I won't foolishly overstate this but I believe what we saw as Republicans on the Hill galvanized against the Stimulus package in Congress serves as an indicator of what is happening across the Right blogs just now. It isn't about Right or Left so much as it is about who is in and who is out. I'd be willing to bet at least a small sum that those dynamics are going to continue to drive an increase in activity and interest across the Right blogs, just as they will likely somewhat diminish same on the Left.
I'm not getting all carried away with it. But it's good to see. This from the WaPo today:
The GOP, Atwitter About the Digital Possibilities
Eight years of the Bush presidency created and strengthened the netroots, the liberal blogosphere. The conservative blogosphere, the so-called rightroots, appears poised to benefit the same way from the Obama administration.
But for that energy to galvanize a fully formed political movement -- in the way bloggers, MeetUp and MoveOn helped reinvigorate the Democratic Party -- the GOP must remake itself online and harness grass-roots support.
Such was the overarching theme of Friday's Technology Summit, hosted by the Republican National Committee.
November's election shifted the challenges between Left and Right. Being in power causes rifts and divides as only so much of one's agenda will prevail and complaints that didn't matter previously start to emerge. They already have on the Left. The Left blogs are also going to find out how absolutely draining it can be for a blogger to have to play defense on any given day.
Meanwhile, the Right finds itself with a solid cause, that of loyal opposition, and it isn't as if bloggers don't like a good fight on occasion.
Wizbang's Lorie Byrd weighs in on the WaPo piece here. And many of us who rarely combined are now working behind the scenes on the new grassroots effort being supported by the GOP. You can even join in if you like - see here via Right Wing News.
Meanwhile, Michelle is tracking street demonstrations by the Right. When's the last time you saw that outside of events linked to Iraq?
It may not be the best of times in America politically, or economically. But it isn't the worst of times to be a Right-side blogger given the challenges of the last several years.
bush tax cuts, 2003...
march 03-dow @ 7740
tax cuts enacted late may 03,
feb 04- dow @ 10620.
a 37% increase in less than a year.
Posted by: mark l. | Tuesday, February 17, 2009 at 01:30 PM