A couple of days ago I googled Daily Kos on a computer that was not mine---where I have it on my desktop---and happened to notice the Wikipedia entry right under the site info. I decided to click on it, as I was curious. The first sentence at that time was, "Daily Kos is a far left blog..." I thought Whoa! And meant to write a diary about it, but got too busy.
So today, I decided to write that diary, and went back to Wikipedia, and lo and behold, there was a new opening sentence: "Daily Kos is a left leaning American political blog..."
I wasn't dreaming what I saw, because it really jolted me with anger. Not that there's anything wrong with the far left, per say, wherever they are these days---quiet as a library if you ask me---and I wouldn't care if someone called me a bomb throwing liberal, in fact I'd say thank you.
Follow me below the fold to discuss further.
So it's not that I'm dissing the far left per say, but I was infuriated that this site was notched that way on Wiki, to my mind, to discredit the breath and depth of this Democratic site. To put us on par with nut case right wing sites.
I'm sure we've got some far lefters here, whatever that means these days, but I spend my fair share of time here, and what I feel in this community is a STRONG DEMOCRATIC BASE LINE, from center to the fringe. But, with most of us simply fighting our asses off for the Democratic party---even if we have to hold our noses sometimes to do so, as with say, support for Claire McCaskill. I use this example, because the majority of us here, from Kos on down, understand the practical decisions that must be made regarding our blue dogs. We are not for the better part, immovable ideologues, but rather pretty practical political warriors, as I see it.
And, as I see it, this site is predominantly dedicated to exactly what the mission of this site calls for---electing more and better Democrats. And I was steamed that this would be considered a "far left" position. That fair taxation, civil rights, infrastructure improvement, support of science and education, facts vs. talking points etc, etc, would be called "Far left."
Of course one of my first questions was going to be, do we think some conservative added in the "far left" part. And I guess we got our answer, as it was changed by today.
So this is a warning about Wikipedia. It is a valiant effort, and mostly a successful one.
I often use it to determine dates and facts. But IT IS subject to a vast amount of writers who it seems, can freely change the information provided, by the day. I know
y'all know this, but this is a pretty personal reminder for we Kossacks.
If you've never read the Wikipedia page on the DKos, do so. It's interesting, yet I have no idea how factual. An interesting tidbit:
In 2009, Time magazine listed the Daily Kos in its "Most Overrated Blogs" section.[3] Despite the listing, Time magazine readers named the Daily Kos the second best blog.[4]
In the end, what I want to say is we've got a swell thing going on here. Not perfect, but damn good. And strong. And if ANYONE can name another Democratic blog with more action going on than this one, I'd love to hear about it.
Fact is, The Daily Kos IS the predominant on line Democratic Voice. We should cherish and grow that.