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Progressive headache

David Kline, co-author of the soon to be released book Blog!: How the Newest Media Revolution Is Changing Politics, Business, And Culture, criticizes a new study, "The Emergence of the Progressive Blogosphere" by Chris Bowers and Matt Stoller, who argue that progressive bloggers are good guys, conservative bloggers are bad guys. David, who interviewed me for the book, asked me what I thought of his analysis. I agree that the Bowers/Stoller report is just more divisive partisan rhetoric. I hear various arguments that the right/the left (pick one) has taken control of the narrative, but I figure the real problem is that they're talking past each other and drowning out more balanced, moderate voices. Meanwhile the world's seeming pretty fragile at the moment, and in the wake of a major trauma like Hurricane Katrina, the partisan stuff feels petty and false. [Link]

But even if it's true that conservatives tie their blogging activities to offline political organizations more closely than progressive bloggers do, what's wrong with that? I mean, the point is to actually organize people to WIN elections, right? Which, in case Bowers and Stoller hadn't noticed, still take place offline, in the real world, where flesh-and-blood people actually live.

The main problem with Bowers and Stoller's so-called "strategic overview of the comparative advantages of the progressive and conservative [blogosphere]" is its head-in-the-sand avoidance of the real reason why conservatives -- online and off -- have been kicking progressive butt in recent years.

I'm referring, of course, to the maddening inability of progressives in general -- and Democratic candidates like Kerry in particular -- to connect with the majority of heartland voters on the issues that they most deeply care about.

jon posted this at 12:33 AM
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