It's me...advisorjim, and I need your help.
Some of you may remember me as the suddenly prolific and then just as suddenly silent author of the "Confessions of a Former Dittohead" series back in the fall of 2005. Others may have seen me when I was on tour in 2006 promoting the book of the same name. But most of you probably have no idea who I am, because in blog years I'm like a thousand years old. So, for the benefit of those who may not be familiar with my story, here's the insanely quick version:
My political story started back in 1991. I was 18 years old, and had just started taking classes at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. I had also just been introduced to Rush Limbaugh. I was in a 'learning' mode in college, and Rush became sort of my unofficial professor of political science. As a political neophyte, I didn't have much personal experience with the prevailing political issues of the day. So, much as I did in my classes at UT, I deferred to the experiences of what I considered to be a more knowledgable source. It helped that Rush and my dad are about the same age, and actually sound a little bit alike.
I came to the 1991 political scene as the reader comes to the character of Montressor in Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado." This classic revenge tale begins with the words "THE thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge." That's all you ever get out of the story for why Montressor decided to kill Fortunado, and that's basically all I knew about the relationship between Democrats and Republicans. As Rush told the story, all I could hear was that all of societies ills could be laid at the feet of Democrats and their willing accomplices in the "Liberal Media."
Over the course of the next 13 years, my own personal experiences would replace the 'artificial memories' that had guided my political beliefs. As a result, in 2004 I would finally do something Rush always encouraged "dittoheads" to do...I had the courage to face the truth. My personal belief system based on my life experiences was totally incompatible with my former life as a dittohead. And so, after pulling the 'R' switch in every election I'd ever voted in, in 2004 I switched my party affiliation from Republican to Democrat. I don't mean to be coy, but if you'd like to know more about why I converted...there is actually a book available.
And that, rather circuitously, brings me to the title for this diary, and what I'm doing today. Over the last few months I've been quietly working on the sequel to "Confessions," a book I'm calling "All Politics Is Personal." In a nutshell, the book is about the destructive nature of modern day politics on our personal lives. Lost friendships, family members you can't talk politics around, etc.
Originally this was meant to be a missive on the left-right divide in today's politics, but recently I've noticed that it applies equally to primary season on the blogosphere. Things are pretty bad here at DailyKos, but they're even worse over at RedState and FreeRepublic. The Presidential Primary has gone nukular over there. Here it's been more of a conventional war with the occasional chemical weapon thrown in.
So, I'm at a point in the writing process now where I desperately need feedback and participation from the blogosphere, and I find myself in an unusual position. I've always considered DailyKos to be my blog home. I've occasionally cross-posted stuff elsewhere (the Huffington Post most notably), but everything I've ever written gets posted here. And my best feedback has always come from this audience.
Now I've been advised by some folks who's opinion I respect that I should probably go elsewhere. That primary season is sucking up all the oxygen at DailyKos, and that there's no room for the material I'm trying to develop. To which I only have on thing to say.
Bollocks.
If there's one thing I've learned about DailyKos, it's that it's the best place to go when you want to change the status quo. My goal is to write something to help change the political zeitgeist. Raymond Moley once said:
"Politics is not something to avoid, to abolish, or destroy. It is a condition like the atmosphere we breathe. It is something to live with, influence if we wish, and control if we can. We must master its ways or we shall be mastered by those who do."
The essense of People Powered Politics is to fulfill the destiny of this quote - we either master the political process or we become slaves to those who have. Over the next several weeks I'll be writing diaries to get your feedback on how we make this happen. Without DailyKos I wouldn't have had a first book. It's only fitting that I say confidently without DailyKos I won't have a second book. I can't do it without you, and I look forward to working with you.
Thanks.
Jim Derych
"advisorjim"
UID: 39784