What do you think of people like Glenn Greenwald, Krystal Ball, Jimmy Dore, etc.

I am sure the majority of people on Datalounge won't have nice opinions of them. I am indifferent to them.

The far left or " dirtbag" left as some call them is a mixed bag. I read them because they regularly critique (1) the military industrial complex and the mainstream medias constant thirst for war ( as well as their slobbering relationship to the Pentagon) and (2) the severe decimation of the middle class at the hands of the one percent. Corporate media won't really touch these things. Just look at their jeering at Occupy Wall Street and journos endless humanization of rich monsters ( while tearing to shreds unconnected randos who wind up in the spotlight). I also appreciate that they call out some of social and mainstream medias lynch mob mentality.

But there are a lot of things I don't care for too. They have a tendency to fixate on democratic failures and hypocrisy while letting Republican criminality slide. Dems fuck up regularly but they are not nearly as malicious as repub politicians.. Also they are too wholly dismissive of " identity politics", not understanding that identity politics developed because certain groups were and are routinely singled out for abuse. Like I said, it's a mixed bag.

shitlibs but Dore is funny most times

I think it's combination of 1 and 4.

So? There'll be a next generation that builds on whatever good they did and discard their junk emotional and ideological garbage.

They’ve been compromised by the Russians.

Jesus Christ it's 1. This is America where nothing is guaranteed and they're in the upper crust. They're cashing in. I saw Dore live too and it was funny, but clearly pure entertainment.

Irrelevant.

NEXT

I think some of them just hate democracy.

you flubbed your poll, OP.

Let's add Tulsi to that list.

I think that they are tremendously courageous, because being on the outside trying to change the actions of those who are firmly entrenched in the centers of power, doesn't only require bravery but also the acceptance that you may be vilified and eventually, they will attempt to destroy you.

The mainstream hates them because they are genuinely independent and are unafraid of criticizing everyone but, in particular, the synthetic left hates them because they breaks the omertà that maintains the perverse duopoly in which we live: Democrats make promises to get into power only to renege of them once they're in office, and follow the same policies as Republicans while blaming them for their own actions. Meanwhile, Republicans constantly scaremonger about Communism and the effects of social resentment caused by extreme inequality, and demand war and repression as instruments of governance and economic development - and they're constantly supported by the Democrats, who publicly criticize these measures but always support them while in Congress.

Alternative media has constantly exposed these mechanisms and if they criticize the so-called Left, it is because Republicans are not the ones promising social equality, peace and justice for all, while propping up the very same system that ensures that no one will get to be equal, live under a just system and be protected from the horrors of war.

Also, they make the mistake of telling the truth about most things, exposing the connecting vessels that allow funds and influences to constantly flow in and out of government from the private sector; obviously they are hated for this: many members of the public feel uncomfortable because they are forced to challenge their own political beliefs and the moral integrity of their idols; obviously, those who are in power anf benefit from corruption, hate them for showing what lies behind the curtains in all its stark ugliness.

Personally, I love the fact that they are unafraid to tell it like it is in ways that are extremely creative, engaging and fun - which is precisely why their audiences are constantly growing and the MSM and Big Tech, which are mired by incompetence, mediocrity and laziness, are desperately trying to censor them... Not with as much success as they wish they had, by the way.

Greenwald is a Russian stooge. Once you understand that aspect of it, everything else he says and does falls into place.

And the proof for that can be found exactly where, R13? The fact that you don't like what he says doesn't make him a "Russian asset", or whatever nonsense you've taken from Killary Clinton's psychopathic lies.

The levels of idiocy that we're witnessing on the internet lately, truly beggar belief.

I appreciate this thread; it's nice to see an analytical and less histrionic look at what's going on with the left.

It's funny because I think I'm starting to see a rip with some of my long-term friends whose politics 20 years ago in college aligned, especially with immigration, anti-war, gay rights, and labor issues. The oligarchs prefer this bickering over Occupy any day.

