This sounds like a job for South Park's Eric Cartman.
The vaunted e-elite of the Left, the so-called Netroots, aren't quite what they and the media would have us believe. Far from a mostly middle-class Gen X and Gen Y coalition, blogger Joshua Trevino reminds us the data show Kossacks tend to be rich, areligious, aging hippies forever mentally mired in their glory days of Vietnam protests and Nixon-hating:
A commissioned third-party survey of the DailyKos readership, published in May 2006, revealed that the “netroots” are remarkably synonymous, in demographic terms, with the old “new left” of the Vietnam era: that is, cloistered in coastal enclaves, financially well-off, and aging. Nearly 60% of readers reported making more than $75,000 annually; nearly 62% were over 45 years old; over a third were over 55 years old; and just under a quarter are over 65 years old. Furthermore, as the survey firm reported, their geographic locations “correspond heavily to the coastal ‘blue state’ regions.” This is a cohort, then, that largely came into political consciousness during the Vietnam War and Watergate — and the resultant policy biases and frames of reference, with the hyperbole over President Bush and the insistence on retreat from Iraq, are on stark display today.
It is not merely in material demographics that the “netroots” diverges wildly from the American mainstream it claims to represent. The sources of their fundamental values are also sharply at odds with the mass of Americans. Nowhere is this more evident than in the internal, self-reported polls of religious belief periodically undertaken at DailyKos. At about the same time the ’06 demographic survey was released, a sitewide poll on faith garnered the participation of over 1,400 DailyKos readers. Shockingly, only about 37% definitively affirmed a belief in some manner of monotheism; and just over 40% declared for atheism or agnosticism.
On a related note, MRC/NB's Tim Graham has recently concluded a study that documents the shrill, harsh rhetoric of the left-wing Huffington Post blog.
See also Tim's related NewsBusters blog entry.
—Ken Shepherd is Managing Editor of NewsBusters
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Comments Policy
The shocking part is that
September 13, 2007 - 13:42 ET by greenfairieThe shocking part is that there as many as 37% claiming to be "monotheistic" at all! I suppose the remainder of the Kossacks are pagans of some sort.
Anyway, who knew such vitriol could come from our "elders." The hippies went from not trusting anyone over 30 to not trusting anyone not popping Geritol.
Lunatic Fringe
September 13, 2007 - 18:40 ET by KhyrisNo, the REAL shocking part is the math here:
You are either:
atheist
monotheist
polytheist
don't know (agnostic)
That covers 100% of the spectrum
if 37% are monotheist, and 40% are atheist + agnostic
it follows that 23% are polytheists????
"Mainstream" polytheist religions in the U.S. include Buddhism and Hinduism, which command .4% and .5% of the U.S. population respectively (2001 Census Data)
So nearly a quarter of the nutroots is representative of less than 1% of the U.S. Oh sure, they're not "Fringe." PLEASE!
It gets worse: the same Census Data lists non-religious as 7.5%
So 63% of the nutroots is representative of a paltry 8.4% of the U.S. population.
I can picture them now, the
September 13, 2007 - 13:45 ET by Chris NormanI can picture them now, the men with their formerly long hair, now gray and balding, their salt and pepper stubble the only way to show their rebeliousness, the small, round, wire framed glasses perched on their noses. The women with no makeup, frizzy unkempt hair, and granny dresses, still trying to look like they did in their youth, when they went by names like Evergreen and Solstice...
easy there, Chris
September 13, 2007 - 14:16 ET by Mica the MagnificentI'm a baby boomer.
I turned conservative in 1972 when I voted for the first time - for Nixon.
Before that, I played in a rock band throughout Brooklyn and Queens and met my share of liberal activists. They scared me.
The ones I met were looking to belong to something. Protesting was a group activity and made them feel like their life mattered.
They were communists at the extreme end, but most I met were just trying to meet earth mothers who would go on overnight camping trips with them.
My group of friends were into their college courses (mostly to avoid the draft), working at night, music and trying to find a date to take to the movies.
Not all baby boomers hung out at head shops and in bushes sucking on pipes filled with second rate quality illegal substances while waiting for the o-k to throw a rock through the Dean's window, and now write for blogs while holding their sides trying to pass that stone that Metamucil can't seem to dislodge thinking they still look like Frank Zappa.
So, back off, folks. Some of us don't suck.
Mica, Being a boomer
September 13, 2007 - 15:10 ET by Chris NormanMica,
Being a boomer myself, I wouldn't indict our entire generation. There were plenty of us that contributed in a positive way to society - some with their lives. As for the "hippies", they did a lot of damage that we continue to feel, since many are in positions of influence.
As for the "hippies", they did a lot of damage
September 13, 2007 - 19:17 ET by vrwc13Even if they didn't inhale!
v
Bald + Pony Tail!!
