This Summer

I have a couple of pieces of news to pass on this afternoon: One, I will be slightly curtailing my writing on MyDD for the next 10 weeks or so. Two, as a result, we have brought on Josh Orton to write for MyDD on a full-time basis.

Some might have noticed that I've been a bit quiet this week. To give everyone a heads up, the reason why I have not had an opportunity to write much this week and why I'll be slowing down for about two months (though writing more than I have in the past three days) is that I have begun work as a summer associate in the Political Law Group at Perkins Coie in Washington, DC.

For those who are unfamiliar with the firm or the practice group, Perkins Coie is rated as the top political firm in the country. The firm's clients include the Obama campaign, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the campaigns of various Democratic members of Congress, various Democratic candidates around the country, and other Democratic interests.

Because of the nature of the practice and what I will be doing for the firm over the course of the summer, it is important to me to make clear that what I write on this blog constitutes my own opinions and not those of the firm or of its clients.

You know me. You know how I write. I am a supporter of the Democratic Party, and will continue to be. I largely write about campaign and elections, and, to the extent that I will be writing this summer, I will continue to write about campaigns and elections. In short, I do not foresee that taking this position for the summer will significantly impact the content of my writing. Nevertheless, I am entirely in favor of as full disclosure as possible, so in addition to this post I have updated the About MyDD page and my user page to make clear of my work at the firm.

Now to the more exciting news, the addition of Josh Orton to the MyDD team. Those who have been around the site in recent weeks likely have noticed that Josh brings a lot to the site in terms of quality and depth of analysis. Prior to coming on board at MyDD, Josh served as executive producer for the Majority Report with Sam Seder and Janeane Garofalo, and worked in press and online outreach for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and the Obama campaign. He also currently serves as the political director for Netroots Nation. As you can see, he's a great addition to the site.



Display:


Welcome aboard (2.00 / 2)

Josh's writing has been great, and appreciated.  Looking forward to seeing more.


John McCain wants to stay in Iraq.
by ihaveseenenough on Fri May 30, 2008 at 01:02:06 PM EST

Re: Welcome aboard (2.00 / 1)

I'm glad Josh is staying on full time. His work up until now has been outstanding.


Yawn.
by spacemanspiff on Fri May 30, 2008 at 01:05:42 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Welcome aboard (2.00 / 1)

Good luck Singer!


Yawn.
by spacemanspiff on Fri May 30, 2008 at 01:06:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Welcome aboard (none / 0)

Congrat's Jonathan on your position!


by Deadalus on Fri May 30, 2008 at 01:38:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: This Summer (2.00 / 1)

Congratulations to both of you. Keep fighting the good fight, wherever it takes you.


John McCain
by Mandoliniment on Fri May 30, 2008 at 01:05:07 PM EST

Re: This Summer (2.00 / 2)

was Josh the one that wrote the hitpiece last friday on Hillary & the Kennedy statement?

if so, oh lord.


by colebiancardi on Fri May 30, 2008 at 01:08:27 PM EST

Re: This Summer (none / 0)

It wasn't a hit piece.  He was totally dead on.


Obama 2008!
by lollydee on Fri May 30, 2008 at 01:31:16 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: This Summer (2.00 / 1)

It was a hit piece, and it totally missed the mark.


I'm United Methodist. I already have a Messiah.
by KnowVox on Fri May 30, 2008 at 01:38:58 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: This Summer (2.00 / 1)

It was a hit piece and it was NOT dead on.


by colebiancardi on Fri May 30, 2008 at 01:39:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: This Summer (none / 0)

Let's try not to revisit all that.  Where ever you fell on that argument, I think almost everyone agrees that it got pretty out of hand.


John McCain is surprisingly bad for this country
by minnesotaryan on Fri May 30, 2008 at 01:49:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: This Summer (2.00 / 1)

Yes, smearing our most progressive Democratic candidate on a democratic blog IS out of hand.


I'm United Methodist. I already have a Messiah.
by KnowVox on Fri May 30, 2008 at 01:51:27 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: This Summer (none / 0)

Great. Sure.  Let's move on to actual issues.


