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Home Front: Culture Wars
Kos gets a day job
2005-05-11
Silicon Valley progressives, a major labor union and a centrist Democratic organization have joined forces to fund a startup think tank that focuses on politics, not policy. The New Politics Institute (NPI), unlike conventional think tanks that churn out white papers and policy briefs, will work to counter "[White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl] Rove and [RNC Chairman Ken] Mehlman on the other side," said Simon Rosenberg, president of NDN, formerly the New Democrat Network but now known just by its initials. NPI will be funded by venture capitalist Andy Rappaport and his wife, Deborah, as well as the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), to the tune of $1.5 million to $2 million annually, and will be under the umbrella of NDN. The union will provide "considerable resources," NDN spokesman Guillermo Meneses said.

With offices in both Washington and the San Francisco Bay area of California, the think tank will rely on a network of fellows to manufacture and disseminate its political products. Part of NPI will be incorporated as a nonprofit 501(c)(4) and other elements will be free to engage in campaign activity as a 527, Rosenberg said in a conference call with reporters.

In addition to its support from SEIU and the Rappaports, NPI has enlisted the help of Markos Moulitsas Zuniga of the popular liberal blog dailykos.com, as well as Trippi, to find innovative ways to deliver their ideas in a changing media landscape. Pollsters Sergio Bendixen and Mark Penn, SEIU official Gina Glantz and Theo Yedinsky, formerly of the Kerry campaign and currently with NDN, will all play a role in the new startup.

Zuniga was dismissive of the existing progressive thinks tanks' capacity to change the debate or influence elections in the Democrats' favor. "Policy think tanks are pretty useless," he said, without naming any in particular. "All the great policy white papers aren't going to do any good," he added. NPI will be focused on "building a Democratic Party that is focused on winning." In a minor disagreement with Zuniga, Rosenberg said that NPI would work in concert with groups like the Public Policy Institute and other progressive think tanks, insisting that that such like-minded organizations would draw on their separate expertise to develop and deliver progressive ideology. Rosenberg said NPI would focus on three specific themes: the ascendancy of the conservative movement, demographic trends and the demise of the traditional broadcast media.
Posted by:seafarious

#13  Actually, I'm all for the leftie billionares to send more money to Kos in support of the canidates. He was so not successful last time, let's have him keep up all the good work and the money going to where it does the least good.

Rock on, loser Kos, rock on.
Posted by: mmurray821   2005-05-11 12:37  

#12  Just when I thought the LLL KoolAid drinkers couldn’t think of a new way to waste money! How can one counter the truth? How can a group counter the tide that is American Conservative politics? Are they going to tell you that it’s ok for Iran and North Korea to have Nukes? Maybe they will build up that story that Social Security will only go bankrupt in 30 years so let it ride for now? Mind you if a CEO knew his company was going to sink in X number of years and did nothing to stop it, the LLL would want him prosecuted for their inaction. I can see it in about six months Kos will have a show on Err Amerika where he reads that latest “findings” from this LLL think (sic) tank.
Posted by: Cyber Sarge   2005-05-11 11:49  

#11  These Silicon Valley "progressives" -- progressing toward what? C'mon guys... say it! -- are going to counter Karl Rove?

That's bee-yoo-ti-ful! SF socialist types will succeed in driving the remaining "blue" counties even farther toward the coasts!
Posted by: eLarson   2005-05-11 10:14  

#10  tu - welcome to the real world :)

The union 'leadershit' haven't given a shait about the membership for decades - except for funding.

Take a look at the NEA (National Extortion Education Association - teachers union. Which teachers are compelled, by law (at least here in WA), to contribute to in order to ply their trade.
Posted by: CrazyFool   2005-05-11 09:23  

#9  Maybe Kos can do a really good Rachel Corrie impersonation.
Posted by: anymouse   2005-05-11 08:52  

#8  ...as well as the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), to the tune of $1.5 million to $2 million annually, and will be under the umbrella of NDN. The union will provide “considerable resources,” NDN spokesman Guillermo Meneses said.

And this program will benefit the SEIU union membership how much? Like maybe... not one friggin bit?
Posted by: tu3031   2005-05-11 08:48  

#7  I read the DailyKos. All agitprop, all the time. But of far more interest (in fact lack of interest) is they are horribly provincial. Its like the rest of the world doesn't exist except as a remote backdrop like a Shakesperean character mentions a war in a distant place. Its all so 19th or 18th century. 'Fog in the world, Left is isolated.'
Posted by: phil_b   2005-05-11 08:28  

#6  Wait unitl kos attacks the Hillabeast as too moderate; we can all enjoy the show.
Posted by: mhw   2005-05-11 08:17  

#5  May Kos reprise his stellar performance for the Howard Dean campaign. Yeargh!
Posted by: ed   2005-05-11 08:00  

#4  I propose rantburgers fund the acquisition of an M1A2. Then invite the progressives to bring their (non)think tank against ours for a civil discussion.
Posted by: JFM   2005-05-11 07:53  

#3  Eh? Where's the centrist -- actually, where's the liberal? 'Screw them' Kos is an out-and-out leftist.

This is hilarious, though. Another lefty gazillionaire flushing money down the toilet. Did they even look at what Kos' political insticts got him last time (zero for all the backed candidates)? This time he's spreading the 'ideas? we don't need no steenkin' ideas' brain-fever. If they can scream loudly enough, on enough channels, surely people will start voting Democratic, right? Right?

Can't wait.
Posted by: someone   2005-05-11 03:16  

#2  Chuck hasn't blogged on it yet.
Posted by: badanov   2005-05-11 01:18  

#1  All I can say is I hope he catches a massive infection and dies. There is nothing closet about this little commie puke. Please step out in front of a speeding garbage truck. Hopefully with a group of your nearest friends as well.
Posted by: Sock Puppet 0’ Doom   2005-05-11 01:06  

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