There are a Group of Kossacks who have a pretty unique view of the themes and mood running through teh Orange at any particular moment.
That is not because the Rescue Rangers are different, we are not. We are, first and foremost Users, readers, writers and commenters.
We gain a view simply because we read all the Diaries, pretty much in the order they post to the Lists, and usually in close to real time.
Let's jump the dead orange armadillo
So when something major happens in the world, we see it reflected in the Diaries.
When a singer dies we read the tributes (and the nonsense)
When Markos unites the site we see the "tributes", and the poutrage, and the genuine dismay, and the concern trolling ... and the support.
Usually the pace is not so frenetic, but tonight I saw something else ... Tonight was "Women's Night" on Daily Kos. I, for one, hope it turns into women's week, women's month, indeed women's year; and that the women are sufficiently outraged by attacks on their privacy and freedom of choice that they sweep the President back to the White House on a tidal wave of angry hormones (don't hurt me), then actually get him to do the right thing!
We, as a group, remain agnostic about the subjects of the Diaries we Rescue. So when a Ranger, who is simply looking for the best she can find, plonks three rants, from three women, in our Queue, then my interest picks up because that usually says that something is afoot.
Three powerful Diaries from three angry women is, I think, simply testament to the fact that someone in the political discourse is making a terrible mess of Campaigning. I guess were it only campaigning they might shrug it off because we expect that, but it isn't.
Personhood Legislation in Virginia and Oklahoma ... similar moves in other places too. All dressed up as some "right to life" and "Shouldn't we protect the unborn babies and at least force the women to see who they are murdering?". I never see those same politicians expressing the slightest concern at all for the millions of disadvantaged children who have already been born, so I can hardly be blamed for feeling that their concern must be about something else.
Last go around the scalp won by the Right was ACORN. Okay, that was bad but at least I understand the logic of them attacking that organisation, however mean and disingenuous the fake outrage was at the activities of a much needed Community Organising Group.
This time it is Planned Parenthood. We have seen a concerted effort to damage PP for a year now. Some of the attacks have impacted PP, and some have backfired spectacularly but in the end, the current "bogeyman" of the Right is a completely stupid choice of target.
If pandering to a rabidly extreme Right is the only way to get a nomination, then surely Chris Christie actually made the smart decision by deciding not to play. We have witnessed Mitt Romney go from some semblance of a moderate Republican, to a guy who tries to out-Santorum Tricky Ricky himself, and in doing so alienate half the electorate. In their desperate race to the Right they are making themselves unelectable to the point where even Sarah Palin is looking forward to a brokered convention ... Oh I hope so, what fun!
I know that Diaries on Daily Kos are not really a barometer of anything Nate Silver measures, but when the women, smart women, vocal and articulate women begin to rant in unison, then were I a Republican right now, I would be worried.
The Diaries ... Read them, Recommend them, and encourage and join them. They can win this fight if we get behind them and push in the same direction.
It's the Democracy, stupid! - a gilas girl
Women, Interrupted - VetGrl
Abscess - SueM1121
I dunno ... maybe it's me. I can sometimes see things that are not there, it's a fault.
However, the complete contrast between the flood of single-issue Diaries of yesterday, and the apparent return to the real issues today struck me as significant.
Women are under-represented in senior positions, too few in number in Elected Office and we could use more of them taking an interest, and being active in politics .... If these three start campaigning, then I hope they are campaigning for me, and not against me!
I'll let you all draw your own conclusions from all this, but I am going to leave you with my own version of Top Comments:
In the Diary by VetGrl, from Regina in a Sears Kit House
This comment:
I think it's time for a march too. A very large one.
Regina in a Sears Kit House was your Ranger tonight ... I think we need to hear her rant too!