by Alex Haines
As we continue to examine the various political blogs on the web and comment on their ability (or lack there of) to define and contribute to the current political landscape, we see one constant throughout each: retention. Conservative or liberal, many popular political blogs will opt for the blinders in this race.
Obama makes one move, let's say cutting expenditures from the upcoming stimulus bill. If you work for a liberal blog, such as the Huffington Post or Salon, you will probably be likely to condemn the president for conceding any margin or voice and influence to the Republicans. However, if you're part on a conservative blog, say instantpundit or The Corner, you are probably still fighting the good "anti-stimulus" fight and going for a personal responsibility approach to the economic crisis. Whatever your view, it seems each side is just clinging to its basic and traditional ideas of conservatism or liberalism. It seems there isn't much leeway for a mixture in the blogosphere...
While liberals will continue to hold the president to every single promise and more, conservatives will hack away at each move he makes, disregarding actual progress or effective aid received by many Americans. There seems to be a tendency not toward subjectivity, but instead a move towards trivial bickering about who is right and who is wrong and who is to blame for the problem at hand and why it is not me (and my belief) and why the "other" people just cannot understand and how are vision is so much more clear and how we will win and they will lose... and so on and so forth. It is all just meaningless drivel that continues to extol archetypes of various preset beliefs (liberalism, conservativism, socialism, anarchism, libertarianism, etc.)
I realize the Internet is a place for free speech and writing about what you believe. But more and more, I think it is becoming a place (as well as television) where what we really believe is irrelevant, so long as it does not conflict with a particular ideology or preconceived set of beliefs. This is something of which we, as a people, often accuse Congress. Yet I find the same retention and inflexibility here in the blogosphere (a place where there are no laws...) There seems to be no place for moderation in the digital realm of political commentary.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Lincoln and Obama Connection too much?
Kerry R. Toole
Through the Obama Campaign we saw so many connections between President Lincoln and President Obama. A blogger by the name of Josh Marshall says, “It has been a fitting tribute to Abraham Lincoln that we've seen and heard from some of our most celebrated icons of stage and screen. Because Lincoln himself was a great admirer of the arts.” We know they both came from Illinois. Obama and Biden also took to trip from Philadelphia to Washington D.C. like Lincoln did in 1861. While reading different blogs about the historical connections between Lincoln and Obama people were torn in their options. Some people thought it was a positive connections and helped Obama prove his dedication to our country and his campaign. While others think he should have leg Lincoln’s legacy saying things like, “Frankly, I'm tired of the hero-worship mentality, some of it, I'm afraid, of self-design by Obama himself. If you want to be compared to Lincoln, then govern like him, which is to say, produce the results and earn the comparison after the fact.” Another connection the Obama Campaign made was holding the concert at “footsteps of the Lincoln Memorial.” Some people thought it was another deep connections that was made but was it nessary, I think so!
Through the Obama Campaign we saw so many connections between President Lincoln and President Obama. A blogger by the name of Josh Marshall says, “It has been a fitting tribute to Abraham Lincoln that we've seen and heard from some of our most celebrated icons of stage and screen. Because Lincoln himself was a great admirer of the arts.” We know they both came from Illinois. Obama and Biden also took to trip from Philadelphia to Washington D.C. like Lincoln did in 1861. While reading different blogs about the historical connections between Lincoln and Obama people were torn in their options. Some people thought it was a positive connections and helped Obama prove his dedication to our country and his campaign. While others think he should have leg Lincoln’s legacy saying things like, “Frankly, I'm tired of the hero-worship mentality, some of it, I'm afraid, of self-design by Obama himself. If you want to be compared to Lincoln, then govern like him, which is to say, produce the results and earn the comparison after the fact.” Another connection the Obama Campaign made was holding the concert at “footsteps of the Lincoln Memorial.” Some people thought it was another deep connections that was made but was it nessary, I think so!
