In the coming days, our readership is going to continue to increase. With more and more media coverage, people all over the country will turn to this site with curiosity wanting to know what it's all about. I want to repeat what people have said already - let's NOT let this site turn into "all about Connecticut".
In the last week alone, I've had the opportunity to share my beloved dailykos with two Texas Republican friends. These are folks who a few years ago wouldn't even have tolerated a discussion of politics because we were so different in mindset that it would jeopardize our friendships. Now they're questioning the evangelical hijacking of the Republican party, the poor energy policy, un-Christian approach to social issues, and a war going poorly at best. Even my parents are starting to turn away from the belief that rich people are smarter and harder working than the rest of us and deserve to have good things happen to them. My sister who was a hawk and screamed at me 3 years ago when I criticized the invasion of Iraq is starting to question it herself and was responsive when I suggested last month that she look into some of the Frontline episodes on PBS.org Things ARE changing. I woke up today EXCITED for the first time in a long time about the possibility that we are winning the hearts and minds of people who I never thought we'd have a chance with. Dedicated life-timing voting Republicans are starting to say "wait a minute" and are going to start to look outside of their echo chamber to see what else is out there. And I'm not talking just about the centrists and moderates of the party, either. I'm not at all suggesting we scrub the site clean and don't say things controversial for fear of running them off like scared rabbits, but a broad and continued discussion of all of the issues that affect everyone - the sorts of discussions that have been splashed all over this site on "slow news days" are going to be the most important tools that we have to encourage an open and welcoming dialogue to be established between us and folks out there who are desperate for change. The media's attack of the blogs is ironically going to be our best advertisement, and we need to grab that opportunity and run with it. I'm excited to have been able to share this site with people I NEVER thought would have been receptive to hearing what "folks like us" have to say, and I encourage you all to take that chance - bring it up with people you don't expect to be receptive since you may be VERY surprised.