I'm angry and depressed about the assassination of Kos

[ludwigb]

I agree with Calpundit that Kos should have apologized, if only due to the singular brutality of the events at Fallujah and the fact that by all appearances these people were actually engaged in constructive work.

But honestly, I guess I just don't find his comment offensive. All we are talking about is a comment to a diary post and Kos did retract it, after all. I find it depressing to think that if certain members of DU reach a position of power, their comments on this site will be deconstructed for controversy and we'll be made to apologize for every politically incorrect utterance.

A conservative blogger, Tactitus, who I normally respect, is now suggesting that all money from Kos (and from DU!) is "dirty money". Here's is to hoping Kerry doesn't fall for this 'divide and conquer' rhetorical ploy, dressed in the garb of principled outrage. Tacitus knows, or ought to know, that the vast, vast majority of posters both at Kos and at DU support the troops. We just happen to support the rights of others as well. It digusts me to think that people can argue with a straight face taht the occasional stupid comment or loony member makes our collective money dirty.
(Link to Tactitus' thread)
http://www.testtacitus.org/story/2004/4/3/20557/59051

[imax2268]

1. If your referring to

DailyKos...it's up...or is that something else your talking about...?

[ludwigb]

2. Ah...it wasn't coming up for me

now I see the ads, but the site won't come up. Odd. But I'm glad it's there for you.

[Lindsay]

3. I got the site, too.

Maybe you need to clear your cache or something?

[ursacorwin]

4. this is so huge for this community

i can't believe there isn't more talk of is (although i haven't checked all the threads since sat nite yet...;-)

seriously, for those of you who don't know, something really BAD happened this week for us, specifically those of us who think the internet is a part of the political process. bascially, kos wrote on his blog, "i don't care about mercs in fallujah, i was in the military myself in the first gulf war and i know how they just fuck things up and often deserve what they get." some conservative hack started an email campaign, and the next thing you know kerry and a bunch of other dems de-link from kos.

so, you're saying, "so? i've never heard of kos...so what?"

well, the simple fact is just a week ago Kos and Atrios were at the Unity dinner...with the Big Dog, Kerry, Carter; i think you get the picture. why? because the BLOGGING and INTERNET communities raised nearly $200,000 for kerry and the dems! that's Pioneer and Ranger level fundraising, people! YOU made it possible, and this was your chance to have a real "ear" with the president. kerry's people were starting to take us seriously. it's about access, and money buys it in this sorry political reality of ours.

atrios wrote something really sad but true over at his blog about it, and basically says that kerry is too dumb to understand the nature of the internet. whatever, i've always thought him a bit slow to the learning curve. but the point is, we've been neutralized, once again, by the hypocrisy and activism of the right. it's fine for the VP to go on Rush, but Kerry can't link to a site that raised him ~$90K because a few whining rethugs send an email. and kerry *agrees* with this.

be afraid folks, they aren't going to go down easy. we just got rebuffed, just as we were starting to make a difference. the speed and result of this attack do not bode well for the future of the internet political community.

[pop goes the weasel]

5. this is why

I have no excitement for Kerry. I have not given his campaign a cent, and if this is how he rewards people who do significant fund raising for him, you can bet that I won't be offering my low income mite any time in the future.

[K-W]

6. Way to make a problem worse.

Dont you see that your attitude is just part of the problem? Support Kerry, he is our man to take back the government. Give him your money, dont turn your back because he makes a mistake.

We get mad that the republicans beat us, but then we hand them gifts by being such fickle perfectionists.

[pop goes the weasel]

8. it's not just this one mistake

He has made mistake after mistake, attacking or ignoring the concerns of what ought to be his own fricking base. It won't take much to get my support for Kerry, but it absolutely will take a display of conviction and loyalty to his supporters.

[truthspeaker]

9. but could he ever make as many mistakes as Bush?

Let's face it, just about anybody is better than Bush. Vote for Kerry, continue to support him. Hell, write to him and tell him why he's wrong about Atrios. In fact, let's start a massive email campaign to rival the Rethug smear campaign.

