General Discussion

sabrina 1

(62,325 posts)

128. Good question 'why would a group of rich influence peddlers and bankers want to spend money

Fri Nov 7, 2014, 04:00 PM

Nov 2014

on shills here'.

Why bother with Democratic online forums at all? Yet these influence peddlers seem to be very interested in them.

Maybe because these sites expose what the VOTERS are thinking and since they don't believe VOTERS/DU Members, matter other than to be quiet and vote for THEIR choice of candidates, they send out their talking points, (btw, that is how we first discovered their presence on online political sites, they never speak from the heart, they deliver Think Tank Talking points in an attempt to discredit real people talking about inconvenient, for them, real issues. You've seen them I'm sure, 'purity troll' 'all you want is a pony' etc etc. I think they prepared those ridiculous, meaningless 'talking points about ten years ago which is when we first saw them and KNEW they came from some Think Tank.

The Internet does have power, and they know it. Enough power to provide voters with access to INFORMATION. Information is POWER. The Media is under the control of Corporations, but the Internet presented a real threat to the 'spinners'. OF course it is worth their while, and we've seen PROOF, even proposals from some pretty influential DC insiders, of the fact that they absolutely send out operatives to try to influence the dialogue.

Surely you have not missed the many, many articles that have been written on this topic.

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Ignore the 3rd Way shills with extreme prejudice [View all] brentspeak Nov 2014 OP

I started doing that when I became mmonk Nov 2014 #1

Progressive populism is the way. L0oniX Nov 2014 #2

Kinda OT, but Jackpine Radical Nov 2014 #151

haha, I've also done that more times than I care to admit. nt laundry_queen Nov 2014 #153

Especially with ant season now upon us and real ants also on my screen at times... cascadiance Nov 2014 #205

Just the opposite here Mnpaul Nov 2014 #215

K&R Scuba Nov 2014 #3

Indeed. Third Way is not the democratic way. n/t Oilwellian Nov 2014 #4

Their greatest "success" is always in giving us far-right Congresses... villager Nov 2014 #5

The new congress GummyBearz Nov 2014 #30

It's all Nader's fault Mnpaul Nov 2014 #218

Well don't you dare blame it on your sprawling choice of one-and-a-quarter political parties! villager Nov 2014 #230

Recommend. Zorra Nov 2014 #6

What is "third way"? n/t taught_me_patience Nov 2014 #7

Third Way is a socially liberal moderate republican think tank that claims to be Democratic. Zorra Nov 2014 #12

They are easy to spot too, just bring up OWS and watch their hatred flow. Rex Nov 2014 #40

Lol, I know, they really hate OWS even more than the Far Right. sabrina 1 Nov 2014 #157

and liberals and progressive period! noiretextatique Nov 2014 #219

Yes, their disdain for liberals and for protesters who oppose Right Wing, Wall St. policies gives sabrina 1 Nov 2014 #225

yep!!! +1 wavesofeuphoria Nov 2014 #187

Indeed, or any whistleblower woo me with science Nov 2014 #191

Explained like you have, 3rd way sounds exactly like Libertarians. Never thought of it that way. Dont call me Shirley Nov 2014 #54

Actually, they are just the opposite Mnpaul Nov 2014 #217

Libertarians are authoritarians in sheeps clothing. Dont call me Shirley Nov 2014 #224

Exact opposite Mnpaul Nov 2014 #226

Libertarians only believe in liberty for the rich, for everyone else it's authoritarianism. Dont call me Shirley Nov 2014 #227

Spot on LondonReign2 Nov 2014 #56

Thank you. Third Way=Wall Street infiltration of the Democratic Party. woo me with science Nov 2014 #69

Socially liberal, once the liberal social issues are foregone conclusions, that is Scootaloo Nov 2014 #101

Socially liberal my ass, they aren't radical regressive is far as I'm willing to go. TheKentuckian Nov 2014 #161

http://thirdway.org/ WorseBeforeBetter Nov 2014 #20

thanks. n/t taught_me_patience Nov 2014 #23

My pleasure. WorseBeforeBetter Nov 2014 #65

I probably should have put this reply under your post. woo me with science Nov 2014 #70

