Table for One

The outrage about Fox News hosting a Democratic debate has made front page here a few times lately.  Well, here's a question for you.....what candidates would be willing, to make an appearance at YearlyKOS?  Hillary?  Obama?  Kucinich?  This site, in recent weeks, has become a radio active dumping ground.  More ranting below....

What are the numbers here now?  120,000--125,000.  Well, if it was graphed, I believe we'd see a direct correlation between the rise in numbers and the decline of intellectual conversation.  Talk about Fox News---if it's not sensationalism, it's not on the recommended list.  

What's more, if you were an elected official and you or your staff were watching what was happening here, the message back has to be---stay clear.  They can't be associated with this crap.  In order to when elections, the candidates have to stay a little more mainstream than many here would like.  Well, you know what?  THEY want to win elections.  That premise seems to have vanished here and it's really disappointing.  

I'm local; I was really looking forward to YEARLYKOS and the prospect that we'd get some of the players to show and really talk about their agenda, getting us involved, etc.  It ain't happenin'.  Just like Fox News, it will be status non gratus.  

I don't want a table for one---I want everyone at the table and then let the best man or woman win it.  Are all of you still in it for the right reasons?  Remember what this site is SUPPOSED to be about before you post some sensationalist piece just to get a few 4's thrown your way.   Being a TU here, won't get you far in the world.

•  I'm ready

  hit me with your best shot.

  by bluestateonian on Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 07:11:18 PM PDT

•  You can expect much condemnation for Biden,

  Clinton, Obama, and others when they decide that they'll be washing their hair that night.

  Well, Biden won't but you get my drift.

  by Geekesque on Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 07:15:03 PM PDT

  •  The other issue

    is that many of the great writers and commenter's from this site have left the building.

    by bluestateonian on Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 07:21:28 PM PDT

    •  Turnover happens. You won't post here forever.

      I certainly won't.

      by Geekesque on Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 07:23:20 PM PDT

•  Two things

  First, last year the YearlyKos attendees were rolled out sequentially...in a building process that simply amplified the excitement.  

  Secondly, as the founding member of Flying Solo, I'm offended that a "Table for One" is a problem....<semi-snark>

  Just sayin'.

  by mem from somerville on Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 07:25:44 PM PDT

  •  I think you're missing the point

    while it could have been a great venue for candidates to come speak--they wouldn't touch it.  What, and have the right associate them with Jesus' c$%( et al.  Don't think so.

    by bluestateonian on Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 07:29:15 PM PDT

    •  They showed up last year.

      And they'll show up again.

      I'm older and I have more insurance, honey.... In other words, I have a credit card for donations and I know how to use it.  They know that.  They want my money and my time.

      I get pretty tired of the calls for civility.  You know, if I wanted to go to a god-damned dinner party I would.  But I don't like dinner parties because they are tedious and superficial. In fact, I have spent most of my adult life avoiding that crap.

      Peggy Noonan called Howard Dean "unhinged".  I prefer to be among the unhinged.  In fact, I'll pay good money to do so.  

      And they'll show.

      by mem from somerville on Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 07:38:05 PM PDT

      •  Dillusional

        you won't see any of the top contenders appear at YearlyKOS...that you can bet your credit card on.

        And, don't call me honey....I have better taste than that.

        by bluestateonian on Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 07:40:50 PM PDT

        •  Honey....

          it is a pop culture reference, sorry if you aren't playing along:

          http://www.imdb.com/...
          [Evelyn is cut off in a parking lot]
          Evelyn Couch: Hey! I was waiting for that spot!
          Girl #1: Face it, lady, we're younger and faster!
          [Evelyn rear-ends the other car six times]
          Girl #1: What are you doing?
          Girl #2: Are you crazy?
          Evelyn Couch: Face it, girls, I'm older and I have more insurance.

          And I will bet my credit card on that.  In fact, I already have.  Meet me in Chicago in a few months.  I'll see you outside....

          Lighten up, cupcake.  Or better yet, toughen up.

          by mem from somerville on Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 07:52:35 PM PDT

          •  OK

            needledick ;)

            by bluestateonian on Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 07:57:47 PM PDT

            •  If I had a dick

              maybe that would hurt. ;)

              by mem from somerville on Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 07:59:25 PM PDT

        •  Oh, and dill...

          is a lovely herb.

          by mem from somerville on Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 07:58:19 PM PDT

        •  Hillary wouldn't have come anyway

          It's not her scene. Obama? Maybe. Edwards, Richardson...good chance they'll show. Biden and Dodd might just be willing to go anywhere. Kucinich? maybe.

          As for the notion that everyone's going to bail because of one over-the-top diary on April Fools day, you are taking the site way too seriously. I don't think anyone outside this site even noticed Cenk's diary...the story was all about Donohue getting the chocolate Jesus removed.

