Blog Power, from John Conyers:

http://www.conyersblog.us/archives/00000402.htm

Blog Power

There is an interesting confluence of events right now that highlight the growing effectiveness of our progressive online efforts. Markos of DailyKos.com and Jerome of MyDD.com just published a book on the growing influence of the netroots in democratic politics. I haven't read it yet, and I understand it includes some pointed criticisms, but what can't be denied is the profound impact blog sites such as theirs have had in 1) covering news ignored elsewhere, 2) reaching out to networks of grassroots activists, and 3) providing valuable analysis of mainstream media coverage.

Today, as Rusty highlights in the previous thread, Jane Hamsher at Firedoglake.com has considered the increased attention on the censure option and has noted a change in the way the press covers the warrantless wiretapping from, it was a "national security matter" to "the President broke the law." If this is as widespread as she suggests, it is a dramatic development. Liberal media and blog sites such as MediaMatters.com, CrooksAndLiars.com and Firedoglake.com provide valuable resources for media monitoring that simply never existed before.

The netroots have come to the fore in Congress as we will soon be considering legislation, HR 1606, to protect the freedom of bloggers to play an unfettered role in online politics. What blogs represent is the democratization of both news and politics. Where we have traditionally relied upon centralized, national infrastructures to coordinate media coverage of political activity, the internet and blogs in particular have empowered anyone with fresh ideas and a will to make a difference.

I will be supporting HR 1606 when it comes to the floor for a vote on Thursday because I have the highest regard for ordinary citizens who love this country enough to become civicly minded. Thanks to the internet and blogs, the communities in which these people may now become active are national in scope.

as more and more people decide the only place to get information is the Internet. In the coming years, I see it as the place where everyone will get everything they need in terms of news and entertainment.

to quash info, and I'm afraid that could happen.

one thing most Americans value is Freedom of Speech ... we may not like what is said; we may vehemently disagree with the opinions others are peddling; but, in the end, we have no freedom if we are not free to float our little boats in the public waterways ...

people who think that writing in the public arena is not "real political work" just don't understand the power that the online community, even in its infancy, already wields ...

Ms. Huffington hit the nail on the head in the following article:

kick it up DU:kick: