I am finally back from Netroots Nation and finished with the backlog of stuff piled up on my desk. My first thought as I turn back to blogging: Lord Almighty! How will I ever find the words to thank Gina Cooper for all that she did?!?!
And then I came up with a solution: the readers of this website are going to do it for me.
As you all know, after establishing and executively directing YearlyKos and Netroots Nation from birth through its three years of infancy, Gina Cooper has passed on the reins to the next generation of netrooots leadership (TBD).
So, here we go: this entire thread is dedicated, purpose built, specifically for, focused on, and ready to accept your heartfelt "Thank You!!" to Gina Cooper for all she gave of herself over these past years so that a ragtag group of idealists with laptops could get out of their chairs, fly across the country, and quietly, but steadily, turn themselves into a living, breathing, political movement.
Here we go...
First of all, a special salute from a special someone. Not normally short of words, the next President comes to this diary via BIPM's wrist. Obama's thoughts:
"Gina! (click, click) You are the best! You embody the spirit of change that's moving this country forward.(click, click) From the bottom (click, click) of my heart (click, click) to the ticking of my second hand: (click) Thank you for all you did (click, click) to make YearlyKos (click, click) and Netroots Nation (click, click) a reality!"
Talk about creative use of new media! What a guy.
Another "Thank You" just came across my desk from another Netroots Nation VIP whose last name begins with "O." Bill O says:
"So Gina Cooper founded and ran the biggest most exciting progressive political event of recent memory. So what. Big deal. I sell more golf balls with The Factor logo than Gina Cooper could eat in a lifetime. And I give 5% to charity."
OK, so not exactly warm wishes, but...at least he wrote. It's a start.
Moving right along...these well wishes come from a netroots favorite:
"Congratulations and 'Thank You!' to my dear friend, Gina Cooper. The event you created gave hope and opportunity to thousands of activists and leaders, and created a new forum for America's progressive ideas.
Are we schvitzing or what?"
Yes, indeed. A bit steamy in Austin, but we all thrived nonetheless.
These warm wishes arrived via iPhone: a greeting from Prof. Lawrence Lessig, who presented for the first time this year and asks that we each read his message in the 'Fred' voice from that Mac text-to-speech program:
"<Thank You>Gina. Your vision and success (success) have changed what many people thought was possible (possible). Netroots Nation embodies the ideal of open source democracy (democracy), and you set a new standard for citizen-activists who want to give a 'second life' to American government by taking their future into their own hands (own hands). Thank you, Gina! </Thank You>".
Ah, nerd humor ('Second life' to American government...). I love it. Nice guy, nice sentiment, nice turtleneck.
And finally, this thank you in from the White House. A note from our First Lady:
"Gina Cooper embodies the kind of spirit that America needs and I thank her for her service, her dedication and for bringing Netroots Nation to the great state of Texas where I used to live and that I will think of fondly after George and I escape the country and I'm working as a substitute teacher in Uruguay."
Very nice note from the First Lady, although I would advise her to check her teacher certification before hopping on the plane.
OK, here's one last 'celeb' thank you from the White House offices that I feel compelled to give, even though there's no actual note in my in box. A warm note from the Sith America loves to hate, Vice President Dick Cheney:
"Indeed, young Cooper, you have become more powerful than we had imagined. More powerful even than the Emperor himself...er...I mean than President Bush. America says, 'Thank you, Gina Cooper,' but there is something they did not tell you. Gina: I, am, your fa--">
Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's enough out of you, Mr. Lord of whatever. Always with the heavy drama when a simple 'Thank You!' would do just fine.
But.
Wait.
There's.
More...
IT'S FROM ALL OF US HERE ON DAILYKOS:
Gina--as you move on to bigger and better things, We want you to remember this: you'll always be User ID #831 to us and you'll always have a place in the diaries. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for all that you accomplished over the past four years. What you did through YearlyKos and Netroots Nation goes far beyond three awesome conventions in three cities in three years. You gave every one of us a chance to grow our friendships and our movement, to step out of our homes and our habits into the bright light of a thriving political movement. Seeing the smiles on people's faces this past week in Austin was testimony to the far reaching value of your vision. We are nowhere near finished with the work of righting the swamped ship that is the U.S. government. But because of you, all of us know for certain that we will never again be working alone. You are our inspiration, our friend, our family.
Thank you, Gina Cooper!!
Give it for Gina! Now, get busy filling this thread...
Update [2008-7-22 14:24:34 by Jeffrey Feldman]:
This just in from an old friend:
"With you, Gina Cooper, the force is strong. Great thanks, you shall receive. But to truly know the power of Netroots Nation is to understand that the force is around us at all times: The force is with Raven, with Nolan, with Mary, with Marna, with Karen, with Josh, with Pontificator, with Adam, with Nathaniel, with Eric--and with so many more. Through them, all things great and small are accomplished. Things in the past, things in the present, and things in the future. Ye-e-es, young Jedi: the future!"
Well said, my little green friend. Well said...