There already have been, and will continue to be, protesters at the Democratic convention in Denver. Without doubt, the protesters who will receive the most attention at the PUMAs, although the terms “media attention” and “protesters” don’t mix much these days. A quick search for PUMA on Google News shows exponentially more results for a shoe company’s apparently botched endorsement of Usain Bolt that about anything happening stateside right about now.
But what I want to say about the convention related PUMAs might cut against the grain a little bit. Don’t argue with them, and don’t just ignore them, either. Rather, we should celebrate them. They aren’t helpful, or savvy, or even apparently making any demands. They are, however, the inevitable residue of several positive developments (more in the extended entry):
PUMA’s are the inevitable residue of a primary campaign that moved Democratic self-identification to its highest level in a decade. There is no way to experience the many positive effects of a nomination campaign like 2008’s without having some very upset dissenters.
PUMA’s are only possible because of the self-publishing and organizing techniques created by the continuing expansion of the network neutral Internet. They are only possible for the same reason that the progressive netroots are possible.
PUMA’s act like idiots, and that is also a good thing. Self-identified Democratic concern trolls who are willing to trash the Democratic Party are a dime a dozen, and the media will pick up on them whoever they are. It is much better that our major concern trolls right now are idiotic PUMA’s who have no idea who to influence voters, then media savvy, corporate funded pundits who could do real damage. Even the McCain campaign knows this, because they aren’t throwing any money behind their ad featuring a PUMA. These are the sorts of concern trolls that we want. It’s the TNR’s of the world that are actually dangerous to progressives.
And, even if all that fails to make you feel good about PUMA’s, keep in mind that we do live in a republic. As such, we would be much worse off if there weren’t dissenting protesters at our major political events.
So, I say, take a look at the PUMA’s, smile, and move along. They are actually a good thing. Or, at the very least, they are a sign that other good things are happening.
