Netroots Nation: A Fly on the Wall
Published July 18, 2008
Getting Out While the Getting Was Good
The longer I was at Netroots Nation today and the more people I talked to, the harder I found it to maintain my pose as a fellow traveller. It was easy to talk to some people, because I do share common interests. Talking about drug legalization or immigration policy I felt confident and at home. But when it came to talking to the union stooges and some of the more extreme partisans I found my attempts at sincerity shading into sarcasm. I had a somewhat sharp exchange with the WalMart bashers, which I think I was able to pass off as an attempt at humor, followed by a conversation with a nice lady who was trying to reduce the role of lobbyists in government, where I think I almost convinced her that lobbyists provide more thorough and democratic representation for their paying constituencies than our elected representatives do. After that I could tell that my composure was starting to slip, so I headed for the exits.
There's still a lot to report on, assuming they let me back in to the conference after this hits the net, but I need to rest and gather my thoughts and get a fresh perspective.
Despite a few rough moments, I do think there is common ground between the rational right and the more reasonable elements of the left. Yet, I have to say that fanaticism was as much in evidence among the true believers of the left at Netroots Nation as among the hardcore religious right. Their beliefs may be different, but the intensity with which they hold them, and the absolute irrationality and closed-mindedness which they display are identical. If there is common ground, I may have stumbled on a starting point when I discovered that the progressive left seems to despise Senator Joe Lieberman just as much as I do. Maybe we can build on that.
Dave Nalle has been a magazine editor, freelance writer, capitol hill staffer, game designer and taught college history for many years. He is Vice Chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus, working to promote liberty in the GOP. He designs fonts for a living and lives with his family just outside Austin. You can find his writings on politics and culture at Republic of Dave, on conspiracy theories at IdiotWars and on design and fonts at The Scriptorium.
- Netroots Nation: A Fly on the Wall
- Published: July 18, 2008
- Type: Opinion
- Section: Politics
- Filed Under: Politics: Elections and Candidates, Politics: Government, Politics: Law and Rights, Politics: Local and Regional, Politics: Policy, Politics: U.S.
- Part of a feature: On The Road To 2008
- Writer: Dave Nalle
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Comments
I heard that they were issuing two different media badges at Netroots Nation, one for those who agreed with the organizers politically and a special one labelled "Opinion Media" for people who weren't left enough for them. Which one did you get?
"Blogcritic's Dave Nalle files his first spy report. As he acknowledges right off the bat, he is there undercover to see what the other side is doing. He demonstrates his complete ignorance of the left blogosphere in his description of the attendees and the dkos blogging community. Beware who you're talking to at the conference." Kos
Got your BC-issued cyanide pill, Dave?
They're on to you Dave...be careful out there...keep your head down!
maybe you need to commute between these events in something really green. You can borrow my e-bike, that might make them happy!
The Wobblies? The IWW? Didn't they officialy go extinct when U. Utah Phillips died a couple weeks ago? Oh well, no more of those great concerts. And exotic foods celebrated in song like "Moose Turd Pie". He was good, though.
I'm only surprised that you went to the convention dressed in shorts, thus risking derision for exposing your varicose veined lily-white gams to public view. Why, after witnessing that display some louts might conclude that your writing is equally shameless.
Bliff, I'm from Texas. I wear shorts 300 days a year, so my legs are nice and tanned. No need to fear.
Dave
...do you wear your chaps over the shorts cowboy - ?
Troll,
Cowboy chaps and shorts, while useful, do not protect the part of the anatomy which The Reverend Mr. Jackson graciously offered to remove from The Reverend Mr. Senator Obama.
Dan
'Blogcritic's Dave Nalle'...sounds pretty good -
those boys and girls over at the Kos take themselves awful serious-like don'cha know
"those boys and girls over at the Kos take themselves awful serious-like don'cha know"
And for no discernible reason...
Got your BC-issued cyanide pill, Dave?
Dang, Matt. Mine is past the expiration date. I hope I'm not in trouble.
maybe you need to commute between these events in something really green. You can borrow my e-bike, that might make them happy!
Sadly, my BigAss Ecotruck is in the shop.
The comment on my first report over at DailyKos would be a lot more useful if it actually explained HOW I had failed to understand the left bloggers. I suspect that my failure is that I haven't bought into the concept that they speak with the voice of god.
Dave
I didn't think a guy hunched over his computer 12 hours a day pounding out fonts and columns could get enough of the blue rays of his CRTs onto his legs to give them any color. And I can't imagine sun exposure.
Someone's wi-fi router doesn't reach their back patio.
My wifi reaches all the way to the pool, where I sometimes do my writing. Plus I've been known to frequent sidewalk cafes which have wifi when I get stuck in downtown Austin. I also type with amazing speed, leaving me time for some outdoor activities.
So, with my natural tanning ability, I'm remarkably dark.
Dave
Hi,
Can anyone confirm that postcards for my anti-war satire "Military Intelligence and You" were included in the registration bags? Thanks.
I have so much junk in my bag now that I'm not sure, but I'll check and get backl to you later, Dale.
dave
BTW, my second report, which gives some time to the other side's alternative to Netroots Nation is posted now. Look for A Tale of Two Netroots.
More later today.
Dave
Just hoping that my postcard is part of that junk...Thanks for checking.
Dale
Add your comment, speak your mind
(Or ping: http://blogcritics.org/mt/tb/79157)
oh, dave... i see you falling apart at some point. you? at a daily kos event?
i'm rubbing my crystal balls! there! i see something... coming out! there is something in the mist! oh, damn, man... i'm sorry. no, that's not mystical spit. not at all.