On Air Thursday Afternoon

Well, the big bad four are all in one place at the same time! Great to see all the GNB founders here together. (I love tagging along on this ride) Had a fabulous lunch and shared a "ridiculously great brownie" with Mrs. R.

Howard Dean had a rally outside. We are all so grateful to him for his 50 state strategy and the people powered movement he helped get started.

I volunteered at the Progressive Book Club table this morning and met Mr. "Nixonland" Rick Perlstein himself. Very impressive fellow-- lots of big brains here at the Austin convention center.

We are now working on signal flow with Tokyo Terri who is getting ready to start filming folks for her Unofficial Netroots Nation Podcast

More as we go along on this crazy big show.

P.S. HS and LM are very funny. I mean it, very funny.

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Public Service is NOT Charity Work

The Crucible with Daniel Day Lewis and Winona Ryder.
February 4, 2002. photo Barry Wetcher/Twentieth Century Fox.

“You Must SUFFER in the NAME of His HOLINESS”
“But I wanted a BLACK iPod. Frack!”

I dunno. You're buying the lastest gadgets, but then asking for money.
Bollox Ref

I'm not picking on Bollox Ref. This is one of those “attack the idea, not the person” moments. The above idea is about to be taken out. Bollox Ref on the other hand... no problem. *smiles*

Let's understood, then kill off this concept. It is an ENORMOUSLY destructive line of thinking and an ongoing barrier to raising funds for progressive causes.

The concept, said simply is this:

"Public service is charity work."

It sounds silly, but when you cut down to it, that's how many people think.

Call it the "Mother Theresa" VOW OF POVERTY life of public service model.

The penitent one takes a vow of poverty, turns over any and all income from all sources to charity, and works around the clock ceaselessly in a life of selfless service dedicating oneself to that which is being served. But it's okay, because of God.

In the Mother Theresa model, nothing is allowed but service. No money, no belongings (other than simple gifts made on potting wheels from Mother Earth, lovingly presented at a ceremony while school-children sing a song composed especially in honor of the occasion.) Of course, if the gift has genuine monetary value from a serious artist, one would naturally auction it at Sothebys and contribute the funds to “the cause.” If one suffered a little and wrote a short but heart-felt poem on tree-bark which was then posted on your blog to inspire your followers, so much the better.

Oh. My. Gods.

THAT IS NOT A FUCKING LIFE. (That is not a fucking life.)

No wonder the Republicans have been kicking our ass.

They have institutions, research grants, scholarships, third-party offers, 501C3s, 501C4s, and so goddamn many different institutes, universities and colleges, it isn't even funny.

From the moment Republican kids walk into college they are taken care of. An entire HOST of institutional choices are available to Young Republicans, all designed to make certain of two things:

1. Republicans get paid.

Got that? Republicans get paid.

Let me say it again. If there is one thing Republicans always make damn sure happens, it is this: they get fracking paid.

We could learn from them.

2. Republicans have careers.

I didn't say jobs. I said careers.

Upward fucking mobility. With benefits. Mentors. Fully-paid conferences, retreats and education. All designed to make certain they STAY REPUBLICANS (because that is where they get paid) and that they have Republicans all around them all the time, telling them how great it is to be a Republican.

Damn. Sounds sweet.

Furthermore... (and this is really a third point.)

3. Republicans get quoted.

Where? By other Republicans. It's a damn echo chamber. Hello, 'lo, 'lo...

But Republicans also get quoted by the traditional media, which is lazy enough to fail to mention such-and-such an institute is being funded by Adolph Coors who coincidently gives x million a year to hard right-wing causes.

Which gives the Republicans cred when they apply for the research position. Which gives them status when it's time for that University appointment. Fellowships. Book deals. Editorial appearances on radio and television.

Round and around and around.

Republicans take care of each other, always. They have each other's backs.

* * * * * * * * * *

Progressives?

We?

Don't make me laugh; it hurts.

We have bloggers who hold fundraisers to pay some blogging bills, yet even though it's our own damn money get looked at funny if we buy a fucking iPhone!

Let's get a few things clear.

Professional work requires professionals.

It requires hiring pros. It requires being professional.

I used to cringe when Steve - a fucking pro if there ever was one -- felt he had to justify himself every time he bought Jen something nice. While with his enormous talent and big donor base, he still lacked the funds to buy a world-class health care policy.

My dear friend Melanie died in part due to lack of health care.

No damn well-known Republican ever died because their job didn't have full benefits. And a 401K. And stock options with a golden-parachute kicker.

We have fundraisers. And people questioning our commitment.

STOP IT.

It's ugly and it's mean and it is wrong.

