Improving diaries: a meta-meta diary

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Wednesday February 09, 2005 · 10:42 AM PST

2005/02/09 · 10:42

Alright, in an attempt to confront what I at least feel is the important issue of fixing/improving the diary system, but to do so in a punchy "bite-size" way that might, just might, get some attention, I'm going to write what might be the first meta-meta diary. That is, a diary about diaries about diaries. Keep with me on this one, after the break... Read More

Of Signal and Noise: Musings and suggestions regarding dKos Diaries

Aaron

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Monday February 07, 2005 · 12:19 PM PST

2005/02/07 · 12:19

Scoop-powered Daily Kos is a beautiful thing: it truly is. The sheer amount of information and ideas communicated here is staggering. And more importantly, everybody has a voice. Unlike some rightist blogs that are really just one-person soap boxes (such as Instapundit), Daily Kos has a vibrant and interactive community. Besides the multiple front-page editors, everybody can comment, rate, and post their own diaries like I am doing now.

But with increased volume comes a number of problems. These problems (diary speed causing near-randomness in which diaries are fortunate enough to get recommended, redundant diaries being deleted, and so forth) are well recognized by most Kossacks, but still merit further discussion. So, here we go (in the extended entry, that is). Read More

The Socratic Method and Politics: Practical Applications

Aaron

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Thursday December 09, 2004 · 10:12 AM PST

2004/12/09 · 10:12

A week ago I wrote a diary about the Socratic method and politics, in order to provide an alternative to the more direct methods of political intercourse often discussed here. It garnered decent discussion, but failed to really "catch fire", likely because I wrote it in a largely ponderous and impractical style, like this very introduction. So, without further ado I will provide a few concrete examples of the Socratic method and politics (if you want background on what the Socratic method actually is, read my first diary that I linked to).

Somebody tells you: "I support Bush because he's strong on terror/defense and Democrats are weak."

Socratic response: "What exactly does it take to be 'strong on terror'?"

Explanation: This is obviously a major issue, as "terror" is seen as Bush's strongest point. Don't confront it too directly and partisanly or you'll turn them off, but rather attempt to lead them into thinking about what it actually takes to defend this country. Hopefully they'll realize that Bush is nothing but rhetoric, and it takes more than strong words to truly be strong.

(Continued after the fold) Read More

The Socratic Method and Modern Politics

Aaron

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Thursday December 02, 2004 · 11:51 AM PST

2004/12/02 · 11:51

This site is often about strategizing and planning what course of action would be most effective in order to promote progressive political ideals. The recent "non-compliance" diary by rcvanoz is making quite a stir along those lines. Yet while I endorse and admire such direct action (in some situations, at least), I happen to work a bit differently. So, I figured it was worth sharing my own peculiar method when it comes to engaging and promoting political ideas. Maybe it'll help a few of you out there who aren't as "Promethean" as rcvanoz, but who are rather more Socratic. More below the fold... Read More

A 'Northern' Response

Aaron

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Sunday November 28, 2004 · 4:22 PM PST

2004/11/28 · 16:22

So there've been a lot of threads about "the South" recently, varying from complaining to insulting to the more pleasant instructions on how to "win it". And, as a "northerner" (really I'm from Oregon which is a different matter entirely, but it's close enough I suppose), I understand and agree with a lot of the points people are making about how it's not that there's anything "wrong" with the South, we just need to get a candidate who can appeal to them. That doesn't mean compromising stances, it just means finding charisma (a la Clinton).

That said, a voice in me still speaks up and complains. More below the fold... Read More

What if reform fails?

Aaron

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Tuesday November 16, 2004 · 3:39 PM PST

2004/11/16 · 15:39

This diary is intended as an open question, directed to anyone who agrees that reform is needed in the current Democratic party. Kos and others here have repeatedly and strongly made the case for reform, championing a Dean DNC and generally saying that "we tried it their (Clinton/Kerry/etc.) way and it didn't work, so now we're changing it." I largely agree with this sentiment, and feel that reform is needed if we're ever to really succeed.

