Local Blogging at YearlyKos 07
Ruby Sinreich, founder of a blog called OrangePolitics.org in North Carolina, described her site to the YearlyKos audience as folllows: "Our specialty has been highlighting local problems that might otherwise be forgotten and putting them on public agenda, but our primary goal is to get our residents (many of whom are already progressive activists) to focus on local issues where they can really have an impact."
Ruby stated that she is not interested in or writes about national or state issues beyond what is going on in Orange County. By focusing in on what is going on in her specific area, she is able to shine some light on pressing local needs and really advocate for local repairs to public buildings, highlight efforts to raise funds to preserve open space, and focus on the candidates and elections in races that matter to the citizens in the Orange County area.
There are a great many races on the local level that are starving for attention and for some in-depth analysis from people who have lived there and understand the problems involved in running local schools, local environmental issues, and so forth. This tightly targeted local interaction and coverage is filling a huge need that people have in local areas for substantive discussions of local issues. This is truly one of the growth areas of the blogosphere.
These local blogs are getting noticed. Laura Clawson from BlueHampshire.com talked about the impact that local blogs can have on their communities. Laura has blogged at the massive DailyKos site, but there are a great many folks in NH who don't really care about that site because it doesn't have any connection to where they live and to the type of politics they are interested in.
Yet when Laura meets local office holders and mentions that she works for BlueHampshire, she is recognized and becomes involved in discussions about local issues, the NH primary, and what is going on in her state. Her knowledge of the people who make up New Hampshire politics and her engagement on issues that matter locally is filling a need and giving people a chance to explore issues that the bigger blogs can't possibly cover in depth.
It is often said that the states are the laboratories of democracy. Local blogs and the wonderful and dedicated people who run them are truly helping to make each of these local blogs the communication engines of these democratic laboratories. They know what is going on, they are either engaged in the discussions and races themselves, and/or are actively engaged in finding out the latest news; and they are specifically committed to communicating it to local readers and voters. Highlighting these efforts was a wise move on the part of YearlyKos organizers.
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Thank you for responding to my questions. Does Sen. Kerry plan to introduce any measures in the Senate to undo the damage of the spying bill on which so many democrats voted to give Bush expansive spying powers? The bill is not permanent, in 6 months it will come up again before the Senate and the House. I know Pelosi and Conyers are planning to introduce legislation in the House.
Many of us would like to hear from Sen. Kerry about his views on this bill’s passage and what he can do to remedy it. Does he plan on taking any action to remedy this tragic violation of our civil liberties? Does he plan to introduce any amendments when the Senate comes up with another bill that will make the changes in the spying bill permanent?
There was an article in the El Paso Times about the YearlyKos Convention. The presidential candidates who were present were Hillary Clinton, John Edwards and Barack Obama. It looked like a lot of fun. It happened apparently on the same day that John Kerry was riding in the Pan-Mass Challenge. 111 miles. Whew! You wished you could have been there at the end to cheer his victory. What an amazing feat!
Where can I find out more about local political blogs?
I also went to YearlyKos, and it was a lot of fun, and I learned a lot. I also post to a local blog (my post on YKos):
http://www.vbdems.org/?p=1573#comment-21489
Thing is, the local blog is the easiest way for someone thinking about volunteering for their Dem Party to go. It’s “safe”, and you can just read for a while, and see the announcements for all of the local meetings, or even e-mail the blogger to find out more. It’s invaluable, and is a largely invisible power that blogs have in creating real grassroots locally (which of course means winning more elections).
In case you’ve missed it, Kid Oakland wrote about the local blogs at y-kos, entitled, “Chicago Voices: links”
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/8/9/205631/4260
Hey All:
Sorry to be off-topic, but a thought just popped into my head. Remember how many pro-war pro-escalation (i.e., “Surge") politicians wanted to paint the rest of us into a corner by saying that “any House member that believes that should vote to cut-off funding, if they are serious and honest”? Well, to set this up, let me first say that we should not take polical advice from them and that, to my mind, cutting off funding is too radical and plays into their hands (cf: I believe Lincoln as a congressman voted against the Mexican war but for funding the troops)
But that is just a set-up, or aside. My idea was that this should be “framed,” as we used to say, the opposite: those in favor of escalation, it they are serious and honest about it, should vote for the draft.
Just a thought.
Chuck in Houston
So it appears the local blog will not be active soon. So I would like to just say here that it is my belief that one of the most important factors to getting us through in the coming year is making people familiar with the causal factors of what might be their personal experience, and by doing so basically empowering them individually to work with their own situations. From my experience and background, it’s necessary. Otherwise, one of the problems is that we are helpless to help ourselves, and that itself is disempowering. I’d like to explain it further, but I don’t want to offend. It’s a process and it requires a communication that is mutual.
And let me just add that laws are crucial and effective whether they are enforced or not. But an intellectual education is also helpful. I don’t think John Kerry should be doing that so much at this point. He needs to play politics. But we need to find a way to communicate, myself and others who are aware of the difficulties. Any thoughts on that?
Good write up, and thanks for the link, Terri.
LadyLove, actually all but one of the Democratic candidates was at Yearly Kos, so don’t go by the horserace “reporting” you read in the media.
P. from Weston, check out leftyblogs.com it’s a great resource for finding progressive local and state political blogs all over the country.
Since the Congress is going to be back after recess tomorrow, I would like to make a suggestion for a law that I think could be helpful to many people. I think we need to find a way to control spam. Most people have probably had bad experiences with the uninvited arrival of spam into their inboxes; so I’m sure there could be a consensus form of proof of the harmfulness of spam if need be.
Blocking spam through the ISP, although it would seem to be a helpful option, is not as effective as one might hope. Much goes on in cyberspace that is out of the realm of conscious awareness. I have experimented with both blocking and not blocking spam, and although blocking spam seems to be a better option, I don’t trust that its effect is mitigated as much as one might believe.
I would love to have the opportunity to discuss my experience with this and many other issues of personal violation, but controlling spam could be a good beginning. It’s probably especially hard on single women, and I think it is worth consideration.
OK, signing out and in again works!
Sitting here in the room: JK is steely and focused. OH--and sane. Lugar seems a little off..confused...unclear about just who is supporting hegemony.
Walker is nonpartisan and walking the line; it is good to hear where the middle of the road is.
JK—angered by what Pres. said yesterday, “Not a nervous reaction to poll results.” Yeah, he looks angry too.