Originally, Daily Kos had a specific and tightly focused identity.
It was the leftie political blog with the special niche of the concern, What best brings Democratic electoral victory?
A meta concern with electoral victory was the meat, discussion of policy and political events was the gravy, and Pie was for dessert.
Barack Obama's first diary at Daily Kos was a meaty one. It was very specifically on topic and to the point here at dKos. Armando quickly promoted it to the front page, and explained why:
Sen. Obama's diary addresses in substance an issue that has been a major focus of discussion in our community. Given the source, the topic and the specific thoughts, and the discussion sure to ensue, it is my judgment that promotion was the right thing to do.
Senator Obama's diary was also assertively contrarian to the majority (though very certainly not only) viewpoint of the time. "Barack Obama Talks Back to Daily Kos," it might have been titled.
The majority opinion here was that Democrats should be Democrats. Being watered down Republicans, being frightened of Republicans, is the way to lose.
The Senator addressed the contrarianess in his response diary:
Time didn't permit me to respond immediately, but I personally read most of them - positive and negative - and found them thoughtful and challenging.
"Challenging" is not an empty politeness.
I would like to stress this strongly: Barack Obama was engaging personally here at Daily Kos, on the issue that at the time was defining of the site. Not, that he was interested in Democratic electoral victory. But that he was interested in the meta of Democratic electoral victory. Barack Obama was a real Kossack.
I sometimes feel like a stranger in my own house here now. The leftie quality is largely gone. The meta concern with electoral victory seems missing.
I would have expected Barack Obama to have moved around the furniture of the concern with the meta of what best brings Democratic electoral victory, and in his direction. Instead, I have trouble even finding it.
Barack Obama has been elected President of the United States. Congress is in the hands of Democrats.
The question remains: What best brings Democratic electoral victory?