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Last updated on July 24th, 2017 at 08:26 am
Australia now has its own version of MoveOn.org:
GetUp, an online organisation founded by two young Australians who cut their teeth on a similar venture in the United States, becomes a reality today when 70,000 people get emails asking them to be part of a new era in politics …
The project is the brainchild of Jeremy Heimans and David Madden, who met while studying at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard in the US.
Last year the pair started Win Back Respect, a group that produced attack ads during last year’s US presidential race arguing that George Bush’s foreign policy was damaging America’s world standing.
Some pedigree.
Their advisory board included former Clinton national security adviser Tony Lake, former senator Gary Hart, and Leon Fuerth, who advised former vice-president Al Gore on foreign policy.
And yet, despite all that talent, John Kerry still lost. Unbelievable.
Using small donations from online contributors, Win Back Respect paid for a speaking tour by General Wesley Clark and hired a charter plane for the Band of Sisters, a group of female relatives of US soldiers killed or serving in Iraq, to chase Vice-President Dick Cheney on the campaign trail.
A speaking tour by Wesley Clark? The Bush/Cheney campaign thanks you.
Now Mr Heimans, 27, and Mr Madden, 30, want to translate that success to Australia …
Excuse me … success? If they succeeded any more they’d be dead. Here’s GetUp’s reason for being:
The other political parties aren’t providing a strong opposition, and the media is dominated by a handful of right-wing voices. People need to take politics into their own hands. GetUp provides them with a way to do this.
Right-wing media voices amount to a mere handful, yet still we dominate. What hope do these GetUpsters have? Margo Kingston, who planned a local MoveOn.org of her own, seems puzzled by and possibly jealous of these upstart GetUp people:
What do you think of the concept, the structure, the website, the funding model and the launch impact? Would you join? Why is this happening now?
The rest of her post—which cites 45 GetUp-ish Webdiary items—appears to be a bid to get into GetUp. Forget it, Margo! GetUp is young and now! They’ve no time for the old and failed! Webdiary regulars possibly don’t realise it, but Steve Atkins is being sarcastic:
Just fantastic! I love it! Great concept!
I can only hope that it is as productive as moveon.org is.
Have you thought of getting Michael Moore involved? He is so influential I know he could do great things for the democracy movement.
GetUp don’t need him. They’ll fail on their own.
I’ve come across this Jeremy Heimans character before. Bright guy, but basically a self-important pretentious wanker,typical Sydney Uni student polly-type (not sure if he ever got elecdted to anyting) who has all the soft left answers to the world’s problems.
Interestingly enough – if the pair started Win Back Respect – why aren’t they credited with that on the WBR website?
Posted by Fred Kelly on 2005 08 01 at 02:04 PM • permalink
Right-wing media voices amount to a mere handful, yet still we dominate.
Funny how that works, innit? If you’re a right-ish voice in the mainstream media, you get disproportionate attention from media consumers. If you get yourself on formerly-moribund AM radio with a right-wing talk show, you become a millionaire and spawn legions of imitators. If you start a cable news network that slants right, you quickly kick the asses of long-established Cable News Networks that slant left. Why, it’s almost as if the open marketplace of ideas favors conservatism. Well, at least the lefty losers have their guaranteed taxpayer-funded PBS, NPR, ABC, and BBC. And guilty billionaire patrons.
Next stop: Canada, and TakeOff.org.
Posted by Paul Zrimsek on 2005 08 01 at 03:21 PM • permalink
I like this bit in the Age story about them:
Rather than sitting through tedious party branch meetings, the outfit will ask voters to donate to web and TV ads, think up their own campaign ideas and lobby politicians by email and SMS.
Forget that ‘democracy’ thing, eh – just use your ‘absolute power’ over the dollars donated by the unthinking email-only membership to produce tilty attack ads that lose elections.
Sounds like a real corker.
I can imagine the SMS campaigns now…
PLZ SIGN KYOTO OR ELSE KTHX BAI LUV SWAMPY
Posted by ausdiplomad on 2005 08 01 at 04:55 PM • permalink
The message of groups like “Get Up” and “Win Back Respect” seems to be the same message they learned in high school—“if I let the popular boy come in my mouth he’ll respect me.”
