When Rick Noriega appeared here the other day to talk about a rather unflattering comment he made comparing the liberal blogs to right wing talk radio, one of the concerns people had was whether he would stand up for the bloggers who supported him when given the chance. And when the head of the Texas GOP Hans Klingler was talkin’ predictable trash, Rick did:
“Mr. Klingler’s characterization of bloggers as an echo chamber, rather than a grassroots movement, sounds a lot like whistling past the graveyard,” Noriega said.
“Far from an echo chamber, progressive bloggers in Texas and across the country are opening the door for millions of Americans to participate in the political process. Specifically, the Texas ‘netroots’ is one of the three largest Democratic state blogging communities with over 100,000 page views a week. The ‘netroots’ is the new grassroots in American politics, and is becoming a powerful force for change.”
“As our men and women in uniform put their lives on the line every day in Iraq and Afghanistan, the blogosphere has played a valuable role in our democracy by forcing elected officials and the news media to be accountable for what they say and do.”
“I am honored to have the support of many bloggers from across the great state of Texas and this country, and am proud of their efforts to restore accountability in government and engage millions of Americans in our democracy.”
Rick has been one of our most popular candidates on Blue America. It’s great that he stepped up and reciprocated.
Related posts:
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- Netroots Nation Panel on the Public Plan
- FDL Book Salon Welcomes Matthew Kerbel, Netroots: Online Progressives and the Transformation of American Politics
- Late Night: Billo is a Giant Suppurating Anal Cyst. Oh Yeah, and He Says Some Things about Netroots Nation
- Alaska Blogger Shannyn Moore Wins 2009 Steve Gilliard Journalism Grant at Netroots Nation
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zed?
uno???
EPU’d zed
Hiya Jane! Now I will read it.
i’ll let them know
good on ya, cassie
I like Noriega but I don’t understand what this part means:
Good for Noriega. I didn’t get to follow his time here this last week, but looks like he’s redeeming himself.
SnarKassandra @ 6
Mr Klingler was talking (nonsensical) trash, and Mr Noriega called bullshit.
Good job, Jane and Cassie!
Hey, Snarkie, how are you feeling today? Any better?
FunnyDiva
this was a nice thing to say, honored and proud
SnarKassandra @ 6
My take was that he was saying that Klinger…ooops…Klingler trys to ignore that which he fears.
Funnydiva2002 @ 9
I am a lot better but I still had two naps today and I keep changing from hot to cold.
I’m hearing a soft voice calling to me from out back suggesting I might want to start the BBQ. We are having a pool party beneath a lavender moon tonight. Adios.
Frank Probst @ 8
Whistling past the graveyard = making any ol’ noise to get yourself through a scary situation (see also: whistling in the dark). I think Mr N was not just calling BS, but also calling Mr K an ignorant scaredy cat.
FunnyDiva
this is more on point downstairs then it is here but it’s sort of on point here as well
so there are democrats that are claiming we need to get some “bi partisant” support, in fact “bi partisant” to a republican means that we have to do it their way
any way, newt says if the republicans want to get re elected they have to get as far away from bush as possible
which means they had BETTER do it OUR way if they want to remain in office
article here
Oklahoma kiddo @ 13
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…..mp;search=
Good for Noriega!! He both learned from his experience and wasn’t afraid to admit an error.
I’m glad to have supported him and will continue to do so as my finances permit.
Whistling past the graveyard means to act unafraid when you really are. So the Republican’s dismissal of bloggers is just a way of saying he isn’t afraid of them when he actually is because they represent large numbers (the grassroots) of Americans.
SnarKassandra @ 12
Good. I always sleep a lot when I’m sick. Keep up the good work taking care of yourself!
FunnyD
Hugh @ 18
Thanks. I LOVE the bloggers and I am only afraid of Teddy.
Rachel Maddow coming up on KO.
Rachel Maddow coming up on KO-less KO.
oooooooh, teddy is a big teddy bear – i love to hug him!!
Kathryn in MA @ 23
Does he tell you to look things up whenever you ask a question?
Maddow, Hunt is on a board that has access to high level info on our national security. Donated $35 million to the Bush library. If you were part of a deal to send Americans to their deaths to get Iraqi oil, this is a really big deal.
Loo Hoo. @ 25
Also on the board of Haliburton.