September 13, 2007 - 14:19 ET by motherbeltChris, some of them still have long hair, they're just bald on top LOL. I just LOVE seeing those guys with the sides and back pulled back into a pony tail with the bald dome....Blech!!!
We call that the "three
September 13, 2007 - 14:48 ET by Chris NormanWe call that the "three hair ponytail"...:)
And my favorite - an old
September 14, 2007 - 13:34 ET by misterbee241And my favorite - an old hippie with a bald head and a pony tail. Oh, and of course, the ear stud.
Btw - I'm a boomer too.
And getting all misty eyed
September 14, 2007 - 13:36 ET by Jack BauerAnd getting all misty eyed listening to Lennon's worst song ever: IMAGINE.
Imagine NO POSSESSIONS. Sure John.
One Problem ...
September 13, 2007 - 13:56 ET by mytwocentsThey are'nt aging fast enough to suit me.
I am (sorry to say).....
September 13, 2007 - 13:58 ET by Prester John......part of that generation and went to high school and college with those miserable dope-smoking, long-haired maggots.
They were worthless then and they are just as worthless now.
Aging hippies who are
September 13, 2007 - 13:58 ET by fitzfongAging hippies who are wealthy only because they are living off the fruits of their parents' labor.
The Greatest EGO Generation
September 13, 2007 - 14:02 ET by nkviking75They're the most conceited, arrogant, egotistical generation in history, IMHO. They think they changed the world for the better by making rebellion a virtue. They tried to live in a world removed from the realities of life. Worst of all, a lot of them never figure out how foolish they are. The Summer of Love?? The summer of 1967 was the summer of stupidity. The sooner we erase the influence of the hippie generation from society, the better off we'll all be.
When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.
"They tried to live in a
September 13, 2007 - 14:49 ET by Republic1"They tried to live in a world removed from the realities of life. Worst of all, a lot of them never figure out how foolish they are."
Great summary. This article is well-timed for me, at least. Last evening, I was watching the local PBS pledge drive (WHYY in Philly). And whom did I see extolling the virtues of Bill Moyer's biased smear piece ("Selling the War", I think it was called)? Aging 60's liberals in front of a backdrop of photos, many from their favorite decade. It's been said by many others, but unless the leftists achieve their goal of re-writing history, the 60's should go down as the most ruinous decade of American history.
"Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him." -Muhammad
Their Children Are Even Worse
September 13, 2007 - 15:45 ET by Tom PaineI am a Boomer and I think the most unconscionable thing about many members of my generation is the way they are raising their children. One of the most self absorbed generations in history has raised children who are even more self-absorbed, selfish and entitled. The damage they have done to our educational system with multiculturalism and moral relativism may yet prove to be the undoing of our country. As Dennis Miller said a few weeks ago; we are on the verge of a perfect storm in which a generation raised on multiculturalism will be conquered by a generation of Jihadists intent on destroying us.
well said tom
September 13, 2007 - 21:41 ET by Conservative_in_mass.Many in our generation have squandered the sacrifices made by their parents for a better life. In the process these moonbats are hell bent on destroying the very essence of the America that gave their parents the opportunity to better their lives and in turn enjoy the freedom and resourse they so enjoy today.
How they went astray is anyones guess. The fact that this philosophy has now been passed on to even more aggresive left wing foot soldiers is cause of great concern.
The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese. ~ Unknown
Aging liberal hippy douche...South Park nailed it.
September 14, 2007 - 01:18 ET by Army BratThe only thing that will ever satisfy the Jihadists is our total submission to Islam. That means no freedoms. Islams disguise as a religion is perfect...nearly. Those who can see, know it as a form of ruthless government that controls every aspect of life.
Our PC, tolerance happy society will be the end of us. The cancer was spreading slowly through Europe, but like a freight train, has picked up speed and momentum and their task is nearing completion there.
Love everyone and hurt no-one and respect everyone and tolerate everything...right in to the grave.
Oh...and I'm a Boomer to. Pop did 20 years active then 13 civil service. Decorated numerous times during WWII as well as in the Korean conflict.
I was a rebel without a clue. I spent time with long hair...quite a bit of it in fact. Made my money in a Rock n Roll band for many years singing and crackin' wise.
I went from about as far left as one could get to what my liberal friends now label me. A Nero-conservative. I don't know if that's an insult or what. The strange thing is, I don't recall having any radical changes in how I feel about or view freedom or the rule of law.
We have our revolution every time we vote. We kick the sorry ones out and hire new ones. A bloodless coup on a regular basis. What more could a revolutionary want?
Happy Trails...
BREAKING!
