There was a time in America when the most effective way for the average Joe to make his voice heard in the political process was in the confines of the voting booth. Once in a while—if he were lucky—he might even get a letter to the editor published in the local newspaper. But, other than that, it was unlikely that politicians would pay much attention to what he had to say—especially if he lived somewhere between the liberal Coasts—the great American fly-over zone.
But the Internet has changed everything. Joe Six-Pack can now hook up his computer and his DSL account and blog away his nights. And the entire world can see his thoughts and e-mail comments back to him.
As a result, political nobodies from nowhere are now emerging on the national Cyberspace stage, opining on everything from the war in Iraq to, well, the strength of other blogs.
Blogs represent the voice of the people—often against the most powerful elements in our society—so they do represent a kind of high-tech democracy in action.
Some political pundits now say the readership for some of the more popular blogs can rival the hits received on major newspaper websites. Still, I have to wonder, why do media commentators devote so much attention to radically left-wing blogs—especially when these blogs hardly represent the views of SUV-driving, church-going, baseball-loving moms and dads?
We hear, for instance, that incessant Democratic bloggers are trying hard to move their party further to the left, championing Russ Feingold for President. While Hillary and company seem to be promoting a big tent approach, soft-pedaling their appalling support for abortion on demand and other traditionally liberal issues, here are the diehard bloggers, trying to take the tent and move it to Berkeley.
The fact of the matter is that Democrats simply cannot control their left flank for very long—hence the ascendancy of the conservative movement. No matter how much the Democratic Party chieftains claim that abortion is a tragic choice…no matter how much they talk about personal responsibility and getting able-bodied men and women off the public dole…their liberal colors eventually show.
This is why, despite claims that the Democrats are going to enjoy an electoral blow-out this fall, it would be wrong to count the party of Reagan out. While the Democrats can attempt to capitalize on a wave of voter discontent for this election cycle, an initial infatuation with the Dems will pass quickly, once voters realize that this is still the same party that brought us sky-high interest rates, federal binge spending, the replacement of prayer in school with the gospel of gay pride, and endless womanizing in the Oval Office.
In fact, twenty years down the line, I wouldn’t be surprised if our much-maligned President George W. Bush is regarded as one of our finest Presidents. Why? Because—when we faced an unprecedented attack on domestic soil on 9/11, the President responded with courage, strength and, yes, even restraint. He showed himself to be a voice of reason in an age dominated by those who would rather cow-tow to international thugs than to offend the ACLU.
In short, George W. showed himself to be a true leader—something the Democratic Party is still trying to find.
So, let the left-wing bloggers “attack” the Democratic Party bigwigs all they want. I have full faith that the American people will be able to recognize what the party really stands for—values that are way out of line from what the typical patriotic American holds dear.
In other words, the Democrats are blogging their way to eventual defeat.