File under you can’t make this sh*t up. Gonzales today:
http://blogs.abcnews.com/thebl…..ater-.html
If you wanted lots of money for oil, the best idea would be to put in an enduring military presence. With all of the money and support Hunt has given Bush over the years, Rachel is surprised the Rose Garden hasn’t been re-named after him!
Today I found a diary I wrote throughout the war:
The first entry is November 8, 2002
and the last entry is Monday November 15, 2004.
I pasted in a few editorial cartoons, the most prophetic was in the front, by Bertrams (Netherlands)
In it Bush is dropping the Globe into a ro*let*e wheel, the numbers replaced by skulls.
WOW
I’m going to see if I can find the cartoon.
(I just opened it up to get the start and end dates.) I’m not so sure I want to read it though, I’ll have to screw up some courage for that.
And the weirdest thing is, I completely forgot I kept a diary.
It ended just after Bush was re-elected, which we can all agree was traumatic.
Hugh @ 27
http://blogs.abcnews.com/thebl…..ater-.html
“And I helped!!”. – ‘Shake-n-Bake’ Abu
Hugh @ 27
Think Progress has a video compilation of the farewell ceremonies for Gonzales if you feel like puking.
Lemme axe this, are we all bloggers or is it limited to blog owners?
Great statement by Noriega. Credit where credit is due . . .
On the other hand, on PBS Newshour, Mark Shields gratuitously critized MoveOn for its ad — disappointing from him, because no one asked him about it.
And then — Matthews/Hardball showed the new MoveOn ad showing the arithmetic. And Eli Pariser did a good job explaining MoveOn’s position — while having to deal with a rightwinger interrupting.
raven @ 32
I think the front pagers are bloggers, and we are commenters.
Loo Hoo. @ 34
And lots of bloggers are commenters too on their own blogs.
Loo Hoo. @ 34
Aite den, Thx
Noriega. Time will instruct us on this man.
lahoma. (kiddo is out back)
raven @ 32
In Chicago, I was told by a group of people that we are not bloggers. Only blog owners are. Crushed me.
SnarKassandra @ 35
The other way around, no?
ccmask @ 38
But we are all Nutroots.
SnarKassandra @ 35
True. And you have your front page. You don’t consider the people who comment on your blog to be bloggers, do you?
Oklahoma kiddo @ 37
Hey, Lahoma, glad you’re back.
Hope you have a nice BBQ party.
FunnyDiva
Loo Hoo. @ 41
Most of them are people from here. But no.
raven @ 40
lol We sure are Raven!
Elliott @ 29
Keep that, Elliot. Maybe someday it will be in the Smithsonian!
Blogs a new and powerful “deliberative body”.
FDL rocks!
Loo Hoo. @ 34
I have my scandals list so I’m a hybrid. I’m a cogger.
Or a blomenter!
Funnydiva2002 @ 42
Hello… l.
Hugh @ 47
Is there a way to Spotlight your list?
It’s all about us…ask the Iraqis
http://www.informationclearing…..e18383.htm
Hugh @ 47
I’m distracted, Festival Express is on and Janis is on stage with Jerry.
Breaking News:
George W. Bush gives America the purple middle finger.
-GSD
Hugh @ 47
A vital cog… Aargh, the Yanks plated one…!!! 2-1 Bosox in the 4th…
Tell Momma all about it..)
Eureka Springs @ 55
I can only watch this every now and then. She was so incredible. . .
Hugh @ 47
I guess I’m a cogger too because I have a gooper scandal sheet. :)) I feel much gooder now.
GSD @ 53
Is that like the fickle finger of fate award?
ccmask @ 38
Nah – don’t be upset, cc — this is sort of like Gospel music, where you have one person doing the shout out(the blogger), and the rest of the congregation does the responses. Sort of think of this as The First Church of Firedoglake. :)
Yeah Toby. Here is my favorite picture of an Iraqi voter.
Elliott @ 29
well…..I don’t often brag about my children (here, anyway)….but when the war started my daughter, who was then only 8, began cutting and pasting the daily newspaper reports of the soldiers that were killed, to keep track of them.
I was quite proud.
