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Internet Politics From Both Sides Now [NYT bemoans Brown]
New York Times ^ | January 17, 2010 | ROSS DOUTHAT

Posted on 01/17/2010 7:45:54 PM PST by Plutarch

For a brief shining moment, late in the 2008 campaign, Democrats thought that they might own the Internet.

For decades, they had watched their Republican rivals exploit alternative media to raise money, organize voters and whip up outrage. In the 1970s, conservatives pioneered direct-mail fund-raising. In the early 1990s, they ruled the talk-radio dial. Early in the Bush era, they dominated cable news.

But the Internet was going to be different. Direct mail, talk radio, the cable shoutfests — these were inherently conservative technologies, pitched to senior citizens and middle-aged suburbanites. The Internet was for the young, the hip, the multicultural, the liberal. Let the G.O.P. be the party of Fox News. The Democrats would be the party of Google, YouTube and Facebook...

Last Monday, Brown raised $1.3 million from an online “money bomb,” and his campaign reportedly went on to raise a million dollars a day throughout the week. The race’s online landscape looks like last November’s in reverse: from YouTube views to Facebook fans to Twitter followers, Brown enjoys an Obama-esque edge over his Democratic rival, Martha Coakley...

[excerpt]

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: internet; ma2010; moneybomb; newmedia
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1 posted on 01/17/2010 7:45:56 PM PST by Plutarch
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To: Plutarch

“(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...”

-

That’ll be one dollar please.


2 posted on 01/17/2010 7:48:11 PM PST by Cringing Negativism Network (2012: Repeal it all... All of it!)
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To: Plutarch
Republicans have moved up on the Left's dominance of the Internet and have leveled the playing field.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find only things evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelogus

3 posted on 01/17/2010 7:50:42 PM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: Cringing Negativism Network

But we have a right to reading the NY Times online for free! Maybe Obama can pass a 2,000 page NY Times online bill to shore up another “right” of the people. (sarc.) I am sure that Barney Frank, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid would approve.


4 posted on 01/17/2010 7:56:03 PM PST by Merta (But I May Be Wrong)
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To: Plutarch

Oh suuuuuure...! EVERYONE at FR is old, yeah...


5 posted on 01/17/2010 7:57:09 PM PST by gaijin
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To: Plutarch

6 posted on 01/17/2010 7:58:42 PM PST by Gondring (Paul Revere would have been flamed as a naysayer troll and told to go back to Boston.)
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To: gaijin

If Liberal is synonymous with “young”, how come 54% of the nation’s youth in 1984 voted for Reagan? I am 23 years old, and so would like some Conservatism because I want to grow successfully and not find out that I am going to be punished for wanting to secure the American dream.


7 posted on 01/17/2010 8:00:53 PM PST by Merta (But I May Be Wrong)
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To: Plutarch

The fallacy to this authors argument who would wish the same tuype of disillusionment on the tright that the left is now in withdrawl from, is that we conservatives never fell for a Pied Pipers tune. And while some Lefties think we dance to the flute of Governor Palin, we do so with open eyes, our gaze fixed on real goals and not opiate dreams of distopian fantasies.


8 posted on 01/17/2010 8:06:16 PM PST by DGHoodini (Iran Azadi!)
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To: Gondring
Why is it notable that Susan Etheridge shot the photograph? She works for the NYT's Washington Bureau, after all.
9 posted on 01/17/2010 8:07:28 PM PST by Plutarch
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To: Plutarch

Wrong.

The conservative grassroots is looking for Brown to help kill Obama’s bill. The only way he would disappoint us is if he failed to keep his word on that issue only.

I can’t speak to expectations of people in MA who would vote for him. Nationally he won’t disappoint if he is as liberal as Snowe since we have no expectations of better on that score.

Neither would I say we’d be disappointed if someone like Rubio didn’t live up to his word. We’ve come to expect betrayal. It wouldn’t be disappointment it’d be anger and we’d kick them out next election.

