Harold Ford's pathetic drive-by "conversation" at tpm cafe

[swag]

Hilarious:

http://www.tpmcafe.com/blog/specialguests/2007/apr/03/in_search_of_common_ground

[IChing]

1. Interesting read especially the comments.

Most of the posts nailed many of the honest grievances we have

[NormanYorkstein]

28. didn't Harold Ford pose with a Confederate flag?

in his run for Senator? He did a photo op at a bar and posed in front of a large Confederate flag, with an unusual facial expression? It was all over the internets until he lost the election.

[SaveElmer]

2. Pathetic on the part of the TPM participants...

Typical of the intolerance so common on the left now...

[ConservativeDemocrat]

7. Yeah, it was pretty ironic to read all the comments...

that drew offense from Mr Ford's observation that:

It's no secret that in some parts of the progressive blogosphere, the DLC has attained bogey-man status based on what I can only describe as a distorted view of the organization's history, and its alleged present status as a pillar of the Washington political establishment.

That's exactly what the left thinks. It was echoed is most of the responses. Yet they couldn't honestly own up to their own opinion, because even the posters realized their own kneejerk attitude wasn't very flattering.

Then, on top of it all, they then go whining that Ford won't engage them and their sophomoric ranting. Gee, I wonder why?

Now sure, I have my own problems with the DLC - especially Al From, who has engaged in unconstructive criticisms to the point where he even adopted false Republican messaging, just as the hard left has adopted discredited and unhelpful Socialist Party(/Peace&Freedom Party/Green Party) messaging. But if there is going to be constructive dialog, it needs to come from both sides.

Ford put out his hand in a tentative peace offering, and even on TPMCafe, the hard-left couldn't resist slapping at it.

[madfloridian]

15. Perhaps because the Clinton folks are pushing him to take Dean's job as chair.

And he right after that got DLC chair. Think they were sending us a message? I do.

Ford detests Dean, he detests any of us who don't think the govt should be founded in religion. He said Dean might be asked to step down.

So what part of being fair am I missing?

[ConservativeDemocrat]

20. I think you're projecting Carville on to Ford...

I haven't heard a peep from Ford that he wants to be chair of the DNC. The only criticism that I heard from him of Dean at all was a clear distancing of himself when Dean made that unfortunate "White Christian Party" comment about the Republicans. (Not Howard's best moment, let me assure you.)

Carville doesn't like Dean. But I'm doesn't necessarily extend to the Clintons. Certainly not Bill. He had a meeting with Dean about the 50 State Strategy and came out a believer.

- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community

[madfloridian]

27. Carville implied it extended to the Clintons.

Ford attacked Dean on TV seriously. Carville said Ford should replace Dean....Schoen said Ford should replace Dean.

It's called a pattern.

Here's where he implied that Rahm and the Clintons did not mind his attacks on Dean.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/838

[KoKo]

22. Whether it's Clinton or Corporate Establishment ...Ford is defintely there to DESTROY DEAN

and us on the "Netroots" who've questioned the DLC. His opening statement and the comments kind of proved what many of us knew about the DLC.

[laugle]

3. I heard on the Bill Press radio show, that H. Ford is now working for Fox faux news as a

contributor, which means he is being paid, while also being a member of the DLC!

What a sell-out!!

[laugle]

4. I heard on the Bill Press radio show, that H. Ford is now working for Fox faux news as a

contributor, which means he is being paid, while also being a member of the DLC!

What a sell-out!!

Sounds like a conflict to me!!

[SaveElmer]

6. How's that exactly...the DLC is a think tank...

Are you saying anytime a network has someone from Brookings, or Cato...or any other think tank there is a conflict?

At least get your facts straight before posting such nonsense!!!

[laugle]

11. Hey lighten up...that's what Press said! you don't have to like it or agree!

[SaveElmer]

13. "What a Sell Out"

"Sounds like a conflict to me"

Your comments or his?

[laugle]

18. Perhaps that was a bit to harsh, hey I like Ford and

I'm just sorry he has decided to work for Faux news as a paid contributor.

When you are a paid employee it can influence your thoughts and judgement.

I should not haved jumped to any conclusions yet, and apologize if I offended you.

[KoKo]

23. Commenter on Josh's site asked him to disclose his payment from Fox News!

:rofl:

[saracat]

5. I am not a DLC fan. I violently dislike the positions of AL From. But

the posts in that blog were nasty.Ford was civil and asked for a conversation.All the reponders proved was that they couldn't have a conversation with Ford. How sad. No wonder Ford didn't reply. Nothing he could say to these folks would matter. They are just as guilty of the "my way or the highway thinking " as the GOP! Why can't some just civilly agree to differ, or ((Gasp)) try to find some common ground?

[KoKo]

25. When I was reading over there..there was only one...and folks thought he was a Freeper

and asked if his post could be removed. :shrug:

Everything I read ...about 20 of them or more before I had to leave seemed like well informed, detailed comments from intellectually savvy people. When I left Harold had not responded to one of the replies.

I guess he "Cut and Ran." :shrug:

[Jacobin]

8. Holy Mackeral

At least he knows what we are thinking! :rofl:

He deserved it all, too IMHO

a tasty snip:

On April 3, 2007 - 3:44pm Jay R said:

Agreed--I find that the problem with the DLC is not that it wants to keep America safe, but that it tries using tactically counterproductive rhetoric in an attempt to make Democrats look tough without providing any corresponding substance. Every one of those points that you cited about Ford's record could be interpreted as a foolish attempt to look strong while actually weakening our national security.

