YKos: CGG and the Local Bloggers Panel #1
At YearlyKos, there are three different panel discussions on local blogging. The first was moderated by Chris Dodd’s current (and Ned Lamont’s former) internet director Tim Tagaris. It featured blogger Michelle Leder from Take 19, Matt Lockshin from Say No to Pombo, and late addition Melissa Ryan (CGG) of CT Local Politics.
One of the questions that Tim asked these local bloggers is what they’re up to now. Take 19 the blog is on hiatus, while the group still meets monthly. CGG, of course, brought up the fact that we progressives in Connecticut will never rest until Christopher Shays is retired. Her response to Tim’s question is below:
Jim Himes for Congress is one of the next big things for the local Connecticut bloggers (after we kick some ass in the 2007 municipals, of course).
The panel never really spoke about it directly, but what was immediately apparent to me is that these local bloggers were part of causes that were deemed impossible. It was supposedly impossible to unseat Sue Kelly in NY’s 19th. It was supposedly impossible to Say No to Pombo. It was supposedly impossible to mount a challenge against an 18-year incumbent.
Some may still believe that it’s impossible to mount a challenge against someone like Chris Shays. It’s not. And even if it were, it’s no reason not to give it a go — and this is where local blogs can have the greatest impact. As local bloggers, we are at our best when we ignore those who would say that something simply can’t be done.
Now is the time to start. It’s very early in the 2008 congressional cycle. Do you have an “impossible to defeat” incumbent Republican representing you? How about an “unbeatable” Democrat-In-Name-Only?
Start a local blog, or get involved in your local community blog. If you’re in Connecticut, sign up at My Left Nutmeg and start posting. There were a lot more strategies, stories and experiences shared during the discussion, so I urge you to listen to the audio posted below.
Hey Spaze,
It’s great to see you at full video blogging speed again. Keep it up!
I see. What if you are a local blogger who chooses not to do the usual partisan rah-rah route? Why are local blogs presumed only to be about electing candidates? That’s a very limited view of them.
Donna,
I didn’t mean to presume that local blogs were only about electing candidates. I’m interested in helping to elect more and better Democrats, so of course that will be the focus of some postings on my blog.
At a liberal political convention, it should not surprise you that panels on local blogging will focus on the partisan rah-rah stuff.
However, the Take 19 blog wasn’t focused on electing a specific candidate but rather on ensuring that the incumbent was not re-elected.
There are a great many local blogs in a great many localities — I will not apologize for writing about the ones in my niche.
Looking good! Keep the videos coming, it’s the best way to see what’s going on out there.
Just to add some additional perspective, Take19 was all about defining who the real Sue Kelly was. We needed to do that because she had full control of the message as a sitting Congresswoman and people believed that she was a moderate.
With 6 different Dems running and a primary only 7 weeks before the general election in November, it would have been impossible for us to focus on one candidate and do even an adequate job, let alone something that could hope to sway the ultimate outcome.
Thanks for the additional info Michelle.