John McCain is surprisingly bad for this country
by minnesotaryan on Fri May 30, 2008 at 02:02:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: This Summer (none / 0)

Odd, isn't it, that the Hillary crowd, even at this late hour, wants to silence anyone who may have ever had a pro-Obama thought.

Sometimes I think the McCain call for internet trolls is working.  Disguised as Hillary supporters, you can say almost anything and get away with it.


I was with Obama from the start.
by SpanishFly on Fri May 30, 2008 at 03:29:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: This Summer (none / 0)

Yes, agreed, colebiancardi. Hopefully Josh will think twice before rushing into print with the latest Obama campaign propaganda.

That said I think Josh has done a great job seeking out neglected diaries.

However, I must say that I just hope he too isn't seeking by his writing a job with an Obama supporting firm.


by linfar on Fri May 30, 2008 at 01:48:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: This Summer (none / 0)

We can only "hope." LOL


I'm United Methodist. I already have a Messiah.
by KnowVox on Fri May 30, 2008 at 01:52:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: This Summer (none / 0)

I didn't know you could hot swap pro-Obama bloggers.  


by KimPossible on Fri May 30, 2008 at 03:58:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Congratulations on your new adventure! (2.00 / 1)

It sounds mighty promising.
Enjoy!
by Radiowalla on Fri May 30, 2008 at 01:09:55 PM EST

Re: This Summer (2.00 / 1)

Congrats! Good luck!


The primaries are over!
Focus on McCain
by really not a troll on Fri May 30, 2008 at 01:13:20 PM EST

Perkins Coeie (none / 0)

is a real top notch firm around the nation.  It is pretty impressive that you were able to land that job after your first-year in law school.  Congratulations; I guess you'll have even more in the bank to donate to your candidates this Fall.


by Blazers Edge on Fri May 30, 2008 at 01:23:52 PM EST

Re: This Summer (none / 0)

Good luck away from MyDD, Jonathan.
Good luck at MyDD, Josh.
Stop the racism. Fight the smears.
by CrazyDrumGuy on Fri May 30, 2008 at 01:25:57 PM EST

The same Josh Orton (none / 0)

that works for the Obama campaign as new media deputy director?

http://pdf2007.confabb.com/users/profile /Josh+Orton


Rules are not necessarily sacred, principles are. - Franklin Delano Roosevelt
by anna belle on Fri May 30, 2008 at 01:29:05 PM EST

:grins: (none / 0)

Sure does look that way.


Obama 2008!
by lollydee on Fri May 30, 2008 at 01:32:18 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Yes, it does (none / 0)

I reread, having missed the last 'graph the first time around. Too bad. Looks like mydd disappears from my blogroll too. Well, y'all have fun during the primary season. I'll come back if some sense of objectivity ever lives here again.


Rules are not necessarily sacred, principles are. - Franklin Delano Roosevelt
by anna belle on Fri May 30, 2008 at 01:36:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Yes, it does (none / 0)

Yeah.  Can't have any blog where one of its front pagers disagrees with you.  Good point.  Talk to you next week! :)


John McCain is surprisingly bad for this country
by minnesotaryan on Fri May 30, 2008 at 02:03:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The same Josh Orton (2.00 / 1)

Formerly. Now I'm just an outside agitator.


by Josh Orton on Fri May 30, 2008 at 01:36:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The same Josh Orton (none / 0)

yep.  I guess so.  I was introduced to you via your hitpiece last week.

you totally missed the mark on that one.

(hey, I figure if people can disagree with Jerome, I can do the same with Josh)


by colebiancardi on Fri May 30, 2008 at 01:40:24 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The same Josh Orton (none / 0)

I guess Orton will be to Clinton people what Jerome is to the Obama folks on this blog.

Beeton will continue to play it down the middle.


by Blazers Edge on Fri May 30, 2008 at 01:45:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The same Josh Orton (none / 0)

Thanks for the feedback. I stand by the post, though.


by Josh Orton on Fri May 30, 2008 at 01:48:52 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The same Josh Orton (none / 0)

Were you on the campaign staff when you wrote it?