          And as for offensiveness in general...this is funadmentally a problem of too many people on the site for self-moderation, since the views represented are so diverse (on the other hand, we had real crazies here after the 2004 election--every other diary was about how the election had been "stolen"). It's also a problem that reality is so outrageous that it drives some people right over the edge. Overall, though, "offensive" diaries are a minute part of what goes on here, and the sheer numbers of people participating is the big reason why candidates are interested in us. Table for one? Hardly. More like SRO.

          by Alice in Florida on Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 08:04:39 PM PDT

          •  Hmmm...

            that reminds me, Richardson was there, wasn't he.  

            by mem from somerville on Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 08:06:07 PM PDT

•  The table I want to sit at

  the one where thoughtful, intellectual, respectful dialog takes place, isn't here on this diary so far. Does it come later?

  What subjects would you suggest for dialog?

  by relentless on Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 07:30:48 PM PDT

  •  move along

    the remedial session has already ended.

    by bluestateonian on Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 07:32:14 PM PDT

•  It's all cyclical

  Since I've been here, there's been some kind of controversy every so often. The Blogroll purge, Hunter, Armando, troll wars, MSOC, etc.

  Yet, every week there are still great diaries from bonddad, Jerome A Paris, nyceve and many others who are speaking from experience and a background that makes coming here worthwhile.

  Of course, as this site grows bigger many will wistfully reminisce about the "good old days" when this blog was more pure and the posters were more thoughtful. The whole "_ sold out, so it's not as good" argument was the same ones that the kids with green hair made about The Cure when the rest of us started listening to their music. It's the same argument that others have made of rappers who branch out to acting. And any "real" Peter Jackson fan will tell you his best work was pre-Lord of the Rings.

  So while everything seems better when only a privileged few are enjoying it, I don't agree that popularity necessarily equals lower quality. All you have to do is look at the number of politicians and political thinkers who come here to post. If they didn't think that there were enough activists and voters to benefit their cause, they wouldn't be diarying here (or sending their staff to post something, whatever the case may be).

  by blueintheface on Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 07:42:09 PM PDT

  •  I guess time

    will be the overall decider of that.

    by bluestateonian on Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 07:45:14 PM PDT

    •  Not necessarily,

      Wes Clark had a recommended diary yesterday, so did Eric Matta the day before. David Sirota often has diaries on the rec list, so does Michael Schiavo, as do Louise Slaughter, John Conyers and many other elected officials.

      And those who have already pointed out that election campaigns will be heating up are right. Politicians and activists know that this site has money and voters, and they'll be here to speak to both.

      by blueintheface on Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 07:57:49 PM PDT

•  If we host it, they will come. There was wild-ass

  controversy and maddog posters last year too. But when thousands of Kossacks turn up in Chicago to look at candidates' legs, they're gonna show 'em.

  They damn sure don't want to ignore or offend us. Dealing with bloggers, with all that entails, is part of campaigning now.

  by perro amarillo on Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 07:47:51 PM PDT

  •  And what big names

    were there?  What prospective Presidential candidates were there?  Hell, a company I do business with just had Bill Clinton speak---he wasn't even there.  

    Watch, my friend, just watch.

    by bluestateonian on Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 07:54:24 PM PDT

    •  Huh...

      I seem to remember...wait...was it chocolate at the fountain....

      Hmmm....Warn...Warn...Warner....Oh, Mark Warner, that's right.

      Wes....Wes....Wes...somethin'.....Oh, yeah, that's right, Wes Clark.  Big bash.  Fun.

      Boxer?
      Reid?
      Dean?

      Um, yeah, I think so....But, you are right.  Small potatoes in the party.  What am I thinkin'....

      by mem from somerville on Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 07:57:17 PM PDT

      •  Hhhmmm

        don't think anyone on that list has announced.

        by bluestateonian on Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 08:07:53 PM PDT

        •  As I mentioned in my first comment...

          they didn't roll out all the big names at first.  The excitement built over time.

          Sorry you missed that, despite a reply to it.

          by mem from somerville on Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 08:11:40 PM PDT

    •  Last year was the first one

      And we all know how everyone hates to be first to try something new.

      by Alice in Florida on Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 08:07:19 PM PDT

    •  WWell, if we pay Big Dog a hundred K, he will be.

      by perro amarillo on Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 08:54:20 PM PDT

•  my interests

  are to see the dialogue grow.  realistically, given the turnover and purposes of the site (to see Democrats elected ) it will rise and fall, peaks and valleys accoding to the election cycle.

  If it wasn't for Bush's stubborness and the oil/military corporations pushing their hegemony in a desperate bid to rule the world....we wouldn't have that many critical issues on here to talk about.

  But there are white hot serious problems out there and it is up to us to frame and manage the discourse.

  Yearly Kos may have some terrific workshops...translating them into effective action, that's another discussion, and a long one too.

  by Pete Rock on Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 07:48:14 PM PDT

•  Um... what are you talking about?

  http://www.yearlykosconvention.org/...

  Do you think we'd have thrown that out there if no one was coming?

  Over the past several election cycles politicians have gotten increasingly more involved with DailyKos, not less.  Just a few weeks ago Chuck Schumer came online to make a personal appeal for help with senate candidate recruitment.

  Seriously you might want to check your facts a little before posting something like this.

  by terminal3 on Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 10:44:37 PM PDT