Why The Netroots Movement Will Fail

First off, I've probably dug into the recent Kos controversy as much or more than anyone else. I can't see that Marcos Moulitsas has done anything wrong, other than perhaps a knee jerk response to the criticism. So, he has little to do with this post. The Netroots movement will fail because it's a myth based upon a lie sitting upon a foundation of fragmented political thought.

The genesis for the Netroots movement stems from a fixation on, first the stockmarket, then astrology, and it only found politics, probably, when it was barred from engaging in a previous financial fascination that ultimately led to real trouble with the SEC. Just read this quote from the new wizard, who some think is pre-destined to lead the Democrats to the promised land.

Stuart Riddle says:As Saturn turns direct, I'm reminded of the significance of Saturn in Gemini for the United States. Louise McWhirter wrote about this in her seminal text, Astrology and Stock Market Forcasting (New York: AFI Publishers, 1977; originally published in 1938). She confirmed the potential
for conflict in the form of domestic and foreign wars during this transit: "Saturn has never passed through Gemini during the past 72 years without bringing a financial depression, financial panic, or war" (p. 92). *TMA Editors note: The last two Saturn-in-gemini periods coincided with the Vietnam War (1971-73) and World War II (1942-44). Saturn visits Gemini again from April 20th, 2001 - June 2003 (It also made a breif(sic) station from Aug 11th - Sept 16th in 2000, foreshadowing the bulk of the transit to come).

Now, today, this is the Netroots, as it's called, from an article today at the new Democratic Strategist.

By Jerome Armstrong
Ten years from now, the Democratic Party will have fully broadened its election strategy beyond the battleground mentality that dominates strategic thinking today. Democrats will be a national party, leaving no uncontested race anywhere in the nation, and will have rebuilt a party infrastructure down to the precinct everywhere in the nation. The Democrats will have regained their majority status as the governing party, and the mapchanger approach to elections will have been the reason.

Yet, not so long ago, he was called the Astrologer Jerome by some.

Astrologer Jerome Armstrong notes that Ixion and Quaoar are following close in Pluto's wake in early Sagittarius, and connects the rise of the political version of religious fundamentalism with the astronomical exploration of the Kuiper Belt in 1992. He cites incidences as disparate as the rise of Osama bin Laden onto the world stage and the Republican Revolution of 1994, fueled by Christian fundamentalist voters and culminating now with all three branches of government in Republican control. In addition, he cites the ascendance of political Hinduism in India in 1996 with the election of the BJP. One might add to this list the emergence of Conservative majorities in Israel and the UK. [The author wishes to acknowledge the help and inspiration provided by astrologer and author Jerome Armstrong of AstroWorld.mydd.com for information and links regarding Varuna and Trans-Neptunians which have been vital to the preparation of this article.]

MyDD didn't have anything to do with democracy, direct, personal, or otherwise when it started out as an astrological tabloid, forcasting the ups and downs of the stock market based upon the stars. One only needs a Wayback machine to confirm that. And it didn't begin in June, click April to see that.

The DD was for Due Diligence of the company evaluation kind, claimed by a low level stock touter, probably as duped by his masters, as he is now duping some number of people desperate for something in which to believe.

We know from this post MyDDdotcom pre-dated Jerome Armstrong's interest in politics. And this message from him circa 2001 demonstrates the real origin of the "DD."

As a newly member of the SCRO BOD, I pledge to squash all bashers, repel the shorters, and annihilate those who would personally attack... all in bipartisian spirit of course;)

And update the DD piece as well, GO SCRO! imo

At 42 years of age, or whatever, Jerome Armstrong didn't even care about politics just a few short years ago.

Were you involved in politics before you went online?

Jerome Armstrong: Not much. I voted, that was it. Political participation
wasn't on my radar, really. I did some field organizing in in Portland,
Oregon in the early '90s. What really got me going was in 2000 when I was
working as a day trader. I started following the Florida story online. I'd
go into Salon's discussion forums and check out what people were saying. I
started my own blog, MyDD, in June 2001.

But the June 2001 date is a lie, as I've already proved. And before he switched from astologically predicting the stock market, the site bore an American flag with stars morphing into corporate symbols Liberals love to loath - Shell Oil, McDonalds, Pepsico, etc.

Heck, in 2000, he even (supported) McCain over Gore:

The Daily Kos cuts the MLB some slack, that's cause Kos gets cheap tickets. The McCain Accounting Proposal Scuttled by Daschle yesterday highlights the
reason why I supported John McCain in 2000 over Gore.

Now, with some time out of the jungle after the Peace Corps, after having fixated on the Internet, the stock market, astrology, taken until the age of about 36, or 39 to get three Masters Degrees from the same state school, a man that's been thinking about and hopefully studying politics for all of about five years is to lead a new Democrat Party movement fighting for all fifty states? Don't make me laugh. If I want a laugh, I can simply read this:

This isn't really new "news" that's happened. Just new to the mainstream. The loony-left* and right-wingnuts have had this news out there for a while.

