[Promoted by DHinMI:  There are a lot of very sharp, energetic people at Daily Kos, the kind who aren't cowed in to obsequious submission by the foolish experts, the banal people who fetishize credentials, or the "wise, serious people" who write for the other "wise, serious people," the kind who rave about the latest inanities of David Brooks.  Some of these banal and insecure pundits, these protectors of privilege and suck-ups to power, feel threatened by the media revolution of the last decade.  They were accustomed to talking to us, but they haven't grown accustomed to us talking back to them.  Instead of adapting to this change, or even embracing it, occasionally one of the more insecure but reckless of these "important people" takes a pot shot at us "rabble" at places like Daily Kos.  And invariably someone steps forward to show that the "important person" is actually a fool.  Kurt Andersen's pot shots at the Daily Kos community are foolish and inaccurate, but he at least inspired this witty demolition not only of his shallow article, but also of his shallow-sounding novel.]

Kurt Andersen argues in the current issue of New York Magazine that "The Surge Is Working!^TM", lambasting DailyKos for failing to rejoice appropriately. While Andersen has been reading White House press releases, I have been reading his recent book, Heyday. I'm not sure who's better off. So, as much as I detest the "open letter," I feel it is my duty to respond.

Dear Kurt Andersen,

I have, of late, finished reading your 620-page tome Heyday, and in light of your recent comments about DailyKos, feel that it might be worthwhile for us to discuss both works of historical fiction in concert. Frankly, I felt sort of forced into volunteering for this task, because I don’t know anyone else here who’s even managed to read any of your book. We, on the other hand, have on average 487,391 page views per day, so while it is possible for others to join you in poorly-researched criticism of this website, the task of commenting on your book has fallen to me. Luckily, I read your book thoroughly--a technique you yourself might be wise to try--and feel confident in discussing your book on the merits of what it actually said.

On the cover of this weeks New York Magazine (NYM) there is a teaser that says "Kurt Andersen on why liberals hate good news." Here is a link to the article La Vie en Morose

While I enjoy NYM I often find it kind of obnoxious. If you read it enough you start to think something is wrong with you if you aren't helping your kids brush up on their studies for entry into the best pre-school, or if your kids aren't on 12 different psychotropic medications. However they are usually pretty progressive.

What annoys me about this article is that Andresen says he wants progressives to win, but then opines about how we have to ignore "good news" e.g. "The Surge is Working". Its bad enough when you have to listen to Lou Dobbs blathering right wing talking points, but to see this guy get it so wrong really pisses me off