Ben Franklin on UPenn campus via TheBigDurian.

For those who have been patiently waiting, the video has been uploaded for the panel discussion that I participated in a couple of weeks ago at UPenn Law School in Philadelphia.   

The panel discussion was sponsored by the Philly chapter of the American Constitution Society, hosted by Adam Bonin, and including John Aravosis, Baratunde Thurston and Daniel Urevick-Ackelsberg. It was a discussion about blogging, citizen activism and accountability:

The blogosphere began during the early months of the Bush Administration with opposition and criticism being the dominant modes for online progressives. With a new administration in the White House, how will the role of the netroots change? How do leaders of online opinion see their responsibilities with respect to the new President?

It was a pretty lively back and forth, we got some great audience questions, too.  I know several of you have asked if the video was available yet. Well now, it finally is…

Queso via AustinTX.

Although writing the latest Perle smackdown still leaves me with the urge for a good, stiff bourbon and a nice, long rubdown — is that so wrong? — I have to say this: 

Spencer’s right.  Mockery is better.

My bad. 

– Attaturk made me spew my coffee this morning. Bastard. And John Cole followed up with marketing advice for morans. Be sure to watch the Daily Show video at the end.

– Digby has a problem with moles.

– Hilzoy schools the WaPo. Priceless.

– The CIA trying to stifle whistleblowers? Say it isn’t so. Speaking of which, how about we try protecting whistleblowers properly?

– "Kabuki Theatre."  Best descriptive nutshell ever of the whole of Republican leadership, rank and file lunacy and wingnutty gooberism.  All rolled up in a tidy package of "I know you are, but what am I" with sprinkles on top.  Lots and lots of sprinkles.  Some with extra lardy goodness.  Did I mention the extra lardy goodness?

– Damn you, Thers.  You’ve ruined kool-aid for me. 

(more…)

Making me giggle: Sadly, No! pwns Donald Luskin. Put down all liquids before reading. Thers. He funny. Just go read Wolcott. bwahaha. Here, too. You’ll thank me later.John Cole. Smackdown. And another. Like shooting goobers in a barrel….

I’ve always thought of change in politics as a sort ripple effect: each of us takes a step toward making a change, and that ripples out to others taking the same steps. Suddenly, you have a wave and enough momentum to crash into the static and hopefully force a change of course.