Same old bullshit, different day

(AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Weeeeee

New on the Web: Politics as Usual

By K. DANIEL GLOVER and MIKE ESSL
Published: December 3, 2006

THE Netroots.” “People Power.” “Crashing the Gate.” The lingo of liberal Web bloggers bespeaks contempt for the political establishment. The same disdain is apparent among many bloggers on the right, who argued passionately for a change in the slate of House Republican leaders — and who wallowed in woe-is-the-party pity when the establishment ignored them.

You might think that with the kind of rhetoric bloggers regularly muster against politicians, they would never work for them. But you would be wrong.

Over the past few years, bloggers have won millions of fans by speaking truth to power — even the powers in their own parties — and presenting a fresh, outsider perspective. They are the pamphleteers of the 21st century, revolutionary “citizen journalists” motivated by personal idealism and an unwavering confidence that they can reform American politics.

But this year, candidates across the country found plenty of outsiders ready and willing to move inside their campaigns. Candidates hired some bloggers to blog and paid others consulting fees for Internet strategy advice or more traditional campaign tasks like opposition research.
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Here is a listing of some of the most influential bloggers who went to work for campaigns this year, what they were paid according to campaign disclosure documents, and praiseworthy posts about their employers or critical ones of their employers’ opponents.

What these assclowns don't get is not every blogger has the same rules. I don't work with, consult with or ccoperate with campaigns on any level beyond what any reporter would do.

Which is why I don't do off the record lunches with pols, and won't take money from them.

But to go after Tim Tagaris, who is a political consultant, as some kind of fence sitter is insane. You have far bigger conflicts in the MSM, but the Times wouldn't run that article. Tim has worked for campaigns as long as I known him, except for a stint at the DNC. The idea that he isn't a political operative, or that there's some hypocrisy involved is insane.

What these cretins don't get is not all bloggers are the same.

Many of us come from journalism backgrounds and don't do politics. Others are looking to get into politics. Look at the relatively small figures that these people have made, and this perncious idea that bloggers are "selling out" is so fucking silly. Some people do politics, some don't.

posted by Steve @ 3:20:00 AM