What is Daily Kos

I was explaining Daily Kos to someone not from here, and I think I stumbled upon the right explanation. It's not radically different from what's been said, but I don't think I've seen IMO the right analogy before.

Imagine a corporation where the board of directors and top management have not been serving the shareholders' interests. That's the Democratic Party and many big, issue-oriented advocacy groups on the left. Daily Kos is about organizing the shareholders.

Maybe Markos already used the analogy in Crashing the Gate and I'm having memory problems, but as far as I do remember, I haven't seen it put that way.

So what's your definition of Daily Kos?

•  Hmmm... at it's best?

  A progressive fundraising & organization network with comment threads.

  by Addison on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 03:22:53 PM PDT

  •  If that's your idea of what its best

    is, I think that's kind of sad.  Not necessarily inaccurate, but still sad.

    by a gilas girl on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 03:52:23 PM PDT

    •  No...

      ...it's "at it's best" because "community" on its own doesn't elect Democrats. Some of the things we like best about Dkos may in fact be the most useless things about it. It's fun, it's informative, it's a lot of things that don't by themselves do a damn thing to change the country.

      The warm fuzzy parts of Dkos are, almost by definition, insulated from the country and processes we want to change.

      The utilitarian parts are the best parts because they're actionable. They accomplish something outside the user base.

      by Addison on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 04:01:06 PM PDT

      •  What I meant

        had nothing to do with "the warm and fuzzy parts", as you are calling them.  I was talking about the intellectual resources and political assests of hope and change and sustainability that were, ironically, in much greater stock before the place became explicitly a site for dem organizing and fundraising and thus looked started focusing on purveyors of hope/change rhetoric "out there".  There was a lot more of what people now say they are looking for in (and for) the Democratic Party at work here in dKos, before the place turned that into its mission.  Its odd that in the very act of doing that, trying to build on the strength and resources the place had to bring that to Dem Party politics, if you will, it sort of killed it here.  There was a potential this place had before it became what it now is (not unusual, that's the case with everything).  The loss of that saddens me, even as I recognize it is simply part of the process.

        While I could go back and forth with you for hours on your assertions about the utilitarian parts (as well as your rather limited vision of what's utilitarian), there's no point to that anymore.   Your assertions illustrate a fait accompli that is, for me, sad. The place isn't "becoming" anymore, and so lots of types of energy are no more.  It now "is" and for me, that's the sadness I was referring to, not a sadness per se of what that "is" actually is (i.e. I'm not referring to being sad about the content of what it is now), but that the possibilities of potential that did once dance across so much else that was also here and that did fuel a resource that's both utilitarian and intangible at the same time, have been harnessed and tamed and thus transformed.  That some of that was never fully recognized and valued, but allowed to slip away is something of a missed opportunity.  

        by a gilas girl on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 04:24:11 PM PDT

        •  I think it's always "becoming"

          and I hope that it moves back somwhat in the direction you and I both miss.

          by Dvd Avins on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 04:45:57 PM PDT

        •  Well...

          Well, all I can say is that 3 or 4 years ago I thought the best parts of Dkos were same exact things I do now. Cash and organization. Cash to fund candidates with a progressive voice. Organization to collectively fight against the right.

          And just because I think something represents Dkos at its best doesn't mean I think the other parts aren't valuable. I think you're really going at my response without thinking about how it might just be the MAIN thing I like and not the ONLY thing, and I can't understand why you're interested in doing that.

          I did like Dailykos better, however, when there were long discussions about issues -- I remember abortion rights, role of religion in politics, and others -- and issues in the abstract, divorced from candidates.

