This is one of those moments.
On this site.
Moment Of Truth.
There;s been LOTS of preaching here about the difference between the Democratic Party (grass roots democracy) and the Republican Party (top down, power driven democracy). It has been roundly understood that the FORMER is the true expression of the people.
Well, right now... on the front page... there's an idea being floated and ROUNDLY rejected... both on its merits and on its conception. It LOOKS bad... feels WORSE... has nothing REALLY to do with the concept of democracy that we espouse... and it fits the previously FALSE narrative that Democrats are about "stealing elections".
Also... it is an EXACT COPY OF A REPUBLICAN TACTIC FROM 2008.
(I mean, shall we also vilify gay people and immigrants?)
And now we arrive at the VERY interesting moment...
...where the powers that be can either LISTEN to the constituents (voters) or the powers that be can ignore the will of the people and dig in their heels and get defensive.
The former... is GRASS ROOTS democracy and shows a kind of humility and grace that we can all applaud.
The later... is 95% of Publicly Elected Officials.
(BTW, the Republican tactic of prolonging the Democratic primary worked REALLY well in 2008. I mean we lost that Presidential election in a LANDSLIDE.)
Teachable moments anyone?
(What if from here forward... Dems voted in all open Republic elections and Repubs in Dems! Then we could chose each others nominees! As Tony the Tiger once said, "It'll be GRREEEEEAT!")
I leave it at that for the moment.
7:01 PM PT: Ah... it's now been cited on Rachel Maddow... so it's about site traffic.
Sigh.
Thu Feb 16, 2012 at 7:37 AM PT: FWIW, my comment in Kos' diary...
It's tin-eared and from a tactical... (2+ / 0-)
...standpoint utterly silly.
1) The Republican part appears to need no help extending the election and destroying their own candidates.
2) This same tactic -- 4 years ago -- didn't hurt the Democrats at all... but did make Rush Limbaugh and the republicans look like douchbags.
3) Money that could be spent on smaller races... senate and house... will be used on what appears to be a "Hey, look at us gesture."
The objection is not "oh My gosh, how dare us?!?"... it's "Jesus Christ don't be fucking stupid."
Oh, and also... when you take a swipe at a MAJORITY OF YOUR READERS... do it with a little more elegance.
Signed,
Someone-Never-Accused-Of-Being-A-Shrinking-Violet.