MyDD :: Operation Chaos is the inverse surge

Operation Chaos is the inverse surge

by thezzyzx, Fri Jun 06, 2008 at 10:14:31 AM EST

So here we are in June. The primary season is over and it's time to reflect. For the last few months we've had a contentious internal battle over two candidates, and while some of it was obviously people who had different preferences, it's becoming even more obvious now that a lot of the anger has been fueled by Republicans who were hoping to gain by our feuding.

In a way, this approach was the mirror image of the Iraq surge. Take your forces and engage your opponents in an attempt to stall their victory; the only difference is that this time you're trying to inflame sectarian fighting instead of damping it out. In both cases though people confused the technique with the goal. The reason why you stall defeat is that you hope that something good will happen in the meantime. That's what keeps getting forgotten.

How did the invasion of the Democratic blogs go? Well not too well. The diaries here are showing that the party is reuniting, albeit in fits and starts. The trolls are being forced to become more and more obvious, which means that their time here is limited. In the meantime, their own party's deep divisions have been ignored over the months as tried to exploit ours, and since theirs are policy based, it'll be a lot harder to overcome. Obama is surging in today's Rasmussen tracking poll, he's up in electoral vote polls, he's up in the CBS poll, his favorable/unfavorable rating in Rasmussen are 55/42, and the press is now starting to focus on McCain. Moreover, the long primary caused the press to already release the most powerful weapons that could have been used against Obama, meaning that their power is already blunted. Even the whisper campaign ended up getting deployed in April which meant that it was already widely debunked in the first week in May.

Congratulations Republican bloggers. You managed to win April and May. Too bad the election wasn't then.

Tags: Republican failures (all tags)

Permalink :: 20 Comments :: Post a Comment

Re: Operation Chaos is the inverse surge (none / 0)

Things are looking up for Barack all around. There is a Rasmussen WV poll with him down 7 where I would have thought he would be down 20-30. WV is part of McCain's early advertising package, so he must be worried about it.

I like baked beans.

by SpideyDem on Fri Jun 06, 2008 at 10:28:48 AM EST

Operation Chaos was the best thing to happen to us (none / 0)

I've been saying this for months: Had Hillary Clinton not surged with Republican support after Wisconsin, the primary very possibly could have been over shortly thereafter.

The numbers in Ohio and Texas would not have been as impressive, and she might have even lost the popular vote in Texas (her margin was less than the number of Republicans that voted for her). Bill Clinton said that she had to win both to continue through the primaries; a smaller win in Ohio and a near loss in Texas would have taken the wind out of

She almost certainly would have lost Indiana; the exit polling suggests that her victory was within the 3% of her voters that would vote for McCain instead of her in the general election.

This is not to denegrate the hard work of the real Clinton supporters. Her campaign's benefit from Operation Chaos was a few percent; it was nowhere near enough to actually prop up a weak campaign. Hillary Clinton herself was astute to use the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy to her advantage with the belief that once they turned on her, she'd be in the position that she'd craved: where she could fight them toe-to-toe.

Because of Operation Chaos, the primary continued, leading to:

Hundreds of thousands of newly registered Democratic voters.

Millions of dollars in donations to both campaigns.

Reduced turnout to Republican primaries, leading to embarassing numbers going to Huckabee, Romney, and (especially) Paul.

Reduced media attention on John McCain, which leaves him with less time to shore up his general election weaknesses now that the media is focussing on him.

Huge media investment in our historic Democratic candidates.

Obama attack points being exposed and dealt with early.

Public opinion turning against smear tactics early.

So, in summary, Operation Chaos was a resounding success... for Democrats.

The pebbles have voted and the avalanche has begun.

