Yearly Kos: In Our Own Words

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Friday December 16, 2005 · 9:28 AM PST

2005/12/16 · 09:28

We all know that Daily Kos is much more than your average blog. It's more than a news site. It's a community. A community of inspiring heroes, everyday activists, progressive politicians, brilliant analysts, and thought-provoking philosophers.

And of course, it's a community of arrogant blowhards, shrill extremists, tin foil hatters, DLC apologists, pie throwers, and uber trolls.

Well, we at Yearly Kos want to roll all of that into a fun, interesting, and provocative series of presentations for your pleasure in Las Vegas next June. We want to capture what makes this site so great by bringing the voices of Daily Kos - your voices - to the Las Vegas Stage! And for that, we need your help. Read More

The Wisdom of Crawford

Toastman

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Saturday September 17, 2005 · 10:41 PM PDT

2005/09/17 · 22:41

A few weeks back, I posted a diary about my colleagues who were traveling to Crawford to interview not only Cindy Sheehan's supporters, but her protesters, as well. This adventure was part of an ongoing oral history project, in which we have been collecting stories of activism for an documentary theatre project. More details on that at the end of this diary, if you're interested in that sort of thing.

One of my friends wrote up his experiences in such a beautiful and inspiring way, that I felt I had to share his words with you all. Much of the beginning may be well-known to those of us who followed Cindy's story, but the points he makes later about dialogue and listening are critical, I think, to winning the hearts and minds of this country.

I'll shut up now, and let you read about it below the fold. Read More

I'm not doing anything this weekend.

Toastman

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Thursday September 01, 2005 · 2:01 PM PDT

2005/09/01 · 14:01

I've been reading the news non-stop. I've given money. I've agonized over the dead and the dying. I've wrung my hands at the lack of government response. I've given more money. I keep thinking that there has to be something more I can do to help.

I want to go to New Orleans.

Maybe that's a bad idea. Like all of us, my normal response when something horrible like this happens is to want to help. But then, reason kicks in and I realize that I would only get in the way of the pros who know what they're doing. I'd be like the mediocre swimmer who tries to save a drowning man, only to flounder and need saving himself. Right?

Except this time, the pros don't seem to know what they're doing. All I keep hearing from the victims is, "Where is the help? Where is the food? Where are the buses?" Could I actually be helpful in the disaster zone? Read More

What would you ask Cindy's protestors?

Toastman

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Tuesday August 23, 2005 · 11:14 AM PDT

2005/08/23 · 11:14

I'm working with a group that's doing an oral history project about activism, and what inspires people to become activists. We've mostly been talking to people who traveled to Swing States for the last election, but yesterday one of my colleagues went to the kickoff of the Cindy Doesn't Speak for Me tour, brought to you by the somewhat frightening and suspiciously named Move America Forward. At the rally, he interviewed folks who had felt compelled to come out and show their support for this anti-Cindy movement (in San Francisco, no less!). It was fascinating, to say the least. But, more often than not, he was at a loss for words as to what to ask these people.

Now, he and another colleague are traveling to Crawford to talk to both the Camp Casey folks and their detractors. But we don't know what to ask them! That's where we need your help. Read More

Another Abortion Diary: As a Guy, What's My Role?

Toastman

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Wednesday June 15, 2005 · 1:19 PM PDT

2005/06/15 · 13:19

Yesterday's interesting and thought-provoking diary by just another vet really got me to questioning my role, as a man, in the abortion issue. Not the question of whether or not it should be legal. It should. I'm clear on that. The question I'm pondering is the one raised by JAV:

First of all, since it does take two people to get a woman pregnant, does the man have any say in what happens?

This is a very tough question, and one that I am glad to be discussing. Fortunately, while I have had a couple of scares, I have never faced an unexpected pregnancy. But if I did, what would my responsibilities be? What would my rights as the father be? The more I thought about this, the more I realized that I needed an answer to this, if only for myself.

Since I'm a guy, I'm sure my viewpoint will skew towards the male-o-centric. I'm hoping some of the brilliant female minds of dKos will smack me upside the head (politely, of course) when I get out of line. Read More

A Newbie goes to the CA Dem Convention - Part III

Toastman

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Friday April 22, 2005 · 4:28 PM PDT

2005/04/22 · 16:28

So, here's the final chapter of my fun-filled descent into the madness that was the California Democratic Convention (See Part I and Part II if you missed 'em).

I had a great time writing this, and I appreciate the positive feedback you all have given me. I've lurked here for some time now, so it feels great to have something to say that I feel is worthy of this site. Thanks for listening!

Sunday 9:00 - General Session

Against her better judgment, my long-suffering LA friend whose guest room I'm sullying agrees to get up early on Sunday morning and drive me through downtown traffic to arrive on time. I don't want to miss this session, because it includes some of the stuff I'm most looking forward to. I take care of my need for coffee before I arrive (take that, Starbucks line!) and I'm ready and eager for more democracy. Read More

A Newbie goes to the CA Dem Convention - Part II

Toastman

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday April 20, 2005 · 11:49 AM PDT

2005/04/20 · 11:49

Between the Pope ruckus and the exciting Bolton confirmation hearings, most of you probably missed my diary from yesterday. It's a tale of a young, wide-eyed liberal getting his first glimpse of true democracy in action (or democracy inaction) at the California Democratic Convention. If this interests you, by all means, please read on.

Saturday 8:30 - Coffee Line

I hate Starbucks. Anybody who knows me knows that I will do whatever it takes to avoid buying from the satanic mermaid. And yet, I find myself not only at Starbucks, but actually waiting in line for over twenty minutes to enjoy a $2 small (I still refuse to say `tall') Starbucks coffee. That's what being trapped in a Convention Center in the country's most walking-unfriendly city has reduced me to. It's early, and I'm grumpy. Read More

A Newbie goes to the CA Dem Convention - Part I

Toastman

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Tuesday April 19, 2005 · 11:23 AM PDT

2005/04/19 · 11:23

Is it possible nobody else has covered the CDC? It's my first ever diary, so I expect to be breaking several golden rules in my blind ignorance.

Prologue - Self-Deprecating String of Qualifiers

The following is an account of my trip to LA for the CA Democratic Convention. Now I'm no activist, and I'm not a political junkie. I've never even attended a meetup. I'm just a cynical SF liberal who votes in every election and reads the newspaper most every day. Or does that make me an activist by today's standards? Yet a friend had access to some passes, so I said I would go and be a part of democracy.

I had no idea what to expect. I imagined middle-aged men gladhanding each other and walking off to private meetings. I imagined coiffed women in blazers demanding to see my registration and denying me access to anything interesting. I imagined progressives behind a velvet cordon, waving conflicting signs and chanting incoherent slogans. I imagined myself standing apart, detached and amused. Did I mention I was cynical?

Well, I must have been thinking of the Republican Convention, because that's not what I got. Read More

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