I'm United Methodist. I already have a Messiah.
by KnowVox on Fri May 30, 2008 at 01:55:18 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The same Josh Orton (none / 0)

Not even close.


by Josh Orton on Fri May 30, 2008 at 02:03:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The same Josh Orton (none / 0)

Define "close."


I'm United Methodist. I already have a Messiah.
by KnowVox on Fri May 30, 2008 at 02:41:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The same Josh Orton (none / 0)

He hasn't been there since last year sometime.


by Jerome Armstrong on Fri May 30, 2008 at 05:57:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The same Josh Orton (none / 0)

OK, define "sometime".


by Jerome Armstrong on Fri May 30, 2008 at 05:57:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The same Josh Orton (none / 0)

I'm pretty sure he left in the fall, more than three-quarters of a year ago.


Blogging here @ MyDD.com. Twittering @jonathanhsinger.
by Jonathan Singer on Fri May 30, 2008 at 06:27:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The same Josh Orton (none / 0)

Thanks for disclosing you're in the tank for Obama.


I'm United Methodist. I already have a Messiah.
by KnowVox on Fri May 30, 2008 at 01:40:26 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The same Josh Orton (none / 0)

Very nice response to that disclosure.  So nice of you to make him feel welcome!


John McCain is surprisingly bad for this country
by minnesotaryan on Fri May 30, 2008 at 01:51:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The same Josh Orton (none / 0)

It is what it is.


I'm United Methodist. I already have a Messiah.
by KnowVox on Fri May 30, 2008 at 01:53:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The same Josh Orton (none / 0)

Oh good point.  Sorry.  I forgot about that when I wrote that last comment.


John McCain is surprisingly bad for this country
by minnesotaryan on Fri May 30, 2008 at 02:04:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The same Josh Orton (none / 0)

Jeeeeze, Josh, you are going to have to bend over backwards to play fair here. Were you working for them when you published on JFK?


by linfar on Fri May 30, 2008 at 01:50:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The same Josh Orton (none / 0)

You mean RFK? No, haven't been there in months.


by Josh Orton on Fri May 30, 2008 at 01:53:56 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The same Josh Orton (none / 0)

Why don't we hold ourselves to the same standard that we hold the front pagers to?  I see no problem with someone be supportive of one candidate or the other.  As long as the pieces are well thought out and documented, it seems okay.


John McCain is surprisingly bad for this country
by minnesotaryan on Fri May 30, 2008 at 01:57:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The same Josh Orton (none / 0)

Orton's hit piece calling for HRC to drop out was pure histronics, poorly documented and poorly sourced.


I'm United Methodist. I already have a Messiah.
by KnowVox on Fri May 30, 2008 at 02:44:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The same Josh Orton (none / 0)

Hillary trolls find a way to take the fun out of everything here.  Did this thread need to be spun to somehow be about your agenda?  Sheesh.

Josh, don't worry, they'll come around.  You weren't alone on your call for Hillary to step down.  It was, to many, the last straw.  I saw it as a mistake and not intentional.  Nobody will ever know for sure, however.


I was with Obama from the start.
by SpanishFly on Fri May 30, 2008 at 03:04:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Correction: (none / 0)

He just denied it upthread.  He no longer works for them.  And Imagine anyone here having a dissenting candidate preference.  Shocking.


by Tenafly Viper on Fri May 30, 2008 at 05:53:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: This Summer (none / 0)

Congrats!  You will be missed.  I always enjoy your diaries because they are so unbiased.  You put out the facts and comments without putting any kind of political bias to them.  Go get em!  

Welcome aboard Josh!


by Spanky on Fri May 30, 2008 at 01:37:28 PM EST

Good luck at your summer job (none / 0)

Jonathon.  Your work will be missed as it was objective and mostly positive.

To Josh, welcome aboard, looking forward to seeing more of your writing.


