Book Review: Crashing the Gate

And now for something completely different! Crashing the Gate: Netroots, Grassroots, and the Rise of People-Powered Politics is the product of a civil union between two of the Left's leading bloggers, Jerome Armstrong (of myDD.com) and Markos Moulitsas Zuniga (of DailyKos). It's also rather unlike anything I've read recently. [I have to point out that I read this for purposes of research not out of any ideological attraction.]

The two bloggers-turned-authors are actually ideally situated to write about the emergence of a new progressive movement; perhaps because of that they discard entirely any semblance of objectivity. Because they are still to some degree outside of the party hierarchy (even if Harry Reid et al now kowtow to them), the book is a rant against the Democratic Establishment as much as it is an anti-Republican screed. In that spirit, they start by examining the GOP, slandering at will while grudgingly respecting the electoral juggernaut that's been built over the last few decades before turning on their own.

But within Democratic ranks, they lambaste both the establishment, which they accuse of being nothing more than "Republican-lite" (thus the nutroots' derision for the Democratic Leadership Council and Clintonian Democracy) as well as incompetent (an honest indictment), as well as the progressives which they view as self-centered and narrow-minded. This, then, is one of the central points of their arguments: if Democrats are going to reassert themselves, they're going to have to overthrow the calcified hierarchy and weld "progressive" organizations (abortionists, labor, environmentalists, to name the big three) into a cohesive coalition focused on victory.

Not that history gives them much reason for optimism. As they relate, a conference putting progressive leaders into a room together had much in common with a kindergarten, where everyone was a cry baby if "their issue" wasn't put front and center. But they also cite some successful case studies: the Montana Miracle of 2004 (where despite Bush's overwhelming victory in the state, Democrats succeeded in seizing the state government) and Colorado in the same year. The two were different: Colorado brought the progressive organizations together (allowing them to support only those candidates who didn't offend their delicate sensibilities) while in Montana, Governor Brian Schweitzer basically discarded the interest groups, understanding them to be far outside of the Montana mainstream.

Though I won't delve into it too deeply, they also have an interesting discussion of the technological revolution in politics, in terms of voter-targeting, utilizing the Internet, and new ad strategies. Again, they grudgingly admit a Republican superiority. Of course much to their chagrin, the Democratic establishment has ignored many of these developments; it's also for this reason that they clamor for the establishment's overthrow.

Armstrong and Zuniga also jealously analyze the VRWC ("Vast Right Wing Conspiracy") - the think tanks, foundations, development organizations, and publications that nurture the Republican farm team, produce innovative policies (all of which they dismiss as ineffective in reality), and generally have destroyed Democratic candidates over the last thirteen years. Of course, their description of this nefarious infrastructure is necessarily hyperbolic and self-deceptive (as well as revealing about their worldview) when they say things like "There's no doubt, as our personal experience demonstrated vividly, that the Right dominates the media." Excuse me? What planet are you two clowns on? (I often feel this empty Leftist critique really means "dammit, Katie Couric never calls for state ownership of the means of production!").

They close with some tactical notes: the importance of a viable ground game, both on the part of the candidates and a grassroots outreach effort, as well as "challenge every Republican." This last part, I think, is one of the more unorthodox and dangerous parts of their plan. Challenging every Republican ties down incumbents and often forces cash to be spent as an insurance policy in safe districts. The GOP should do the same as much as possible; sure even a libertarian in San Francisco wouldn't have a shot of unseating Nancy Pelosi, but if it forced her to stay home, that'd be a victory in itself (I think the fact that Democrats can find so many willing sacrificial lambs is telling).

I've got issues with this book on so many levels. I have to acknowledge that it's not intended as a dispassionate look at the rise of a new political movement (that's what my thesis will be for!); instead it's a manual for their followers and should be treated as such. Its BS factor is sky-high, but there are some valuable insights within.

But my biggest complaint is with the mob-rule direct-democracy movement it embodies; this country's republican foundations have long since been dismantled, and we're worse for it.

I'm not going to tell you to go read this, I'm going to say that if you believe Sun Tzu and wish to know your enemy (and have a strong stomach for BS and distortions), feel free.