*Look for Saturday, May 18, 2002 through the wayback machine for that. Do you think he still calls them that now that they are following and contributing? But I digress:

Geneva also takes a look at Gov Davis of CA's chart, concluding, Davis bore the brunt of the worse of his Saturn Return during the energy crisis last year, that life changing aspect has now past, leaving him more focused on his objectives. Which I would agree with, and he will be re-elected.

This coming weekend the Saturn-Pluto opposition comes into exact focus for the last time. The tension between the local and particular of Gemini and the foreign and abstract of Sagittarius is an overriding theme. The world has pushed into our neighborhoods, cracked open our prosperous blase' attitude, and made us look around us. The world has shrunk under the influence of this powerful tension and will never be the same. The same magnitude sea change occurred in the mid 1960's when this pattern last set up. In the 1960's, Uranus was also involved and the level of violence and political unrest was significantly higher....

Also this coming weekend early Sunday morning, there's a Lunar Eclipse in Sagittarius.... This eclipse is the first of 3. On June 10th, the Solar Eclipse falls very close to Saturn-Pluto. And on June 24th a final "farewell" Lunar Eclipse occurs in early Capricorn....

These are tough times and they will pass.

Posted by myDD @ 10:10 PM PST [Link] [No Comments]

Tellling someone what they want to hear isn't a strategy. In the real world, it's often planning for doom. And it should be pointed out that, along with strategy, it's the fund raising to which he's gravitated. I find that rather curious, don't you?

I predict the Dems will take all fifty states when Venus aligns with Jupiter and kisses Mars butt. Pardon me if I don't ask the latest Democrat wizard-kid what he has to say about that.

Comments

[BJ]

OMG! This just gets weirder and weirder.

[J2]

For god's sake, man, caution your readers!

Jaw-dropping ahead - Protect keyboard from coffee.

[Bruce]

That's really wild. Great detective work.

[Black Jack]

The cock did crow seven times seven, but my pullet's in a panic. I can't see the sun, although I know it must be there. I looked for the great lord of all hens to no avail. A sure sign there's something amiss, the cocks circle the henhouse, but they will not enter.

There! The smell of trouble in the wind. Beware the netroosters!

Beware the netroosters! For they are here, yet they are not among us, and they would lead us not unto the pleasures of the coop, but to a fate of their own peculiar choosing. Beware the netroosters! Beware the netroosters!

[clarice]

This is sooo brilliant. Congratulations, Dan.

[McGehee]

Kos-defender with a snarky Nancy Reagan reference in 3... 2...

[annie]

Did I miss something!!

Mercury must be retrograde, yet again!!

[brett]

Too funny! What a charlatan. This ought to make reasonable people think differently about him, once they calm down.

[pinson]

Crazyass stuff, but your prediction of failure is predicated on Armstrong being central to the whole enterprise. He isn't. Obviously he was important in getting left blogs focused on organizing and raising cash, rather than just talking. But he's moved on, and the blogs are bigger than ever. The money flowing from Kos and Atrios and whoever else represents real dollars. The 50-state strategy that Kos and Armstrong advocated for has been largely adopted by Dean and other national Dem leaders as the most logical and effective path to regaining durable majorities in the house and senate.

Is Armstrong’s spotty/weird past embarrassing for Kos? I think so. Does it have any effect at all on the larger movement? I can’t see how it would.

In column a couple weeks back David Broder singled out Kevin Drumm as the only political commentator to have the prescience to predict that Bush’s second term would be racked with scandal. Do you think he’s going to retract that in a column and say something like “none of the left blogs can be trusted anymore because Jerome Armstrong is nutjob.” I doubt it.

[Bill Connors]

Fix your post.

Jerome didn't vote for McCain over Gore cause they didn't run against each other.

otherwise..incredible work

[Rick Moran]

Brilliant, original work. Congrats, Dan.

[Diva]

Dan, this is a great post - excellent research. This is the first I've heard about Armstrong's background. I can't imagine any serious politician wanting to align himself or herself with him and I am sure that Kos probably wants to put as much distance between himself and Armstrong as he possibly can.

[Diva]

Dan, this is a great post - excellent research. This is the first I've heard about Armstrong's background. I can't imagine any serious politician wanting to align himself or herself with him and I am sure that Kos probably wants to put as much distance between himself and Armstrong as he possibly can.

[M. Simon]

Kos is moving Dems left. The electorate is moving right.

I do think Armstrong has a point though. There are two houses the Dem planets are not aligned with.

The White House and the House of Representatives.

I predict a poor showing in the Senate as well.

[Gerry Owen]

So the term "moonbat" is more descriptive than previously imagined. Truly amazing-and troubling- that some huckster freak can be springboarded into being considered a leader of the Left.

