Yesterday, in response to a crap diary on the rec list, I posted the following comment (updated a bit for clarity / context in this diary, notated in brackets []):
There are just too many paid shills and hacks here anymore, sent here to stir up shit and spread disinformation. Many of them have UID's above 150,000 [including you, above 200,000].
If you don't know Jane, why did you bother to put together such a [well] researched, extensive hit job on her?
I submit that you fit my profile.
You deserve the donuts you received.
The subject diarist, while receiving a couple thousand comments, also received a plethora of donuts in the diary tip jar. And I think I know why. Jump.
As the health insurance industry giveaway bill has made its way through the sausage mill of the Senate, Daily Kos has been deluged with passionate arguments on both sides of the bill. I haven't seen a diary or comment, however, where someone actually calls themselves out as either a lobbyist, opinion-maker-on-retainer, or stealth member of an organization with a vested interest in the outcome of the debate. But make no mistake about it:
They're here.
There is a netroots / online "divide and conquer" strategy in play. When the long knives come out against major players in the progressive movement, it seems very clear that opinion shaping efforts have taken a personal turn.
Personalize the debate on the home turf. Demonize your opposition, rather than the ideas your opposition presents. Both of these online forum traits are the signature of a concerted, organized effort (regardless of the topic or cause).
My advance apologies to anyone with a UID over 150,000 - but that is sort of an arbitrary cutoff that occurred prior to the primary wars in 2008. When one progressive specifically calls out and attacks another on DKos, and the attackers UID is over 150,000, my bullshit detector starts to hum a bit, and I give the diary (or comment) a little more scrutiny, such as looking at past diaries and comments. Occasionally, a pattern starts to emerge. If I see a diary (or comment) such as referenced in the intro above, and the person who posted the diary (or comment) hasn't established their credibility on this site by commenting / diarying on a variety of progressive issues (not just HCR, for example), that's a red flag for me.
Make no mistake, DKos is most certainly being used by "professionals" to manipulate opinion either pro or anti-health care legislation.
Caveat emptor.