be heading on those issues. I wasn’t alone in my assessment of Obama’s policies being smoke and mirrors. In fact, I find those policies quite frightening.
I won’t be quiet when I see he Obama administration failing the majority of people. Good for Greenwald and Left Coaster.
about the impact of diarists at DK comes this AM from jotter and the weeks high impact diaries. Take a look the authors who are in the top 5 places. Four of the most left of the left critics of Obama, yes, MB is one of them. So while there may be a handful of Obama purists who bash Greenwald, huffpo and FDL, their impact isn’t that important to the majority of DK readers.
as the little rightwing tramp she is! If she was really any good, she’d have a cable show so we could breathlessly report on it and kiss her ass 24/7.
I’m surprised they haven’t turned on Cenk Uygur, who has been relentlessly critical of the administration. Probably no one is paying any attention.
I had not even realized that Greenwald was gay, let alone that he lives in Brazil in order to have a future with his partner. That little throwaway at the end of the interview is actually devastating all by itself.
Another STFU and Greenwald, et al sucks diary over there with the usual suspects bringing out the personal invective to defend themselves. They do know how to prove Greenwald’s point. LOL
No way!
Guess this site’s “blogfather” is somewhat to blame.
I’m always in the position lately of the “I told you so” variety but that wasn’t my desire. I just told the truth and everyone called me an asshole for it.
How’s Meteor Blades these days? I liked him better when he was HERE then his position now at The Daily Kos.
My position now seems to be like being the only guy dressed up as Batman at a gay Halloween Party. Lot of Robin’s here for some reason 😉
column http://www.salon.com/news/opin…
Definitely qualifies as “going there.”
and here. It is the individual writers with ideas, facts and information that I can have a discussion and not start throwing sand. There is far too much divisive personal invective with some bloggers, I have stopped answering them. I want to focus on making sure that this country gets back on the right track, we won’t get there if all we are doing is attacking each other for personal reasons.