The Effectiveness Of Blogs
There is a fair amount of discussion going on right now about something Jon Henke posted over at QandO. I read it yesterday and have also read al lot of the commentary from others, the newest one from James Joyner:
Jon Henke, brought aboard a sinking ship as George Allen’s New Media Coordinator, argues that the Left Blogosphere and Democratic candidates did a far better job of working together than their Right/Republican counterparts in the decisive Allen-Webb race in particular and the election in general. Given the number of very close races, Henke proclaims, “Were Democrats not as engaged, they would not have the Senate today; were Republicans more engaged, they would still have the Senate.”
That’s not falsifiable, of course, but it’s at least plausible. While Kos and company have been derided here and elsewhere for their poor showings in the last two election cycles, having an 0-and-whatever record with candidates they supported, they undeniably laid the groundwork for a get-out-the-meme network that is unparalleled on the right.
Kos, MyDD and others pioneered blogs as a communitarian enterprise rather than outlets for individual punditry. John Amato invented video blogging before there was such a thing as YouTube. They have done a tremendous job of capitalizing on the popularity, especially among college students and 20-somethings, of Jon Stewart, Steven Colbert, and (more recently) Keith Olbermann and quickly spreading their more effective bits and rants. Red State, Hot Air, and others have arisen in reaction but have not achieved anything like the critical mass of their predecessors.
As I mentioned, a lot of very thoughtful comments have been made about this. The one thing I have not really seen in the posts I have looked at is the one thing that may be amplifying the apparent results the left achieved. The media being in the tank for the Democrats greatly magnifies the effect the left blogosphere had. That is a serious disadvantage for the Republicans and the right leaning blogs. That the Republicans could do a lot better at utilizing blogs should be apparent to just about anyone at this point. But there is a built-in uphill battle right out of the gate that everyone should be aware of.
See ALF, Dan Riehl, Dean Barnett and AllahPundit for more.
Blogosphere, Politics | Gaius November 19, 2006
By mokus, November 19, 2006 @ 6:00 pm
Yes, yes, the problem has been identified, the GOP doesn’t get it. That’s not news, it became unavoidably obvious when Harriet Miers was nominated for SCOTUS.
The GOP’s Ed Gilespie made sure Conservatives got the message when he accused them of harboring prejudice against women for the sin of openly opposing GWB’s unqualified crony nomination. Yep, Ed, I got your message, and thanks for giving it to me straight.
The issue is clear as a bell, the question is what to do about it. The stupid party has backed off from the ideas which brought them to victory in 1994. Now, they impudently resist understanding the massive voter rejection which swept them from the majority in Congress.
That those who survived the purge actually reelected the same leaders who greased the skids only goes to prove the GOP is as incapable of learning as it is incapable of governing. These guys don’t believe in the fundamental principles of limited government, strong national defense, secure borders, and reduced taxes.
They believe in the people and policies which allowed the Democrats to win the mid-term elections.
At this point, I don’t have any, any, reason to continue to support the GOP. The party behaves as though Conservative convictions are nothing but a joke, a fantasy to be manipulated when the party needs votes, and then ignored or mocked when it comes to the serious business of feathering nests.
Well, I’ve beyond the breaking point. No more will I march in the GOP’s parade. I’m an independent Conservative.
By mokus, November 20, 2006 @ 2:40 pm
I overstated my case:
The GOP isn’t incapable of learning, nor is it incapable of governing. The GOP is resistant to learning and unwilling to govern, and I acknowledge many Republicans do subscribe to Conservative principles.
Additionally, I do have reasons to support the GOP, but my support is conditioned on reciprocal support for Conservative issues.
By Arlo, November 21, 2006 @ 12:43 pm
The political “blogosphere” is the same people who were always interested in politics and now have a way to talk to each other (instead of boring their loved ones) and organize. The mainstream media criticism of ordinary people talking politics on the internet is pretty disgusting. To hell with them.
I think the media is pretty Republican-friendly. You should get Media Matters reports or the reports that FAIR puts out. Some of the Republican-leaning stuff is just bizarre and idiotic, like Paula Zahn saying that if you vote for Democrats, it means you want to get blown up! I don’t know what would justify Katy Couric having Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity on her free speech segments; who on the Democrats’ side comes even close to those two clowns?
By Gaius, November 21, 2006 @ 12:44 pm
Oh for pete’s sake. Olberman.