          That's pretty much toast these days.

          by Addison on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 04:52:47 PM PDT

          •  Even tho it was directed at you

            my comment wasn't really about you (badly written on my part, sorry).  I think what saddened me the most is to see a perception of what the place is put down in such concise, concrete and utilitarian terms.  It was that particular jolt, a jolt that was heightened when I realized how in so many ways your assessment was right on the money (pun intended).  That's where the sadness came in, more than anything. It makes me sad that the first thing (and most highly valued thing) that comes to mind is the fundraising. That's personal with me, and has nothing to do with you, I should have made that clearer.  My apologies for that.  

            by a gilas girl on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 05:56:53 PM PDT

•  Lately...

  ...it's the place I go to have any and all enthusiasm I'm feeling about the presidential election drained out of me.

  by phenry on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 03:24:21 PM PDT

•  To me it's a place where posters write

  substantive diaries meant to engage and debate the issues of the day.

  by Asinus Asinum Fricat on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 03:25:11 PM PDT

  •  Well, ideally

    However more recently, I'll have to go Shakespearean to describe it

    ...it is tale
    Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
    Signifying nothing.

    (Macbeth, Act V, Scene 5)

    by Frankenoid on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 03:31:46 PM PDT

    •  Indeed

      The last 24 hours have not been a very good time at DailyKos, between the accusations of racism, bigotry, and dirty tricks I feel like the whole place has been infected by GOP concern troll spies.

      Get a grip, people.

      by punkdavid on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 03:41:42 PM PDT

•  Well, it's about electing Democrats

  Unfortunately, the part about reforming the party has largely gone by the wayside, I feel.

  by PsiFighter37 on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 03:25:53 PM PDT

  •  I suppose the primaries

    have taken over.  But surely the candidate advocates would argue that supporting this or that candidate is a way of supporting reform of the party.

    by LithiumCola on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 03:34:43 PM PDT

    •  Even without the primaries...

      I sort of feel that the 'crashing the gate' spirit had largely dissipated.

      by PsiFighter37 on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 03:41:29 PM PDT

    •  The candidate advocates might.

      But support of a candidate is not talk on an issue, nor have I seen much discussion of what votes are happening as a result of who is in Congress and how they got there.

      We saw a lot of talk and pleas for funds for a lot of congressional reps / senators last election. How much analysis has gone into how that is working out in terms of party reform? Should we be devoting our time and resources differently to affect then effect the change we want to see?

      Maybe we should put a little more focus into educating ourselves and learning how to advocate for policies instead of candidates, who are in the whole thing for very different reasons.

      Let's face it: neither the candidates nor the party needs our blogging. We need it to talk about what we want our candidates and party to be.

      And then we need to act on it - and (and here is where we all begin to part ways) - maybe we need to decide that we aren't for just anybody in the Democratic party. And I don't mean just Joe Liebermann (when he was in the party, that is).

      The two goals expressed for this site are not compatible in an election. That's a problem when we get into a permanent election cycle.

      Clearly, real change begins with good arguments for important issues. We're not much of an agent for change right now, are we?

      by vox humana on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 03:47:20 PM PDT

  •  Sometimes its about more than Democrats

    those are actually the times when it shines, I find.

    by a gilas girl on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 03:53:36 PM PDT

•  DAILY KOS

  is a place that i can go to cause a clusterfuck in Michigan

  by Lawdog on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 03:26:19 PM PDT

•  DailyKos = HILLARY CLINTON 08!

  by Wide Stance on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 03:29:35 PM PDT

•  I know I know!

  A barrel of dry powder?

  by ActivistGuy on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 03:29:44 PM PDT

•  A repository for outrage...

  ...puncuated with a smattering of real progressive thought.

  by snout on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 03:29:52 PM PDT

•  Better op-eds than you'll find in the MSM

  Off the top of my head, I can name 100 people who post here who are better writers than the hacks who clog up the mainstream media with their warmed-over columns.

  by Dump Terry McAuliffe on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 03:32:36 PM PDT

•  A reality based alternate reality

  "Generosity, Ethics, Patience, Effort, Concentration, and Wisdom"

  by Dood Abides on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 03:33:14 PM PDT

  •  Sometimes a real baseness alternating w/reality.

    by vox humana on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 03:48:35 PM PDT

  •  would that the "alternate" part

    really were was it was, rather than simply part of the mythos of what it is.

    by a gilas girl on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 03:55:13 PM PDT

    •  you have a point.

