SFChronicle: Helping Clinton Make Up With the Nutroots of Daily Kos

Photo of Warner Todd Huston.

It is well known that Hillary Clinton is not the most well-liked Democratic candidate with the Nutroots and the kids at the Daily Kos. She is often excoriated for not being enough of an anti-war candidate and many feel she betrayed the "cause." Still, most left leaning Americans assume that she will be the Democrat Party's nominee and some, like the San Francisco Chronicle, are interested in smoothing the differences between the assumed powerful Internet lefties and candidate Hillary Clinton. Today we get the SFChron acting in the role of mediator, trying to get readers to believe that Hillary is seeing a "thaw" in the hate the nutroots has shown her thus far. They sure hope so, anyway, and here is their bid to help that "thaw" along.

On top of hoping to help smooth the waters for Hillary Clinton, the Chron also goes ga ga over the YearlyKos convention being held in Chicago.

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The second annual gathering of the Daily Kos political blog starts this week in Chicago, and here's all you need to know about how influential the YearlyKos convention has become: Five top presidential candidates are going -- including front-runner Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, even though the Kos bloggers don't like her that much.

Analysts say the community of liberal online activists -- the "netroots" -- has become not only a coveted constituency for the left but a legitimate threat to conservatives, who trail Democrats in online campaigning and fundraising.

I have but one question to ask of how "influential" the nutroots has been: What candidate have they gotten elected by flexing that "influence?"

Answer: So far, no one.

Still, I don't want to gloss over their power to raise money from small donors! We conservatives lag behind the nutroots in political donations and that aspect does, indeed, give them a measure of influence. But it has yet to translate into real, substantive power.

So, what of the Hillary make over the Chronicle is trying to foster?

Most liberal bloggers detest Clinton for her 2002 vote authorizing President Bush to pursue military action in Iraq. ... Yet Clinton's relationship with liberal bloggers may be starting to thaw. This week, she sent her spokesman to defend the Kos bloggers against attacks made by Fox News commentator Bill O'Reilly on JetBlue Airways, the convention's most prominent corporate sponsor.

The Chronicle would love this “thaw” to be the case. Fortunately, there is no real evidence that such a thing is taking place except in the Chronicle's fevered imagination.

Naturally, the Chronicle is full of bright and kind things to say about the YearyKos convention taking place in Chicago. It was refreshing, however, that the Chron gave the political right a chance to air their opinion on the leftie blogosphere in this report. Both sides given time like this does not happen very often in the press these days.

The Chron mentioned one thing that, while true as we speak, might not be true much longer...

On the conservative side, A-list speakers assemble at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) -- where Ann Coulter referred to former Sen. John Edwards with an anti-gay slur earlier this year. But CPAC doesn't have an online community.

And conservatives don't have anything quite like the Daily Kos blog, either. There are highly popular conservative blogs, like MichelleMalkin.com and Instapundit.com. But analysts say the Daily Kos functions more like a community, where liberal smack-talk, tips and strategy are traded and underreported stories are tipped.

CPAC is a dead concept, it seems. It always gets the same crew, never growing much and is not launching itself into the new age of the Internet at all. We conservatives are wasting great opportunities to organize and spread the word.

The Chron makes a good point about the higher level of enthusiasm and activity that the left has exhibited thus far. In answer to this, there is one thing for conservative bloggers on the near horizon that will help us catch up with the left's power on the Internet. A new conservative Blogger's convention is coming in October and it promises to be the first in a series of such conventions that will help energize the right like the YearlyKos has energized the left.

The Conservative Leadership Conference is planning Right-toberfest, a large convention to be held in Reno, Nevada on October 12th, 13th and 14th of this year. They promise some high-powered guests, panels and the like to rival a YearlyKos styled event. It promises to be an amazing weekend. Go see more on the Conservative Leadership Conference at:http://www.clc07.com/index.html

I have already made my own plans to be there and I hope to meet some Newsbusters there. Sign up soon because we need to get rollin' folks. We can't let the left beat us with the Internet. I mean, Al Gore may have invented it, but WE should OWN it!


