No one reads blogs

Like those journals, blogs are read by, participated in, and authored by people who are opinion makers in their community. Sure, that may be an online community, but it's a community none the less. Community opinion makers are the bread and butter of political persuasion. People do read blogs. People who read blogs tell others what they've read, and others form opinions based on their advice. That's their political impact.

Now, how can they maximize that impact? since 2004 the view of what the "netroots" can do for a campaign has changed. Rather than just viewing the horde of pajama wearing ner-do-wells we call the blogosphere as an online ATM, most now view the blogs as a way to disseminate, and amplify message - particularly to the base. Right now, liberal blogs are in the same position as conservative talk radio was a little more than a decade ago. They're talking to, and with, an "underserved" constituency. That's helping to build connections in that constituency, and helping to literally create new activists. So how do we maximize that impact? First of all, we all have to remember what our common goals are. Are we simply trying to elect a few progressives, or are we trying to build a quorum where even a few progressives might have a voice? If we're simply trying to win a few progresives a seat, running against centrists might be an acceptable strategy - but let me tell you, once they take their seats, they won't have a voice. We need to build the quorum that will give them a voice - even if it means supporting some people with whom we don't completely agree.

How do we maximize our impact? Stop eating our own.
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Drew Tappan
Campaign Director
Shamansky for Congress
Honest Leadership for Central Ohio

if blogs have any readers.