Donate, don't donate, it's your call. But be clear... We are not Mother Teresa and we don't follow that model.

We will use the money you give us wisely and carefully. We are using it overwhelming for items such as:

• hotels (probably)
• travel (maybe)
• basic business expenses
• back end blog costs
• stuff you'll find out about Tuesday

I wish we had more money so we could pay for more. As it is we're all having to pay too much of our own expenses to suit me. But we do that and don't complain. Because we all believe in public service and we believe in America.

That the four of us, er, six of us now with Evan and TLG are able to afford to pay for our own expenses (and buy iPhones if we want) is what has kept Group News Blog up and running. We've been up for a year and this is the first time we've ever asked anyone for a nickel.

Why? Because I respect you too much to do this any other way.

Let us be blunt. Jen put the keys to the kingdom in my hands. Before I'm going to ask y'all to give us money, I had to be sure you thought what we were giving you was worth it. That takes time and trust. Traditionally it takes a year.

So here we are.

From the donations pouring in, you trust us.

You've read our posts. You know we're the real deal. You know we're not nuns or monks. If we get the chance to have a good time, we will. Probably not with GNB funds simply because there aren't enough of them to use them that way. But if there was, I wouldn't feel even slightly guilty having a good meal and buying the gang a nice bottle of wine on the company nickel. (I don't drink; with my meds it could kill me.)

So...

My point is, each of your bloggers contribute enormously to Group News Blog:

• financially with actual money in various forms and ways,
• editorially by writing posts and comments as well as emails,
• technically each within our own specialties, and
• physically through giving hundreds or even thousands of hours of time and energy.

What we do with your financial donations is... We use them wisely.

We have great lives which we're happy to live. We ask you to contribute financially because we can not afford to fund -- nor frankly, should we -- the expenses of a serious journalism business which is growing and expanding.

Mother Theresa was a Saint and she practiced holy orders.

Group News Blog is a business and we practice journalism.

Being a progressive liberal and a journalist doesn't foreclose owning cool toys.

Please continue donating -- $100, $75, and $50 dollars.

Thank you for your support.

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Learning From The Cultural Conservatives (Again)

Sara Robinson has Part III of Learning From The Cultural Conservatives up at Campaign for American's Future.

Learning From The Cultural Conservatives,
Part III: Taking It To The Street

If you missed them the first time, here are Parts I & II:

Learning From The Cultural Conservatives,
Part I: Messing With Their Minds
Part II: Talking Up The Worldview

Want to know how the conservatives have been -- literally -- changing the way in which you and I can think, what we are capable of thinking, using a highly sophisticated understanding of biology, history, linguistics, psychology, and science? It's all right here.

Highly Recommended.

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Learning From The Cultural Conservatives

Sara Robinson in addition to a vacation and her normal writing at Orcinus, is half-way through a quarter-long gig writing at Campaign for American's Future.

Rarely is something so good, I say to drop everything and go read.

“Drop everything and go read.”

Learning From The Cultural Conservatives,
Part I: Messing With Their Minds
Part II: Talking Up The Worldview
Part III: Taking It To The Street

Part III will be up next Monday. I'll update this page, and post separately. (Note: Part III added above on Mar 11.)

Campaign for America's Future is doing rich, deep, thoughtful work, the kind which holds the keys to our future as progressives. Highly recommended.

I can't say enough about Sara's work. She is a world-class intellect at work.

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Progressive Donna Edwards CRUSHING Al Wynn

Al Wynn was the "party pick" incumbent in the Maryland 4th. Right now he is getting beaten by a girl. ;)

Edwards 59%
Wynn    37%

-- WashingtonPost.com

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A Love Thang

The lovely, legendary Rochelle Fleming of First Choice (Dr. Love, Smarty Pants, The Player)—the original disco diva says it all...it's a LOVE thang!

It's been a verrrrry busy last 72 hours for me what with a lot of work on a project I'm toiling on, and I've been a touch out of the loop. In so being, I missed out on “Blogroll Amnesty Day”.

I've never been quite certain about the whole idea of blogroll amnesty per sé, and the gnashing and carping that seemed to blow up around the premise just sort of made me a little bit sick inside. Some folks appeared to abuse it for personal gain and self aggrandizement.

But...as a small blog, I can understand the sentiment of helping out our “blogren”™ in getting out their messages, or just simply giving props to those who you maybe don''t see enough of, and who many of us take for granted.

With that, on Super Bowl Sunday as I sit here in my Lawrence Taylor #56 jersey and peek at a game I'm going to be watching piss-poor little of because of the deadlines I have to hit, here goeth the listing of a few places I feel you should check out when you get the chance.