[pop goes the weasel]

17. What will that accomplish?

I have emailed the Kerry campaign before. I now get content-less campaign material on a regular basis. What I have not gotten is an answer. How's your luck been?

I feel like I am being forced into an arranged marriage, with a choice between two suitors I don't want. If I don't go with the unpleasant boring guy who shows no interest in me, then I will be forced to wed the manipulative abuser. Yeah, I'll go with Mr. Boring but don't expect enthusiasm.

[K-W]

10. Im sure you could do better?

Im sure you are Mr. Perfect, and that put in the incredibally complicated and contridictory world of politics you would always find the right answer, even in situations without a real right answer, im sure you would find it.

Kerry is just a man trying to do his best. Now unless you want to argue that he is completely incompetent or fundementally motivated to do bad things, you need to calm down, lower your standards and cope with reality.

[pop goes the weasel]

16. I'm not running

I'm voting. And I will vote, and spend my donations, as I see fit. Is bullying people the best Kerry people can do? "Lower your standards!" What a great rallying cry! So far, I intend to hold my nose and vote for Kerry, despite him and bullying supporters. "Lower your standards" is just about the right slogan. Maybe I should make it my sig line: K-W sez "Lower your standards! Vote Kerry!"

And that's Ms. Perfect, sonny.

[Robbien]

12. Don't turn your back because he makes a mistake?

We should not turn our backs on Kerry if Kerry makes a mistake? But Kos made a mistake and Kerry turned his back on him so fast that the hard line right split a gut laughing at their success. See how they are laughing at the site who promoted the hate mail campaign.
michael-friedman.com

We are in this mess right now because of the hard right and it appears that Kerry will continue appeasing them. Kerry turned his back on one of his own. I am pissed! Very pissed.

[Bandit]

7. Just remember in their books we are all guilty of treason just as in our

books they are guilty of treason. Strong words indeed but at least we have some facts on our side. All they have is some anonymous statements on a web blog. We have outed CIA Agents and many dead people all around the world to lay on their heads. They will be using the Zell Miller rationale of if you speak against this Cabal you support terrorism. Sad many will believe it to be true.

[madfloridian]

11. And the right wing celebrates. A link.

http://michael-friedman.com/archives/000311.html

It tears my heart out to see them make fun of us like this and win. 5 down 4 to go, and they are not even counting Kerry's unlinking of Kos. I woke up today with a lack of enthusiasm.

Bloggers have become a part of our culture now politically. Kos has been one of the best. But websites like the one above organize hits, and our Democrats fold. It is in effect saying that if you are controversial, you get no 2nd chance in the Democratic Party. Ads will be pulled and you will be no longer linked.

This began as a right wing attack, and we buckled at once. They still have the power, I fear.

[madfloridian]

13. Now they are targeting Jeff, whose ad went up on Kos today.

This is awful.

[charlie]

14. Don't worry about Jeff

He's a take-no-shit Democrat. By pointedly standing by Kos through this, he'll enjoy the focused support and $$ of Kos' community, while the other queasy sorts have run for cover. He's smart and tough, and will be rewarded for his courage in this stupid little nickel and dime tempest.

[SoCalDem]

15. Can these freaks be sued?? They are attacking his income

.. as if they set fire to his business because they did not like his politics..

As long as there is a first amendment, he did nothing wrong..They are threatening his advertisers.."hint hint..quit advertising, or we'll go after YOU next"..

isn't extortion illegal??


......example

Follow-up on Stephanie Herseth's (running in SD's special election)association with The Daily KOS, following is a cut and paste from last week's AP story:

"Herseth apparently has no ads running on any blogs now, but she raised thousands of dollars earlier this year from an ad on the Daily Kos site. She raised at least $21,000 in one day on that site, which features many articles and messages that criticize President Bush and other Republicans."

Posted by: Colorado Conservative at April 3, 2004 06:24 AM PERMALINK
Herseth should return her contributions from Daily KOS or else be prepared to tell South Dakotans that her supporters consist of these anti-American creeps.

Posted by: Right on at April 3, 2004 06:26 AM PERMALINK