Though I am saddened at the departure of Billmon from the blogging scene and Theoria from Dailykos, I don't think the blogosphere has lost its independence of thought or expression due to being bought off by advertisers (as Billmon seems to think) and I don't think Dailykos has enough groupthink to be worried about (as discussed in the threads about Theoria's departure). I think what has really happened is that Billmon and Theoria are both burned out and need rest (Yes I know Billmon took a lengthy vacation of sorts but evidently it wasn't long enough) and encouragement.
Conversely, I think the right side of the blogosphere, as represented by freepers and lgf'ers among others, is generally in lockstep with the Bush administration and the Rush Limbaughs of the world. Meaningful dissent is summarily deleted and/or excoriated and poorly hidden ties to the GOP power structure often show like a slip hanging six inches or so below the hem of their collective dress. Examples include Jerome Corsi (the shameless bigot co-author of John "I was Nixon's patsy" O'Neill) and that Atlanta lawyer (McDougald?) who posted the comments about fonts and such a mere four hours after the memos appeared on CBS. (Do you really believe an Atlanta lawyer could independently acquire enough knowledge in four hours to make such comments? I for one do not.) When the media mentions "the power of the blogs" these days at least nine out of ten comments refer to how McDougald's posts about the memos influenced the major media discussion. (And speaking of the latter, it is no accident that Roger Ailes and Rupert Murdoch and others of their ilk make sure the rightwing echochamber gets more play than it qualitatively merits.)
We on the left have neither the lockstep mentality of the right nor poorly hidden connections to the power structure. The best we seem to have claimed thus far in that respect is that Elizabeth Edwards actually reads kos. Instead of well-heeled partisans who enforce "groupthink" we generally have independent thinkers with dayjobs or other obligations that often limit their blogging time. We generally have scruples, independence and brains in place of groupthink and money. The lack of groupthink was more evident during the primaries though there were more Dean supporters on the left side of the blogosphere than there were of other candidates. What is mistaken for groupthink is, I think, majority think.
I think the reason majoritythink seems like groupthink to many on the left is that more people are now paying attention and participating in blogs like dailykos and that those in the minority opinion used to be the majority but have become outnumbered. The main issue for many if not most of them in the minority was and is the Iraq War and they wanted/want a genuine anti-war candidate. They are understandably disappointed with John Kerry for that reason. Kerry wasn't my first choice for other reasons but he is so much better than Bush, including on the war issue, that I think complaints need to be shelved for the time being.
Evidently, many were offended by the "shut your f'ing piehole" diary that stayed on the recommended diaries list for a long time and felt that it was a slap in the face of their fiercely independent thought. My approach, at least usually, differs. I think we should encourage healthy dissent. Instead of telling the anti-war peeps to shut up I, at least usually, would say that they need to look at how the ground has shifted beneath them and reconsider their priorities in light of the current situation. Yes I did respond differently when I was defending Kerry's war vote (I thought and still think that the threat of force was got Saddam to stop interfering with the inspectors) and felt I was being flamed unnecessarily by anti-war peeps. I think all of us respond differently when we feel we are being attacked than we do when we feel we are having a rational conversation.
The gist of all this is that I think those on the left who think the lefty blogs have either been bought off or are now too groupthinkish need to step back and see the big picture. I think they are looking at the trees instead of the forest. But if they insist on looking at the trees then let them and continue to show them a little love. It's still a free country... for now at least. But if Bush wins I don't think we can guarantee it will stay that way.
Just my 2 cents.