One of the BEST resources for info on the (hopefully soon to end) WGA strike is the fabulous Mark Evanier at News From Me. This is the first blog I ever visited and I still check it out every day. I've been lousy on linking to it and will do so more often. He's a comic-book/animation/writing professional whose blog is always entertaining AND informative. Rich in rare video and great entertainment industry anecdotes. Thank you Mark, for being a gateway.

Then there's my main man tony pierce at steady-chuggin' Busblog—the second blog I ever checked out via a link from the above mentioned Mark. Tony's a wonderful writer and a singular stylist. He's a contrarian, but the man is fair, funny and is so damned imaginative style-wise that it's scary. I consider him a blogfather of mine and he's actually a heckuva nice fella in person too.

Jo Fish at Democratic Veteran is a guilty pleasure and God damn it, I wish he'd post more, but by all means go read what this progressive member of the military says—and let him know who sentcha. And you tell him to fire that reactor in him up!

Give some love to The hydra-headed blog-monster over at Corrente They rail proud and boldly shrill from their side-by-side wing chairs of keepin' it real. Click. Read. Learn. And click some more.

I urge you to check in at the blogspaces of these two lovely ladies—Maha at Mahablog, and the feisty, magnetic Zuzu at Kindly Pog Mo Thoin (and also throws down at Feministe) You share a car with people for a couple of hours on what should be a sad occasion and hear them talk and you feel better about things. They share, they comfort and you learn a lot about them. These two are smart, funny, dedicated and most importantly, fighting for the side of right—in addition to simply being lovely individuals to be with. Be with them cyberspace-wise and read their work.

Just the name “Brilliant at Breakfast” should be enough to steer you to this great place, but once you're there you'll realize that what they're serving up is just as amazing as their fabulous blog name. Do check in!

And what the living hell is my problem with not giving more props to the dynamite Pam Spaulding of Pam's House Blend and Pandagon. Just one of the most astute political scribes out there, who sprinkles in just enough pop-culture goodies to keep you jonesing for more. She's an addiction I just can't quit. Much like coffee. :)

By all means, go visit these blogs, comment and give 'em some love.

Back to work for me and whippin' up some filet mignon and baked sweet potatoes for the wife.

And go Jints!

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Senator Dodd Smacks Down Everyone

Dodd: Is This About Our Security or Bush's Power?

Short version.

Dodd: FISA Floor Speech

The whole speech.

At least do yourself the favor of listening to the short version, as Senator Dodd lays the smack down on damn near everyone.

Then ask yourself, why in the hell was he the only presidential candidate who came back to the Senate today to filibuster? Clinton, Obama, Biden, they supported Dodd in spirit. But none of them pulled their ass off the campaign trail back to D.C. where they could make an actual difference. (Edwards isn't a Senator any longer, so he doesn't have that option.)

Chris Dodd did something amazing today. He stood down the Bush Administration. Along with our own Democratic Leadership, which was prepared to roll over and suck off George Bush and Dick Cheney one more time.

If one determined U.S. Senator can stop the cover-up of an illegal program dead in its tracks, what do you think 10 or 20 U.S. Senators could do?

Like Hubris Sonic says, I strongly encourage you to make a donation to Senator Dodd. It is important we reward our friends when they do good works.

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Reid Bows In the Wind

Holy Fucking Shit, this is what a people powered democracy is all about. The pressure from you guys, the progressives, the left wing blogisphere and Senator Dodd really made a difference. Honestly, this blanket immunity may not seem like a big deal to people but its about showing up. Its about stopping the corporate democrats. There was huge pressure to pass this thing and we stopped it.

When it became clear to Reid that many, many people were paying attention and his bullshit about being a victim of senate procedure was a no-sale to everybody. He knew it was going to be hard, but not impossible, to let this crap pass. And then one man, Chris Dodd, stood up in the senate and stopped this bill cold. Once Dodd made the stand more and more other senators felt comfortable in stating their objections to giving immunity to corporations for spying on the American people. Matt Stoller and Tim Tigaris are owed no little thanks in this too. Hell, there are a bunch of people who a debt of thanks.

Today really was a great day.

and not for nothing there is a contribute button on this page chrisdodd.com

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No More Heroes

I agree with what Banksy is saying here. We don't need any more heroes, no more white nights (pardon the phrase.) We need to change the party and we need to change the media. We need to run for party offices. Sunlight drives these people crazy. It galls them no end that they have to listen to all the Dirty Fucking Hippies who post at Kos, and Atrios, and Firedoglake.

I really am much more concerned with the House seats and the Senate seats next year. The Whitehouse is just one job and a job that we seriously need to set limits on.

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