Many of you might have noticed the section at the bottom of Dkos’ right column that purports to show “Netroots Endorsed” candidates. I’ve read it as a little tip-off that Netroots is on its way to being rendered meaningless, as it is claimed by a few of individuals who nominate themselves spokesmen. The consultant firm just launched by Chris Bowers, bonddad and thereisnospoon points another finger at that illusory Moon.
From the NRRSA sales pitch:
Unlike traditional D.C. consultants, we not only give you the hard data you need to win; we use the sort of creativity and idea generation that can come in today’s politics only from the netroots: by helping you craft messages that will inspire voters, rather than seek not to offend them; campaigns that will energize both the center AND your base, rather than assuage the base and hope for the best from the middle; and ideas that will help shift the window of debate away from the issues that distract the electorate, and toward the ones that really matter.
Putting aside the passage’s bewildering structure, the line in bold presents a fascinating conflation. Somehow, by being bloggers, three individuals are gifted with the “sort of creativity and idea generation that can come… only from the netroots.” Well this should be news to almost none of you: the creativity and idea generation characteristic of the netroots emerges from its massively decentralized nature. It’s not something a few individuals can abstract from the system and market. It is a product of the system – meaning the mass of interconnected humanity – itself.
What I find amazing is the level of hubris it takes to imagine otherwise. Amazing, but I guess not really surprising. I think it was the Cranberries who asked: if everybody else is doing it, why not us?
To be clear, I’m not criticizing these three for setting themselves up as consultants. I’m criticizing the idea that any individual can claim to speak for, or think like, the Netroots.