Joshua Micah Marshall (TPM) Teaser: What's He Got?

[tsipple]

Joshua Micah Marshall, the Talking Points Memo blogger, has this mysterious teaser on his web site:

(November 18, 2003 -- 03:32 PM EDT)

Oh Boy ... Something pretty big is coming down the pike tomorrow apparently. The world of Astroturf organizing may be shaken all the way down to its phony-baloney roots.

What the heck is he talking about? Anyone know?

[Cush]

1. Astroturf?

I've seen this used before, what does it mean in the poltiical world?

Just fake, artificial, etc? (as in the grass)

[nostamj]

3. astroturf

is the mass mailing of LTTE using boilerplate language provided by (usually) RW sources. several have been exposed in recent months.

it could also include the "Happy Soldiers" mail sent from Iraq.

(maybe THAT's the scandal???)

[djg21]

6. "Astroturf" refers to . . .

a "grass-roots" effort which is contrived and manipulated rather than genuine. For instance, a lobbyist or special interest may pay constituents to call representatives in support of a particular cause. Or, a special interest may hire people to demonstrate against or protest a cause. The idea is to create an artificial perception that a constituency has strong opinions that it may not actually have. In other words, its orchestrated bullshit!

[SadEagle]

8. artificial grassroots.

Ranging from right-wingers copy-pasting letters to editor and claiming they were theirs (and then having the same letter show up in 50 newspapers), to far more sinister matter of corporations paying 'people' to write letters to editor to try to create the appearance of public support when there is none.

[Spazito]

2. Hmmmm

Sounds like he knows about another major astroturf attempt by the repubs. Will be interesting to see what happens tomorrow.

[huckleberry]

4. "Astroturf organizing" definition from TPM Feb 2002

"A long-time reader (CR) writes in to ask, just what is this "astroturf" or phony grass-roots organizing you keep talking about?

Good question. Let me see if I can answer it.

Start with the premise that any organized interest group or corporation can hire some shark who served a few terms in the House and have him go to the Hill and lobby. But what really gets Reps' and Senators' attention is when the issue being discussed is one that people care about back home. One that can get the switchboard humming with calls from the district.

That matters.

If angry voters are pissed because Senator X isn't supporting or opposing amendment Y, that matters a helluva lot more than the lobbyist's $2000 suit, manicured fingernails, and gaudy watch. Astroturf organizing begins with the following question, why can't we buy that kind of support too?

Well, it turns out you can! Or at least, sorta. Astroturf organizing describes a series of services consultants provide to simulate the existence of grass-roots interest or concern with an issue. It's fake grass-roots, thus 'astroturf.'

So how is it down? Basically, with a mix of phone-banking, setting up of front groups meant to imitate citizen groups, media campaigns, and the like. Perhaps even demonstrations if a sufficient number of rent-a-protestors can be assembled. On top of this, mix in some clever new angles for your message... like maybe pollution actually counts as paid speech and is thus constitutionally protected! These guys are very creative."

more at
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/week_2002_02_24.html#000610

[chimpymustgo]

5. Same sex marriage?

Perfect for right wing astroturfing.

We'll see tomorrow...

[Dookus]

7. Sounds to me...

like some Astroturf has been traced back to its source - perhaps the RNC or maybe even the White House. Should be fun....

[DoYouEverWonder]

9. There was something a couple of days ago

About newspaper articles that were written off the same template popping up in a couple of newspapers. Maybe it has turn out to be more than a couple?

[Shakespeare]

10. My hunch....

Is that it could have something to do with the AARP's endorsement of the new Medicare drug "benefit."

[AP]

11. He's saying that what's called "grass roots" could be totally phony.

Hmm.