A nonsensical boogieman paranoid DUers a terrified of. LostInAnomie Nov 2014 #77

Lol BlindTiresias Nov 2014 #79

Right... I'm the delusional one. LostInAnomie Nov 2014 #89

And not paranoid, at all. nt msanthrope Nov 2014 #104

Totally. Rex Nov 2014 #90

LMFAO L0oniX Nov 2014 #111

They don't exist, is what you're saying?? Just want to understand your point. Simply calling sabrina 1 Nov 2014 #117

They exist. They just don't give a shit about DU. LostInAnomie Nov 2014 #123

Good question 'why would a group of rich influence peddlers and bankers want to spend money sabrina 1 Nov 2014 #128

Those goal posts just keep moving and moving. Rex Nov 2014 #132

I know, and I thought DU was so powerful we were responsible for 'suppressing the vote'. sabrina 1 Nov 2014 #136

Maybe because people are tired of seeing paranoid delusions... LostInAnomie Nov 2014 #139

No I think it is sheer desperation from Third Way apologists. Rex Nov 2014 #140

Right... it has to be "third way apologists". LostInAnomie Nov 2014 #141

Well like I said just 5 or 6 and they seem to not even know one thing about the Third Way Rex Nov 2014 #142

I've seen the evidence. LostInAnomie Nov 2014 #144

How can you look at what you just wrote... LostInAnomie Nov 2014 #138

I miss Hannah Bell on threads like this. She could connect Bohemian Grove and the msanthrope Nov 2014 #143

Mm, 'the ramblings of a Paranoid Schizophrenic' and I am, according to you 'unhinged'. sabrina 1 Nov 2014 #171

So fight them on their own terms treestar Nov 2014 #167

We are here, doing exactly as you propose. Apparently they don't like it very much. sabrina 1 Nov 2014 #174

Turnout was low. What voters are you talking about? treestar Nov 2014 #176

I just explained to you what Progressives were doing. They voted around the country for ISSUES sabrina 1 Nov 2014 #192

Here in Oregon where we had HIGH 70% vote by mail turnout, Dems and progressives were heard! cascadiance Nov 2014 #206

Must be nice Art_from_Ark Nov 2014 #229

The website is of little concern, chemotherapy to remove them from control of the party is at issue. TheKentuckian Nov 2014 #165

So you support the Third Way policies then? LondonReign2 Nov 2014 #129

Definition here: ReRe Nov 2014 #119

They used to be called "Republicans," before that brand was de-valued by televangelists, gun nuts, & Erose999 Nov 2014 #125

WHO Third Way is, is just as important as "what" third way is... Erose999 Nov 2014 #126

Anyone with any practical bone in their body treestar Nov 2014 #166

I say if we're going to lose whatchamacallit Nov 2014 #8

It will be interesting to see what Bernie Sanders does now... polichick Nov 2014 #9

Good question. Running as an independent mmonk Nov 2014 #11

Can't wait to hear his take on things. polichick Nov 2014 #14

Me, too. woo me with science Nov 2014 #24

How well or poorly did Hillary's slate do last night? (By 'slate,' I mean the ones she KingCharlemagne Nov 2014 #16

Hillary campaigned for Hagan (NC). WorseBeforeBetter Nov 2014 #21

Bernie Sanders' decision about whether to run in the Dem primaries or run KingCharlemagne Nov 2014 #22

I don't think she has a lock, but many do. WorseBeforeBetter Nov 2014 #147

It wouldn't have been impossible for Bernie and Elizabeth Warren to stump for Kay Hagan treestar Nov 2014 #177

Bill filled an 8,000 person Stadium Rally Hagan 3 days before Election KoKo Nov 2014 #110

I appreciate you going over the stats and look forward to seeing them posted. WorseBeforeBetter Nov 2014 #146

For Weekend Read. "How the Clintons' Candidaes Did (not well) KoKo Nov 2014 #148

Thanks. I've mostly been reading the N&O, WRAL, WaPo and the Baltimore Sun... WorseBeforeBetter Nov 2014 #149

That article doesn't mention he was in Georgia and NC Friday KoKo Nov 2014 #152

Great post. Thank you. woo me with science Nov 2014 #216

And Alison Grimes :-( n/t ReRe Nov 2014 #120

She was all over Grimes in Kentucky JustAnotherGen Nov 2014 #103

They've had it their way for 20 years and they've driven the party into the ground. pa28 Nov 2014 #10

