The Right is Ready to Fight

Jon Henke joins the chorus that the left is way ahead of the right when it comes to creating an active, alternative messaging infrastructure.

Jon's right in a broader sense, but this is a fight that is taking place largely outside the beltway. And while the left is ahead in many areas, the right is making advances in the states -- away from the eyes and notice of beltway conservatives.

I got a taste of these developments at the State Policy Network conference last week in Scottsdale. Rather than sitting on the sidelines, waiting for direction from above, a number of state-based conservative/libertarian think tanks and advocacy groups are already creating their own, independent messaging channels. From blogs and social networking to investigative reporting, litigation and, of course, research, a cadre of state think tanks are busily working to meet the "seven capacities" described by Sam Adams Alliance chairman Eric O'Keefe (who joined TQ radio  to discuss the seven capacities as well as the left's tactics).

This does not mean that parity has been reached. Far from it. The problem with much of the right is that it believes the force of ideas and reason alone will win the day. That may have been true at some point, but it is no longer so. As one speaker at the conference noted, the there's a time for writing and a time for fighting. This is the time for fighting...and thankfully, some on the right are determined to fight hard and are acquiring the resources to do so effectively. The challenge is to get even more of them to put up their dukes.  That may occur sooner than some think, as both donors begin demanding action, rather than words.

(Cross-posted at Tertium Quids)