’)
Almost every time the Junior Rove Society launches yet another of its websites in the hopes of copying the Democratic party’s success, they have to safeguard against the rabid Ron Paul fans online. Why is it that seems to be the only faction of the right with any real online activism chops?
Why is it that seems to be the only faction of the right with any real online activism chops?
Traditional Right Wingers need to get their orders from the top down (e.g., Faux News, talk radio, Bush sit-downs with wingnut bloggers, etc.); they’re not much for thinking for themselves. That’s just the way of the world, ask any behavioral psychologist (who’s not paid by some right wing group a la Global Warming Denialists).
I think it has something to do with the fact that the Paulites have a distinct and real (if rather out there) ideology. These are true believers. The conservative movement are otherwise dependent on a leader like Bush- someone who seems strong and ascendant. Brad DeLong has a post about the guardians of the Austrian economics flame and their intensity and orthodoxy that might be relevant to this question.
There’s something funny about a policy wonk telling other policy wonks to let the politicians run off and do their own thing without the policy wonks because the policy wonks shouldn’t be put in charge of anything after all.
I’m glad the Republican Party isn’t just the party with no ideas, but the party that’s actively against having any.
Someday, this will come as a realization to them, but they’ll decide that racial outrage and anti-homosexual agendas count as “ideas” and run on that for an election or two.
Why is it that seems to be the only faction of the right with any real online activism chops?
Apparently there’s a long tradition of more or less libertarian beliefs among IT professionals, and I guess IT types still have some advantage on the internet.
It’s not necessarily about him (Ron Paul) as it is about ideas and shared values. Most Ron Paul supporters like me believe very passionately in individual liberty and everyone’s right to determine their own destiny. From this basic premise flows the idea of low taxes, small government and freedom for all =)
“Most Ron Paul supporters like me believe very passionately in individual liberty and everyone’s right to determine their own destiny.”
Unfortunately, Ron Paul also attracts people (i’m not accusing you personally) that take “individual liberty” to the extreme. They are the “states rights” people that want the right to decide what to do with people of color. They haven’t decided amongst themselves to go with deportation, slavery, or ethnic clensing.
Libertarian utopia = Anarchy.
Which would you give more control over your life: Big buisness-R or the government-D?
A libertarian in charge of government is like a nanny who doesn’t like kids.
A libertarian in charge of government is like a nanny who doesn’t like kids.
HA!