But then it hit me: isn't this the same battle as Dean's presidential candidacy? And if it fails again, what then? Do we pick up the pieces and move on to support the status quo regardless? Read More

My Secret Plan (aka write your senator)

Aaron

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Thursday November 04, 2004 · 9:12 AM PST

2004/11/04 · 09:12

So here's what I think we should do. Raise a fair amount of money and use it to buy a whole bunch of stimulants (anything from caffeine to cocaine). Put them all in a big box and send them to Ted Kennedy. Have him just spend the next four years filibustering in the Senate, straight.

Seriously though, we need our senators to find their backbones these next four years. While my plan of coking up Kennedy is entertaining (to me, at least), something more pragmatic would be ideal. And, well, I've got just that! The short of it: write your senator if they're a Democrat, and if not then write whoever your favorite Democratic senator is. More below the fold...

Aaron

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Wednesday November 03, 2004 · 9:15 AM PST

2004/11/03 · 09:15

Now is the time for action. Write Democratic Senators and Representatives and encourage them to resist the Republican agenda! We cannot allow the next four years to be like the past four. I'm writing my Senator (Ron Wyden, D-OR), and will attach a copy of my letter in the extended entry (and it's also cross-posted at my blog).

Aaron

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Thursday October 21, 2004 · 11:50 AM PDT

2004/10/21 · 11:50

As we all know there's a lot of quite justified buzz going on about the potential for a military draft. Well, I ran across this interesting and potentially potent petition against the draft and I encourage you to sign it. In addition to being a good petition, the site has some valuable information and a very neat map of how the petition has spread. Once the map is full he intends to send it to Bush, which would be quite a message indeed.

So, sign the petition and spread the word! Make it clear to this administration that we do not support this unchecked military aggression and the dire potential for a draft.

Cheney eats babies for charity

Aaron

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Tuesday October 12, 2004 · 2:18 PM PDT

2004/10/12 · 14:18

Okay, not really, but there is an interesting eBay auction that offers the Gmail account CheneyEatsBabies(at)gmail(dot)com for sale, and the proceeds will benefit a progressive cause agreed on between the winner and the seller. An amusing address and an interesting auction, so I figured it was worth the plug.

Bush campaign advocates swarming online polls

Aaron

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Tuesday October 05, 2004 · 2:10 PM PDT

2004/10/05 · 14:10

Granted it's pretty obvious that such polls suffer from self-selection and digital divide bias, but now there's yet another reason to not trust them:

I subscribe to the campaign emails from Kerry, Bush, and Nader just to see how they do things. I just got an email from the Bush camp asking to go to the main news sites after tonight's debates and "make my voice heard".

Aaron

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday September 30, 2004 · 10:10 AM PDT

2004/09/30 · 10:10

Disclaimer: I'm not advocating irresponsible use of alcohol, I'm just providing what I feel to be an entertaining potential addition to the debates. Know your own limits, and use alcohol responsibly.

Okay, so I've played the fantastic SOTU address drinking game for two years now, and can tell you that it has made listening to Bush much more bearable and entertaining. While we do get to have our guy up there in this event, I thought that it'd likely be fun to drink some while watching regardless. So, I've come up with rules for doing just that. These rules are specifically tailored for the topic of tonight's debate (terrorism and foreign relations).

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Improving diaries: a meta-meta diary

Of Signal and Noise: Musings and suggestions regarding dKos Diaries

The Socratic Method and Politics: Practical Applications

The Socratic Method and Modern Politics

A 'Northern' Response

What if reform fails?

My Secret Plan (aka write your senator)

Write your Congress critters!

No Iraq Draft petition

Cheney eats babies for charity

Bush campaign advocates swarming online polls

Presidential Debate Drinking Game