Cleaning the Toilets (Now Updated with extra scrubbing Power)

Greyhawk

Back during the 2004 election season John Kerry's campaign site included a blog - complete with a blog roll listing the most prominent left-wing sites. Following Markos Moulitsas' disgusting response ("screw them") to the murder of US contractors in Fallujah, his blog "The Daily Kos" was rapidly dumped from that august "A"list.

In light of the unacceptable statement about the death of Americans made by Daily Kos, we have removed the link to this blog from our website. As John Kerry said in a statement earlier this week, “My deepest sympathies are with the families of those lost today. Americans know that all who serve in Iraq - soldier and civilian alike - do so in an effort to build a better future for Iraqis. These horrific attacks remind us of the viciousness of the enemies of Iraq’s future. United in sadness, we are also united in our resolve that these enemies will not prevail.”

My description of Kos and similar sites remains unchanged: they are toilets on the left wing information sewer. But Senator Kerry is now making deposits in that toilet. His contribution is to dust off one of the main themes of his campaign - his response to the last bin Laden tape. "Bush let bin Laden get away!!!"

What the folks at the kiddie table think about all that hardly matters, but this conclusion from the Senator is interesting:

P.S. I want you all to know that I’m reading your many comments. My wife Teresa reads blogs passionately, and I follow blogs too, and I’m glad I can be a part of this – and frankly I’m not worried about taking some slings and arrows along the way. I’ve faced worse! So keep the comments coming -- good, bad, hopefully not indifferent.

A great opportunity for Kos readers, whose greatest achievement to date is to make their mother's basements smell 'funny'. For those unfamiliar with the territory, the comments are where the Daily Kos turns truly foul.

But here's what Senator Kerry read in comments there today - the hot topic was speculation that his entry would make Kos a few bucks:

Here is a suggestion that might not win me any friends with the management...However...

This community has built up a reputation such that Senator Kerry feels comfortable posting here. The site is absolutely jammed right now with load times for me at aprox 30-50 seconds. My guess (although highly speculative) is that a significant amount of ad revenue is pouring in because of this diary.

Perhaps Kos could donate a portion of that revenue to a veterans group specializing in helping wounded soldiers rehabilitate.

A nice thought, that last bit. But others quickly shot it down:

Liberals shouldn't pretend to be in favour of the military (as a concept most liberals are instinctively against it) when we aren't. The military are 'special cirucmstances' - men who must do a dirty job when all other opportunities and options are exhausted. They aren't men to be lionised and put on a pedestal - they're like toilet cleaners: it's a dirty job, but someone's gotta do it. There's nothing brave or noble about it - it's a dirty, degrading, inhuman affair, but one which is occasionally necessary.

Perhaps deluded by the example of the author, the commenter cites his "extensive family military history" as giving him authority on such matters. But he doesn't even know a toilet when he's in one.

Update: Thanks to Soldier's Dad in comments, here's Senator Kerry's response:

Thank you for over a thousand responses to my first - and certainly not last - Daily Kos post!

As you can imagine, it's difficult to respond to each of you individually, but Teresa and I were impressed with your thoughtfulness, your honesty, and your dedication.

Void of actual policy*, the Democratic Party "platform" is built on two main planks: ignorance and fear. Kerry appeals to both in his first - and certainly not last - Kos "Diary" (the actual term Kos uses for entries by others at his site.) Such appeals aren't limited to Kos - it's a staple of Democratic fundraising applied to get the "base" to open their wallets wherever they can be found. But at sites like Kos a third unfortunate aspect of human character can be tapped: hate. You'll rarely find a post or comment thread that lacks that theme, aimed at anyone who doesn't think like they do. You can summarize Kerry's diary (and it's invocation of all three planks) in five words: "Osama gonna getcha causa Bush!"

While "liberally" applying such hatred to anyone who doesn't toe the line on Kosthink the site reserves special scorn for those who disagree and have certain other differences from the Kos crowd.

For instance, Colin Powell is an “Uncle Tom” who stumps for “Massah Bush.”

Barbara Boxer tapped into that "energy" to gain support for her opposition to Condoleezza Rice

I can't thank all of you enough -- the Daily Kos community, and the blogosphere as a whole -- for all of your effective work during the recent debate over Condoleezza Rice's nomination. Your support and participation in this critical debate meant so much to me.
<...>
As you and I both know, this is just one more of the many battles we'll be having as we fight for our nation's future. It started with contesting the Ohio vote, it continued with the debate over Dr. Rice's confirmation, and it will certainly continue over the Gonzalez nomination and on many other looming issues. We're going to need to keep working together to make our voices heard and build a better America.

I enjoyed the dialogue we started over the past few weeks, including the chat I had with Armando and DavidNYC on the eve of the committee hearings, and I look forward to future interactions with the Daily Kos community. I hope to have the time to drop by here and participate in the discussion from time to time -- I value your input, and I thank you for caring so much about the future of our country.

Thanks again for all of your hard work. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your continued support. And I look forward to standing with you in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

In Friendship,

Barbara Boxer

Note the "Gonzalez is next!" reference.

But not all Democrats get Kos support - just the fanatics. Kos on Joe Lieberman: But does Connecticut truly deserve this neocon? Here he was invoking the Lefty code for "Jew" in response to the Senator's support for Secretary Rice - and unseating him is a stated goal. (Substitute the word "Jew" - or "Juden" - for "Neocon" anywhere it's used by the Left - it's chilling.)

Daily Kos is not a racist or anti-Semitic site per se - their hatred is driven by politics. Agree with them and you're safe; start a "diary" on the site and you're a hero.

A couple of other points to remember about the Daily Kos: The "Screw them" quote is what made Kos the #1 Left Wing Blog in the world**. And every candidate the site has "sponsored" has lost.

*****

Notes:
* Void of actual policy: The Democrat's position on Iraq is perhaps the best illustration of this. Rahm Emanuel, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, defined the plan in December 2005: "As for Iraq policy, at the right time, we'll have a position."

During his presidential campaign, Senator Kerry claimed to have a secret plan for ending conflict in Iraq - one that he would reveal only if the American people would give him "the power".

**#1 Left Wing blog: In addition to the readership gains from the "screw them" quote and the participation of various Democratic politcal hopefuls, other events are also celebrated primarily for their potential to boost site visits at Kos:

Today, dailykos has received over 700,000 visits, the most I can remember, though markos can tell us if it is the alltime record.

Of course, it was the atrocities in London that helped push the number so high.

*****

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