alternative hippopotamus

The Town House is a bar in Washington DC. See here. Around the time of the 2004 presidential election a number of popular progressive bloggers were living in DC including Matt Yglessias, Matt Stoller, Josh Marshall, and Ezra Klein, as well as others. They would meet semi-regularly at the Town House. This was the origin of the Town House email list.

In 2006 Jason Zengerle of the New Republic posted a blog entry alleging that the Town House was being used to launder progressive talking points. Here’s how Glenn Greenwald responds to that post: (link)

Over the last few days, Jason Zengerle of The New Republic has been engaged in a bizarre crusade to depict “liberal bloggers” as a bunch of mindless, obedient zombies who take orders about what to write from Markos Moulitsas, all in order to ensure that they can continue to enjoy the great financial wealth lavished upon them by virtue of their participation in the “Advertise Liberally” network, which Markos founded but does not operate. To prove this “point,” Zengerle published what he purported to be various e-mails regarding recent accusations against Jerome Armstrong, which Zengerle claimed were sent to the “Townhouse” Google group — comprised of 300 or so journalists, political operatives, bloggers, advocacy organizations, and others designed to facilitate communication between these usually isolated groups. To the extent the “substance” of Zengerle’s accusations are worth responding to, Ezra Klein and Max Sawicky (among many) have done so quite thoroughly, respectively here and here.

So, it’s both laughable and predictable that the new Democratic-opposing bloggers, in this case the so called “pumas” recycle these old right-wing points. Take this post from Reclusive Leftist:

I don’t know if people here know about the “Town House” email list but it’s kinda interesting if you want to know how the political blogs operate or if you’ve ever wondered why you read the same messaging over and over again, in predictable cycles. Town House is/was a by-invitation only group that hands out acceptable talking points to be disseminated by its affiliated blogs. The idea of Town House was to create a method by which progressives could do what right wing radio does with its audience: get those memes started and re-enforced through sheer repetition. Challenge those talking points and you get chased off the blogs.

Of course, the Town House email list has nothing to do with handing out acceptable talking points. And why folks like Lambert repeat this kind of gossip is clear: this is a simple, if gossip-laden way of smearing progressive bloggers. This is what these formerly Clinton-supporting blogs have descended into: smearing the winners of the 2008 presidential contest.

There’s an old adage that conflict sells. And, anyone who disagrees with the adage is just cruising for a bruising.

That’s why I think the Post is tweaking this story up. To sell newspapers.

Like when I got to this part: “Hoho KO’s Obama”. Okay, that’s not exactly what it says. A more accurate quote is:

Founded by former Vermont governor Howard Dean, Democracy for America argues that inclusion of a Medicare-style public option in health-care legislation is “non-negotiable.”

You’d get the impression that this noted liberal group is breaking with Obama on the issue of healthcare. I question this impression. A couple of weeks ago Howard Dean spoke at DC for Democracy, the local chapter of Democracy for America. Dean spoke at length about healthcare, but emphasized he was not talking about single payer, but what has become known as the “Public Option.” Certainly, Dean is supportive of Obama, as is DC for Democracy.

Being generally supportive doesn’t mean acting in a state of obeisance. So, if Obama is asking progressive groups to stop attack ads, I’m sure that groups such as DC for Democracy appreciate his viewpoint. They’re not going to change their stripes, however.

And just between me and you, I haven’t been impressed with Ceci Connelly’s recent work. Let’s just say that she’s been writing to the theme of progressives vs. Dems recently. You may recall this from Open Left, for instance:

When asking me about the Progressive Change Campaign Committee’s TV ads (which begin airing Monday in DC) holding Senate Dems accountable for taking millions from insurance interests and being on the verge of opposing a public option supported by 76% of Americans, Connolly would ask me ridiculous questions like, “Why are you attacking your friends? Wouldn’t you agree that these Democrats are better for you on most health care issues than Republicans?”

I had to patiently explain to her that the public option is the defining issue of the health care debate — if Senators like Baucus and Nelson aren’t with us on that, they are not our friends.

Going back over the wording it maybe that the phrase “Medicare-style” are what’s creating the apparent debate. That wording would elide Single Payer (”Medicare for all”) with the still evolving “Public Option.”

If Lambert’s point is that the resignation of the Governor of Alaska, much less the former VP nominee is not a legitimate new story, then he’s clearly playing 11th dimensional chess in his own private Idaho with the FKD. (yes, I know that makes no sense. I’m trying out my Lambertese.)

I’ll note that his friends, the pumas, have their tongues a-wagging to the max.