MyDD :: Netroots Nation Open Thread

Netroots Nation Open Thread

by Todd Beeton, Sat Jul 19, 2008 at 05:11:47 PM EST

Today has been pretty phenomenal, first with Al Gore's appearance joining Nancy Pelosi during the morning session and then with the lunchtime keynote by Lawrence Lessig. Here are a couple Netroots Nation tidbits:

Lawrence Lessig has called on us all to help him build his Change Congress movement. His presentation was amazing and centered around the distrust we have of congress (9% approval!) due largely to the influence of money in Washington. So the idea here is that both citizens and candidates can take pledges to support reforms whether toward public financing or banning earmaks, etc. So go on over to www.change-congress.org, take the pledge and check out the candidates who've taken the pledges themselves. You can reward good behavior at the Change Congress Act Blue page and be sure to add $.09 to the end of any contribution -- "Just say Nine" -- to remind our elected officials of just how low their approval is.

Bob Barr, who's running for president as the Libertarian Party nominee, has arrived at Netroots Nation. He was attending the RightOnline conference, which is here in Austin as well. He's been walking around, meeting people and speaking openly with anyone who'd like to speak to him. It's a strange thing because here's the guy who led the impeachment of Bill Clinton but he's very strong on civil liberties, especially FISA and he may ultimately help elect Barack Obama by pulling key votes away from John McCain in certain key states. Sometime guerilla journalist dday confronted Barr and asked him if he thinks the impeachment of Bill Clinton served as a deterrent to runaway executive power. Barr laughed and said "no, of course not." Barr is now down in the main hall attending a panel on "The races we're not watching."

I'll be heading over to the Alternet Book Party featuring Jim Hightower at 5pm, so if you're there, please say hey. The party will be at Black & Tan (405 E. 7th St @ Trinity.)

What else is everyone seeing here in Austin? And if you're not here, what are you reading about? What else is going on?

Update [2008-7-19 17:53:31 by Todd Beeton]:Link to dday's interview with Bobb Barr is HERE.

Tags: netroots nation, open thread, bob barr, lawrence lessig (all tags)

Permalink :: 10 Comments :: Post a Comment

Re: Netroots Nation Open Thread (none / 0)

Hey, very embarrassing request here, but I'm a new blogger, created my account 2 hours ago, AND I CAN'T FIND A LINK OR BUTTON TO POST MY FIRST DIARY AND I'M BURNING TO DO SO!!!! Sorry to invade the comments section, but would appreciate some help, especially a link. Yes, I'm logged in. Yes, I've cleared cookies, signed on and off, used both Firefox and IE. Yes, I'm looking at the Home Page, the Diaries Page, my account page, my account page Blogs tab, the FAQ's (which has nothing), etc.

I'm no internet neophyte, and it should be easy to find, right? A link or button in the side columns or under my account somewhere?

Help :(

martini drinking atheist

by martini drinking atheist on Sat Jul 19, 2008 at 07:00:28 PM EST

There should be a link on the left side (none / 0)

under 'Menu' is the 'Write New Diary' option. But some sites require users to be registered for a certain amount of time before diaries can be posted, and I'm not sure if this is one of them.

Hope that helps

John McCain

by MILiberal on Sat Jul 19, 2008 at 07:55:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: There should be a link on the left side (none / 0)

Thanks. There's no link under 'Menu.' Perhaps it'll appear after some time. This should at least be in the FAQs for new users.

martini drinking atheist

by martini drinking atheist on Sat Jul 19, 2008 at 08:06:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: There should be a link on the left side (none / 0)

I think they changed the policy when the Obama/Clinton Primary wars got WAY out of hand. There was a nasty bit of civil car on this and other sites.

http://www.imvotingrepublican.com/ McCain Sucks!

by yitbos96bb on Sat Jul 19, 2008 at 08:55:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]

AlanF wrote a great diary on canvassing (none / 0)

I invited him to cross-post at Bleeding Heartland:

http://www.bleedingheartland.com/showDia ry.do?diaryId=1708

Every volunteer should read this diary.

If you're a state blogger, you should invite AlanF to cross-post at your joint, or at least link to the piece.

John McCain: 100 years in Iraq "would be fine with me."

by desmoinesdem on Sat Jul 19, 2008 at 08:39:44 PM EST

there's just 1 probelm with that 9% number (none / 0)

The only poll I know that could reference that number is the RA poll and that poll is very misleading as it went from 3 clear options to 4 with one being very murky.

Thus it's not exactly right to declare congress only has a 9% approval.

-7.33, -3.35 The song that best describes life

by drache on Sat Jul 19, 2008 at 08:49:20 PM EST

Re: Netroots Nation Open Thread (none / 0)

I have to give Bob Barr credit... given the definately progressive majority of the conference, I give him props for showing up. A lot of his politics suck (although I agree with a lot of his Civil Liberties stances) but he gets credit.

http://www.imvotingrepublican.com/ McCain Sucks!

by yitbos96bb on Sat Jul 19, 2008 at 08:56:58 PM EST

Re: Netroots Nation Open Thread (none / 0)

I will wait until all you folks return.
Will there be an after effect?
Will there be a more intense resolve?

A little Saturday night music...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B72FAq9jR -4

See ya all in Denver...then on to MN

"harlequin speech of suicide, demanding instantaneous lobotomy"

by nogo postal on Sun Jul 20, 2008 at 12:11:03 AM EST

Time for a reality check on Bob Barr (none / 0)

His campaign to tie up Bill Clinton and damage the Democratic Party with a bogus impeachment hearing should keep him on the Dem Party enemies list for a very long time. It not only allowed the news media and GOP to distract the public from the policy successes of Clinton and the Dem Party during the 90's, it made it easier to undo them.

Some have speculated that Barr's assistance to Lott, Gingrich and the rest of the GOP's distract Clinton foreshadowed the undoing of his efforts to track terrorism and prevent attacks on the US. They were successful to a degree, turning back recommendations of Hart Rudman and others but they had to wait until Bush took office to finish the job.

Many Obama supporters are too young to recall the impeachment hearings and the political struggles going on at the time. Barr's attempts to re-invent himself should be viewed with the skepticism it deserves. His sad history in attempting to impeach Clinton while terrorism threats against the US escalated is worth researching to learn how to avoid falling for their tricks again. We should never trust the likes of him again.

http://archive.salon.com/politics/featur e/2001/09/12/bush/

by Betsy McCall on Sun Jul 20, 2008 at 10:27:53 AM EST

Re: Netroots Nation Open Thread (none / 0)

Just wondering...
Was their any Union representation?
Point of Information regarding the CWA

"CWA's bargaining team opened negotiations with Qwest Communications in Denver on July 8 for a new agreement covering more than 20,000 workers in 13 states. The current contract expires Aug. 16."

Friends I have in the CWA say they are prepared to strike after 8/16 if a contract is not reached..... which would effect both Conventions as Qwest is the power both here in Denver and in MN.

"harlequin speech of suicide, demanding instantaneous lobotomy"

by nogo postal on Sun Jul 20, 2008 at 01:13:12 PM EST

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