But then Obama happened. Were we getting older and less engaged since Obama was not Bush? I feel like my politics stayed the same and theirs kinda gravitated towards mainline DNC.

I'm starting to hear more of them be exhausted with corporate virtue-signalling, misapplied identity politics, neverending coverage and punditry of election forecasts and polls...

It serves the American oligarchs that we, often out of necessity, battle each other over cultural representation rather than war with them for wealth redistribution.

They're showing their hands too much though. Or openly mocking us with their space ventures & yachts. Where the fuck am I going with this. I'm too high. I'm going to hatelisten to the Red Scare podcast with those anorexic (I mean that as a compliment) bela/russians to hear their thouughts on the war but mostly what she was doing during Bryan Cox's speech when Succession won the SAG.

In the case of Greenwald it's just a case of being an asshole because he is gay and ugly.

They fail to convince.

Speaking of Mr Greenwald, his analysis about a potential nuclear war anf the recklessly jingoistic discourse that the Anglo-speaking media has adopted, is quite brilliant.

Again, a super interesting analysis from Status Coup. Economist Steve Grumbine interviews political analyst Bryce Green, who explains how the Russian/Ukrainian conflict is in reality an extension of a wider economic war between a fading US and Eurasia.

These people are anti-liberal establishment for the sake of it and are also doing it for the attention and money that comes with it. Attacking the left (especially from the left) is big money.

As a progressive who shits on liberals but does not defend the right-wing - but rather blame them even more- i don't understand people like Greenwald either. I don't know the others you mention.

They're just out for money and attention.

They're not here on the ground, with actual skin in the game, so it doesn't matter if their words have consequences. They're not the ones who will suffer. Glenn Greenwald doesn't even live here anymore, so what does he care what happens to gays, schools, or the environment?

Dore doesn't describe himself as progressive, does he? I browsed his Twitter, which is unfortunately 80% spam about whatever tour he's on, but the little bit of content I saw was conspiratorial, such as Boris Johnson talking Zelenskyy into continuing to fight Russia as a proxy for Biden, plus the usual right-wing Hillary and COVID conspiracies. Surely he isn't a progressive? It looked like normal, everyday right-winger talk.

There's a theory that billionaire Peter Thiel is behind this and funding all these people.

Agree with R20 100%

Glenn Greenwald is a troll. I don't really pay him much attention.

I've heard of the other two but I honestly have no point of reference for either. I'm very active in progressive politics and I've never heard anyone discuss or even mention them in real life.

I don't think Democrats are above criticism and I don't identify with the party leadership. I'm all for criticizing the DNC but none of these people influence or even register with me.

Right wing propaganda takes many forms. Shills like Greenwald and Maher and Dore are supposed to trick progressive audiences into following them and sneakily shape their opinions rightward.

I think Greenwald went off the deep end because of Obama. Between harassing Greenwald and his partner over the Snowden leaks, and giving the green light to what amounted to a right wing coup in Brazil, I think the Obama Administration really fucked with Greenwald and he won’t forgive Obama and the Democrats for it.

I'm sure some of it also has to be with being rejected by the mainstream liberal media and this is their petty revenge.

I love Glenn Greenwald, but I agree, he sometimes focuses too hard on exposing the Dems for hypocrisy. And then he goes on Fox News and basically gets used by conservatives. I think he has a pure heart and good intentions, but he suffers from tunnel vision. Or not seeing the forest from the trees. Or whatever analogy perfectly fits. But even though I disagree with certain things he does, I still really like him. There's something sweet and innocent about him that I find endearing.

Putin’s got something on them.

After Krystal Ball got fired by MSNBC, she couldn't get arrested, so this is her revenge. She also has this crackpot theory of merging left and right-wing populism. I don't think right wing populism even exists - it's mostly white nationalism. Ball is not only an untalented journalist, she's an idiot as well.

And she didn't even come up with the theory.

[R30] hello, Glenn. You still ugly.

I think COINTELPRO is alive and well.