Today's edition of
Roll Call (reg. req.) fronts columnist Donna Brazile as she (grudgingly?) acknowledges the blogtrain whistle:
Like most Democratic insiders, I have a love-hate relationship with bloggers and the "net-roots" community. At times, I am irritated by many of their strident, arrogant, self-righteous comments and their disapproving attitudes about us old dinosaurs. But after they helped score an impressive primary victory this summer in the Connecticut Senate Democratic primary between incumbent Sen. Joe Lieberman and unknown businessman Ned Lamont, they clearly have earned a seat at the table -- even if it's just a folding chair.
Let's pull up that folding chair and hear what Pres. Clinton's former advisor
has to say about the blog-politic:
I never knew Lieberman was in any political trouble until I began picking up bits and pieces of information from sites such as DailyKos. Markos Moulitsas Zúniga, its founder, whom I consider to be both intelligent and extremely talented, began posting endlessly about this Ned Lamont character.
First, I thought Moulitsas was just trying to pick a fight with us "Beltway insiders" to make a point. But after watching him, together with other progressive bloggers, recruit volunteers, raise more than a quarter-million dollars and topple a long-standing pillar of the Democratic Party through net-roots activism, I believe they deserve a seat at the table.
Now that we've got our grubby little elbows on the tablecloth, can we order anything on the menu from the Old Dinosaurs? The Foggy Bottom insider says, well, yes:
There is an entire generation knocking at democracy's door, and instead of sneaking fearful glances through the peephole, we should fling it wide open and welcome everyone inside. We, Democrats, are the party of inclusion, and it's time that we prove it.
Alright then. I'll have fries with that.