[Gerry Owen]

So the term "moonbat" is more descriptive than previously imagined. Truly amazing-and troubling- that some huckster freak can be springboarded into being considered a leader of the Left.

[Seixon]

The Wayback Machine strikes again!

Astrology? That's science, right? LOL.

[wave_man]

Bill Connors | Friday, June 23, 2006 at 03:10 PM
"Fix your post."

There doesn't appear to be anything wrong with the post. Dan seems to have quoted something that was written by Armstrong.

[Dan]

There doesn't appear to be anything wrong with the post. Dan seems to have quoted something that was written by Armstrong.

Actually, I did say "voted for" regarding McCain over Gore. I amended it to "supported" but placed it in italics as a correction.

Heck, in 2000, he even (supported) McCain over Gore:

[Bill Connors]

Mark "Saj Sun" Warner was predicted a winner in 2001!

http://www.astroworld.us/archives/000026.html

archive link:
http://web.archive.org/web/20030606114821/http://www.astroworld.us/archives/000026.html

cache link:
http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:xNqEphjiZuIJ:www.astroworld.us/archives/000026.html+site:http://www.astroworld.us/+armstrong&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=5

Nov 6th, 2001 Virgina Governor Election

October, 2001

Jerome Armstrong

Mark Warner (D) vs. Mark Earley (R)

10-18-01

A couple notes on Mark Warner Saj Sun: 1) he will have a solar eclipse natal Sun conjunction on Dec 14th of this year; also being conjuncted by Chiron; and Pluto coming into a long progressed conjuct/trine natal(similar to Daschle's), so he's got some LT power moves showing starting soon!

He's got a natal near exact Venus/Saturn in Scorpio conjunction, so he's got dedicated supporters for his Democratic brand of compassionate conservatism politics. His current transit of progressed Venus conjunct his Sun in Saj, and transiting Saturn oppostite this from Gemini coming on over the next year, bode well, transforming the Democratic leadership in Virginia(perhaps meaning national prominence for him as well).

Warner looks to me like he's on the verge of winning. I don't see anything negative. Latest polls have him up 10% Bush will be returning around the 22nd or so, Earley is going to need Bush's pulling... but I think something on a larger scale is about to break here, that could change the outcome.

[Purple Avenger]

Telling someone what they want to hear isn't a strategy.

Surely you jest! This is absolutely a strategy, and an age-old one at that. Its the same strategy that con artists have plied for millenia to fatten their wallets and lighten those of others.

[RC]

I don't believe in Astrology, or any other religion, organized or not.

I am aware that a LOT of people believe in Astrology to varying degrees, including, yes, the Reagans and Sir Issac Newton, among millions of others. So what? Astrology never tells people to go forth and kill, or lie, or cheat or steal, etc. Astrology, like most mainstream (and yes it's mainstream) faith-based belief systems, is just a way to frame a system of values and morality. The people I do know who believe in Astrology (and I count between 5-9 that I know) are all productive, honest, decent people. And I imagine Armstrong is a productive, fundamentally decent, person, as I imagine are most of the people who read this blog.

So, who cares if Jerome Armstrong believes in Astrology?

It is probably less damaging to our country than the many millions of people who believe that the End Times are near, yes?

[RC]

As far as Markos' netroots movement to gain influence within the Democratic Party goes, it seems to be working. It's hard to understand how one could sucessfully argue it isn't working. They deliver real money to candidates. On issues, it's really a feedback system between the "roots", bloggers and politicians for issues, information, and strategies. They've only been at it for a short while and it actually seems to be working, and getting more effective. It's not hard to argue that it is an improvement for democracy.

An earlier comment points out that aspects of the strategy are being mainlined into the Democratic Party and it's true. I read a number of the liberal blogs (and have for two years) and find it just fascinating.

And, I can also say that Jerome Armstrong is pretty much a zero in the liberal netroots/blog world. I read Kos regularly (and Atrios, Drum, Greenwald, Digby, Firedoglake, and a number of others) and he's just not a meaninful factor. That he co-authored a book with Kos is interesting, but it has nothing to do with blogging or netroots in practice, really, because Armstrong makes his money as a consultant today.

So, while it may feel good to make fun of Armstong, and it may feel good to hold the belief that the liberal netroots movement is built on a house of cards, but it's just not true. The netroots movement is built on many people engaged in a feedback system for ideas, support, information, and money.

It's not a cult of personality built around anyone, including Armstrong & Kos.

And, just because one isn't a liberal doesn't mean one can't admire what they are doing, when it's good.

[paul]

"So, who cares if Jerome Armstrong believes in Astrology?

It is probably less damaging to our country than the many millions of people who believe that the End Times are near, yes?"

Hitler believed in astrology and he turned out ok, right?

[paul]

"It's not a cult of personality built around anyone, including Armstrong & Kos."

There goes my 'flies land on the biggest piles of sh*t' theory.