We the front-page staff cordially invite you to
Yearly Kos. There are a lot of good reasons to go of course. We can meet each other in person; some stellar names will be speaking, including Sen. Harry Reid and Ambassador Joe Wilson. Many of your favorite bloggers will be there. There will be live broadcasts from nationally recognized radio show hosts and name brand celebrities. You'll get expert tips on how to really make your upcoming vote and participation in the midterms count. And it'll be, well how do I say this, a huge rollicking party? And of course last but certainly not least, you can flame Armando in person (See poll below).
But here's the best reason: In Crashing the Gate, Markos and Jerome shed light on something I had almost no inkling of, but which is critical to the future of America. One reason social conservatives and neocons have done so well as of late--despite the very real fact that much of their agenda is repugnant to the average American-- is because they have an enormous infrastructure of think tanks, wonk nurseries, marketing gurus, career paths, and media outlets.
Some call this a vast right-wing conspiracy, but it's not a conspiracy, it's completely above board, it's carried out openly all across the nation. They invest in, nurture, and organize their next generation of talent while supporting their existing staff generously. The analogy used in CtG was to baseball: We see the major league players, but few of us casual baseball fans are fully aware of the vast network of coaches, managers, and players stretching from little league through high school and into the minors.
We progressives are like a new baseball team made from scratch, without the benefit of similar underpinnings or expertise, going up against the Yankees. There is almost nothing in the way of a progressive equivalent to these conservative organizations. At least there wasn't before now.
This may surprise some of you, but just a few years ago I was a defender of the powers that be. What turned me into a nonpartisan Independent was the Blogs. It was you. I long for the day when I can engage in debate over worthy conservative policies with my liberal peers. But that's never going to happen until the current paradigm is altered.
The blogosphere, along with a few brave traditional media operations, have given us just a start, an embryonic movement akin to what other groups enjoy in full flower, but it will not succeed without you. And that's a big part of what Yearly Kos is all about. It's about empowering you, your cause, and your dreams, through citizen politics. It doesn't matter if you once called yourself a Republican or a Democrat. It doesn't matter if you still do. There is room for diversity, in fact we encourage it. Now, for those who simply can't attend, donations are of course most appreciated. Buying the Trollhouse Cookbook or Kosmos: You Are Here helps a lot.
IF you are satisfied with the status quo, be prepared to fight us in the voting booth; if you're not happy with the present state of affairs and feel this nation is on the wrong track, then join us at Yearly Kos! Because all we really want, all we really need, is you. Register HERE.