Posted on 08/07/2005 9:16:15 AM PDT by visagoth
Edited on 08/07/2005 9:26:36 AM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
WASHINGTON - At least 80 wealthy liberals have pledged to contribute at least $1 million each to fund a network of think tanks and advocacy groups, to compete with the potent conservative infrastructure built up during the last three decades.
(Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...
Looks like an interesting election cycle to come.
"Democracy Alliance"?
Souldn't it be called "Socialism Alliance"? Truth in advertising, after all.
But of course what the Left does isn't "thinking", it's "feeling".
This'll last until Soros & Bing walk in and write checks for $80 million. After that (election '06), it'll go the way of Americans Coming Together.
I was going to put that in my comments as well... hit the post button too fast.
You are exactly correct. These should be called: Feel Tanks. It would accompany all the lib goodness in two-words.
That's not enough money. Send more and I'll give them the name and address to make the check out to.
Seems like a millionaire liberal box social, Thats 80 Mil...Mil...MILLON
One. There are already some liberal think tanks and foundations - like Brookings, the Rand (usually), the Ford, Rockefellar and Carnegie foundations and many others. I guess they are not liberal enough for the new Dean-wing running the party.
Two. It won't make any difference. Lying with the data/research is no different than lying on the oped page and sooner or later the amount of money you spend spinning the lies brings diminishing returns.
Three. You can expect 99% of the money to be spent on learning better ways to present the lies of the left and and ways to try harder to hide the fact that they are lies.
Question: How are conservatives like Wal-Mart?
Answer: Wal-Mart gradually built up an infrastructure by figuring out how to serve those marginal groups and areas other retailers had ignored in favor of the "commanding heights" of the economy. In the process, they learned how to produce more efficiently and by the time they went into direct competition against the flabby mainstream guys, they blew them off the map.
Conservatives were systematically shut out of the "commanding heights" of the intellectual and media ecosystem. They were forced to go back to basic principles and learn how to organize and promote their ideas anyway.
Meanwhile, liberals lounged around, comfortable in their exclusive control of what would be discussed in the national conversation. With what seems like great suddenness, they lost this control and have been floundering ever since.
It's just not fair.
Give grudging credit where some credit is due. Perhaps these think tanks will act to moderate the flaming liberal agenda. Hillary Clinton already is trying to position herself in the Great Moderate Center of America. I suspect that this recent move is due to Bill and Hallary's influence. The next election will be very interesting!
They just don't get it, thankfully. The Dems still believe that if they can just get their message out better to the American people, they will win. The problem is that they are still stuck in the 60's and 70's and have no positive agenda or original ideas. It's the message, stupid,.
Multi-million dollar 527s failed, now they're raising millions for another approach....how about admitting your ideas are WRONG!
Democrats Raise $80 Million to Fund 'Thinking'
by Scott Ott(2005-08-07) -- In a novel approach for the Democrat party, a group of left-leaning investors said it has raised $80 million in pledges to fund thinking, in hopes that thought and actual policies might be the secret to victory in coming elections.
The dramatic reversal of strategy comes not from the Democrat National Committee (DNC) itself, but from a group of 80 wealthy progressives who each pledged $1 million in an effort to emulate the conservative think-tanks which have developed during the past three decades.
Souldn't it be called "Socialism Alliance"? Truth in advertising, after all.
------
Don't let this subterfuge fool you. They (especially the FAR LEFT) ARE HARD SOCIALISTS... and they will attempt to create the "mother of all LIES" -- TO GET YOU TO VOTE FOR THEM!!!
One thing that has changed is the presence of the 'blogosphere', and the rapid deconstruction (nee Fisking) of much of their rhetoric. The MSM has been blindsided by this phenomenon, and their dwindling viewship and increasing reliance of people getting their news from the web.
I don't think the libs 'feel tanks' will do too well, because of the bloggers influence.
Their lies get deconstructed almost as fast as they are presented.
This is impossible. The Dems represent the poor. How can they have that many millionaires willing to donate such $$$???
Oh yea, even the old Soviet Union and China have their wealthy communists. They find it important to keep a group of rich, well fed, caviar eating, cigar smoking, limo riding, people to take care of the poor.
I am sure that these folks consider this an investment in their future if the party ever comes to power.
Hard to believe the anti-capitalists have that much money to donate to this cause. I have to wonder where they stole it from.
Oh, how I hope they get their message out! The more they get it out, the nearer we are to the end of the Democratic Party. If, as some say, there is something in the American (or the human) psyche that favors a two-party system, why can't it be Republican and---anything realistic, but not Democratic party!
Millions and millions and millions and millions and now they say, "Eureka, we've figured it out!! We need to be just like you!!!!!" Pardon me, but LOL!
Does this qualify as a "Liberal Epiphany?" More LOL!!
Capitalism.
Actually , the BIG LIE has already started...since any "THINKING" that the libs might do, is NOT about America, is NOT about what America needs, is NOT about a non-selfish agenda for America, is NOT about the citizens of America....IT WOULD ONLY BE ABOUT HOW TO REGAIN POWER AND CONTROL. NOTHING else. A socialist by any other name...