      "Generosity, Ethics, Patience, Effort, Concentration, and Wisdom"

      by Dood Abides on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 06:00:35 PM PDT

•  MySpace for wonks and activists

  by VelvetElvis on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 03:33:26 PM PDT

  •  Almost

    Though MySpace has actual tools for organizing events, commuicating within subgroups etc.  One hopes such technologies are part for DK v4.0 if it's not to get stuck at the level of being a particularly noisy ATM for Dem Party pols.

    by ActivistGuy on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 03:41:26 PM PDT

•  not what it was 2 years ago

  and not even 1 year ago. Too much sniping and undermining of other peoples comments. Still....a 7 out of a possible 10...well, maybe an 8....

  by Penguins in Burma on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 03:34:55 PM PDT

  •  Amen

    by kamosa on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 03:40:13 PM PDT

  •  Hmm. To me the Golden Age was post-primary 2004

    I think the 2004 Front Pagers were even better, collectively, than we've had since. And Kos himself was as good an analyst as he still is but had not yet discovered how easy it was to take enemy quotes out of context for a cheap story.

    I still think having us together here corrseponding does further the CTG mission and I still think most of what's on the front page is worthwhile.

    I think the Recommended Diaries section has contributed negatively, though. It makes the most angry and usually misleading diaries get the most attention.

    by Dvd Avins on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 03:51:53 PM PDT

  •  then definately not what it was

    5 & a half years ago.  

    by a gilas girl on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 03:57:25 PM PDT

•  I just told a friend today about the Daily

  Kos. I said it was a blog geared towards electing Democrats and Progressives. I also said it was a place to gain a lot of knowledge of the Gov. and the people in our Gov. Then I went on to tell of the educational diarys about Home Repair,Photoblogging,Birds,Painting,and SAD.  I am sure I left some out.I also told her to wait until after the Primarys to check it out. She would crap her pants if she checked it out now, Heh Heh!

  by Owllwoman on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 03:35:59 PM PDT

•  I saw this diary title

  and suddenly I had the urge to watch Jeopardy.

  by kestrel9000 on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 03:37:41 PM PDT

  •  Jeopardy

    Known for its outlandishly open style of commentary, this left-wing site is the most popular political blog on the internet.

    by smokeymonkey on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 03:53:16 PM PDT

•  It's what you make of it.

  Really.

  by MajorFlaw on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 03:38:28 PM PDT

  •  It's like a box of choklits

    You never know what you're gonna git.

    by phenry on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 03:39:39 PM PDT

    •  Nope.

      Lately I knew exactly what I wuz gonna get here--which leads to an obvious question...

      by MajorFlaw on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 03:42:15 PM PDT

•  When you need to get away

  from the petty problems in your life, you can come here and listen to wildly articulate people engage in...pettiness.

  Seriously for me, DKos does remind me that there is a big world out there, beyond my home and work doors.

  by anotherCt Dem on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 03:39:05 PM PDT

  •  Hold the phones...we have a winner!

    Nailed it, commenter #27?  You can pick up your coffee mug & T-shirt on the Kos homepage...& thanks once again for playing, "What Is Kos?"

    by birds and bees on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 04:01:32 PM PDT

    •  I'd like to thank my agent

      who never lost faith in me, the best cast and crew, including those on the picket line...

      by anotherCt Dem on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 05:37:15 PM PDT

•  Just taking a wild stab at it...

  a loosely organized herd of "pooties"?

  Sorry, no pics handy.

  by birds and bees on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 03:40:37 PM PDT

•  Today?

  DailyKos.com is a community of lunatics unable to humanely interact with one another in person and so use the internet to deride viewpoints they disagree with.