SnarKassandra @ 12
Cassie, sometimes I’m not really following, but aren’t you way too young for hot flashes?
kirk murphy @ 62
I have a fever and a sore throat but not strep. Just a virus.
ccmask @ 60
I guess the Iraqis might be a little disillusioned with our democracy by now, ya think?
kirk murphy @ 62
She opened the window and influenza!
oddmommy @ 61
wow, you should be proud. How caring your daughter is!
ccmask @ 57
Ask Jane if you can both post your scandal lists on the front page some slower news day. Then you’d be official bloggers! They’re great lists…seems to me you got a front page, Hugh, a good while back, no?
Anybody know who is subbing for Olbermann, today?
ccmask @ 58
Does anyone here know the origin of the term “fickle finger of fate”? There was a movie, Rowan and Martin, and a line in a musical, but I’m coming up with nada googling the term.
SnarKassandra @ 63
Ouch – I hope the virus leaves you soon.
(and sorry you had to bother to respond to my lame joke when you’re not well. my bad.)
I thought Rowan & Martin started it also.
Ed*ard Teller @ 69
Rowan and Martin’s “Laugh-In”
Sandman @ 68
Betty Joe Bialaski. . .but everyone knew her as Nancy.
ccmask @ 71
was it Rowan or Martin who said it?
raven @ 65
Who is it that keeps saying they carry around their own personal winter?
Loo Hoo. @ 33
Since the blogs wouldn’t last long without readers and commenters, I reserve the right to be offended as well when “bloggers” are criticized.
And I lay claim to being part of the netroots, too, for sure!
Look, once Britany saw Saddam fly into building 7, Osama knew he had no option other than calling for tax relief for CEOs and Hedge Fund Managers alike.
Loo Hoo. @ 75
Suzanne, and it’s summer
Loo Hoo. @ 67
If I post it on Dailykos, am I a blogger?
ccmask @ 79
nope just a diarer.
Ed*ard Teller @ 69
Here’s a lil bit.
Elliott: On wiki, it says that Fickle finger of fate was a spanish movie in 1968. Maybe that is where Rowen or Martin got it.
I want all those in public office to tell the truth. All of the time. I’m such a dreamer.
Good night.
I wanted to do a blog for work, but I don’t know how to do it. I know everyone says it is easy to begin, but I can’t learn. I tried.
I;m great at freecell though!
oddmommy @ 80
There are some 90 million bloggers in the world. I think the rub comes when someone has a microphone stuck in their faces and they feel free to speak on behalf of liberal bloggers (especially if they want to attack the blogosphere), I think that’s when things get a bit touchy.
ccmask @ 82
actually, it is a lyric in an old Supremes song, “The Happening,” which must have been sometime in the ’60s…….dunno if it was b4 Laugh In or the Spanish movie.
Ed*ard Teller @ 69
Rowan and Martin gave out the “Flying fickle Finger of Fate Award” each week on Laugh-In.
ccmask @ 84
I can teach you if you want. Blogger is the easiest but wordpress is more fun.
ccmask @ 57
We are whatever we are. There is only one truth. Call me a commenter, a blogger, a clogger…what..ev..er….it does not matter what “name” we are….we are…that is what matters… There would be no “blog”, if we didn’t have input. I refuse to be “defined” by anyone. We are.
I checked wiki for blog rules and blog etiquette. Got nuttin.
SnarKassandra @ 89
I’d like that Cassie.
From wiki about laugh-In:
And this:
Loo Hoo. @ 91
It didn’t even tell you not to be a troll.
just don’t call me late to dinner.
in fact, I never am.
And the fickle finger could be yours…
(hard to post this pups….hope I’m not outbid)
Rowan and Martin can’t be the origin of “fickle finger of fate.” The TV show started well after the musical “Sweet Charity” opened on Broadway, in which Charity describes her encounter with the male lead as coming from “the fickle finger of fate.”
Where’s Dave Ehrenstein when we need him?
Oklahoma kiddo @ 83
Nite, Lahoma and Kiddo!!!
ccmask @ 92
For Blogger the first thing you need is a gmail acct. If you have that email me your gmail add and i will help you through the rest on googletalk, or if you have AIM or msn messenger that works too. but you need a gmail name for blogger. my email is freckles at youth ink left dot com
kirk murphy @ 96
Are you really bidding on it?
As I’ve stated earlier here at FireDogLake. Rick Noriega is not the Blue Candidate that people at Fire Dog Lake want.
