I am groggy this morning because I (a Connecticut housewife, mind you!) was invited to attended the official launch of
The Roosevelt Institution at Yale College last night.
The Roosevelt Institution is the nation's first student think tank.
A progressive student think tank.
Think of that!
I was very impressed and left the event optimistic and energized, after listening to speakers that included a video appearance by Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, and husband and wife Stan Greenberg (former Yale prof and presidential advisor) and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and student administrators of the RI.
Actually, my favorite speaker was among the fantastic student speakers - Ted Fertik. He's the Director of Development for the group at Yale. He said, quite modestly, when I approached him after the event to congratulate him on his speech, that what he presented was the work of many people.
I hope they put the speeches up on their website.
Young conservatives and even the professional conservative think tanks in DC better be shaking in their boots over these kids. They've already published one review (got it out in 2 months) and they are hitting Washington congressional offices shortly to hand-deliver copies to every member of Congress.
They started at Stanford and Yale, and there are now 24 chapters at American colleges and universities, with more springing up as we speak.
These kids are young, sharp, intelligent and they are not waiting around for DC professionals to manufacture public policy in focus groups - they are producing it themselves.
Producers, not consumers.
If any of you are college students you should check this group out. If there isn't a chapter on your campus, start one.