Just as they were paid to do ... TBF Nov 2014 #41

+10000 Third Way=Wall Street infiltration of the Democratic Party woo me with science Nov 2014 #107

Correction: Time for them to SIT DOWN and SHUT UP! [n/t] Maedhros Nov 2014 #76

There is no consensus. kentuck Nov 2014 #13

K&R woo me with science Nov 2014 #15

Agree, they seem to have incredible influence on banning posts though... whereisjustice Nov 2014 #17

Maybe mass ignore is a good idea. Jamastiene Nov 2014 #27

I have placed on my ignore list every one of them that I can identify. Maedhros Nov 2014 #51

I started... sendero Nov 2014 #99

This message was self-deleted by its author 1000words Nov 2014 #18

Kick grahamhgreen Nov 2014 #19

Message auto-removed Name removed Nov 2014 #25

Absolutely. Jamastiene Nov 2014 #26

+1000000000000 woo me with science Nov 2014 #35

They won't... SomethingFishy Nov 2014 #58

I've been waiting for apologies... ReRe Nov 2014 #122

+10000000000000 peacebird Nov 2014 #201

So when are you going to run, Brent? Or are you suggesting we should cancel elections... wyldwolf Nov 2014 #28

binary thinking is a hallmark of the conservative mind frylock Nov 2014 #60

Planning a revolution with no plan is the hallmark of a 'prooogresssiiiveee' mind wyldwolf Nov 2014 #61

My favorite story... DemocratSinceBirth Nov 2014 #63

yours is the only post here to bring up revolution.. frylock Nov 2014 #72

Right. I should have directly quoted the OP and said 'radical change.' LOL. wyldwolf Nov 2014 #73

wonderful GOTV effort you're putting forth here.. frylock Nov 2014 #74

I've not put forth anything. I've asked how the OP's radical change will be put forth. wyldwolf Nov 2014 #75

who told you the plan? frylock Nov 2014 #78

Post removed Post removed Nov 2014 #81

"I've not put forth anything." No shit there. nt Union Scribe Nov 2014 #85

So much diversion from a simple question. wyldwolf Nov 2014 #93

I do believe we're being exhorted to ignore people like you. DisgustipatedinCA Nov 2014 #150

So BrentSpeak is your fearless leader. The strong silent type. LOL. Good luck! wyldwolf Nov 2014 #158

So stopping a non Democratic, right wing Republian entity from controlling the party leadership AgingAmerican Nov 2014 #189

Ask the OP. wyldwolf Nov 2014 #190

We need more people like you talking to voters Union Scribe Nov 2014 #84

So much diversion from a simple question wyldwolf Nov 2014 #94

I love how so-called Democrats like you try to make Progressive LondonReign2 Nov 2014 #130

Either accept the status quo, run ourselves, or cancel elections MannyGoldstein Nov 2014 #179

That's right find your Bernie Sanders army and run them wyldwolf Nov 2014 #180

So now you're proposing a fourth option? MannyGoldstein Nov 2014 #181

DCCC Chair Isreal Stepping Down fredamae Nov 2014 #29

"Shills" is exactly right! Until yesterday, I thought 3rd Way and DLC Democrats were just hedgehog Nov 2014 #31

+1 We live in a propaganda state, woo me with science Nov 2014 #45

K&R n/t Feral Child Nov 2014 #32

I highly recommend the "Ignore" function Z_California Nov 2014 #33

Ignoring them is infinitely preferable to arguing with them. Maedhros Nov 2014 #52

+1 woo me with science Nov 2014 #83

And, honestly, just interacting with these people Maedhros Nov 2014 #86

Good gawd, yes. woo me with science Nov 2014 #88

I just laugh at em. L0oniX Nov 2014 #112

They are quite amusing Mnpaul Nov 2014 #220

The time for being "moderate" Aerows Nov 2014 #34

Exactly! arcane1 Nov 2014 #49

Bingo laundry_queen Nov 2014 #154

Thank you for this OP. Very thought provoking and well Autumn Nov 2014 #36

DU rec...nt SidDithers Nov 2014 #37

You rec'd this ??? That has to be a mistake. L0oniX Nov 2014 #113

No, it was no mistake. This thread is chockful of awesome. nt msanthrope Nov 2014 #145

That's fine and dandy, but terms like shill and toxic are meaningless. HuckleB Nov 2014 #38

