I almost never get email coming from the “contact a blogger” link on our front page but I got two yesterday.
One was saying, roughly, that we should focus on the real reason Hillary lost: turn-out. I agree with this completely: to me it’s pretty clear that all this high-tech big data magic that was supposed to help Hilary didn’t do shit, that there’s no substitute for real passion and enthusiasm.
The other one suggested “silent protests” of Trump where people gathered and remained completely silent. I’m not sure how that would work but I certainly agree that it’s important that the protests remain peaceful and orderly.
I’ll tell you what I’m going to do, I’m going to get more involved with grassroots local politics. I used to lead a local liberal meeting group and write a local blog and canvass a lot for local candidates. I burned out a lot after the main candidate I supported (Eric Massa) turned out to be a sexual assaulter, at least some of my co-bloggers turned out to be raging assholes, and many of my fellow meeting-goers became Obama-haters.
I’m also going to start reading Daily Kos more in place of establishment media. Yes, there’s a lot of crazies in the comments and diaries, but well, maybe we’re all crazies now.
Finally, I think this blog should do more to support and encourage IRL action, and I’m going to think about the best way to do that.
I’ll leave you with an amazing word-cloud I found on the Kos Abbreviated Pundit Round-up (via James Fallow via Digby):
.@digby56 with Gallup-based word-cloud of what voters had heard about candidates https://t.co/ieZOlVMxd2
Similar to Gore/Bush coverage 2000 pic.twitter.com/gmsUvyfmwL— James Fallows (@JamesFallows) November 10, 2016