Posted by Andrea Harris, Administrator on 2005 08 01 at 05:55 PM • permalink
Now if they only started ShutUp.org, they’d probably be contributing something a bit more tangible to their ‘reality-based’ cause.
I mean what could be more ‘progressive’ than denying us warmongering neo-con zionist crusaders our current “target rich” environment?
Remove the ‘root cause’ so to speak.
Alternately they [hippie hellspawn] could GetUp, and maybe even PutDown their bongs in order to procure real jobs, instead of begging for socialist alms under virtual offramps.
I suspect being forced to live off the dole like the
unwashed sheeple, they’d likely not be Kool Krypto-anarchists speaking truth to power whilst pulling elite punk luv for much longer.Save Scovill Units – Hire a hippie.
I’ve always liked the name MoveOn.
It reminds me so much of the police after a car accident – ‘MoveOn, there’s nothing to see here’.
Perhaps GetUp could be more appropriately named GetOverIt
—Nora
Posted by The Thin Man Returns on 2005 08 01 at 06:27 PM • permalink
Tell me what’s wrong with this statement: “dominated by a few conservative voices.”
—Nora
Posted by The Thin Man Returns on 2005 08 01 at 07:30 PM • permalink
In marketing terms the activist sites MoveOn, Daily Kos, and Democratic Underground are establishing a brand identity for the Democrats. As a Republican I can only cheer this tendency, and wonder why the Democrats allow this to happen. Perhaps the same will happen in Australia, and John Howard will be serving for the next few decades.
Still, I wonder if this is inherent to the party, or if technology drives it. The Republicans have the advantage of a known and unquestioned party leadership, while the Democrats have fragmented contenders, and therefore more room for free agents like dkos. If there was a similar vacuum on the Republican side, would rightwing web sites be driving the brand identity in the same way?
Posted by Ernst Blofeld on 2005 08 01 at 07:54 PM • permalink
When I read about these two (and others of their ilk) a more likely site name comes to mind: IKnowBetterThanYou.org So much like the dear Mrs. Clinton, these folks are convinced that the poor masses of mindless sheep should just get on-board with their agendas and leave running the world to their pseudo-elite clan.
I think they should call it GIT/OFF.org.
Posted by JorgXMcKie on 2005 08 01 at 09:13 PM • permalink
The message of groups like “Get Up” and “Win Back Respect” seems to be the same message they learned in high school—“if I let the popular boy come in my mouth he’ll respect me.”
An interesting comment, given that GetUp was founded by two people by the name of Jeremy and David.
Methinks Andrea has been watching way too much Queer as Folk lately!
Posted by Lionel Mandrake on 2005 08 01 at 09:34 PM • permalink
Far from getting small donations, I hear they are hitting up trade unions for large donations in addition to copping a big gift from lefty business “success story” Looksmart Evan Thornley who bought his way onto the board of getup.
While the Fairfaxista AgeBC lefty media celebrates Comrade Thornley’s business achievements (as he is about to be shoe-horned into Parliament), the US business press are not so sure.
Posted by Andrew Landeryou on 2005 08 01 at 09:40 PM • permalink
This is not an new movement, this is a front to attract people to politics without identifying themselves with a mainstream part.
GetFucked.org has zero political balance, its full of stooges, Bill (dad got me the job) Shorten ALP, Evan (Moneybags) Thornley ALP, Some green twit and John (bitter and twisted) Hewson ALP wannabe.
Funnily enough, old yourdemocracy.com has just been shafted I’d suggest and old Margo is looking to ingratiate herself with the new kids…………….angling for a job methinks.
Big Labour (AFL-CIO) is fracturing in the US, leaving the Democrats with even less of a support base, and more in the hands of useless fringe groups like MoveBackHomewithMomandDad.Org
Rather like the Australian media before the last election, gloating that the ALP had the “doctor’s wives” onside. For all the good it did them.
Lionel, I have never watched a single episode of that show, and my remark is meant to be inclusive of all sexual preferences. I’m all about the diversity and the inclusion and stuff, you dig?
