Okay, I had my fun at the convention, now its time to get back to work. So here's a sampling of what the blogosphere in Florida has been writing about:
The Convention!
Okay, I know. I said it was time to get back to work. I will, but these are too good to pass up.
Matt Stoller - Florida's Silent Revolution
Benjamin Kirby - What I Learned at the Florida Convention
Kenneth Quinnell - FDP Convention and Netroots Conference - My View
Larry Thorson - ("Best Professional Blog" - 2007 Florida Netroots Award) Best line at FDP convention goes to Dan Gelber
And now for something completely different
Praxis asks What the hell is going on in Tallahassee? with regards to Property Taxes. The post is from last week, but it is nonetheless insightful.
Blast Off! ("Best National Blog" - 2007 Florida Netroots Award) - In case you missed it the first time HBO has decided to do a movie called Recount about the Florida 2000 non-election. I don't know about you, but I've relived this enough times already thank-you.
Tampa Bay Blue ("Best Local Blog" - 2007 Florida Netroots Award) - Hillsborough County Need Equal County Representation. Support Charter Amendment!
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Pack a Lunch
The general session on Saturday morning didn't end until about 12:45 with the Netroots Conference set to begin at 1:00 - no time to get something to eat and our sessions run until 6:00!!!
Can You Hear Me Now?
We had a little trouble with the AV equipment at first, which made it very difficult to hear the first half or so of the Florida Progressive Radio interview with Markos Moulitsas Zúniga of Daily Kos. One lady in the back was particularly upset about it and didn't seem to understand that we were doing the best we could until the AV guy could come and fix it.
You can listen to the whole interview at Blog Talk Radio
Assorted Dignitaries
Dan Gelber, Charlie Justice, Dave Aronberg, Karen Thurman and a representative from FairDistrictsFlorida.org all stopped by to say hello.
Netroots Do Their Thing
Ken Quinnell ably moderated the entire event. Curt Johnson stepped up and saved the day numerous times in getting the equipment to work, internet access, loading our presentations --- we pretty much would have been lost without him. I formally nominate him for Netroots MVP.
There were presentations by Ken Quinnell (Florida Progressive Coalition), Gene Smith (Florida Kossacks), Me (Florida Netroots), Brian Franklin (Impact Politics), Ray Seaman (Build Florida's DEC's), Alison Morano (Pasco DEC), Michael Calderin (Candidate for State House 119), and Phil Perry (Florida Democratic Party).
Closing Keynote: Matt Stoller
Matt advises that we "pick a fight" in order to build your community and gain prominence. He used the example of his site OpenLeft joining forces with several other blogs to pressure Chris Dodd (and others) to fight giving retroactive immunity to telecoms.
Soiree and Awards
Food ... finally there's some food! I assume everyone was having a good time ... I was busy eating. As for the Awards, I don't remember the winners in every category - the Florida Progressive Coaltion will have that posted later today (I hope!), but I do want to congratulate everyone!
There were so many great bloggers and activists nominated and it was an honor just being in the same room with all of you.
Special thanks to the Progressive Democrats of America, Democracy for America, Michael Calderin, Brian Franklin and Chris Chiari, and Susan Smith for sponsoring the event.
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The bloggers and activists who make up the Florida Netroots are having their own conference at the Florida Democratic Party Convention on Saturday October 27. Please help us make this event a success by donating via Actblue. Check out our schedule:
1:00-2:00 Live Florida Progressive Radio Show featuring Markos Moulitsas Zúniga of Daily Kos (via phone)
2:00-2:30 Introduction by Phil Perry of the Florida Democratic Party with Opening Keynote by State House Minority Leader Dan Gelber.
2:30-3:20 "Netroots 101" featuring Kenneth Quinnell (Florida Progressive Coalition), Jennifer Killingsworth (Florida Netroots) & Gene Smith (Florida Kossacks)
3:30-4:20 "Netroots Tools" featuring Ray Seaman (Build Florida's DECs) and Brian Franklin (Impact Politics)
4:30-5:20 "Working With the Netroots" featuring Michael Calderin (Calderin for State Representative), Alison Berke Morano (Pasco Democrats) and Phil Perry (Florida Democratic Party)
5:20-5:50 Closing Keynote: Matt Stoller (Open Left)
5:50-6:00 Netroots Awards
6:00-7:00 Soiree with special guest Dennis Kucinich (co-sponsored by Democracy for America & Progressive Democrats of America)
Note that while there are two candidates appearing during this schedule, said appearance does not imply an endorsement of those candidates.
This impressive lineup is not free. If you can help us pay for this, particularly the speakers and the food for the soiree, drop us a few bucks at http://www.actblue.com/page/floridanetroots
Thanks, and I hope to see you there...
Kenneth Quinnell
To everyone involved in making this happen, you have my sincerest thanks!
Update
According to Ken, State Senator Charlie Justice and State Senator Dave Aronberg have also been added to the guest list.
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Once upon a time, not so long ago, a novice political blogger opened up her big fat, um, keyboard and suggested that there be a blogger panel at the Florida Democratic Party Convention.
There must have been some magic in that keyboard that day because all sorts of wonderful things started happening:
- Bloggers were invited to a special luncheon at the Jefferson-Jackson Weekend in June
- Bloggers adopted the Blog Florida Blue Initiative
- Florida Progressive Radio launched and its audience is growing bigger with each broadcast
- The Netroots Coalition, modeled after a constituency caucus, has been added to the Florida Democratic Party structure.
- We're putting pressure on Florida’s Republican Congressional Delegation with the new WatchBlog network.
- Many bloggers around the state are keeping Florida informed with daily postings
AND, not only did the Florida Democratic Party invite bloggers to their 2007 State Convention to be held October 26-28 at Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resort in Lake Buena Vista, FL, but the blogger panel expanded to become three panels: Netroots 101, Netroots Tools, and Working with the Netroots.
Plus, we're going to have really awesome opening and closing keynote speakers!
However, its going to take more than magic. We need your help!
Our goal is to raise $1500 to cover travel expenses for our keynote speakers. Please consider giving a small contribution to bring these speakers down. Their expertise will be invaluable in furthering the Florida Netroots.
Donate via ActBlue
Yesterday, the Florida Democratic Party announced that Matt Stoller from OpenLeft.com will be giving our closing keynote address.
Besides writing at OpenLeft.com, Matt is President of the political action committee BlogPAC and he also consults for the Sunlight Foundation on open government, for ActBlue, and for Working Assets, a progressive phone company. Other past projects of his include the web campaign thereisnocrisis.com to fight against the privatization of Social Security, a radio and blog project called 'The Blogging of the President', and the web campaign enjoythedraft.com. He is the co-author of a report titled 'The Emergence of the Progressive Blogosphere' from the New Politics Institute. In 2003, he worked on the Draft Wesley Clark movement. Stoller began blogging in 2002.
I agree with the FDP that:
Matt’s focus on progressive coalition building, the mechanics of the right-wing, and communications policy is exactly the expertise that will help us to grow the online progressive infrastructure in Florida.
Please help us bring Matt Stoller and another great keynote speaker who will be announced very soon to the Florida Netroots Conference at the state convention:
Donate via ActBlue
Special thanks to all the energetic and passionate people out there who worked so hard to make the magic happen. You turned an idea into a reality.
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