So What's New?

This morning I read a piece on Politico.com. It talked about JournoList, a blogspace described as a meeting place for several hundred left wingers, heavy on the writers, political bloggers, academics and the like. The article expressed concern that the Jlist confabs influence the media. I had a moment of shock; I thought the piece was about Martha's Vineyard.

At the end of the Sixties my family, long in Asia, then living in Hong Kong, rented a house on the island for the summer. Although I had been a Political Science major in college, I had no political affiliation and thought of myself as an Independent. The location of the house plunged us into an association with the literati; authors, columnists, humorists and illustrious-level academics. They were, all of them, charming,and in relaxed summer mode.

We bought a summer home...at a distance...and remained attached to the island until 2000 when as a widow, I sold our lovely home and moved to California. It was Winter that made me leave, but also the recognition that I was out of step with my old friends and even with the island in general. The Republican/non-Democrat presence is-ballpark-maybe 2%. Visible it is not.

Re-enter JournoList. On Martha's Vineyard, in a totally accepting environment, the literati/glitterati left clusters and talks... They form their opinions, teach their students, and yes, write their columns based on the relationships they have. Are their Winter relationships broader? I doubt it.

There was a joke back then, said to be true. A powerful Democrat hostess is speaking in horror with a friend. " How did it happen? How could Richard Nixon be elected? I don't know a single soul that voted for him! "

So what's new? Nothing!