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Hmph. One "cloaked"

Hmph. One "cloaked" Republican campaign is doin' just fine online, especially for this-early, and despite the fact that both the media and media bias busting groups don't seem to wanna notice. In fact, especially if you consider "meetups," Ron Paul TOTALLY kicks the asses of not only everyone else in the field this time, but pre-scream Howard Dean back when the media was fawning on him (instead of trying to ignore him like they are Dr. Paul) as well. For example, despite the fact that we're Republicans too, Novak saves the "ugly" truth he doesn't want to tell for the very-end, but Bob obviously sensed (amid barbs about all the antilibertarian bias from people like me) that he had to finally-tell it.

As for CPAC, yep, they're dead. Good riddance, too, IMO. Chances are even the Kostards aren't dimwitted-enough to let some foul mouthed pundit who's not running for anything entirely take the place of various serious Democrat candidates -- even the ones that are low in the polls. See the difference?? I warned 'em about that particular stupidity (and blatant, media-like antilibertarian bias) at the time right here on NB. They ignored me and now they're irrelevant. Moral? Ignore me, and if/when you falter I'll make fun of ya for being dumber than the Kostards! :)
JMR

Hate is a great motivator...

If you've been to the DailyKos me to throw up...you've seen the hatred and vitriol that rules there. Hatred is a great tool... find someone to blame for all your ills, a focus point for why you aren't happy and rich. People will come together in many ways to defeat that which they perceive to be evil. (Republicans are evil people out to ruin the country in order to make themselves and their friends rich while wasting lives in Iraq. Is that about it?) I'm sure the historical comparisons I've thought of have already come to your mind also. It's so weird to read the things they write during a time when the global arena of the internet has become what it is. The Jihadists must LOVE the DailyKos. They can go there and find even more reasons to believe that they are doing the right thing...as if our freedom isn't reason enough to kill us. Happy Trails...

Army Brat said:

"Hatred is a great tool... find someone to blame for all your ills, a focus point for why you aren't happy and rich. People will come together in many ways to defeat that which they perceive to be evil."

Isn't that exactly how Hitler got his power from "the people"?

Besides, I'd bet my life that many Jihadists (and Socialists & Communists) are posting a lot of the hate comments to continue that philosophy and keep the flame going.  In other words:  "Let me help you get yourself killed, and your country destroyed."   DailyKos morons!

Question about the new conference

Warner, I note they managed to put a "/libertarian" after the word "conservative," but I've seen enough bias from allegedly-friendly groups by now that frankly, I'm more than a bit wary. Do these people mean to explicitly-say that they're gonna turn over a new leaf and vanquish the failed antilibertarian bias of groups like CPAC? Will people like me, if we choose to pay to attend, be allowed to have an actual voice, fairly commensurate with our numbers? IOW, will there be actual fairness & balance for libertarian types for a change? If so, I suggest they get a bit more explicit about it than just a "/libertarian," not due to any fault of their own (they're new!) but due to faults like CPAC's described above as a taunt, but a damn serious-bias-taunt, by me. I'm sorry I can't be "nicer" and more trusting here, but I see Heritage -- not CATO -- among the sponsors, & some long experience is guiding my words on this one...
JMR

It is so new that I cannot

It is so new that I cannot tell you which way they would lean in the end to be honest. It seems to me, though, that they are looking for an inclusive, not an exclusive, attendance.I have spied no biases that would tend to reveal they are old dogs trying to play new tricks.

One thing is sure, this is being put on by young, outsiders, NOT old hat insiders! It would be a shame to blow it off just because you are skeptical, though. Doing that will surely keep you isolated and meaningless!

I am going because it seems not to be bogged down with establishment mumbo-jumbo. They are looking to the Internet as an exciting new place to make waves. So, I am in hopes that this will be a good thing.

