This should be very interesting, a book on the "netroots" by Jerome Armstrong (currently busy working on Mark Warner's "Forward Together PAC") and Markos Moulitsas Z?niga (of Daily Kos fame). Anyone who's a political blogger, a politician, or a political consultant should be interested in this. Anyone who's interested in the rise of this new communications medium - the internet - as a force in politics should be interested. And anyone who's interested in "bottom up," grassroots movements should be interested as well. In other words, I'm VERY interested in what these guys have to say!What's fascinating about this book is that it may be the first to truly focus on the political "netroots," a phenonenon which is only in its infancy at this point but which is exploding in significance and has already had an impact - including right here in Virginia. To highlight the latter point, I would note that just last night, the crew at Raising Kaine had a GREAT conversation with Tim Kaine about the role our blog and PAC played in helping to "blog Tim Kaine into the Virginia governor's mansion." Now, the question is, "what more can we do?" Answer: a great deal, as you'll all be seeing over the next year(s)! But that's a topic for another day and another article (or two or three...). In the meantime, I would just point out that political blogs are here to stay, that they're certainly not just a fad or "flavor of the week," and that they're growing rapidly in importance as the mainstream media declines.
Anyway, I've already ordered "Crashing the Gate," Jerome and Markos' "shot across the bow at the political establishment in Washington DC and...call to re-democratize politics in America." I plan to read and review it as soon as I receive it.
Who's in?
Kilgore is crying "fire" in a crowded theatre. He's reached the limits of free speech by trying to incite panic.
He needs to be held accountable. He needs to clarify his position.
He needs to apologize.
"Ha ha. Yep, there you have it: Jerry Kilgore is 'probably just paranoid.'?
However, the latest Stratfor article regarding MS-13 states:
"Combined with these problems are concerns that links could be forming between MS-13 and Islamist militants, particularly al Qaeda. Although these concerns have largely been raised by Central American leaders who need increased U.S. funding for security, a report surfaced in September 2004 that suspected al Qaeda member Adnan G. El Shukrijumah was spotted in Honduras meeting with MS-13 leaders.
In December 2004, alleged MS-13 member Frankie Sanchez-Solorzano was arrested along with Bangladeshi Fakhrul Islam and 11 other people after they were caught trying to enter the United States near Brownsville, Texas. Cases such as this increase calls for tighter border restrictions with Mexico, but provide little support for allegations that al Qaeda, as some have speculated, is attempting to infiltrate the United States using MS-13 smuggling networks. Although too many of these allegations are based on rumor and hearsay, the border merits close vigilance. Trafficking networks, like all black-market activities, are viciously capitalistic -- meaning anyone, al Qaeda member or otherwise, could make use of the service."
Though I understand tarring Kilgore with a "paranoid" label is your end, perhaps you can reconcile the difference between what your contact says and what his company publishes. If there are no confirmed or credible reports, why is Stratfor publishing them?
The promise of American Conservatism was sane government and social responsibility. Mr. Bush has produced insane government expansion and abject social irresponsibility.
Consider the case of the Bush supporter who thought he would make a statement by desecrating a display representing hundreds of gravestones of fallen iraqi soldiers. Is this what the American Conservative movement has become? Has conservative leadership fallen so far short of its promise that now its followers would desecrate monuments to fallen heroes?
America bleeds for the failures of Mr. Bush and his cronies. Thanks Mr. Bush's betrayal of trust, the American Conservative movement has blood on its hands.
In the face of that sprawling downward spiral, Virginia stands as a haven of clearmindedness. Here in the Old Dominion, our schools are funded, our budget is balanced, the corrupt are brought to justice and the economy is lifting the many.
Jerry Kilgore is a small piece of George Bush, with him we know we will always go to the right, to the right, always to the right, and backwards, backwards, always backwards.
Mark Warner and Tim Kaine are a positive contrast to the darkness of this kind of epidemic idiocy. With Tim Kaine continuing the success of Mark Warner, Virginia can continue to weather these dark times, stay in tune with the central concerns of Americans and move forward, forward, always forward.
Forward with Tim Kaine.
A few other states have already passed legislation on this issue, and, according to MoveOn.org, Diebold voting machine Company (Diebold promised he would 'deliver Ohio' for Bush) is worried enough that they have hired a Democratic lobbyist to lobby Dems in Congress to stick with Diebold's infamous no-paper machines. Ha!
But I must thank Kilgore, for I wear another hat as the President of the Virginian Muslim PAC, and Kilgore's stand on the day laborers helped us to mobilize the Muslim voters in Northern VA:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/09/AR2005110902274.html
This is a great site! Keep it up.
The main point here is that, sure, we need to guard our borders vigilantly -- something, by the way, that the Bush Administration has not done a very good job of -- but we also shouldn't be going around making wild-eyed claims regarding an MS-13 connection to Al Qaeda. So far, Kilgore's claim has been denied by the FBI and denounced by two Commonwealth's Attorneys in Virginia. In other words, Kilgore's not doing so well so far on this one.
I couldn't contain myself. Had to make a few remarks of my own on my blog. Thanks for posting this.
I guess he forgot about:
"Thou shalt not kill." ~Exodus 20:13
I will be around!
I'll try to contain my laughter on that count. When "conservatives" stop trying to foist evolution as science, stop creating unfunded mandates that close down schools, and start supporting ideas like pre-k school for kids, then your movement will have a claim to education.
Until then, your movement is radical and ignorance is both your goal and the river in which you swim.
"Big deal! Big surprise! Educators always support Democrats. pffft!".
This itself is an endorsement.
It show that education is a core Progressive value and ignorance a core Conservative value.
I am glad to hear you believe in the Easter Bunny. It explains a lot.
You have to be gullible to buy what the right wing is selling.
I gave up the Easter Bunny around 10, but you keep the dream alive, man!
Whether you look at it from a perspective of biblical learning or from the perspective of American law, there is no foundation for the tragedy of violent fundamentalism in our culture.
Can we make the argument that violent fundamentalism is ok if it's christians, but not ok if it's muslims or jews? When did we become exempt from common decency or rules of basic humanity?
Human history has seen a clear succession of hysterical fundamentalist movements rising up on the words of vocal zealots. Only reason, wisdom, compassion and decency have ever prevailed against the unhinged, those who rise upon the opportunities they present, and those who follow.
Unfortunately, the cross-cultural hate of "our" zealots against "their" zealots will fan the flames until we all burn together, or until calmer heads prevail.
Where's Kilgore's apology on the supposed Al-qaeda/MS-13 link?
Kilgore lives in a land all his own, built on fear and bereft of integrity.