MyDD :: On Firedoglake

On Firedoglake

by Matt Stoller, Thu Sep 21, 2006 at 01:36:16 AM EST

What FDL has put together is very impressive. Here's Jane Hamsher on Keith Olberman tonight. More interesting than that is what Howie Klein is doing with Blue America, supporting progressive candidates with money and by producing generically useful commercials. This post on Firedoglake is very much worth reading.

Two interesting developments this cycle are local blogs that are allowing the emergence of new locally-based progressive leaders who have influence, and blogs like FDL, which are a hybrid community and activism platform. Like Chris, I'm feeling bored by the political environment, and somewhat useless, but it's good to look at what's emerging and be excited and energized by the new leadership ripping through the staid pay-to-play political fabric all over the country.

Tags: Firedoglake, Jane Hamsher (all tags)

Permalink :: 9 Comments :: Post a Comment

Firedoglake (none / 0)

Matt,

Indeed, some good shit is happening. But the Big Apparatus for Preservation of the Status Quo is not going to stand by idly while activists use the Internet to change the rules of the game. I think we are going to have to fight tooth and nail to retain free and open access to the Internet, and I'm surprised that the Democrats aren't making more noise about that issue in this election season. It's a winner for them.

by global yokel on Thu Sep 21, 2006 at 01:55:17 AM EST

Re: Firedoglake (none / 0)

Same as it ever was. The contunal emergence of hot new communities like FDL is what keeps me going through the downswings. The future hybrid model of blog/activism platform/organization w/transparent and fluid governance is going to kick some serious ass.

I don't know if Net Neutrality is a political winner or not... most people don't understand the internet (or think they even can understand it) well enough to really care.

It's also mostly about TV. The current stuff we're doing won't be seriously impacted, but next-gen video stuff is on the line, which is very important, but doesn't have a chance at killing what we've already got.

Net Neutrality is the Right Thing to Do(tm) and the people fighting against it are pure whores, but if they win it's temporary. The people who actually make this shit pop are smarter and more resourseful than the conglomorates. If they fuck us on this, we're going to fuck them back a lot harder in the long run. The mind-killing thing is that if they could see through the corporate myopia, Verizon et-al would realize that this is a huge opportunity. Sadly they seem to be stuck in the bottlenecking/greedy-stupid trap. C'est la vie.

Me | My Work | Future Majority

by Josh Koenig on Thu Sep 21, 2006 at 02:26:15 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Firedoglake (none / 0)

Completely agree that the telecoms are myopic. Also agree that the people making the Internet happen are smarter and more resourceful than the opposition.

by readerOfTeaLeaves on Thu Sep 21, 2006 at 03:26:07 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Feeling bored by the political environment? (none / 0)

Elections are in less than 60 days. I am finding it nerve-wracking.

John McCain: Healthcare for Kids? In America? No way

by bosdcla14 on Thu Sep 21, 2006 at 05:01:16 AM EST

Re: On Firedoglake (none / 0)

I think another exciting change is the emergence of good progressive candidates because of the coverage they get on the net. Like Larry Kissell.

He was loved by a few BlueNCers, they convinced the rest of us over there. We had some fundraisers, got to meet him, and helped get him on the Netroots page. That helped get him some attention from the DCCC and now they are sending out fundraising letters and campaigning for him. Plus, John Edwards is going to stump with him soon.

A canidate like Heath Shuler was going to have some buzz regardless of what happened online, but Kissell is fo' shissell mostly because of the net.

BlueNC - Progressive NC Politics

by Robert P on Thu Sep 21, 2006 at 06:15:47 AM EST

Re: On Firedoglake (3.00 / 1)

That and pulling one of the best stunts in the country. Of course, the gas stunt likely would've never materialized either without us.

by KainIIIC on Thu Sep 21, 2006 at 09:34:56 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Washington Dems are knocking (none / 0)

Thanks to all your work that people have a voice in Dem politics and Washington is listening now--Bill Clinton, etc.

Crashing the gates is really a very apt title for progressive voices.

by jasmine on Thu Sep 21, 2006 at 09:31:39 AM EST

Bloggers on the TeeVee (none / 0)

As an aside, it's nice to see progressive bloggers on tv as well talking rationally about what we're doing rather than frothing at the mouth ala Malkin. The vast majority of the country still gets their news from tv, pushing the progressive agenda on that medium is a good way to get the non-wired part of the country friendly with progressive bloggers and our message.

by tomanjeri on Thu Sep 21, 2006 at 12:51:56 PM EST

Be the Local Blogosphere with SoapBlox! (none / 0)

Raising Kaine runs on SoapBlox software.

Blue Jersey runs on SoapBlox software.

About half the "state analysis" blogs MyDD links to in it's blog rolls are SoapBloxes.

Local blogs are where it's at!

SquareState.net - Colorado Politics

by pacified on Thu Sep 21, 2006 at 02:53:38 PM EST

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