President-Elect "That One"

by Dracomicron on Fri Jun 06, 2008 at 10:34:01 AM EST

Re: Operation Chaos is the reverse surge (none / 0)

Apparently, Limbaugh's rhetoric (just words) has great influence with some. You and others for the most part must believe that Clinton supporters are Republicans; the proof is reiterated through actions, referring to Clinton supporters as trolls. Hence the problem.

by soyousay on Fri Jun 06, 2008 at 10:37:50 AM EST

It's not that Clinton supporters are trolls (none / 0)

...it's that trolls disguised themselves as Clinton supporters. When there's a strong primary campaign going, it can be hard to tell the difference. It becomes pretty obvious when it's over though.

But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope.

by thezzyzx on Fri Jun 06, 2008 at 10:41:54 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: It's not that Clinton supporters are trolls (none / 0)

...it's that trolls disguised themselves as Clinton supporters.

How do you know? Because Rush Limbaugh told you so?

When there's a strong primary campaign going, it can be hard to tell the difference.

So it's basically an assumption on your part.

It becomes pretty obvious when it's over though.

How is that?

by soyousay on Fri Jun 06, 2008 at 10:50:59 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: It's not that Clinton supporters are trolls (none / 0)

It's a common tactic to do in elections, that's how I know. How is it obvious to tell the difference after the fact? Because Clinton doesn't benefit anymore.

Up until the time where Obama became the presumptive nominee, scouring right wing sites for attacks on Obama had a chance of getting Clinton the nomination. Now that it'll take something like Obama walking into Congress with a machine gun and taking people out for Clinton to gain the nomination, it starts to become more obvious.

There was a camouflage of partisan bickering that made the people trying to support McCain blend in. Now that that is dying down, the attacks stand out more. When all of the posts are about tactics to defeat McCain or promote the goals of the Democratic Party or to win down ticket races, whisper campaign diaries stick out.

But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope.

by thezzyzx on Fri Jun 06, 2008 at 11:13:38 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: It's not that Clinton supporters are trolls (none / 0)

It is common practice to promote this type of behavior and I'm sure that there were a very small number who actually switched over to "create chaos," but from what I've read, it had little to no effect at all.

Your diary promotes the idea that Clinton supporters in general are trolls due to "operation chaos." That just doesn't hold up.

Maybe if you can provide statistics to back up your claim, I'll re-access; otherwise, IMO this is pure bunk.

by soyousay on Fri Jun 06, 2008 at 11:48:47 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Geez (none / 0)

Your diary promotes the idea that Clinton supporters in general are trolls due to "operation chaos." That just doesn't hold up.

Not in the least because you're completely misrepresenting what they're saying.

The pebbles have voted and the avalanche has begun.

President-Elect "That One"

by Dracomicron on Fri Jun 06, 2008 at 11:50:08 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: It's not that Clinton supporters are trolls (2.00 / 1)

To clarify: people who simply want to stoke the flames of pointless argument, who misrepresent what diarists and commenters say to keep the arguments going, and whose contrariness crosses the into boring obnoxiousness, these are not Republican trolls. They're just garden-variety internet trolls. They appear on all sites, in all seasons. They just like attention.

"This victory alone is not the change we seek -- it is only the chance for us to make that change." -- Nov. 4, 2008

by BobzCat on Fri Jun 06, 2008 at 12:13:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Hmmm? (none / 0)

Clinton supporters that tout Limbaugh talking points aren't actually Clinton supporters. The man has no interest in actually helping her or her candidacy.

The pebbles have voted and the avalanche has begun.

President-Elect "That One"

by Dracomicron on Fri Jun 06, 2008 at 10:43:01 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hmmm? (none / 0)

Clinton supporters that tout Limbaugh talking points aren't actually Clinton supporters.

According to your assumption, anyone who doesn't care for Obama as a candidate is a troll. The fact that their reasons for not supporting the candidate coincide with Limbaugh's doesn't make a person a troll. Take the example of Rev. Wright; many people do not like Wright's recent rhetoric, including Obama. Obama's opinion in reference to Rev Wright is the same as Limbaugh's opinion. That does not make Obama "a troll." :D

by soyousay on Fri Jun 06, 2008 at 11:00:03 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Come again? (none / 0)

No, they don't have the same position on Wright. Obama has a complex and nuanced relationship with the man, Limbaugh uses him as a talking point.