I think in this case, "shill" is the operative noun rather than a pejorative - hedgehog Nov 2014 #46

That doesn't its valid against individuals. HuckleB Nov 2014 #66

Shill is a perfectly suitable and accurate word, as used in the OP: Zorra Nov 2014 #48

+1000000000 woo me with science Nov 2014 #59

It's a baseless ad hominem attack. HuckleB Nov 2014 #67

That's what they all say. Zorra Nov 2014 #71

Putting profit above principles and party nearly destroyed us this last election. Rex Nov 2014 #39

I'm not really calling out the Dem candidates as much brentspeak Nov 2014 #43

We need a focused, cohesive message next time that promotes growth Rex Nov 2014 #44

+1....Recommend KoKo Nov 2014 #114

kick woo me with science Nov 2014 #42

I would love to purge the party of those assclowns. AtomicKitten Nov 2014 #47

it was easy to spot them since they didn't change their talking points from the Bush era yurbud Nov 2014 #50

I've got most on ignore. nm rhett o rick Nov 2014 #53

Don't ignore a problem, deconstruct it. Cosmic Kitten Nov 2014 #55

Amen Brother. Phlem Nov 2014 #57

The Third Way people are Republican agents and should be tombstoned. Odin2005 Nov 2014 #62

Let me guess Andy823 Nov 2014 #68

+1 LostInAnomie Nov 2014 #80

That would be my best guess Bobbie Jo Nov 2014 #82

Interestingly, 3rd-Wayers are to be purged from the Democratic Party; but, ... 1StrongBlackMan Nov 2014 #87

Some people confuse standing up for rights of privacy from the NSA as being "Randian"... cascadiance Nov 2014 #207

I've been on DU since 2004 and have over 4000 posts taught_me_patience Nov 2014 #121

I've been here since 2004 and I've known what the third-way was laundry_queen Nov 2014 #155

Republican agents would discourage Democrats treestar Nov 2014 #164

What they do is push their failed ideology at all times, attack and mock liberals, exploit TheKentuckian Nov 2014 #169

+1000000000 woo me with science Nov 2014 #185

The Third Way neither encourage or discourage AgingAmerican Nov 2014 #182

This message was self-deleted by its author 1000words Nov 2014 #64

I noticed that MissDeeds Nov 2014 #98

Stay classy, new comer. Bobbie Jo Nov 2014 #100

Break out the tin-foil everyone! LostInAnomie Nov 2014 #91

nice try, but no dice noiretextatique Nov 2014 #221

"with extreme prejudice" ucrdem Nov 2014 #92

They. Are. Infiltrators. Enthusiast Nov 2014 #95

Excellent post! MissDeeds Nov 2014 #96

k&r. n/t PowerToThePeople Nov 2014 #97

Kick nt NorthCarolina Nov 2014 #102

Well said brentspeak! MuseRider Nov 2014 #105

kick and rec nm Teamster Jeff Nov 2014 #106

An important reminder: woo me with science Nov 2014 #108

^^^THIS^^^ L0oniX Nov 2014 #115

Rats, that darn graphic again, all those nice investment bankers on Third Way Board of Trustees! Zorra Nov 2014 #124

I am sure the Third Way are very relieved woo me with science Nov 2014 #163

Were you saying this during the primaries? True Blue Door Nov 2014 #109

Ironially, this line of argument is most prominent right before the actual elections. JoePhilly Nov 2014 #116

Derp LondonReign2 Nov 2014 #131

IKR? laundry_queen Nov 2014 #156

They know, pretending otherwise allows the dissemination of lame talking points so they just lie. TheKentuckian Nov 2014 #188

Relentlessly, there is no pause. TheKentuckian Nov 2014 #170

kick woo me with science Nov 2014 #118

So what are you? Peacetrain Nov 2014 #127

Good question Bobbie Jo Nov 2014 #134

There is a definite push to oust people... Peacetrain Nov 2014 #135

me thinks the ones calling for purges will be the ones purged. wyldwolf Nov 2014 #160

Oh, that would be lovely Number23 Nov 2014 #183

That's generally how its gone...those that call for orthodoxy msanthrope Nov 2014 #186

Kickin' Faux pas Nov 2014 #133

Harry Truman thought similarly: merrily Nov 2014 #137

Frankly I'm shocked you posted the whole speech, seeing as he called "progressives" 'crackpots.' wyldwolf Nov 2014 #159

