- Beinart on the Netroots-style left

Mr. Beinart is a clever guy. This article of his, in the New Republic magazine, provokes some interesting discussions about the tactics and tendencies of the Netroots, the current incarnation of the left in the form of online political communities like Daily Kos (established by Markos Moulitsas and others). Is this modern left more concerned with electoral power and change than the cultural change activists of decades past? How does radical witness aid pragmatic activism working ‘within the system?’ What’s a lefty to make of the Democratic Party primary this season? What about that Mike Gravel character? Can the left use the right’s tactics and still achieve its goals – and if it can’t, can it win? How should we speak publicly about what we believe – and when? How does anti-war activism intersect with electoral politics?