Obama was disappointed at Wright's more inflammatory rhetoric, which he didn't believe was constructive in our great national debate. Limbaugh thinks that Wright is a "racist hatemonger."

You're trying to conflate broad strokes with detailed analysis, and it doesn't work.

The pebbles have voted and the avalanche has begun.

President-Elect "That One"

by Dracomicron on Fri Jun 06, 2008 at 11:16:42 AM EST
[ Parent ]

You're splitting hairs (none / 0)

No, they don't have the same position on Wright.

I think for the most part, people thought Revenend Wright's recent rhetoric was appauling.

Obama has a complex and nuanced relationship with the man, Limbaugh uses him as a talking point.

I thought that Wright's and Obama's relationship was over. In reference to Limbaugh; he is using Wright as a talking point but he probably finds Wright's rhetoric appauling too.

Obama was disappointed at Wright's more inflammatory rhetoric,

That was my feeling too.

which he didn't believe was constructive in our great national debate.

Wow, Obama doesn't find that type of rhetoric divisive and outrageous? Wow that's going to be a real problem for Obama then. Most Americans find this type of Rhetoric divisive and outrageous.

Limbaugh thinks that Wright is a "racist hatemonger."

My personal opinion is that Wright and Phleger fuel the fire using race divisive rhetoric as their kindling. I can actually see Limbaugh's point.

by soyousay on Fri Jun 06, 2008 at 11:37:19 AM EST
[ Parent ]

*I* am the one splitting hairs? (none / 0)

Yes, Obama is done with Wright. That doesn't mean that their relationship isn't complicated. I know gay folks who haven't seen their parents in years; that doesn't mean that their relationship with their parents isn't complicated.

How does "didn't believe was constructive in our great national debate" translate to "doesn't find that type of rhetoric divisive and outrageous?" Didn't I say basically the same thing that you just did without being a reactionary?

Limbaugh wants to use wedge issues to split the Democrats to benefit Republicans. Obama wants to raise the level of discourse and talk about the issues like adults so that people won't be as easily led astray in the future.

It's becoming clearer to me which method you prefer.

The pebbles have voted and the avalanche has begun.

President-Elect "That One"

by Dracomicron on Fri Jun 06, 2008 at 11:48:50 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: *I* am the one splitting hairs? (none / 0)

Didn't I say basically the same thing that you just did without being a reactionary?

Did you?

I wouldn't call what I wrote "reactionary," blunt is more like it...You tend to beat around the bush.

So there ya go. Speaking of going...see ya.

by soyousay on Fri Jun 06, 2008 at 11:53:51 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Operation Chaos is the inverse surge (none / 0)

Where are Larry Johnson and Susan Hu when you need a good troll to whack?

by ReillyDiefenbach on Fri Jun 06, 2008 at 11:27:21 AM EST

Re: Operation Chaos is the inverse surge (none / 0)

I believe they have their own website. ;) I feel bad about giving them money but I figure I should give them some money for the amusement they give me.

But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope.

by thezzyzx on Fri Jun 06, 2008 at 11:33:12 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Operation Chaos is the inverse surge (none / 0)

I'm sure I don't dare ask after some of our more prominent diarists.

by ReillyDiefenbach on Fri Jun 06, 2008 at 11:44:36 AM EST
[ Parent ]

don't ask... (none / 0)

You do not want to inflict yourself with the hatemongering of No Quarter...

...and to think these bloggers used to be respected within the leftist online community. This primary has been very revealing in that broad political ideology unites some very different kinds of people, the kinds identity politics readily divides.

by Casuist on Fri Jun 06, 2008 at 11:40:28 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: don't ask... (none / 0)

Oy, don't get me started. It's been a real eye opener.

by ReillyDiefenbach on Fri Jun 06, 2008 at 11:42:33 AM EST
[ Parent ]

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