So the DLC and Ford have a big problem: either they're completely inept on foreign policy (as the last four years of their errors have led us to believe), or they know what they're doing and are willing to undermine long-term national security for short-term political framing (a framing that only works, incidentally, when used alongside attempts to defame or discredit those who have again and again been proven right on the war).

So either the DLC is promoting bad ideas for purposes of political framing, or it's full of gullible, irrational and illogical war enablers. I don't see a third option.

Sorry, Chairman Ford, but for all intents and purposes it looks like you've taken control of a ship of fools. There is simply no evidence that DLC has any relevance or, frankly, anything useful to contribute to the party except infighting and capitulation.

[wyldwolf]

9. typical middle-school responses

[Jacobin]

10. I took the time to read the responses

I'll admit that they were pointed and in some cases rude. If you read what they were complaining about, I happen to agree one hundred per cent.

If he can't bring himself to answer the very valid questions raised, then I think that speaks volumes.

BTW, did you notice he didn't responde to ONE question, even the one about his paid gig at Fox News?

[wyldwolf]

12. the fact of the matter is...

... Ford got A LOT of press from his Ideas Primary last week. Couple that with the fact that the netroots have garnered a reputation for being extremely partisan, rude, insulting, and uncompromising.

The only way the DLC could have created a better example of that behavior to showcase vs. their "Ideas Primary" would have been if Ford had actually engaged some in that discussion (I wish he had done so.) You know how anti-DLC threads get. It isn't long before the personal insults start flying - usually from the "left" first (and in this instance from the VERY FIRST REPLY)

Looks like folks at TPM took the bait.

[Jacobin]

19. bait is an interesting word

The fact that Ford has been hired by Faux News is enough for me. He's either irrelevant or part of the problem

[wyldwolf]

26. yes it is

Wes Clark must also be irrelevant.

[KoKo]

24. Beg to differ Wyldwolf...the responses were very detailed and informed.

You must not have been over there and read them. :-(

[IChing]

29. He dismissed the comments like a DLC member

which is why we still have a problem with the posterity
of their proven leaders such as Liarman and Zell Miller.

If Ford had come in a little more Humble, and admitted their mistakes and transgressions to the "looney left",
then things might happen in his peace attempt
but I saw arrogance that did not treat us as equals

Ford is also a newly appointed Vice-President of a firm involved with Enron.

They want dialogue, but only from a point of power.
When in reality we have real power and they know it.

That poll on DU about Hillary picking her Vice President showed it.

[madfloridian]

14. He talks as though they were a wing of the party. They are not.

They are a 501, a think tank. They are not supposed to be influencing elections according to Al From. They are in fact not really Democratic according to Al From. They stated to the IRS inquiry that they were not so much Democrat, and that Republicans supported their view far more often.

Yet they said Dean would not be president. And as late as November Al From was lecturing anti-war activists again. We have a huge mess in Iraq, and he needs to back off the activists. We were 100% right they were 100% wrong.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/1227

Al From in November:

"There's a perception in some media and political circles that Democratic White House wannabes, like their Republican counterparts, must systematically bend the knee to ideologically inflexible and noisy party activists to have any prayer of nomination or election. They should pay attention to what happened in Connecticut on Nov. 7, where even in a strongly anti-war blue state, voters rejected a high-profile effort to exclude Joe Lieberman from the Democratic Party. The reality is that, unlike the Republicans who are a much more homogenous party, Democrats can only win with a broad coalition. An expanded party base depends on a spirit of inclusiveness; certainly the House Democratic caucus is more ideologically diverse than it was before Election Day. To remain in the majority, it will need to stay that way."

I am a noisy activist who was 100% right about Iraq. Al From was 100% wrong.

And Lieberman was elected by Republicans, so that holds no water.

[juno jones]

16. personally I didn't find the thread that harsh

...a few insults, but, hey, this is the internet. There were some pretty intelligent posts too, unless you think merely questioning Ford's statements and record is in bad form. What I found very interesting was the fact that he didn't reply. 4 hours into the comments, nothing. There was meat there, he could have tried to explain the DLC differences vis a vis the repubs, or he could have clarified any one of his shiny new 'Talking Points for 2008', but he didn't. The last thing we need are elected officials and party representatives who will not respond to intelligent questions...especially when he himself was the one asking for the dialogue. His tone was somewhat patronizing and I think most people are fed up with it...

[madfloridian]

17. Out of both sides of mouth:

"In fact, the DLC's real political base is among state and local elected officials from around the country--many hundreds of them have gone through our policy development training and attended our annual National Conversations. Contrary to what many think, DLCers are often as frustrated with D.C-based political consultants and pollsters as anyone in the Netroots."

Perhaps he has not read their website lately, nor those of their partners the PPI and the Third Way.

They are in total control of the party's message. They just would find it easier if we went along rather than said we did not like the direction they were going.

[KoKo]

21. Did HF ever show up? The "Comments" were great and almost all

gave great reasons why DLC and Harold should be "run outta town on a rail."

It was VERY interesting! I read many comments and Harold never dared show his face because those "in the know" had gone after him for starting off trashing the "Netroots" in his opening statement and "lecturing" those who would be reading it.

I never trusted Harold Ford...but now I KNOW WHY!