First 100 Days? What about the first 4 years? -Brian Galm
After looking at multiple blogs, such the Huffington Post and Salon, I noticed that they keep referring to Obama’s first 100 days. I mean his first 100 days are important for sure, but what about the other 1360 days left in his term? His first 100 days are all about setting the tone and establishing his “ideas,” but we cannot just focus on what he is going to do so soon. I have complete faith in him, but no one can predict what is going to happen during these next four years. Each day is different than the next and we shouldn’t put so much pressure on these first 3 months because the current problems that our country faces cannot be fixed in 3 months time. He is given 4 years to make his mark on this country; we cannot judge him too quickly.
After his first 100 days will there be a count down for his next 100 days?
After his first 100 days will there be a count down for his next 100 days?
Conservatism Today
Scott Martin Superstar
Conservative blogs fascinate me. Why? There’s several factors: I strive to be a moderate, and my weekly visits with the Daily Show and Maureen Dowd need to be balanced out with something; I was born in raised in a liberal family, with liberal relatives, all of whom had liberal friends (modern conservatives would call these people “elites”) so conservatives are alien to me; I get an emotional rise out of the close mindedness that is spewed across these blogs, a rise that constantly reminds me of what my values are and where I stand politically; Blogs give regular American’s a chance to voice their opinion, and then allow internet user’s to examine just how deranged some of these regular (and mind you, voting) Americans can be.
I’ve found someone who meets all the above criteria. His name is Scott Martin. He has a blog, it’s called Conservatism Today. I’m not going to get into the specifics about what he wrote this week (in a nutshell, he whined about how stupid young people are, whined about Obama and the environment, whined about Obama and the stimulus package, gushed about Reagan), and instead will focus on the man, Scott Martin.
Naturally, the blog is all about his viewpoints. But he gives it an extra, personal touch, making himself the main character in the essays (I think I can call them that) he writes regarding socialized medicine and welfare. In the former, he argues that citizens have no right using taxpayer money for hospital bills by reflecting on an uninsured visit to the emergency room. If he was able to pay for it (a poor college student at the time) then so should everyone else. In the latter, he envisions himself president, and, during his inaugural address, proposes taxing the poor at 30% in an effort to make them work harder and reach a higher bracket.
Now, Scott Martin does have a Journalism degree from Arizona State, so he has some credibility. Then again, his daughter’s middle name is Reagan.
I love weird people. It’ll be a fun two weeks.
By Chris Collins
Conservative blogs fascinate me. Why? There’s several factors: I strive to be a moderate, and my weekly visits with the Daily Show and Maureen Dowd need to be balanced out with something; I was born in raised in a liberal family, with liberal relatives, all of whom had liberal friends (modern conservatives would call these people “elites”) so conservatives are alien to me; I get an emotional rise out of the close mindedness that is spewed across these blogs, a rise that constantly reminds me of what my values are and where I stand politically; Blogs give regular American’s a chance to voice their opinion, and then allow internet user’s to examine just how deranged some of these regular (and mind you, voting) Americans can be.
I’ve found someone who meets all the above criteria. His name is Scott Martin. He has a blog, it’s called Conservatism Today. I’m not going to get into the specifics about what he wrote this week (in a nutshell, he whined about how stupid young people are, whined about Obama and the environment, whined about Obama and the stimulus package, gushed about Reagan), and instead will focus on the man, Scott Martin.
Naturally, the blog is all about his viewpoints. But he gives it an extra, personal touch, making himself the main character in the essays (I think I can call them that) he writes regarding socialized medicine and welfare. In the former, he argues that citizens have no right using taxpayer money for hospital bills by reflecting on an uninsured visit to the emergency room. If he was able to pay for it (a poor college student at the time) then so should everyone else. In the latter, he envisions himself president, and, during his inaugural address, proposes taxing the poor at 30% in an effort to make them work harder and reach a higher bracket.
Now, Scott Martin does have a Journalism degree from Arizona State, so he has some credibility. Then again, his daughter’s middle name is Reagan.
I love weird people. It’ll be a fun two weeks.
By Chris Collins
Bi-Partisanship? -Dara Duratinsky
With the recent controversy over the stimulus bill, many political bloggers are giving their take on the new administrations bipartisanship success. The verdict? Unsuccessful.
