It’s a different world than when we started this project. Whereas it’d be goofy to take all the credit, it would be equally goofy to suggest this community had nothing to do with it. Consider:
- The Douglas/Dubie era is over. We have a Democratic Governor.
- We have firmly established Democratic supermajorities (or at least, non-Republican supermajorities) in both the House and Senate
- We have Progressive Party stalwarts – even Anthony Pollina himself – engaging in the Democratic Party primary process in order to further their agenda – and they are meeting with unqualified success.
- We have a political press corps whose culture is, despite some holdouts, not beholden to what Jim Douglas spoonfed them over the last couple years, as was the case in the Graff era.
- We have seen a decentralization of the Democratic Party Power structure, including dramatically increased levels of transparency and accountabilty, all of which led to a robust, fair primary and – ultimately – victory (okay, we’re gonna have to take a LOT of credit for this one)
- We’ve seen election process reform in the shifting of the primary date and a “sore loser” law.
- We’ve made the Vermont netroots into an institution that provides the trifecta for good candidates as of this year: media coverage, volunteers/activism, and now even contributions.
- We’ve managed to play a key role in defeating some Democrats who were more Republican than most Republicans, and we’ve also help the advancement of some great new faces (such as blogger Philip Baruth).
- Did I mention we have a Democratic Governor? One that has stood up to corporate power (Entergy), stood up for civil rights (marriage equality), and who even stepped out and called for the impeachment of George W. Bush? So much for the fiction that progressive policies are election losers.
A big part of what we’ve done at GMD to make this possible is to create and develop this site as a direct feed for regular, rank and file lefties into the twin arteries of political power: the lawmakers and policy-makers themselves, and the professional media. They all visit this site and what they read has an effect. All of you diarists and commentaters matter, perhaps more than you even realize.
So, in a sense, GMD “Phase 1” could be considered over. A lot of what we set out wanting to change has changed. But the mantra of the blogosphere has always been “more and better Dems,” and it seems appropriate to double up on the “better” part of the equation.
Party is a means to an end, not an end in itself. A more just, ethical and functional state has always been the end – and it will always be a moving target. GMD has never been, as the grousers insist, some kind of partisan mouthpiece. On the contrary, in building the size and influence of the netroots community, we have managed to annoy those in power who consider themselves Democrats far more than we’ve annoyed anyone else – and that’s because we don’t let up, and we don’t expect our leaders to either.
So: in the brave new world, expect GMD Phase 2 to be bigger, louder – and more effective than ever. This is a no-captive-constituency zone. Tomorrow I’ll put up a diary taking that concern head on in the hopes that the new Shumlin administration and newly empowered Democratic majorities will learn to avoid the mistakes the national Democrats made going into the recent election.
Hopefully that’s a lesson that our leaders won’t have to learn the hard way, but if it comes down to it, we’re pretty practiced at the whole “tough love” thing.
If you read this diary in a George Carlin-like voice, it’s really funny. Otherwise, it’s … well … still funny.
Please, add this to your list:
* Peter Shumlin, Leahy and Welch want nothing to do with this site and they were the big winners from a Democratic standpoint on Tuesday.
* The most active candidates on this site (Hoffer, Pritsky, McCarthy, Osman — to whom a GMD-front-pager played key advisor) all lost.
* Your 1,000 Vermonters for Change amounted to a mere 200ish, many of which never sent their promised contributions.
* We heard this same post-election talk in 2008 after your Obama-hope-pilgrimage. How did that work out?
* Here’s what one prominent member of the media told me about why they come here: “It’s kind of like looking at a car wreck on the Interstate. You really don’t want to look but then you do and you totally regret it.”
The problem with GMD in the long run is simple: You’re too threatened by those to your left, too jealous of those in the paid media, too petty with those who disagree, mired in group-think, and much too thin-skinned for the size of the egos.
Other than that, it seems like a fine after-work hobby for you, Odum.
Party is a means to an end, not an end in itself.
Wait for the press release when Todd Pritsky announces his joining a party. No, seriously. Okay, there won’t be a press release, but Todd Pritsky swears 2012 will be a very different run for Todd Pritsky. Paging Letterman:
He posted here. And won.
BARUTHMENTUM!
After Mike and Cindy lost, I wouldn’t be able to take Philip’s…
Oh wait, Boots Wardinski got 1%. I like him. Good friend of Michael’s, right?
I guess I’m still a bit punch drunk, but my point is simple: to diss this blog and the candidates who happen to hang here is pretty silly. And not just because our mutual friend JD Ryan likes prog rock.
It’s always hard for me to continue reading these threads when they devolve into what feels like inner circle, off topic, friends in the club banter. Especially after being chided by making a politically relevant, but slightly off topic post, in another tread. Jack – can you wield our mighty hammer of reply ratings in here?
The original post is a good one, worthy of discussion and reflection. And now after we got through the initial name calling we are down to discussing who owned what album and what if any street cred that brings along?
Sigh. Troll rate away.
I actually don’t find much in the way of defensiveness, other than when directly attacked in a personal way. Most of the comments are short, direct and to the point, and there’s shockingly little trollishness for a site with such strongly opinionated people.
Being a tad more wary of government’s ability to execute than most of the posters here, I am nonetheless very comfortable reading and posting. That’s a big accomplishment.
And if Odum had asked for “200 Vermonters for Change” he would have gotten 40. Sheesh. (Note: I was one of the “1000”)
for lack of trollishness is leadership, fairness & moderate moderation.
I find benevolent dictatorships work well, although I’m unsure if GMD is one.
The ‘gang of six’, those under the masthead (editors?) plus publisher & contributing editors keep things under control.
The trollishness I have noted of those who have come here to express stong disagreements to the stances & positions of the majority of those who post here, seemed to be treated fairly.
I was faulted for a comment but allowed to respond & make the correction.
I had an issue w/moderation, it was answered quickly, reasonably, thoughtfully & appropriately.
Will this last? Who knows. I hope so.
are inevitable.
Interjecting an off topic comment in the midst of a discussion would not be appropriate, the rest is up to moderater.
Sometimes after the original topic has been exhausted, it just sort of happens.
No one needs to participate if & when this happens, however it would appear that returning to the topic is always an option.