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One-post bloggers, or send in the trolls?
Has anyone else noticed a sudden increase in semi-articulate posts raving about the downfall of the Democratic party--or blatantly (and not even cleverly) bashing either one of the dem candidates or the other candidate's supporters? A quick background check shows many of these to be the work of mystery posters, with no profiles and no posting histories. In the interest of maintaining the integrity of the site, perhaps we should refrain from comments to these posts? (I rue the day I long for BillyGlad!)
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Comments (15)
This anyone else has noticed, yes.
But are you also implying that this, combined with an absent Glad, marks a changing of the guard?
May 24, 2008 6:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not exactly. Just remarking that the trolls kinda make me miss Billy. An intelligent and well-informed adversary is a (relatively) good thing.
May 24, 2008 10:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hello McTrolls.
May 24, 2008 6:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
The underground Internet rumor campaign is already in full swing. Ever heard of "Larry Sinclair?"
This person or persona claims to have had gay coked-up sex with Obama in 1999. Web videos proclaim to show Obama showing his penis to campaign staff and media of the web site.
This is really some serious smear campaigning, and combined with false rumors about his religion, his associatons, even his being god or the devil himself, "unsavvy" people will not see through the lies.
May 24, 2008 9:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm not sure what your reply has to do with Liora's commentary. I hear that you are concerned about the Democrats winning in November, but it seems a little strange that you go out of your way to spread a scurrilous attack on another person. I'd say the same to Obama supporters.
Both candidates will be the victim of the Rovian slur machine. Let's just assume that.
Liora's point is partially that we are being manipulated. We allow ourselves to be manipulated by these smear campaigns, too. Either by saying, "I don't personally believe this, but . . . well you know those other Americans, not as smart as me will, you know. So let me spread the details."
Or, as I have seen occasional Obama supporters do "Wow, I heard that story in the 1990's that Clinton murdered, beat up, killed (fill in the blanks). I never would have believed it myself, but now because Clinton has said this offensive thing, maybe its TRUE."
Inadvertantly, we play right into Rove's machine.
I'll be honest, I don't see much difference between Clinton and Obama in terms of policy. (Except for the fact she openly threatens the obliteration of another country. To be fair, her health care plan is better than his.)
However, Obama does have a philosophy and rhetorical style that do not feed into the Rovian dialectic and have so far been amazingly successful in the game of real politic as well.
I know you support Clinton, but consider just considering that there might be something of merit in this.
Peace,
Laura
May 24, 2008 11:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
My point is to make people aware of the tactics, not to get people to believe the lies. I support Obama, which is why I'm following what lies are being peddled to undermine him. Larry Sinclair is a meme of attack on Obama, so heads up!
May 25, 2008 11:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry, I misunderstood.
Thanks,
Laura
May 25, 2008 3:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for the clarification; I skipped over that part too. More coffee...
May 25, 2008 6:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, judyjudy and judybeth come to mind. Is Billy gone? I still see his avatar on threads.
May 25, 2008 12:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
I just saw him somewhere around here, still being his intelligent and articulate self.
May 25, 2008 3:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
There may be trolls, but unfortunately the level of anger among Democrats grows almost daily, so some of what you notice may be related to that fact. Some posters may be new (me for example), driven finally to discovering the phenomenon of blogging by growing frustration with Clinton, the superdelegates, and negative campaigning in general.
Even Obama last night accused Hillary of stoking anger in Michigan and Florida - his first negative comment about her in weeks.
The most chilling comment on this thread is about the Republican attack machine, and thinking about what they might have in store for Obama. Much as I like Obama (he just gave an awesome commencement address at Wesleyan at noon), no one could handle the Republican attacks like Hillary. Thus it really might be best to put her on the ticket as VP, IMHO.
May 25, 2008 1:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wil*m, I don't share your faith in Hillary's ability to withstand the Republican attack machine. As we've seen in recent months, she comes off defensive and sometimes even petulant when she's even covertly attacked. Playing the affirmative-action card isn't going to help her one whit against the onslaught of misogynistic attacks she'll get; in my experience, conservative guys are just as pissed about women getting their jobs as whites are about blacks.
She hasn't been vetted on her own. It's been long, long time since she left the White House and went more or less under the radar. The Republican machine has been pulling its punches with her. They're convinced that if she's the Democratic nominee, they'll beat her bloody with insinuations about her and Bill. That will make her candidacy so flawed that enough Dems will stay home to hand a victory to the Republicans downticket.
May 25, 2008 3:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Wesleyan at noon), no one could handle the Republican attacks like Hillary. Thus it really might be best to put her on the ticket as VP, IMHO."
And who volunteer to be Obama's food taster?
The argument that Hillary will bring in votes from red neck racist bigots carries as much water as a sieve. Her votes in her loudly trumpeted states were from people who will be voting for McCain. They simply want her instead of Obama. Many scream loudly that they will leave the country if "that anti Christ Muslim is elected." Yet another reason to be for Obama
May 25, 2008 5:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
It would be helpful to have a return of the feature member since [date] on member profiles. As it is, we can't tell whether someone has been a TPM member for a year or a day. A complete comment list would also be helpful.
May 25, 2008 3:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Both are excellent, excellent ideas. And, to be shamelessly narcissistic, I'd like to be able to see more of my own comments too.
May 25, 2008 6:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
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