Some of you will remember a
diary that I published three or four weeks ago which raised the question about the European role on Daily Kos. To my surprise, many of you welcomed the idea of a specific European extension of DKos to consider events in Europe and how these impacted on the United States and the rest of the world.
I say "to my surprise", but it shouldn't have been. Outside the US, we tend to stereotype US citizens, fairly or not, for their lack of ownership of passports and consequent travel, for their very parochial view of world events and their lack of awareness of other countries. This is certainly not true of Daily Kos subscribers, whose interest in developments outside their own border is shown by your interest in our diaries and the warm reception given to European and world comment on here about events in the United States.
It is a warm but also an open hearted and non-defensive reception to our contribution.
I have not been a "blogger" in the past and I came across to look at American sites because of the Iraq war. I wanted to know what you were all thinking. I quickly found out. I went on my first site, I can't remember which but it was non-partisan, and made my first mild comment about the unfolding of events. Despite the defence of a very nice lass on there, I was immediately jumped on by a Republican. Seemingly oblivious to the support of his own military by a substantial contingent of British troops, he proceeded to berate me as a typical commie European coward who, if he ever felt the inclination to leave the US to visit our foul cess pits, he would have great pleasure in coming over and showing exactly how a true blooded American would knock our yellow teeth down our throats. Welcome to American blogs, I thought! Fortunately, I found DKos almost immediately after that and have continued to be a happy member of your great community here ever since.
As a result of the diary on Europe, I emailed Markos to get his thoughts. His reply was both helpful but also required me to rethink. Basically, his view that he didn't feel any need to go international, and it would detract from the sort of razor sharp focus that has helped Daily Kos achieve its current level of success. He may expand the site to some areas outside of election coverage, but they would deal with domestic issues.
I think anyone who has run a business will understand Markos's view. You don't diversify all over the place and lose the fundamental focus of what makes you a success. Indeed, what attracts many of us Europeans to Daily Kos is the fact that it gives us an insight of a type that we can't find elsewhere deep into the heart of United States issues.
With an openness and generosity that I can only applaud, Markos went on to comment that, whilst he didn't have the time or inclination to become involved with it himself, several spinoff sites have recently been created by a core of kossacks (he quoted Next Hurrah, Liberal Street Fight and Booman Tribune as examples) and he'd be happy to add a blogroll link to such a community effort of the type that I was describing.
Noticing that Boomantribune offered a world section, this led to discussions with Martin over there and he has been very welcoming to the idea of expanding the European side. There are a number of diaries now being produced, like the UK ELection 05 diary that is a joint effort of a number of us on here, Jerome a Paris's diary on the French referendum on the European Constitution and the promise from Gilgamesh of a diary on the Italian Election when Silvio Berlusconi and his withdrawal of Italian troops from Iraq will be put to the test. These will be trailed here on DKos but will find a home for the time being on Boomantribune.
The hope of a number of us, including Martin at Boomantribune, is that this will be the forerunner of a much bigger initiative. For reasons that I will explain, I admit to now having almost a sense of mission about taking this forward, but taking it forward with all of you in the Daily Kos community.
You see, Daily Kos has shown how a well constructed and popular site such as this can enable Europeans to get insights into the thinking of the citizens of your country that is unique. Without DKos, even my love of your country would have left me totally despairing about your attitudes and vision on world affairs. One of the things that you all recognise that the Freepers don't in their illusion of world dominance, however, is that this planet of ours is going to be divided up in the next twenty years between yourselves, Europe and China as the three major economic and military power blocs. This is the future for your children and it has many worrying aspects. If Daily Kos provides all of us outside your borders a portal into the thinking of ordinary US citizens, then we need similar portals for Europe and China.
Who knows, we might soon see a Chinese Daily Kos, Meanwhile, some of us can only work on European aspects. It will fail without your support. Unashamedly I will be asking you at some time in the near future, the US citizens on Daily Kos, to help us make a European "Daily Kos" type site be successful if the new initiative proceeds.
It is a mission because Markos has shown us the way to build a liberal community within a nation. We now need to take it forward combining his vision with something that I hope will not sound too grand but is the motto of the BBC "Nation Shall Speak Peace Unto Nation". The means to achieve this will be the development of a world liberal community.
And so to the first faltering, minor steps of flagging up the first of the European diaries here as they are written and posted on Boomantribune until the new initiative gets under way. The first is the UK Election 05 - Diary 2. I hope that you will regard this and future trailers on here as being our seeking your encouragement and that you will support a much bigger initiative to develop the European forum so that at least two thirds of our future world is helped by having a better understanding of what its liberal minded citizens are thinking. This is will truly then become what Markos describes as a spin off from the community here.
UK ELECTION DIARY
As from today UK ELECTION 05 can be found here on Boomantribune. Please visit us.
The diary that brought you the expression "Dog Whistle Politics" to add to the US political lexicon one week before Markos discovered it on another site when it was already on his own, now reveals why the UK Election is over, finished, a very sad and very dead duck before it has even been announced.
You will not get any insight into why Prince Charles is a "grumpy old sod" and why he refers to a mild mannered, ginger haired BBC reporter as being one of "those bloody people". You will get a lot of other Stuff!
Learn of our Gannon type search for the infamous Conservative blogger...
... and the promises that were never kept.
Learn why this sad little, stitched up fellow...
... that was once the great political party of Disraeli tried to take Flight and came to ground with a big "THUMP!"
Learn how - ONCE AGAIN - Tony Blair and the legality of the Iraq war was removed from the front pages of the political agenda
All this and more, you will find in the Dkos community spin-off over on Boomantribune, just one click away HERE!
BIG REQUEST: Please recommend this diary so that all our fellow Kosscks are alerted to the future changes and where they can find their UK Election Diary