In what is in no way a last-minute attempted spoiler of the Netroots Nation convention being held in Austin this weekend, conservatives are at the keyboards. The Defend the American Dream Summit had decided that they need to have their own little webby conference named RightOnline, in Austin, at the same time.

Apparently, the fact that progressives and liberals have worked how to do the emails with the youtubes is “leaving conservatives at a severe disadvantage in a web 2.0 world.” Erm, not to be a stickler, but that’s Web 2.0. Capital W. But your coterie of experts on the internets would know that.

So who have they decided to invite as their Ted Stevens-style tube clearers? Erm, noted experts on the internets Robert “Plamegate” Novak, Grover Norquist (who is so anti-tax that it will be interesting to see how he thinks research for the Internet was originally funded) and Michael Steele, the current president of Newt Gingrich‘s GOPAC money pit. Nothing at all to do with the fact that they were in the building for the main summit and this was a last-minute rebuttal to the progressives’ gathering downtown. Their celebrity blogger? Michelle Malkin, she of the “Rachel Ray’s terrorist scarf” debacle and this little YouTube gem.

Youtube video

Gimme a … a … a break would be nice.

This article appears in July 11 • 2008.

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

SUPPORT US

The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.