Last Word
Folks, I'd love to keep my voice in this TPM discussion (if only to defend my honor!), but I've been off line since yesterday morning and I'm just online here briefly, and now gone and not back in Web World until Monday afternoon. Sorry! Thanks to Chris for getting the ball rolling with his "exceedingly fair" look at "Move On @ 10", and thanks for TPM Cafe for hosting the discussion on line. I've been disappointed that a rock star like Eli hasn't lived up to advance billing and jumped in early and often, but thanks to other MoveOn staffers for the discussion.
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I really think the absence of Eli Pariser here is a big deal. Would like to know why he didn't show. If MoveOn is truly responsive to the needs and wishes of its members, seems like he should have been here not only debating with the other people in the discussion but answering questions and criticisms from TPM's readers.
I don't want to make my criticism any stronger than that since I have no idea what personal and professional obligations might have kept Pariser away but his presence here would have made MoveOn seem more responsive and less "top down" than its critics have said it is.
August 2, 2008 5:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well I found the discussion interesting.
I was struck by the repeated insistence that MoveOn was not run democratically. Which is understandable since an organization like that, with its goals, needs a hierarchy.
I tend to believe in democracy. And I would like to see an organization that actually promotes liberal causes rather than just being a vehicle for raising money for the party. If I was a MoveOn contributor I would have stopped giving money because of the FISA vote and their inaction on the war and tried to find another organization which was more in-tune with my concerns.
There are people out there like me would would support, both monetarily and non-monetarily, an organization that not only tried to support 'liberal' politicians but also pressuring the politicians to address the causes the members believed in. Pro-choice, protecting civil liberties, anti-war, etc. I doubt it'll even happen though. The interest groups on the left seem to be too splintered, territorial and parochial for close coordination.
August 3, 2008 11:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
My wife and I were active in Move On in 2003/2004, hosting a large party to bring people together, making calls to Iowa, NH etc , and felt Move On was a valid organization. Then we, and others, were asked to go door-to-door against the War, and other groupie things that were childish and, we felt, very counter productive. Move On was positioned to be a gnat, a nuisance rather than a tsunami and we cooled on the organization. Then, in 2008, the early endorsement of Obama fractionated the organization and we lost interest. It may be 10, but probably won't see 15 unless it changes radically.
PRMCO
August 4, 2008 5:56 PM | Reply | Permalink