Monday, 12 June, 4:30 AM, and I'm flying over the Gulf Coast, weaving through pockets of turbulence dotting the outermost region of Tropical Storm
Alberto. Looking out the window during our descent, I can make out the quivering wingtips of the jumbo-jet ripping foggy condensation arcs from moisture laden air. It's a little tense when our sleek craft first dives into the angry Florida cloud-tops. The mountainous thunderheads are eerily lit in the predawn hours by a full moon high over head and spectral flashes of lightning far below. It's a bumpy homecoming. Normally, I'd be white-knuckling it. At least until the pilots successfully follow the electronic siren song guiding us through the chaos which would, eventually, lead to a safe touchdown at Orlando International.
But this time, suspended helplessly in the midst of nature's raw power, my focus is inexorably drawn back to the font of human energy I left behind at YearlyKos. It takes considerable will power to keep from reaching for my notebook--the one the flight attendant forced me to stow after several warnings--and finish up some notes for this post. Now at home and upon reflection: When excitement for the future overpowers immediate fear, that's a sign I've been part of something big.
No doubt the critics have been busy tapping away at edit screens to feverishly smear YK. Already I've seen a few pitiful winger assaults, including statements that 'we've sold out.' All I can say is they are clueless if they don't know the difference between 'sold-out,' as in YK sold out well past the one-thousand registrations originally hoped for, and 'selling out,' as in the blogger formerly known as Wonkette is selling out to traditional media.
I had an unusually good vantage from which to observe the difference between sold-out and selling out. Being the more socially awkward member of the front page staff, I found my time better spent mostly out of sight, chatting with the unsung volunteers and running errands for them as needed. And it was there in a beehive of activity labeled skybox 204, which I can only describe as "The Room," where I got to know some so-called ordinary people, who are in fact some of the most extraordinary individuals I've ever had the honor of meeting.
Case in point: Meet Janet (Photo by AndyT). Her son just returned from his first tour in Iraq, he could be deployed again any day. His original enlistment period has been lengthened considerably from what he initially signed up for. Janet isn't a regular here on Daily Kos. Between work, kids, and grand-kids, she barely has time to even read blogs, much less make comments. Janet came to YearlyKos to meet fellow progressives, to support our effort, and to add her amazing energy to YK. Like all the volunteers, she showed up bright and early every morning, cheerfully carrying out the unending tasks demanded during her 16 hour shift. She carried boxes for miles, hunted down staplers, stood behind the registration desk giving out directions and helping attendees get their badges. In short, she worked her fingers to the bone and in doing so, missed attending most of the panels and speakers she paid for.
Yes, paid for. Like each and every foot soldier making up the official volunteer staff at YearlyKos, Janet paid her own way. She covered her registration, the flight from Massachusetts, her room, and any expenses in between. That's a serious commitment for any working class American. Back home, Janet is not a trust fund kid or campaign staffer: She is a waitress.
I picked Janet just as an example. The name could have easily been any of the dozens of nameless, faceless people coming and going from The Room that you probably won't see on TV or hear on the radio (Chinton, Pamela, Linda, Anika, etc., the list is extensive). I could have picked many of you reading this post who could not make it, but donated your time or money anyway.
I'm glad the traditional media was forced to recognize us. It's confirmation of the power of our collective voice. I'm happy the wingnut bloggers are dismayed. But as Markos explained, too often we obsess over what people say about us, when ultimately it means little. We'll keep doing what we're doing whether they praise us or knock us down. Either way, it doesn't matter. The press might prefer to portray us as fringe, or a bunch of techno-geeks. And true, our computer-based media may be cutting edge geeky. But our cause is as old as this nation:
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Back at YK, near the end of the event, I witnessed a genuinely touching illustration of why the convention was a home run. It was because of the spirit and commitment of our community, of the entire progressive blogosphere which now stretches across hundreds of blogs. I was lucky enough to listen as a wonderful, warm lady and YK volunteer by the name of Shanna broke down crying while she was trying to convey to a small room of people just how much it meant to her to be allowed to work like a dog for no pay and little recognition. I hope she didn't feel embarrassed or tongue-tied because of it. Her tears spoke more eloquently of the driving force behind YK than any post I could ever hope to write.
If this is selling out, then I want to be bought.