If they're inclusive not

If they're inclusive not exclusive, that's certainly a new leaf from CPAC's attitude. Another positive sign is that I found this classic American essay on one of the sponsor-sites. Gee, I wonder which Presidential candidate is the ONLY ONE EVEN CLOSE THESE DAYS to Col. Crockett's values??? And no matter what I decide on this conference, I'm not feeling either isolated or meaningless, Warner -- those words are how I'd describe the post foul-mouthed-pundit CPAC, actually! Antilibertarian bias can make groups which used to have meaning irrelevant. We saw it right here when CPAC did it.
JMR

I HAVE to agree that CPAC is

I HAVE to agree that CPAC is a dead issue. In fact, I thought I read somewhere that CPAC tried to torpedo this very CLC conference, though now I can't remember where I read it. From what I remember, they didn't want this west cost thing to go off and challenge their position as "the" convention for conservatives so they tried to interfere with it.

So, I say if CPAC doesn't like it, it's GOTTA be good!

Ain't she sweet?

Love that picture. Now that's the type of woman I want running this country. Gentle, sweet, kind, and a defender of all that's right with the U.S. Those qualities shine thru with this photo, don't they?

Run for your life "it's"

Run for your life "it's" going to blow!!!

"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana!" Groucho

The picture says it all..

ThisnThat,

You beat me to the punch - that picture could be the cover of a bio on Shmillary entitled "Diary of a Mad Liberal"!

Looks to me like HRC needs to try decaf.

"Yeah, that's the ticket!" - Tommy Flanagan

la Raza

Warner, you picked a very unflattering picture of Clinton there, something NewsBusters has pointed out the left is fond of doing.

An aside here, here is a link to an article about the Democrat's ties to la Raza.

D

I don't support our liberals or their mission.

DFTT

your link went to a login try this one

 "Television is where you watch people in your living room that you would not want near your house."       Groucho 

Warner, you picked a very

Warner, you picked a very unflattering picture of Clinton there, something NewsBusters has pointed out the left is fond of doing.

The difference is everyone knows that Newsbusters is conservative. If the drive-by media admitted that they were liberal, then I doubt that Newsbusters would have a problem with unflattering photos.

BTW, Hillary looks like a chipmunk after drinking a gallon of coffee in that photo. What could she have been doing to create such a ludicrous image? 

 

On the contrary, I thought

On the contrary, I thought he captured her better side.

:-)

:-)

Kos

Note: The Kos and lefy blogs have not gotten anyone elected, but they did convert Joe Lieberman to an Independant!

I think you must mean anyone

I think you must mean anyone far-left, because clearly the Democrats seem to have won a few seats last time. I hope the reason was spending, not Kos, but clearly the overall result was the one Kos wanted. And as we've repeatedly-seen, Kos isn't about policy as much as it's about electing partisan Democrats just like "moveon.org" always was. I assert this despite the initial "nonpartisan" ravings of its founder, and my proof lies in Cindy Sheehan's now-suspended Kos-account.
JMR

The Kommies warming up to the Hildebeast.

If the Hildebeast shows up at the Kommie (from hell) Konvention, the republicans should do everything they can to associate her with those kooks.

They won't, however, as they are nothing more than a bunch of spineless cowards when it comes to this sort of thing.

Too bad.

Help Fred defeat everybody.

"They won't, however, as

"They won't, however, as they are nothing more than a bunch of spineless cowards when it comes to this sort of thing."

Right on!

And is why the US is in the current situation we're in.

Warner Todd... Hey thanks

Warner Todd...

Hey thanks for the link to this convention be held in Reno...closer to my area, sure would love to see if I could make it.

Would be absolutely great that is for sure...I bet this will grow, it is much needed about now IMHO.

As an aside speaking of Hillary, I noticed that Andrea Mitchell and Cokie Roberts both wore jackets of the same color and style that Hillary did on the night of the Youtube debates this morning...Cokie I think even made mention of it later...you can bet this was intentional, I wonder if any other prominent leftist talking heads did on other shows in solidarity to Hill.

I LMAO when I noticed it before Cokie even said anything.

Yep, that will get Hill elected for sure...it just really does the trick! 

Come to Iowa

I wish there'd be some big conservative event here in Iowa before the caucuses. For one thing, after all these months of being swarmed by candidates of all stripes, we could use a little political fresh air. And it would be great to reenergize conservatives before a single vote is cast.

When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.

 

Btw.... As they say a

Btw....

As they say a picure is worth a thousand words...and boy oh boy did you not put the perfect one in here WTH!

Thanks for the laughs.