We've seen this blogging phenomenon spring up in the past few years, growing exponentially and becoming a powerful medium - we were crucial in the Trent Lott takedown, the right-wing blogosphere did much to hasten the punishment of the NY Times recently, Kos has created the epatriots, MoveOn directed $4.1 million in contributions in 2002, etc.
This, of course, is the natural continuation of the blog "movement" which is, at its heart, a cry from politically concerned citizens fed up with their own impotence and the utter incompetence of our media and power structures. First we were content to just get our ideas out into the 'sphere, hopefully we'd influence somebody, now we're trying to affect the actual structure. And we can.
This is the crucial moment for the progressive internet movement, this is the moment where we either become a key constituency to be respected and placated by those we will vote for and support, or we are relegated to blogger and our own subgroups of readers, our writings devoid of larger relevance.
Which brings me to the MoveOn primary. MoveOn is the most powerful and effective part of the progressive internet movement, with over 1.5 million active members (both in a grassroots and monetary sense), they are our flagship organization, so to speak. Now they're deciding which candidate to endorse and throw their very substantial money and numbers behind. This endorsement will likely make the difference for whomever it goes to, immediately catapulting whoever gets it up a tier and ahead of their opponents. The effects of that endorsement, the push it will give its recipient, has the potential to instantaneously make this internet group, and by association the online progressive movement, a powerful, make or break constituency. In effect, gaining MoveOn will give one candidate access to the heart and soul of the progressive movement - and from that point on, our work for that person will give us unheard of power to shape the future of the Democratic Party.
This is our moment, I cannot emphasize this enough. You must go register with MoveOn and make your voice heard. I don't care who you vote for, this is not a partisan thing - I just care that you vote and make our rhetoric and fervor a real, tangible, shining prize that will have to be won in ever coming election. Make a choice and give us a candidate we can support, that we can carry to victory. Make grassroots support important again, take back this democracy from the top down media manipulation we are all subjected to and frustrated by. Give us the power again.
If you're a blogger, I want you to direct your readership to register. If you're a reader, I want you to register and tell your friends. Either our rhetoric about democracy and the future of this country is real and we are willing to work in service of our ideals, or it's a load of shit and we should stop spitting it. I don't believe that we are hypocrites or lazy, I believe that we can make this happen and I believe that we will make this happen, for all of our sakes.
Go to it. Register. Make it happen. This is the Internet Primary and it is our moment, all of our talk means nothing if we do not seize it.