Still on panel #2.
There’s a lot of discussion about the civil discourse angle and blogs with and without comments. The time constraints, the potential liability, and the profanity are a big constraint. But I think most of us agree that comments help gauge the readers’ interests and personalities.
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Discussion now is focused on how the influence of bloggers with politicians and if any of them “get” the new media landscape or not. (One who does, is US Rep. Jack Kingston who has posted this Foley-related letter to Nancy Pelosi from his blog on Thursday.)
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We are back to talking about blogging locally. Mary Katharine Ham rightly points out that conservatives need to watch out that we don’t concede those local issues to the Left. I agree. I’ve been wanting to blog about Charlotte and NC issues, I just haven’t found the time or the right issue yet I guess.
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Now the discussion: how have bloggers (esp. on the conservative side) gotten involved in political activism. The consensus is the Lefty bloggers are better. But as Mary Katharine points out, we are still winning general elections even with the bluster on the Left bloggers about their “impact.”
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The last topic was how the McCain-Feingold and FCC regs will affect bloggers. The room broke out into applause when someone said “let’s repeal McCain-Feingold!” I have to wholeheartedly agree.
Interestingly, during panel #1 when the influence of bloggers on the 2008 election was the topic — Bob Owens, The Confederate Yankee, said “McCain has killed himself” with the right-leaning blog community.
As I have repeatedly said under my breath…. I work my hands to the stump to make sure McCain does NOT get the GOP nomination.
Rudy…. Rudy….Rudy!
Okay, off to lunch! Then picking up Saxby for the drive to Richmond, VA.
-Bruce (GayPatriot)
Rudy would be a good President…
And speaking of New Yorkers, did anyone see Eliot Spitzer’s address to the Empire State Pride Agenda last night? In regard to the legalization of gay marriage, he said unequivocally, “We will make it law in New York.”
He went on to say, “We will not ask whether this proposition of legalizing same-sex marriage is popular or unpopular; we will not ask if it’s hard or easy; we will simply ask if it’s right or wrong. I think we know in this room what the answer to that question is.”
I Love NY.
Spitzer rocks.
can you say president pelosi???
Anon-
Can you say delusional?
#2 “We will not ask whether this proposition of legalizing same-sex marriage is popular or unpopular; we will not ask if it’s hard or easy; we will simply ask if it’s right or wrong.”
Wow, I did not realize this prominent a candidate was saying that. Mr. Thirty is correct when he says many Democratic leaders are not publicly commited, though it is a very long stretch to compare it to the GOP stance, which more universally oppose any gay-friendly move, be it ENDA, civil unions, marriage, DP benefits…..and so on.
Back to NY, aftter seeing this I read Spitzer is leading 3-1, and analysis on the gaymarriage issue is that he will propose it and likely get the lower house while the GOP in the upper house will move to block it. Yee-haw!
bruce, don’t let the bus run you over.
Sydney,
Spitzer may get a majority in the Senate. The Democrats need to pick up 4 seats to gain the majority in the NY State Senate. From what I have read, the Democratic candidate (a gay man, no less) has a decent shot of picking up an open seat on Staten Island and there is also a competitive district in the last remaining Republican held seat on Long Island.
The Long Island seat is significant because, for many years, Long Island was the base of the Republican political machine in NY state. The Republicans used to dominate politics on Long Island. But those days are now gone.
The loss of Long Island is one of the primary factors why Republicans are no longer competitive in statewide races in New York anymore.
And so, since Spitzer and Clinton are expected to win by margins in the 25-35% range, there might be a chance the Democrats could pick up the nessecary senate seats because of the top of the ticket’s strength.
Also, recent polling shows a slight majority of New Yorkers statewide support gay marriage, which is a direct contrast to the rest of the country. Recent polling in New Jersey also gives a majority to gay marriage supporters.
Bruce,
It was awesome to have a chance to meet you. You’ve been on my blogroll for a very long time, and it was great to be able to put a face to a blogger I’ve long respected. I’m sorry I didn’t get more of a chance to talk to you.
Bruce, I was hoping to get to say goodbye to you yesterday, but through all the after-luncheon mingling, I missed seeing you leave! Was great to meet you – and find out you are a fellow Charlottean. We conservative Charlotteans have to stick together, you know, since there are so few of us 😉