Markos, Chris Bowers, Jerome Armstrong, and Matt Stoller, and Duncan Black have all left for Vegas. It’s looks like the firedoglake gals are already en route. Kid Oakland called me. He’s on his way. Someone’s got to keep the lights on in the blogosphere. I won’t be able to get outta here until tomorrow evening. So, I won’t be able to attend some of the cool stuff tomorrow morning or afternoon.
It’s weird that all these different blogging communities are coming together exactly a year after the Pie Fight. The exodus of Kossacks to the frog pond was extraordinary. It was the more astonishing because it was a diary that I wrote called, In Defense of Markos, that spawned the exodus. My basic argument was that we all write stupid things from time to time and that we should be cut some slack when we screw up. But, I believe it was the interaction in the thread, where I was schooled on some of the other underlying issues, that led to the migration over here. I’d have to read the comments again to try to figure out how it all happened.
A lot has changed in a year. Daily Kos is now dominated by female voices, while we have lost our female front-pagers (still scouting around for replacements). But, in spite of that, our community has remained remarkably consistent in tone and culture.
And now, we are all coming together again in Vegas. I’m looking forward to the trip for a lot of reasons. I need a break…a vacation of sorts…I want to spend some quality time with a certain special person…I can’t wait to meet Jerome Guillet and Larry Johnson. And there are dozens of members that I am anxious to meet. Then there all the great speakers and presentations. And the parties, the free roller coaster rides, and the craps tables.
Come on boys and gamble, roll those laughing bones,
Seven come eleven, boys Ill take your money home.
It should be a very fun time. And then I’m off to DC for the Take America Back 2006 conference.
I’m stuck at home with my chickens. But, at least, I get to watch the official parts on C-Span. Wish they’d show some of the party action…
A certain special person, huh? Anyone we know?
Well, MSOC has a camera crew in tow. So, there’s a good chance some of the party action will be caught on tape. But that’s all for a documentary, so cutting room floor and all that.
On the latter part…probably…
On the latter part…probably…
Imagine all those tribber heads trying to figure that one out…
Anyway, you are among those I ‘know’ that most deserve quality time with a special person and a vacation.
it’s a pretty poorly guarded secret anyway, so…
DuctapeFatwa perhaps?
[snort]
that would be an affront to Madam Fatwa.
I think I’ve got it figured out.
My first guess was someone who finds raccoons endearing.
my guess involves an animal, but of the winged/flightless variety.
You mean….
could be worse.
It’s almost worth ‘Crashing the Gate’ so-to-speak at the Friday night parties by making a turnaround trip. Someone tell that point-horned devil on my right shoulder to quit whispering sweet-nothings into my ear.
Message to devil: try harder.
You all have a good time out there but get some serious stuff done too. Nov, 06 is starting to loom rather large these days. If everyone out there can figure out how to get the main street Dems off there butts to take a stand, perhaps we can have happy congratulatory conversation following the mid-terms. Sure hope so.
Probably more like A refugee, a person who because of his or her political opinion…who has a reasonable fear of persecution at their home blog. 🙂
I wanted to go but….I don’t like to write what I think others want to hear…that is for high school grammar class.
Damn you, Booman.
Have fun out there. Make the Frog Pond proud!
Oh, the pie fights. Those were good times. A shitstorm over very little…it’s harder to come by those these days.
Wish I could be there but I will be in Fort Worth, Texas for the State Convention.
Booman–
You inspired me to go back and read your diary, and the thread. It seems a very good diary, re-reading it now.
I think, though it was not your intention, that your diary precipitated a crystallization. Precisely because it was thoughtful and reasonable, and because it did provide an openning for everyone to alter course and make up, it made visible what was at stake.
I believe people were greatful to what Markos had created, and were willing to forgive him errors (it wouldn’t have been the first time), but this time, what was happening was seen not as an error, but a consistent pattern, and a pattern that could not be altered or mitigated. Markos himself seemed to be saying he would not if he could. And that was the whole problem right there: Since it is in fact his blog, if he did not wish to change the situation, then it would remain the same. And this, for many, was no longer tenable.
We realized after all, that we were not on the same team, and that some of our key concerns were of no interest and would be disparaged, when not actually betrayed. That was cold water indeed for those bathing in the happy warm illusion of shared goals and common community.
Well, the enemy of my enemy is my friend, so I wish Markos success.
But I wish more success for us.