That is one hell of an analysis Number23 Nov 2014 #184

Boy, did you miss President Truman' point by many miles. merrily Nov 2014 #197

'Progressive" attempts at rewriting history to fit their narrative is sad. And funny. wyldwolf Nov 2014 #198

Whether it's Trumans' speech or my post to you, you clearly need work on reading for comprehension. merrily Nov 2014 #199

I guess we're lucky wyldwolf Nov 2014 #202

I knew you expected it to work from the top down treestar Nov 2014 #162

And Stop Triangulating daredtowork Nov 2014 #168

It's funny watching "DUers" support neoliberalism Rex Nov 2014 #172

You mean like the thinly veiled Randroids here? YoungDemCA Nov 2014 #173

Yes the Paulbots are sad too. Rex Nov 2014 #175

the third way has its supporters noiretextatique Nov 2014 #222

Jeez, DU has come a long way. MannyGoldstein Nov 2014 #178

My opinion is that Democrats should stand up for democratic values. hrmjustin Nov 2014 #193

The president could help us there by not pushing for TPP to get passed or shut down Keystone... cascadiance Nov 2014 #208

I know I should ignore them, but I never ignored trolls either. Rex Nov 2014 #194

kick woo me with science Nov 2014 #195

kick Zorra Nov 2014 #196

Kick...nt SidDithers Nov 2014 #200

they only wanted to get a foot in. mstinamotorcity2 Nov 2014 #203

I think it would benefit us all if we just got rid of think tanks. Frustratedlady Nov 2014 #204

Here's another kick Autumn Nov 2014 #209

kick woo me with science Nov 2014 #210

probably believe in chemtrails also... ileus Nov 2014 #211

kick woo me with science Nov 2014 #212

I love how this keeps getting kicked as a "counter" to all of the really wonderful, positive news Number23 Nov 2014 #213

in threads like this, a big portion of the replies are Limbaugh fan-like 'dittos.' wyldwolf Nov 2014 #232

Absolutely. But it's always fun to watch the "left" ditto heads in action. They're the ones LOVING Number23 Nov 2014 #234

122 recs nooooooooooooooooo! Rex Nov 2014 #214

Amen. polichick Nov 2014 #223

I'm ignoring you instead. VanillaRhapsody Nov 2014 #228

Hear, hear. This deserves to stay on top woo me with science Nov 2014 #231

I wish I could Rec this again. Jamastiene Nov 2014 #233

kick Zorra Nov 2014 #235

Yep. Needs to stay on top. woo me with science Nov 2014 #236

^ Zorra Nov 2014 #237

kick woo me with science Nov 2014 #238

Third Way candidates included Alison Grimes, Mark Udall, and Kay Hagan. ucrdem Nov 2014 #239

^ Zorra Nov 2014 #240

... SidDithers Nov 2014 #241

kick woo me with science Nov 2014 #242

Good reminder for today. woo me with science Dec 2014 #243

This message was self-deleted by its author KoKo Dec 2014 #244

^ Zorra Jan 2015 #245

kick! sibelian Feb 2015 #246

Hillary is 3rd way, and it appears she is already NorthCarolina Apr 2015 #247

k n r cui bono May 2015 #248

Kicked! beltanefauve May 2015 #249

I'm gonna have to kick this Autumn May 2015 #250

Why? hrmjustin May 2015 #251

Why not? it was kicked yesterday and third way seems to be a topic of discussion today. Autumn May 2015 #252

oh i though it was just kicked. saw it in the latest page. hrmjustin May 2015 #253

I found it interesting that a discussion on the Autumn May 2015 #254

The third way boogeyman is going to get you! hrmjustin May 2015 #255

The third way boogeyman is going to get us all Autumn May 2015 #256

And who is that? hrmjustin May 2015 #257

There's information in the other thread but Skip layed it out in his post Autumn May 2015 #258

You too. hrmjustin May 2015 #259

Apparently, this one can be brought back up. merrily Nov 2015 #262

That's really something isn't it Autumn Nov 2015 #263

DURec. bvar22 May 2015 #260

This message was self-deleted by its author 1000words May 2015 #261

Wow...a year ago and it was such wise words! SoapBox Nov 2015 #264