Posted by Andrea Harris, Administrator on 2005 08 01 at 10:25 PM • permalink
I’m sure they’ll have all the success of other progressive publications and organisations in Australia, bursting at the seams as it is with generous, caring and sharing people*.
*With other people’s money anyway- with their own dosh, ranging from the dole to 6 figure bursaries, they’re tighter than a fish’s arse.
I went to uni with Jeremy Heimans. And have had various other dealings with him, on a personal level. Nice enough guy. Very bright.
And Uni is all he’s ever done. From Syd Uni arts/law and his oh-so-ironic work in Honi Soit, to a fellowship at Harvard, I know for a fact the guy has never been off campus and experienced the effect of the political system he’s so critical of (or any other system actually).
I wouldn’t take car repair advice from someone who has only read books on panelbeating; I won’t be taking political advice from someone who has only read about it – and only experienced it through the campus PoV, too.
Posted by SheikYerbouti on 2005 08 01 at 11:03 PM • permalink
Got to love the quote attributed to “member” “Shaun”
I’m concerned about education,
Ain’t we all.
environmental infrastructure
WTF is environmental infrastructure?!
changes to industrial relations
I’m sure he is.
indigenous disadvantage
Not that the likes of Shaun have ever done a single proactive thing about it.
I want to do something about this stuff
ZZzzzzzzzzzz
- Sorry, this is totally o/t, but I’m a redneck who likes to share. Story about a “millionaire marxist” in England who beat his wife to death for suggesting they send their daughter to a private school:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1717288,00.html
Of course they do cuckoo. Every trainee gets a manual for their course!
Posted by SheikYerbouti on 2005 08 01 at 11:26 PM • permalink
Also is it just me or does this seem like a nice way of a couple of Havard boys to build a bit of a profile within the looney left, perhaps to secure a job in a leftwing think tank or policy advisor to a ALP member.
Perhaps they aspire to a life as a ALP senator, searing irrelevance and life as a taxpayer leach.
Seems all about building a personal profile to me.
What is it with these guys ? Are they following a script ?
1. Lefty twit loses an election/court case/testicle/whatever
2. Starts a website saying how unfair the whole world is
3. Appeals for public support/attention/money
4. Nobody gives a fuck
5. Website+activist group+lefty shitwit fade into obscurityPosted by Rachel Corrie’s Flatmate on 2005 08 01 at 11:38 PM • permalink
I’ll bet they are reaching for the Koolaid at yourdemocracy.com, shafted by a couple of upstarts, don’t they know that Margo is taking back democracy, dammit.
Dear leader Margo will be marshalling the troops to defeat this interloper, don’t they know that moral indignation / evil bushhilterhowardhalliburton is her patch.
Nothing the left likes more than a good old fashioned factional punchup.
Which one’s going to be the People’s Front For The Liberation of Democracy, and which one the Democratic Front For The Liberation of People?
Either way, Margo’s going to lead the Groupers*, based on appearance.
*(Old ALP gag).
LOL at Paul’s ‘takeoff eh’ quip!
Posted by Lucky Nutsacks on 2005 08 02 at 01:13 AM • permalink
Oh, come on, people! Jeremy and David need a job, and what better job could a pair of leftie losers get than sucking money out of a bunch of other leftie losers?
And if they do hit major organizations for donations, there will be that much less money going towards real campaigning. The business plan of these twits is “Give me money, lefties, and I’ll tell you what you want to hear!”
Posted by The_Real_JeffS on 2005 08 02 at 01:14 AM • permalink
This thing is pretty inbred. Jeremy has already been well-described by others in this thread (smart, but incredibly self-important). He was in the US for a number of years and became an acolyte of Jeffrey Sachs. I remember a 1998 Honi Soit editorial of his in which he urged students to “Vote Him (Howard) Out!” As far as I’m aware, he has never been involved in a successful national election campaign, if you measure success by such mundane indices as winning elections. Other employees of GetUp include Toby Brennan, an aristocratic former University of Sydney Union president who ran on a Trotskyite ticket, and Amanda Tattersall, former National Union of Students President, Labor left-winger and girlfriend of Charles Firth of Chaser fame.
