It will be some time before we can truly determine the political, social and geopolitical implications of Obama’s victory. In the meantime, I’ll be parochial and observe that this really is the end of an era (in fact the first era) of political blogging.
Although there were blogs (and even a handful of political blogs) before Bush’s election in 2000, the emerging political blogosphere was defined by attitudes to the Bush Administration and its responses to the 9/11 attacks. In the wake of 9/11, those attitudes were overwhelmingly positive and marked by strong support for military action in Afghanistan. That unity evaporated as Bush switched attention to the buildup for war against Iraq, but for a long while the dominant voice was that of pro-war quasi-libertarians like Glenn Reynolds, orchestrating derision against opponents of Bush and the war. Over time, though, this group of ‘warbloggers’ ossified and contract while those opposed to Bush and the war found new ways to organise around the web, centred on the ‘netroots’.
Now the tables are turned, and the blogosphere will change radically as a result. Not surprisingly, the change is likely to be hardest for those going into opposition. As we’ve seen in Australia, the derisive, talking-point style that worked reasonably well for supporters of the Howard government (Andrew Bolt and Janet Albrechtsen for example) putting down the opponents of that government, just looks silly and carping in opposition (Bolt sounds more like Bruce Ruxton every day).
But there are also plenty of difficulties for those on the winning side. Once the initial euphoria dissipates, and the inevitable mistakes, failures and compromises/sellouts begin to emerge, it’s necessary to strike a balance between criticising what’s being done wrong and reminding yourself how much worse the other side was and would be again. The attitude of constructive critical support is a hard one to maintain, especially given the habits built up over years in opposition.
Update Albrechtsen proves my point with this typically classy contribution.
John Quiggin 
so we should be kind? ok, he can have a week to make his first mistake, free.
america got where it is by following politicians. and every prospect pleases? yet we are asked to follow yet another, apparently on the ‘bound to get it right someday’ theory, or else the ‘they have very short memories and are mesmerized by dancing lights’ theory.
if you are born in democracy, you grow up a citizen. if not, don’t. the worship of celebrity that seems to replace citizenship is it’s own punishment, unless you enjoy disappointment and exploitation. my punishment is to live in the kingdom of the blind, have one eye, and be seemingly incapable of remaining silent about the emperor’s clothes.
but there’s good news. with the election over, i can shift my attention to other pastimes, and dole out disapproval in more rationed form.
barack gets a free week, and so do you all.
John, it seems like the American public have finally come to their senses after realising that they were being taken for a roller coaster ride by the neo-conservative illywackers. Obama’s victory is more than a total rejection of the status quo, it is the dawning of a new era and the demise of neo-liberalism.
Let’s keep the Obama win in perspective. It is likely to deliver some positives, particularly for black Americans and the U.S. poor. Outside of that, it changes nothing. The Democrats are still a very right wing party by any broad historical measure. America’s foreign policy will change very little in its fundamentals. America’s national interest will continue to come first no matter what. America will be just as willing as it has ever been post WW2 to use its military power solely for its own interests and without regard for the rights of any other peoples.
Look at the manner of Obama’s victory. It revolved mainly around empty rhetoric and a huge bankroll. Money still wins in America. Doesn’t that tell us something, the key thing in fact? Will we see any real moves to sustainable energy, a sustainable economic system and real action on climate change? I predict not.
It was intriguing that the Republicans and their backers were not bold enough to steal a third election with black box voting and their many other tricks. I think the generals in the Pentagon have had enough of the neocons’ insane incompetence. A few quiet words behind the scenes were enough, to the effect that a third stolen election would not be tolerated and a full enquiry and the true President elect would have the support of the generals. To give McCain his due, he would think that way as well.
Yes, yes, yes, neoliberalism is now dead. We are all utopians now. 😉
p.s. Ron Paul would have offered a real foreign policy shake up. Obama is business as usual.
Ikonoclast,
Just to clarify, are you claiming that the pentagon has the power to rig the election but decided not to this time because they were sick of the neocons?
It may be the beginning of the second age of blogging but the kinds of dialogue supported by blogging are likely to continue.
As al loomis suggests there is likely to be a hiatus after the election of Obama as there was in Australia after the demise of the Howard government. A range of views on policy directons will still bubble up though. As we have seen with the Murdoch press there is a determination to set a right wing agenda. Murdoch’s series of lectures complements this process.
The Obama victory was disciplined but was also democracy at its best. Ordinary people made sacrifices of time and money to ensure that there could be a change from the right wing lunacy which has caused so much damage to the USA in the world and at home. Those same ordinary people who have been engaged have a real stake in ensuring that the better world they worked for is achieved. The institutions are entrenched with right wing views and people.
Blogging will continue to be important to many people. Whilst Andrew Bolt and Janet Albrechtsen might look carping and silly now, they still engage people on a regular basis. The battle of ideas is ongoing. Look no further than the education revolution which appears to be influenced by the cultural warriors far more than anyone would have thought 12 months ago.
What I find amusing is the notion that Bush represented neoliberalism. One of the first things he did as president was to slap a tariff on steel imports. He later launched a war of aggressing and implemented a large pile of illiberal anti-terrorism laws at home. One could see Obama as an assertion of liberal values, although it isn’t clear if he will be any better on these issues. I hope so.
The Rudd utopians better watch their backs. We have a small legion of neoliberals secretly installed amoungst their ranks. 😉
An interesting issue out of the US elections was the way the GOP failed to pick up and work the electronic world of the net, relying instead on McCain physically working the hustings hard. I am not sure JQ if it is a change in the blogosphere but clearly marks a divide between the technosavvy and net wired intelligensia and younger folk and the more ossified traditionalists who do not get the blogosphere at all as a medium for communication of ideas and dissenting views, which to my mind is why the Bolts and Albrechtsen’s of the world along with dear Gerard H are viewed as influential but are in fact have no such influence execept amongst the converted. If the neo-liberals work out a way to get their propaganda into the electronic world then hold onto your hat, but then, like all elites their discussions are secretive and personal not public and open so they will continue to deceive themselves behind closed doors.
I think you may be right about the end of the first blogging era, John. I’ve seen a marked drop-off in quality of Australian political blogging since the election last year. This could be partly due to a genuine dearth of blogging relevance in these more enlightened times (for the left), or due to a drop-off in my interest now that we have a more decent Government.
It’s hard not to predict something similar following the Obama win. But as Jill Rush mentions, the tools are still there and blogging will roll on.
I’m not sure all that much will change. The left wing blogosphere is way left of both the republicans and the democrats (and the ALP) – so there’ll still be plenty of opportunity to carp from the sidelines.
When Obama gives the ok for his first missile strike on a Taliban camp in Pakistan – watch the blogosphere erupt!