Rick Noriega is an indictive person that believes if the Republican party can screw the Democratic party than turn about is fair game.
I don’t want this individual playing tit for tat with the Republicans.
I want an individual who will stand up for our rights.
Tell me if I’m wrong!
Troubled
SnarKassandra @ 99
OK. But I can’t tonite because I’m on my third Tequila.
Sandman @ 68
KO’s a Dom?
(don’t tell Shrub – now that Jeff’s gone and Condi’s getting her beans off, who knows what he’d do…)
Troubled Texan @ 101
Huh?
In`dic´tive
a. 1. Proclaimed; declared; public.
George ‘n’ Dick
Bush
(reading this)
What the hell? I thought Noriega was all pock-marked ‘n’ shit. And in jail.
Cheney
This is RICK Noriega, George. RICK Noriega. He was in the Texas House when you were Governor.
Bush
(stares; attention span ended)
Hey, Dick, get this. When Lance Armstrong left his bike at my place in Crawford for a few hours, I switched front wheels on him. Ha! Funny, huh?
Cheney
(long pause)
Can I go now, George?
Cassie: I saved your info and thanks.
ccmask @ 106
OK.
Elliott @ 50
Just got back from sending some updates to selise. If selise is around sometimes, you could ask her. Myself, I have no idea.
ccmask @ 100
Prolly – if it seems like a good idea 24 hrs from now.
I can count the number of auctions (all EBay) I’ve bid in on both hands….and growing up under the oaks near Pasadena, the allure of gritty Hollywood escaped me, so industry stuff has never really called to me.
My parents and brothers and I watched Laugh-In together over the show’s whole run…and had many laughs ourselves. My parents don’t really need new stuff in their home, but the fickle finger is a happy reminder of the time when they and their young sons lived under the same roof and laughed together.
Apologies for TMI….
ccmask @ 38
I call bullshit.
Commenters are an integral part of any blog community.
Troubled Texan @ 101
I am more troubled by the reports that Rick Noriega & his wife are taking lots of money from Bob “Swiftboat” Perry. See Noriega News: Fair and Balanced? at the Agonist and Rick Noriega and Bob Perry at Burnt Orange Report. No one from the campaign has answered why the Noriegas have taken his money. They took money from Perry even after he swiftboated John Kerry. Taking $ from that SOB is a deal breaker for me. Progressive, my butt.
Just because he falls on his sword after he is caught bad mouthing bloggers shouldn’t give him a pass on taking Bob Perry’s money.
SCinTX @ 111
I make it $10,500 from Bob Perry to Rick Noriega since 2000.
Mind you, Perry gives to other democrats as well. Patrick Rose, for example. So one asks “why would Bob Perry do this?” Is he simply hedging his bets, or has he been looking at Texas demographics, and like the smart man he is, building for the future. That’s the problem when your system is awash with money. You really don’t know what the hell is going on.
casual observer @ 112
Rick’s wife took about $40K from Perry and his family
Rick never even met Bob Perry until he walked into the Brown Convention Center while Rick was running the efforts to help the Katrina victims in Houston. He came to help and saw what Rick was doing. He was impressed with the operation Rick was running and gave to Rick and Melissa after that. Perry knew Rick’s stand on the issues and those donations didn’t change them. Tort reform is Perry’s big issues and Rick led the fight against it in the Texas Leg. Take the man’s money and vote against him. I have no problem with that.
As Rick has said on this issue:
“While you probably couldn’t find two people who differed more in politics, that hasn’t stopped us from looking for common ground, including the $20,000 contribution I solicited from Bob Perry for the Houston Area Women’s Shelter. Blame my military training if you must, but I believe in coalitions that can accomplish achievable objectives over go-it-alone efforts.”
SCinTX @ 111
Larry @ 114
Contributions to a woman’s shelter and campaign contributions are two entirely different things. And as I stated earlier, Perry has been contributing directly to Noriega’s campaigns since 2000. Any Democrat receiving money from Perry is suspect. Period.
Noriega would do well to return any funds from Perry received during this cycle.
Tencha @ 113
Tencha–source? Link? Don’t just throw these claims without some doc.
He hasn’t received any money from Perry for the Senate race.
casual observer @ 115
How do you know this? Has Noriega filed anything yet?