Posted by pierce inverarity on 2005 08 02 at 01:52 AM • permalink
“I’m getting involved because I just reckon this country’s not fair anymore. Australia was always a fair country, but I don’t think that’s true anymore. I’ve joined GetUp to make this country a fair place again.”
Fair f**king dinkum!.
Fair’s fair Luke.
“Australia was always a fair country”
Sshhh! Don’t tell the Lefties, Luke.
Remember redneck whitefella come kill all blackfella, tear down trees, persecute Muslims, gays and greenies, talk racist, burn the fossil fuel. Not fair at all.
Fair enough.
Posted by Jay Santos on 2005 08 02 at 02:28 AM • permalink
an online organisation founded by two young Australians who cut their teeth on a similar venture in the United States, becomes a reality today when 70,000 people get emails asking them to be part of a new era in politics …
Umm, isn’t that spamming? is that legal? Just asking…
BTW, I wouldn’t be expecting there to be a war between margolia and this lot. More like a love in, with each group (which no doubt will have a lot of common members) acting as an echo chamber for the other.
I also think that they are not too concerned with success as measured by anything as mundane as winning elections. After all,
its the gesture that counts(tm).
I signed up ‘Seymour Butts’ to their mailing list. It’s juvenile but it makes me laugh every time.
Posted by Art Vandelay on 2005 08 02 at 03:34 AM • permalink
Far from getting small donations, I hear they are hitting up trade unions for large donations in addition to copping a big gift from lefty business “success story” Looksmart Evan Thornley who bought his way onto the board of getup.
While the Fairfaxista AgeBC lefty media celebrates Comrade Thornley’s business achievements (as he is about to be shoe-horned into Parliament), the US business press are not so sure.
Posted by Andrew Landeryou on 08/02 at 11:40 AM
What’s up Andrew . . . didn’t your old mate Evan visit you when you were in the slot?
Posted by Young and Free on 2005 08 02 at 07:36 AM • permalink
- #64- It doesn’t feed money to those hideous multinationals like Fender, Gibson, Marshall and Rogers, all of whom may claim to be owned by CBS and Sony, but it’s really Hallibuton.
That plus they’re too cheap to pay for electricity.
Oops, and it’s mostly generated by fossil fuel or nuclear power.
Tibetan throat singers are the ultimate performers for gits- even didgeridoos endanger plants.
May they enjoy the success they’ve known in the past…
Posted by richard mcenroe on 2005 08 02 at 11:06 AM • permalink
It sounds like they’re doing a re-make of Animal House:
Heimans: We gotta take these bastards. Now we could do it with conventional weapons that could take years and cost millions of lives. No, I think we have to go all out. I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody’s part.
Madden: We’re just the guys to do it.Posted by scott crawford on 2005 08 02 at 11:38 AM • permalink
Do you have some sort of personal antipathy towards Andrew Y&F??
Posted by RhikoR on 08/02 at 09:54 PM
Nothing personal . . . he just represents the worst of the inbred ALP thugocracy, he’s a crook, and when his dirty deals fell over, instead of facing the music, he fucked off to Costa Rica and left his wife and dad carrying the can.
Posted by Young and Free on 2005 08 03 at 08:15 AM • permalink
Every element of the above is a lie, similar to Young and Free’s claim to work for a “chartered accounting” firm when in fact he works at Centrelink. Public money at work.
Posted by Andrew Landeryou on 2005 08 03 at 08:40 AM • permalink
I am going to have to start watching the 7.30 Report more often. I’m usually putting the rugrat to bed, but this is just too much fun.
I am now signed up with getup.org.au, and I’m going to send messages to my local members saying what a great job they are doing.
I am very impressed with Jeremy and David for providing this service for the voting public.
Posted by Nilknarf Arbed on 2005 08 04 at 06:48 AM • permalink
Okay, I’ve done it. I’ve also posted a copy of my portion of the email to my blog.
I might have to do it again in a few days time. This is fun!
Posted by Nilknarf Arbed on 2005 08 04 at 07:04 AM • permalink
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On behalf of the people of the United States, I, Paco, extend to the people of Australia an apology for the Kennedy School of Government (compassionate head tilt implied).