Student Guy=JoeMentum. No really Student Guy=JoeMentum, after all JoeMentum was an embarrassment so is Student Guy. This sig is FAIL!!
by Student Guy on Fri May 30, 2008 at 01:42:37 PM EST

Have a great break (none / 0)

And good call on Josh.  I enjoy his work.


You can't stop the signal.

President "That One"

by Dracomicron on Fri May 30, 2008 at 01:49:21 PM EST

Re: Full disclosure is excellent (none / 0)

Be prepared to be harassed by the deputy director of new media for the Obama for America.

http://pdf2007.confabb.com/users/profile /Josh+Orton


I'm United Methodist. I already have a Messiah.
by KnowVox on Fri May 30, 2008 at 01:50:06 PM EST

Re: Full disclosure is excellent (none / 0)

Josh left the campaign quite some time ago.


by Adam B on Fri May 30, 2008 at 02:35:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Full disclosure is excellent (1.00 / 1)

Not according to his bio on Personal Democracy Forum.


I'm United Methodist. I already have a Messiah.
by KnowVox on Fri May 30, 2008 at 02:38:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Full disclosure is excellent (2.00 / 1)

If you'll notice, the year "2007" is even in the url cited for that bio. It was for last year's Personal Democracy Forum.


by Josh Orton on Fri May 30, 2008 at 02:44:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Full disclosure is excellent (none / 0)

If you'll notice, the 2008 link is the same:

Josh Orton is deputy director of new media for the Obama for America campaign. Previously, he was the executive producer of Air America Radio's "The Majority Report" with Sam Seder and Janeane Garofalo, and coordinated the radio network's participation in the first annual YearlyKos convention. Most recently, he served as online and Nevada press secretary for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

http://pdf2008.confabb.com/users/profile /Josh+Orton


I'm United Methodist. I already have a Messiah.
by KnowVox on Fri May 30, 2008 at 02:48:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Full disclosure is excellent (none / 0)

Sigh. I don't work there anymore dude. Check the FEC reports if you want.


by Josh Orton on Fri May 30, 2008 at 03:04:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Full disclosure is excellent (1.50 / 2)

I did. You might want to add "Shill for Obama" in your tagline when you write your next Clinton hitpiece.


I'm United Methodist. I already have a Messiah.
by KnowVox on Fri May 30, 2008 at 03:41:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Full disclosure is excellent (2.00 / 3)

Good work, and thanks for the tip!


by Josh Orton on Fri May 30, 2008 at 03:52:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Full disclosure is excellent (2.00 / 1)

"Hit piece" is two words, and messiah is not capitalized unless it's a proper noun. Also, you're a sore loser.


by Barrett Brown on Fri May 30, 2008 at 05:04:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: This Summer (none / 0)

I really will miss Jonathan. He is my favourite on here. I will really shed a tear. I'm like that.

This is the first time I saw you. This is the clip.



Obama/Warner 2008
by MissVA on Fri May 30, 2008 at 01:50:23 PM EST

Re: This Summer (none / 0)

I believe Singer is wearing upwards of 7 shades of brown in this video.


by Josh Orton on Fri May 30, 2008 at 01:54:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: This Summer (none / 0)

Notice the nervous energy. It's a blast.


Obama/Warner 2008
by MissVA on Fri May 30, 2008 at 02:00:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: This Summer (none / 0)

Great work on the internship, buddy.  Welcome aboard Josh.


John McCain is surprisingly bad for this country
by minnesotaryan on Fri May 30, 2008 at 01:58:39 PM EST

Congratulations Jonathan. Welcome aboard Josh. (none / 0)


Your old role is rapidly aging. Please get out of the new one if you can't lend a hand, for the times they are a changing.
by Travis Stark on Fri May 30, 2008 at 02:04:01 PM EST

Re: This Summer (none / 0)

Congrats on the summer associate gig Jonathan.  That's a fantastic firm, and a heck of a get after your 1L year.  


by HSTruman on Fri May 30, 2008 at 02:10:17 PM EST

Perkins Coie. (none / 0)

VERY IMPRESSIVE.  And a great location too.

