They Blog And They’re Better Than You
Posted by Adam Graham in : Idaho Conservative, TheReading recent ruminations from the political left in Idaho, I remember my meeting with Ed Morrissey of Captain’s Quarters. Morrissey has achieved success beyond the dreams of most bloggers and has Congressional leaders, Presidential Candidates, etc. in as guest bloggers. He’s won awards and has thousands of visitors, but he’s comfortable in who he is and what he’s achieved and had no reason to lord it over folks at the convention (blogger or not.)
Then you have the wannabes and never wases, folks who want to make something of themselves and, as they see it, the easiest way to do that is to make something less of someone else. Thus, has been the aim of the Idaho liberal blogosphere. It was this post by Chris at Unequivocal Notion:
You know, it is cute sometimes when someone says “oh, how do you do that?” But there are times when you are like “WTF? Are you even capable of tying your shoes in the morning?” I put Risch’s disdain of technology solidly in this category. If the guy cannot turn on a computer, maybe, just maybe he shouldn’t be making policy decisions that affect Idaho businesses — businesses that happen to includes tech companies.
And you know, if Larry LaRocco can’t rope cattle, cut down trees, harvest potatoes, conduct a tour of the Snake River, he shouldn’t make decisions about Idaho businesses as they depend on this. Indeed, should higher tech. companies come to our state that make incredibly complex things that we don’t understand in detail, I guess we’ll have to start requring PhDs in all of our positions.
The truth is, a US Senator’s personal use or understanding of the blogosphere is close to irrelevant. That they have people on their staff who understand it is helpful. There’s a lot of things that Congress have to address without actually being experts in the field.
However, the smug, condescending attitude that has permeated the Idaho leftosphere has shone through. Blogs and new media are important as tools in the modern campaign, but are not the be all and end all of governance.
What comes through the comments of Idaho libs seems to be a tad self-serving and not only looks down on Governor Risch, but a ton of Idaho citizens who don’t blog or understand the blogosphere as a political tool, thus Idaho liberal bloggers have created a self-invented elite with them as superior and all others below them as they express a nutty technobigotry that declares all but tech savvy candidates unfit to govern.
Given that the vast majority of Idahoans have no idea who any of us bloggers are, and aren’t using Facebook and You Tube for political information, they’re looking down on a lot of fellow citizens.
If arrogance is political currency, then Idaho bloggers are billionaires, if they actually want to influence people, a tone that is a tad less condescending towards those who aren’t as involved as the rest of us would be appropriate.
Comment by Bubblehead
This is setting the bar pretty low, Adam. No one’s saying that someone has to be an “expert” at everything to be a Senator; all I’m asking is that someone who wants to be a Senator at least demonstrate a little intellectual curiosity. You can’t always count on the office staff (often mostly made up of D.C. professionals, like the one employed by your favorite Idaho Congressman) to really work in the best interests of the state. Much the same way, I’d be hard pressed to vote for a Senator who refused to believe the world is spherical, or demanded to ride a horse to work because “those new-fangled horseless carriages make to much danged noise” or some other such Luddite behavior. “I refuse to adapt” may be a slogan that brings in some supporters, but it doesn’t work for me.
Comment by Sisyphus
Oh Adam, its perfectly fitting that you use condescending and Risch in the same article, you just pieced the words together incorrectly. For a person to remain intentionally ignorant on a subject as vast as the internet tells me that he lacks forsight and vision to cope with issues that will come before him as Senator. It further demonstrates that he won’t be getting up to speed on the issues using the greatest tools man has ever invented for the dissemination of knowledge. But lastly it tells me he arrogantly believes he doesn’t need to know anything about not only the internet but computers as a whole.
In addition you make a good point here: “if Larry LaRocco can’t rope cattle, cut down trees, harvest potatoes, conduct a tour of the Snake River, he shouldn’t make decisions about Idaho businesses as they depend on this.” Its important for candidates to walk a mile in the shoes of their constituents which is precisely why LaRocco is working for his seat. You won’t see Risch doing this.
Liberal bloggers aren’t the problem. Luddites, like Senator Ted Stevens and Jim Risch, are. Both you and I could suffer greatly by allowing such intentionally ignorant people to make decsions for us in Congress.
Comment by Adam Graham
Several things here. First of all, Risch is learning some things. He’ll never be on the same show as Leo LaPorte, but he is learning e-mail and basic stuff.
What I’m hearing is that Jim Risch’s experience in elected office, his connections and relationships across the state, his fairly successful term as governor are all dwarfed by the fact he doesn’t read 43rd State Blues while waiting for the latest YouTube video to load.
Also, Larry LaRocco can’t work at jobs for the day, but this is cheap publicity stunts. It’s an odd combination of arrogance and lack of substance that has made the Idaho leftosphere what it is today.
Comment by Julie in Boise
Adam, I encourage you to actually read some of LaRocco’s day job descriptions. Yes, they are undeniably good for publicity, but he is really working full days in each job and learning what people do in those jobs. This one, in particular, is eye-opening.
http://www.laroccoforsenate.com/app/webroot/pages/Pocatello-BeaconHospitalandRehabilitation.htm
Sorry, but emptying bedpans and moving patients shows not arrogance and lack of substance, but humility and heart – two things that Jim Risch and the rest of your so-called “right” lack.
You are going to have a hard time defending Risch, but I’ll enjoy watching you try.
Comment by Adam Graham
Julie, I actually wasn’t suggesting that Larry LaRocco was arrogant but that Idaho liberal bloggers are. As for defending Jim Risch: 1) Jim Risch isn’t the nominee and I haven’t endorsed anyone. 2) If the best you’ve got is, “Oooh, he doesn’t blog.” You’re going to have to try a lot harder than that.