> Perhaps these think tanks will act to moderate
> the flaming liberal agenda.
Not a chance. The fundamental problem is that their
agenda has never changed, but today, they can no longer
disguise it. They can't get past that they used to be
able to fool the voters.
The welcome news here is that this cash won't be used
for campaign ads and/or frivolous lawsuits. It's just
badly needed lib lucre down the drain.
The left owns most of the existing "think tanks", and
essentially ALL of the universities and colleges.
Only "delusion" explains why they think this new
cesspool effort will make any difference at all, when
the existing swamps are failing to.
"the tide is changing!",
"with the right candidate and the right resources, you can win any seat",
"I predict 2006 is going to be one of the best Democrat elections of all time".
All this from Dems who LOST their last elections.
I've always been amused how the least democratic countries name themselves.
Peoples' Republic of China......
German Democratic Republic(East Germany)...
Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea)...
Republic of Cuba.
Anytime left-wingers desecrate words like freedom and democratic it turns my stomach!!
New think tanks? The libs already have People for the American Way, the 20th Century Fund, The Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, Economic Policy Institute, Center for Law and Politics, and in addition to those you mentioned you have the so-called human rights Organizations, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Washington Office for Latin America. Then there is a plethora of academic and legal organizations.
The money collected is actually for other things: the elitist gazilloionaires believe they should run the country, and their out to try.
I'd say it was throwing good money after bad, but their money isn't good, either.
Kinda brought public education to mind; they keep doing the wrong stuff, and when it doesn't work they ask for more money to keep doing the wrong thing. That's also very close to the definition of insanity.
The $80 mil is probably for travel, lodging, and meals for their elite "thinkers". There won't be much thinkin' goin' on.
As if there wern't already the Ford, Rockefeller, McArthur, etc., etc., etc. foundations, the "major" networks, the "MSM", Hollywood, etc. to counter all we poor, evil conservatives.
Don't forget all the universities that are doing "progressive" research.
The fact that they are bringing all of these resources to bear and are still getting nowhere should tell them something.
If you start out with a Yugo and then spend $80 million to advertise it, does the Yugo become more appealing?
A comment and a disappointment.
The comment is, like everything else, the liberal "progressives" equate persuasive debate with throwing money at a problem. I support this 100% : )
I am disappointed that the expected list of 80 would be presented in order for:
a) the losers to see the intellectual powerhouses behind the movement and
b) to strike fear into the conservative minds for the same reason.
> Looks like the libs are finally abandoning the democratic party...
Really. That's $80M that won't be spent trying (not) to elect Hillary or Democratic congressmen.
I imagine a leftwing think tank would be like sitting around with a bunch of college professors..."That Shrub Bush, man..(inhale)..such a..(exhale)..like, Hitler, man..."
The operate through the New Democracy Network (www.ndn.org) and the New Politics Institute. Unlike most legitimate think tanks whose transparency is taken for granted, it is very difficult to discern through their own website who is funding this operation, who is on the board, etc.
They rationalize it by thinking that they're spending the $80 Million to get power, where they can give the poor billions (of our money)
How many billions will it take to neutralize spontaneous and self-sustaining talk radio and blogs throwing out an endless supply of facts and error corrections?
I think they are pretty much admitting they have no ideas at this point and that they are intellectually bankrupt.
Will these members of the howling dog left actually honor their pledge? Did Ted Turner ever actually follow through on his pledge to give a billion to the UN?
He has quite a way to go with his 1 BILLION Dollar Social- Engineering "promised donation" to the Liberals Crown Jewel H.Q. of Socialism- The United Nations!
THAT GODless, anti-Semitic, anti-capitalist, Liberal Elite Country Club has been THEIR #1 "Think Tank" for decades! ........ COME ON you 'RAT bastards, GROW a pair and put your money where you really want it to go! .......
That is if your SILL not afraid of showing just who you really are !
nah. Most of the money is going to get snorted up some guy's nose...
Stink Tank?
Thanks for posting this excellent summary how the libs are losing.
"Question: How are conservatives like Wal-Mart?
Answer: Wal-Mart gradually built up an infrastructure by figuring out how to serve those marginal groups and areas other retailers had ignored in favor of the "commanding heights" of the economy. In the process, they learned how to produce more efficiently and by the time they went into direct competition against the flabby mainstream guys, they blew them off the map.
Conservatives were systematically shut out of the "commanding heights" of the intellectual and media ecosystem. They were forced to go back to basic principles and learn how to organize and promote their ideas anyway.
Meanwhile, liberals lounged around, comfortable in their exclusive control of what would be discussed in the national conversation. With what seems like great suddenness, they lost this control and have been floundering ever since.
It's just not fair."
Why does it cost $80M for some dudes to sit around and "think" and debate. That's what the UN is for.
Those silly liberals.
Seems like therapy and prozac would be cheaper for'em. IMHO.
I have to think of how Reagan outspent the Russians, because OUR system could afford to outspend their system.
Hmmmmm?? $80 million less for donations to candidates .. how smart was that ..??
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