September 13, 2007 - 14:14 ET by Six String SpiffTodays foul mouthed, foaming, incoherent Leftists are just....40 years older than the ones from the sixties. Who knew?
The American Revolution Continued
Berkeley, California is the
September 13, 2007 - 14:31 ET by maggieqpublicBerkeley, California is the city that time forgot. The unregenerated hippies control the university administration and the local government of this “nuclear free zone”. Little has changed in the last 35-40 years. The current local “be-in” consists of protesters who have been living in a few campus oak trees since last winter… in order to save them.
To these MoveOn and Kos types, being revolutionary or radical or progressive means living far in the past. Some of us reformed love-bead people prefer to live in the present and think about the future.
What's really appalling....
September 13, 2007 - 15:06 ET by Prester John....is that these people are the offspring of the generation that grew up in the Depression, survived Pearl Harbor and Bataan, landed on the beaches of North Africa, Anzio, Normandy, Iwo Jima and Okinawa, flew over the skies of Nazi German and Japan, and liberated 100s of millions of people in Europe and Asia.
Where did that (Greatest) generation go wrong with its children?
The old hippies and radical
September 13, 2007 - 15:11 ET by marvlThe old hippies and radical left extremists are cut from the same cloth as the scientologists, and make about as much sense as those nut cases. They all belong in padded cells.
Whoa!!!!
September 13, 2007 - 15:26 ET by bbbossI came from that generation. I am a combat vet of Vietnam and a former member of the Vietnam Veterans Against the War. I dumped those jerks the minute I heard the Frenchman Kerry testify in front of a Congressional Committee that I was lopping heads of kids in Nam. I knew he was lying and embellishing as I was watching it. I did go off the proverbial deep end for about a decade and after I finally came out of the fog of dope and booze in 1981, I slowly (took a few years) became more and more politically conservative. Ending to what I am now; probably more conservative than many of you....and with a white beard and long white hair......long hair on old men and loony leftism are not necessarily inclusive. So easy on the long hair jokes.......
Todays peace activists are
September 13, 2007 - 19:06 ET by BDTodays peace activists are attempting to justify their lives since the 1960's.
In order for the War in Vietnam to remain bad and their activities to remain just, all wars must necessarily be bad incluidng wars of national defense such as the one we are currently fighting.
Let us just say they have had LOTS of therapy....
Liveshot
September 14, 2007 - 21:10 ET by Conservative_in_mass.boss:
first off, thank you for your service. Here's a link you may find amusing http://liveshot.cc/. Kerry is called "liveshot" up here because he loves photo ops.
Such a self absorbed fool. I know, my fellow citizens keep electing him, what can I say. Again, my sincere thanks for your service to our country.
The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese. ~ Unknown
newsbusters should do a survey
September 13, 2007 - 16:18 ET by kurt muellerIt would be interesting if Newsbusters would conduct a survey of its users re these attributes.
Head line
September 13, 2007 - 17:05 ET by BarkerNetroots: Too Much Brown Acid?
Perfectly normal
September 13, 2007 - 19:25 ET by SlicksterWent to Vietnam, came home, raised a family and enjoyed life to the beset of my ability, no shame, no nightmares, no remorse except that we should have killed more communists in Vietnam and then here at home. I do still enjoy running old hippies off the road and commenting in public how foul their women smell.
Let's not forget
September 13, 2007 - 23:29 ET by Nortonalecwho started the Viet Nam war-the boomer's hero, JFK. I love how that is always omitted from the starry-eyed fawning puff-pieces the MSM does about Camelot.
Nortonalec
JFK Could Not be a Dem Today
September 14, 2007 - 08:38 ET by Tom PaineExactly. Looking back, JFK was anti Communist, strong on defense and cut taxes. By today’s journalistic standards he would be a wild eyed conservative and well to the right of Arlen Specter.
Aging hippies and netroots
September 14, 2007 - 09:13 ET by Charles B. SimpsonI can almost guarentee that 99% of these old hippies have never served in the Armed Forces.
Liberal Netroots: A Bunch of Aging Hippies
October 10, 2007 - 17:16 ET by wellinartHuman nature is so facinating. Patterns of reacting and using reactionism as logic always is astounding to watch.
Reactionism, I have come to recognize is logic that is frozen... it really is differences that are the wealth of our living experiences while we are in this life. What is more true is that we have more in common with one another than in actual differences...
Therefore, ranting seems to be a phase that we all potentially need to pass through at one time or another, and that would be the point. Recognize that moment in one's own life when reactionism has served constuctive purpose, and then move on to observations that show growth in intrapersonal conmmunication skills, for example.
I personally, was really expecting this younger generation to be so much more enlightened... in our current time, this unfortunate chaos is a shared responsibility. There is no way around that.