One blogger on theyoungturks.com has giving Rush Limbaugh a win in convincing Republicans to stay partisan even though Obama wined and dined Republican House members before their vote on the stimulus bill. Not a single Republican voted in favor of the bill. Another blogger on the dailykos.com is criticizing Obama for considering bipartisanship, saying he is giving Republicans leverage and not getting done what needs to get done. A huffingtonpost.com blogger, Bob Cesca, is putting the blame on the Republicans (including who he calls the de facto Republican leader, Rush Limbaugh) for not supporting the stimulus bill. His argument is that the Republicans are crying fear-mongering and fiscal responsibility even though problems they are complaining about were apparent under Bush. To Cesca, Republicans have no interest in bipartisanship.
So which side is to blame for unsuccessful bipartisanship: the Republicans, Democrats, or Obama himself?
To political bloggers, all are responsible.
One blogger on theyoungturks.com has giving Rush Limbaugh a win in convincing Republicans to stay partisan even though Obama wined and dined Republican House members before their vote on the stimulus bill. Not a single Republican voted in favor of the bill. Another blogger on the dailykos.com is criticizing Obama for considering bipartisanship, saying he is giving Republicans leverage and not getting done what needs to get done. A huffingtonpost.com blogger, Bob Cesca, is putting the blame on the Republicans (including who he calls the de facto Republican leader, Rush Limbaugh) for not supporting the stimulus bill. His argument is that the Republicans are crying fear-mongering and fiscal responsibility even though problems they are complaining about were apparent under Bush. To Cesca, Republicans have no interest in bipartisanship.
So which side is to blame for unsuccessful bipartisanship: the Republicans, Democrats, or Obama himself?
To political bloggers, all are responsible.
Obama is not a whimp
Obama is not a wimp. He has shown the world that he can rise above the typical shady politics and still be successful. He has proven this by the winning primaries and the election where he has brushed off the bad press against him. He is not a sleazy politician who lies and cheats so he can get what he wants.
Republicans should be happy that he is trying to have a bipartisanship and create a more unified relationship between the Democrats and Republicans. If I were him, I would not waste my time with those selfish people but I feel like Obama is trying to make a difference that will continue after him.
He is obviously a smart man and knows what he is doing. Since the beginning, he said it would be hard breaking tradition in Washington because the republicans are terrified if things are not like what there’re used to.
The Michelle Effect
BY JORDAN COUGHENOUR
In Obama's much examined first days of office, it isn't only the politics that are becoming more liberal. Pantsuited piano legs and stiff ankle length skirts are on their way out, and thigh high boots stepping their way into the Oval Office. And it isn't just the fashion blogs who are taking notice. While Laura Bush's starched conservative business attire and her husband's cowboy boots hardly ever made the dot coms and vlogs, the blog universe is uniting in full force in its scrutiny of the new Obama administration's wardrobe choices.
Where under the Bush administration, talk of brand names and fabrics were reserved for the likes of tmz or Perez Hilton, First Lady Michelle Obama is igniting a new consciousness amid the online community. Unlike Hilary Clinton, Mrs. Obama was not cursed with cankles. As the newest issue of Vogue clearly depicts, she can rock the slinkier attire and still keep the class., and even the "style" page of the Huff Post hardly sees a day where it isn't flanked with articles analyzing Mrs. Obama's every accessory and party plan. This welcome new front on the political blogosphere adds to the "hip-hop" and culture revolution currently sweeping over both parties, as leaders on the Republican front struggle to keep up with the brash new-ness of the Democratic administration. And when Mrs. Obama appeared on The View and revealed that her fashion was not only beautiful, but budget wary, we all went from merely admiring her choices from afar, to going out and trying to mimic them ourselves. Did you ever see anyone beyond Texas go out and try to imitate Laura Bush's taffeta?
Armed with her legion of followers, from twitter to the NYC runways, Michelle Obama is poised to use the blogosphere as a fashion awakening. As we struggle through a recession, it's hard to see any benefit in attempting to copy the red carpet wallet busters of Hollwood starlets, but with such a constantly trained eye on our intelligent (and well sculpted) First Lady, we may have a new icon to lead us in this administration.
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