  Yes, I do the same.

  No, I'm not going to write a worthless meta-diary about it and how we should all just calm down.

  See ya in September once they've actually chosen a candidate.

  Oh, and so it isn't a negative comment, I got another great job opportunity today.

  :):):)

  by smokeymonkey on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 03:50:35 PM PDT

•  Well...

  there is this, something it looks like a lot of people do forget from time to time.

  by a gilas girl on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 04:02:37 PM PDT

  •  I'll give you a "4"...

    for interjecting a tone of seriousness; some of the clowns around here do get carried away occasionally...myself included.  That said, laughter is still the best medicine...providing it's part of comprehensive universal healthcare package.

    Ciao!

    by birds and bees on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 04:21:02 PM PDT

    •  a gilas girl is quite a special one

      She's got the touch and she's speaking of the depths of this site... if you could hear it.

      It is a moment of poignancy and, in all seriousness, we should pause and examine it.

      Our... constitutional heritage rebels at the thought of giving government the power to control men's minds. Thurgood Marshall

      by bronte17 on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 05:08:21 PM PDT

      •  It wasn't my intention to disparage her comment...

        I did take time to read her "linked" comment and also noted her "user number"; not many around here can claim that longevity on the site.  I have been an avid reader, if not active contributor, since close to the inception of dailykos.  I'm sorry if my comment caused any offence; none was intended. I think the diary title may have inspired a little bit of extra lunacy on the part of a few of us.  The candidate wars that seem to have overwhelmed the site recently do take a toll on one's sanity at times.  I appreciate your comments as I do those of all serious participants on this great site.
        Best wishes to you and gilas girl...I'm on your side.

        by birds and bees on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 06:13:45 PM PDT

        •  Look, it's not so much "user number" as it is

          just taking the time to get the feel of the place and listening and respecting other people and their thoughts and special attributes that they bring.

          a gilas girl doesn't touch base here very often... well, not commenting, and you could say that of many people that we have in our collective memory from this site.

          I didn't mean to single you out... it wasn't intended as such.  The week has been long and today just... it's an ugly day... across more sites than just this one.

          Cheers to you, b & b

          Our... constitutional heritage rebels at the thought of giving government the power to control men's minds. Thurgood Marshall

          by bronte17 on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 06:49:35 PM PDT

          •  Maybe you'll enjoy this...

            my kid in Junior High did a science paper based on one of Devilstower's diaries:
            http://www.dailykos.com/...
            His teacher just about lost it; she said she couldn't understand any of it and wanted to know if he did.  He tried to explain it, with minimal success; she wasn't buying the idea that 13 year olds would be studying or discussing quantum physics.  What a fiasco.  Listing dailykos as one of his reference sources really stood her hair on end.  

            by birds and bees on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 07:07:21 PM PDT

            •  Heh...

              That was a good one. Brought a chuckle and a big grin.

              That's what we're here for.

              Our... constitutional heritage rebels at the thought of giving government the power to control men's minds. Thurgood Marshall

              by bronte17 on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 07:27:18 PM PDT

•  Sauna for the mind

  Much needed in the winter months, when the temperature drops below 20 (C) and the winds pick up.

  Best enjoyed with a nice single-malt scotch.

  by MakeChessNotWar on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 04:14:52 PM PDT

•  Daily Kos

  A place on the internet where a progressive living in a neocon stronghold can find other progressives to help maintain one's sanity.

  At least, that's why I'm here.

  OH...

  ...it's also a forum dedicated to electing democrats and reforming the party...with bonus mojo goodness.

  "They're all crazy. They're all crazy except you and me. Sometimes I have me doubts about you." -- Garrett Fort

  by Spathiphyllum on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 05:11:42 PM PDT

•  It is a business,

  whose customers are mainstream Democrats.

  by lgcap on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 05:35:11 PM PDT