Congrats.


by Same As It Ever Was on Fri May 30, 2008 at 02:17:24 PM EST

Re: This Summer (none / 0)

Perkins Coie is a good firm.  Best of luck with the opportunity.

I can't say as I'm excited about Josh Orton's ascendance after he used a front-page post to demand that Hillary must drop out immediately because of her RFK comment.  It's like Markos' front-page post about Clinton supposedly darkening Obama's picture, totally self-discrediting stuff.

It's absurd that he never apologized for that post and now he's getting a promotion, because really, the quality of the front page is all that's kept me coming here despite the increasingly juvenile comment sections.


"Another problem we have...is that in election years we behave somewhat as primitive peoples do at the time of the full moon." --Harry Truman
by Steve M on Fri May 30, 2008 at 02:30:27 PM EST

Congrats on the gig! (none / 0)

Enjoy the summer.  Phantom Rec for the expanding career.

-chris


Motley Moose: Progress Through Politics
by chrisblask on Fri May 30, 2008 at 02:40:06 PM EST

Re: This Summer (none / 0)

Congratulations!
Glad to hear you will be in the middle of the muddle..

Make an occasional appearance here if you can.


"harlequin speech of suicide, demanding instantaneous lobotomy"
by nogo postal on Fri May 30, 2008 at 02:42:30 PM EST

Re: This Summer (none / 0)

Best wishes on the new job.  Looks like you've got yourself on the winning team after all.


I was with Obama from the start.
by SpanishFly on Fri May 30, 2008 at 02:56:44 PM EST

cha-ching!!! (none / 0)

All those postings paid off!  

A position at Perkins Cole, of course, for Perkins Cole is the law firm that represents the Obama campaign.


by fredster on Fri May 30, 2008 at 02:59:55 PM EST

Hey Josh (none / 0)

Welcome aboard.  I've enjoyed your contributions thus far.


I was with Obama from the start.
by SpanishFly on Fri May 30, 2008 at 03:00:26 PM EST

Re: Hey Josh (none / 0)

Thanks man. Good to be here. I've been reading the site for years, so it's a thrill to now write for it.


by Josh Orton on Fri May 30, 2008 at 03:06:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: This Summer (none / 0)

Good luck Jonathan. The full-disclosure is admirable. Congrats to Josh.


McCainuire, The Wrath Of Not Enough Naps.
by catilinus on Fri May 30, 2008 at 03:55:20 PM EST

Re: This Summer (none / 0)

Good luck on the new gig, Jonathon!
Josh, I think you got off to a rocky start, but I'm looking forward to more of your posts.
"Who are you for? That is the wrong question. It should be who is for you?" HRC
by skohayes on Fri May 30, 2008 at 05:58:05 PM EST

You'll be a sorely missed voice of reason... (none / 0)

Jonathan, Your posts are one of the only reasons I've stuck around mydd into the primary wars.  Good luck to you this summer.  I hope you'll be back in the fall.

And Congratulations to Josh.  I've enjoyed a lot of your work.  And don't worry about the critics.  I'm sure things will calm down here once our nominee is allowed to claim the title.


by Tenafly Viper on Fri May 30, 2008 at 06:01:57 PM EST

Re: This Summer (none / 0)

Great news!!  Things are looking up!


"It's time to pass the baton to the next generation." Ken Jacobson, WA state senator.
by tibbs on Fri May 30, 2008 at 10:14:25 PM EST

Calm down? In your dreams!!! (none / 0)


by suzieg on Fri May 30, 2008 at 10:16:25 PM EST

Re: This Summer (none / 0)

Interesting job.  Congratulations.  Do you think, however, that it might have been better form to let your readers know that you were going to work for Senator Obama's attorneys at the time that you learned that you had landed this prize summer associate position?  You have been supporting his candidacy with vigor, after all.  I don't think that you committed an ethical breach in a tangible sense; I'm not saying that.  I do think, however, that you probably should have told us about the fact that you were getting a job with the law firm representing the campaign that you are supporting.


by bslev22 on Sat May 31, 2008 at 08:05:08 AM EST


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