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Overnight Open Thread – Nom nom nom… (genghis) »
August 15, 2009
Netroots "Move On"
Remember all of the liberal outrage over the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan? If you do, you're probably not part of the netroots.
What's truly striking in Greenberg's poll is the degree to which the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have fallen off the progressive radar. I attended the first YearlyKos convention, in 2006, and have kept up with later ones, and it's safe to say that while people who attended those gatherings couldn't stand George W. Bush in general, their feelings were particularly intense when it came to opposing the war in Iraq. It animated their activism; they hated the war, and they hated Bush for starting it. They weren't that fond of the fighting in Afghanistan, either.
Now, with Obama in the White House, all that has changed. Greenberg presented respondents with a list of policy priorities and asked, "Please indicate which two you think progressive activists should be focusing their attention and efforts on the most." The winner was passing comprehensive health care reform, with 60 percent, and number two was passing "green energy policies that address environmental concerns," with 22 percent. Tied for eighth place, named by just eight percent of respondents, was "working to end our military involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan."
This really isn't surprising, but it does show just how contrived the outrage over the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan really was among the activist left. Seems it was more about indulging in frothy hatred of George W. Bush than any real concern over the direction of American foreign policy.
Real shocker, huh? Well, I know my faith in the sincerity of liberals has been shaken to the core.
(h/t: Treacher)
posted by Slublog at
07:46 PM
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