The NYT’s is acting like we’re in the first blush of a “yes we can” campaign. No, we had ‘92. We had 2000-2006. We had Reagan. We’ve learned. If the Left is disappointed well we warned you. They are going through what we went through when we finally controlled the Senate, House and W.H. We learned the hard way they are all corrupt and all liars using People but only interested in maintaining their political fortunes. Tried to tell them but they wouldn’t listen. Maybe now they can get over this Party obsession and realize we have a common enemy. The government.


10 posted on 01/17/2010 8:08:15 PM PST by Soul Seeker (?)
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To: Plutarch

Because he thought it was the cutline and not a photo credit.


11 posted on 01/17/2010 8:11:04 PM PST by rabidralph ("Precedenting" is a lot tougher than community organizing.)
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To: Plutarch
But the Internet was going to be different. Direct mail, talk radio, the cable shoutfests — these were inherently conservative technologies, pitched to senior citizens and middle-aged suburbanites. The Internet was for the young, the hip, the multicultural, the liberal.

Right... tell that one to Dan Rather. Also, most of the Swift Boat Veterans' dismantling of John Kerry took place online.

12 posted on 01/17/2010 8:11:12 PM PST by Interesting Times (For the truth about "swift boating" see ToSetTheRecordStraight.com)
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To: Plutarch
WRONG!!

It was conservatives who ruled the internet...that's a large reason why George Bush was elected and prevailed over Gore and Kerry. The Swift Boat Vets' truth surged over the Internet, for example, and squashed Kerry. And how 'bout Dan Rather?

It was ONLY in '08 that the liberals finally started using it more in politics and finally started not to lag behind.

13 posted on 01/17/2010 8:12:14 PM PST by Siena Dreaming
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To: DGHoodini

I don’t know if conservatives responded to a Pied Piper but they did shut their mouths, grumble quietly and justify one election to the next why their party never seemed to meet their promises. Conservatives did accept the tune of fighting Dem vs Rep. Conservatives got played.

We realized that sometime 2004-2006. For me it was part Miers and part amnesty that did it. That’s when Republicans began their losing streak. The base wised up.

Now we’re trying something different. Going after both parties.


14 posted on 01/17/2010 8:12:59 PM PST by Soul Seeker (?)
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To: Interesting Times

LOL...you beat me by a minute. GMTA.


15 posted on 01/17/2010 8:13:18 PM PST by Siena Dreaming
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To: Siena Dreaming
LOL...you beat me by a minute. GMTA.

Just to show there's no hard feelings, here's the complete story of Dan Rather's professional demise:

Rather's Ruin and the Rise of the Pajamahadeen

16 posted on 01/17/2010 8:20:27 PM PST by Interesting Times (For the truth about "swift boating" see ToSetTheRecordStraight.com)
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To: Plutarch

NYT is clueless as usual. It was conservatives who maste3ed the web for political discourse, we had the upper hand until 08 when the juggernaut of obama hype swept up millions of starry eyed “youth” online. And I already sense a slide backwards for Lefty web activity: many feel bamboozled and are going back to their old habit of political ignorance. suits me fine.


17 posted on 01/17/2010 8:21:50 PM PST by moodyskeptic (the counterculture votes R)
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To: Merta

Was in your shoes 25 years ago and have had a 25 year love affair with a Babe and our 5 children. Started and succeeded in two businesses that no scumbag political party could slow down other then stealing some tax money. You’re on the right track and never forget that “You” control destiny and not some political party.


18 posted on 01/17/2010 8:26:59 PM PST by liberty or death
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To: rabidralph; Gondring
Because he thought it was the cutline and not a photo credit.

I had to look that up, even though I was a reporter on my high school newspaper.

Cutline — The information below a picture or art, which describes it; also called a caption.

A lot of effort to go through, what with the screenshot, the inscription, the upload and the post, all for cutline confusion.

19 posted on 01/17/2010 8:27:54 PM PST by Plutarch
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To: Plutarch

Yes, just imagine the huge and cry if we posted a vanity picture and asked for cutlines!


20 posted on 01/17/2010 8:36:59 PM PST by rabidralph ("Precedenting" is a lot tougher than community organizing.)
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