Daily Kos: Venerable Lede

Political Contributions by US Corporations: Some nice charts

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Sunday September 27, 2009 · 2:48 PM PDT

2009/09/27 · 14:48

These charts come to us from Sociological Images via Chart Porn. Basically, you can create custom to charts to arrange corporate contributions by size and by Democrat/Republican
leaningness."

Now, I don't plan on rearranging my life too much to avoid right-leaning corporations. But maybe next time I'm renting a car from the airport, I'll choose Hertz over Enterprise and Avis. And next time I'm on a road trip and considering dinner, I'll drive past the exit with a Cracker Barrel and see what awaits me up ahead.

Lessons from the death of Ted Kennedy

Venerable Lede

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Wednesday August 26, 2009 · 11:21 AM PDT

2009/08/26 · 11:21

The death of Senator Ted Kennedy has evoked an outpouring of grief from the country. And it's not just from Democrats mourning their progressive champion - those who never agreed with him respected him too. Kennedy was flawed, but as so many have noted today, he was a tireless, steadfast public servant who actually changed the lives of millions for the better, and was the embodiment of progressive charisma. People knew what he stood for, and even those who disagreed can respect that.

I want to contrast all of this to a post by Matt Yglesias in which he attempts to understand the psychology of the dime-a-dozen centrist Senators, addicted to power, who are willing to sell out legislation that insures millions or preserves the environment as we know it in exchange for another six-year term of doing nothing.

Politico's Insight: The Left criticizes its politicians

Venerable Lede

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Sunday May 17, 2009 · 8:48 PM PDT

2009/05/17 · 20:48

To be fair, the title of the latest trenchant trends piece out of Politico is Some on Left Souring on Obama. And I guess that some probably have.

But what evidence does the author cite? A quote each from Rachel Maddow and Andrew Sullivan, who - while they have criticized Obama, and often rightly - I certainly wouldn't characterize as "soured." And then we get a quote from Michael Meyers of the New York Civil Rights Coalition who says, "No president is a messiah.”

Not the son of God? If that's not a ringing criticism, what is?

There are two issues here. One, the lack of any references to public opinion polling, which show Obama as popular on the left as ever. And two, a depressing lack of understanding of what exactly responsible journalists, bloggers, and political organizations contribute to democracy - and what responsible, partisan journalists and bloggers can contribute to the strength of their party.

2008 Turnout: A Failure to Think Statistically

Venerable Lede

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Sunday November 09, 2008 · 7:53 AM PST

2008/11/09 · 07:53

Today the Politico has an article titled, rather snarkily, That huge voter turnout? Didn't happen.

From David Paul Kuhn:

The Democratic increase struck some analysts as modest, considering the party’s immense get-out-the-vote operation, strong anti-Bush sentiment and Obama's popularity.

"It sort of calls into question some of the vaunted ground game discussion, the whole turnout machine," said a Democratic strategist who did not want to be quoted by name criticizing Obama’s campaign. "The GOTV effort was redoubled in 2008 compared to 2004, but it did not seem to make that big of a difference."

David Brooks has a center-right country to sell you

Venerable Lede

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Saturday November 08, 2008 · 11:42 AM PST

2008/11/08 · 11:42

Pay no attention to David Brooks, ever. His misdirection is subtle, laced with words which sound measured, considered, moderate. He is read by well-meaning liberals eager to flatter themselves as ideologically non-sequestered, non-partisan free thinkers. (Tip: read the National Review instead. It's the least distorted window into the rightists' minds.) But with David Brooks, it's all about the subtext. Let's review his latest sugarcoated message in which Brooks approaches Tuesday's victors in the guise of conciliatory bipartisanship: The events of November 4th, when Democrats picked up at least six senate seats, 20 house seats, the electoral votes of Indiana, North Carolina, Virginia, and Omaha, and when a Democrat won the presidency with over 50% of the popular vote for the first time since Jimmy Carter did not represent any leftward movement in the electorate.

Come again, Mr. Brooks? "This was an election where the middle asserted itself."

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