I bow to no one in my cordial loathing of Bob Perry’s support for the Swift Boating likes of John O’Neil and Jerome Corsi.
Nonetheless, it’s clear from Rick’s record in the legislature, including his votes against tort reform, for responsive and clean government, for equal treatment under the law, and for the right of women to have a full range of medical choices available to them, including abortion if necessary, that whatever reason Bob Perry had to support Rick Noriega for legislature, or Melissa Noriega for Houston’s City Council, it’s not because he’s counting on Rick to vote his way.
What’s a real shame, and gives Perry even more power that he should be denied by us on the left, is that Perry’s being used to swiftboat a leader who has stood up for progressive values time and time again in Texas.
Look at this man’s actions. That’s how to judge him as a potential candidate.
And if Bob Perry happens to have supported a legislator who votes MY interests more than his own, I can only repeat “Thanks. Enjoy the good karma. You need it. We’ll take it from here.”
boadicea @ 119
I find it interesting that Larry hasn’t answered my earlier question. So let me ask you, boadicea, why is Noriega insisting that Cornyn return Larry Craig’s Ten Thousand, but it’s OK, according for you and Larry, for Noriega to keep Perry’s Ten-Five?
After all, Perry is by far slimier, in my book anyway, than Craig, who is simply your classic issue-ridden/in the closet/gay senator-hypocrite.
If campaign contributions don’t mean anything, why this inconsistency?
And, while we’re at it, would you care to speculate why Perry would make such contributions in the first place? Out of the goodness of his heart? Or would you care to argue that campaign contributions “don’t really mean anything”?
Tell me more. I’d like to hear it. Because I was just over at Noriega’s website and it is totally devoid of any content or position statements. Am I supposed to vote for this guy and send him money because he has “Not-R” after his name?
boadicea @ 119
boadicea,
I find it interesting that Larry has not answered my question, above.
Can you explain to me why Noriega is insisting that Cornyn return Larry Craig’s 10K, but you and Larry are maintaining that Noriega should keep Perry’s 10.5K? Doesn’t that strike you as a tad inconsistent?
You find it interesting that, on a thread consigned deeply into EPU on FDL that there’s not an immediate answer to your questions?
That doesn’t sound so casual, CO.
What I’m maintaining is that actions are more important than checks, and that Rick Noriega’s actions as a leader are more important to me than any check Bob Perry can write.
I haven’t seen any statement like that from the campaign, though some of the bloggers supporting Noriega have raised it. (I’m not among them, for the record. I tend, as I said, to be more concerned about a leaders actions than who has contributed to their campaign.)
Could you supply a reference link in support of that?
Larry @ 114
This what what I found. “Spokesman James Aldrete made no apologies for the Perry donations.” No apologies? His excuse was that other politicians in Houston were taking Perry’s money and that he hadn’t recieved as much as them. This Aldrete was the same person who wrote the speech dissing bloggers.
He also said that it was only after Katrina when “[Perry] became a financial supporter of the Noriegas.” That is not true. Noriega started to take Perry’s money as far back as 2000.
BTW, did anyone catch that while Rick said here his speechwriter is no longer writing his speeches, he is still speaking for him in the press? WTF?
I have held my nose and voted before but I am not doing for Rick Noriega.
boadicea,
You are absolutely correct. the link was Noriega Blog. And I see they are not organizationally connected to the Campaign. My claim that Noriega was “insisting” is incorrect and I withdraw it. Thank you for the hard check on that.
And yes, I’m not casual. I used to be casual. Things have gone beyond that–but I’ve kept the label for consistency.
OK–the above said, as an independent Texas voter, I look at NoriegaBlog at http://www.noriegablog.com, and I lay the vapid gotcha-crap there at Noriega’s feet. And I hazzard the guess that if Noriega asked them to raise their tone, they probably would.
Further, campaign contributions are not irrelevant, or neutral. If they were, they would not be made by the contributors. If Noriega wants to demonstrate principle and leadership, he would simply refuse to take campaign contributions from people of Perry’s ilk. This is a very simple and I hope intuitive concept.
fwiw, I followed boadicea’s link to vote smart regarding Noriega. Here’s what I read:
For sake of comparison, here’s what a progressive looks like from the Texas house–Elliot Naishtat