TALK BACK

If you're looking at my archives on this site, you might notice that I seem to have written my latest pieces in December of 1969. This would be quite a feat, since I was only 1 at the time. Actually, I've recently had to do a software update and some things are going haywire. So please excuse our appearance while renovations are completed, as they say....thanks.

I read your book earlier this month, and I recently criticized it in a post that was my attempt to start a conversation in my corner of the netroots. After seeing that you had written an article about the progressive blogosphere in an issue of Democracy I saw at a book store, I got this crazy idea to send you a link. My post wasn't widely read by any stretch of the imagination (and you've likely heard some of this before) but at any rate...
http://www.progressiveblue.com/diary/3308/

The relevant portion of the post is below.

...

The Democratic base is held to a much different standard.Take, for instance, The Argument: Billionaires, Bloggers, and the Battle to Remake Democratic Politics, by the New York Times' Matt Bai. The book is basically 300 pages of Bai triumphantly knocking down straw men and picking low - hanging fruit while making a circular argument. The author's ability to jump into a series of shallow pools was widely applauded. This isn't exactly surprising. Nothing pleases Broderites like an intellectually dishonest critique of the progressive movement.

We're asked what we stand for. When we answer, we're accused of being too rigid. We're asked how our values translate into public policy. When we answer, we're told that "everyone likes those things." If we point out that
congressional Republicans don't, we're scolded for being "too partisan."
We're asked about political strategy, but regardless of the answer we give, we're criticized for being "too focused on tactics.

...

If you would be interested in examples, I took a few notes on the book. Why would you want to debate your books with some random blogger guy? Not sure. Would be able to refrain from making the Rock of Love: Bus comparison I left in my notes during a moment of frustration? I'll try. Do I think your work "effin' sucks?" No. Do I think your good points are mixed in with what some might call "shitty meta?" Yes. Would you think my writing "effin' sucks" and / or is a waste of your time? Not sure. It's a possibility. I also have a different take on the diary by then - Senator Obama you praise in your book.

I wrote this screedifesto in December.

http://www.progressiveblue.com/diary/3308/

Thanks for your time.

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I find your writing brilliant and insightful because you agree with most everything I think. I was just telling some colleagues that, in politics (and life), we need less Bill Clinton and more Pat Nixon. You know, be stoic, be proud, suffer in silence, drink. What happened to respect for dignity, self-control and endurance? I just heard on the radio about the Edwardses being on Oprah, and I felt like I needed to take a shower. People have enough crap in their life, why do they want this dumped on top? Why are the Edwards doing this? Why is Oprah letting them? We get the picture . . . it's not too complicated, and not that unique. Why are they spilling their guts about this? How does it improve society? Mrs. Edwards doesn't need to salvage her reputation, and I don't think they need the money. They have children to raise, and her health to take care of. This should not be a priority. Is it really that impossible for people to give up the limelight once they've had a taste? (Arlen Spector) Why do media titans cater to this deviance? Why can't we look away?

I was very happy about your book. It provided information I needed. I used it in a "Brief" which I've written (about 60 pages) called "Ecocide as the Principal Dysfunction of Government and the Economy and Why Democratization is the Only Effective Solution". I am trying to decide on people and organizations to whom I can send this for their information. Please let me know if you would like to see it, and if so, please give me a mailing address. Also, please let me know if you recommend anyone to whom I should send it. I was planning to send it to Andy Stern, but from what I see posted on the internet recently, I am questioning whether he would really be interested. But what can you know from the internet? Please get back to me as soon as you can.