Daily Kos

I got a somewhat disturbing email today from someone seeking, it appears, to track down the author of a diary on Daily Kos with whom my correspondent had a disagreement; no need to go into details, except to make a few salient points.

First, I'm aware that some people are unhappy with Daily Kos and its proprietor. I am not one of them, most of the time, at least. If you happen to have been banned there, for whichever reason, it is neither a concern nor an interest of mine, nor of this blog.

Second, the Progressive blogosphere is more than just Daily Kos. This seems self-evident, and yet, I find that it must be pointed out again and again. If someone for whichever reason does not fit in there, there are other blogs, not quite as large, but perhaps more amenable to a given point of view.

Third, Daily Kos is not a public right-of-way; they have no reason, certainly no obligation, to accommodate you. You're not that special; neither am I, for that matter. If you feel a point can be made by having a sit-in there, I would question your priorities; if, that is, I were to deem your actions as being of sufficient note to engage even in the questioning of them.

Fourth, if you feel the need to discuss how much you hate Daily Kos, or blah dee blah blabbity blah, really, I suggest you do it elsewhere. We've been through that, and frankly, it wasn't very interesting at all. Yes, you heard me right; maybe it's because there's a conceptual distinction between oppression and persecution and, you know, not being allowed to post on a frigging blog.

Never say she doesn't try; Hillary Clinton is currently running ads on Daily Kos, in an effort, presumably, to have a conversation with that community. Or, more precisely, to have a conversation at that community.

Similar ads are running on MyDD, calling on the blog's readers to stand with Hillary as she does something or other calculated not to offend anyone.

The problem with the ads is simple: they're completely lacking in empowerment for the user. If you click through, you land on a screen that allows you to do only one thing: sign up with your email (and all other fundraising-enabling info) to 'stand with Hillary' as she makes the completely uncontroversial demand for Abu Gonzalez to resign. It's basic, simple, textbook email capture.

Which is all fine and dandy, but some people expect more from a conversation than being talked at and being set up for the next fundraising pitch. In fact, that's kind of the whole point of the Progressive blogosphere - it's two-way, not one-way. Too bad Hillary just does not get that.