Launch Day at West Michigan Rising, or The Third Wave of the Blogosphere

by: philgoblue

Fri Apr 18, 2008 at 12:13:01 PM EDT

We invite  you to check out the next wave in progressive blogging -- West Michigan Democratic, progressive, populist and partisan blog: West Michigan Rising.

Toward a the Next Wave -- Regional Blogs

Progressive blogging began back in 2001 when Jerome Armstrong founded MyDD back in 2001, and really took off in mid-2003 when recently founded DailyKos started to take off in popularity in combination with the Dean campaign.  These were national blogs and tackled mostly presidential campaigns, the US congress votes, issues and politics, and certain high-profile Senate (Obama, Lamont, Tester, Webb, etc) and some House campaigns, but not most....

The second wave of progressive blogging brought the phenomenon into individual states.  In my state, MichiganLiberal was founded in the fall of 2005 and gained prominence in the runup to the 2006 elections.  And Michigan was one of the earlier states to form a state-wide community blog with other states adding large community blogs, on interactive platforms like Soapblox throughout 2006 with full 50-state numbers being reached only in 2007.  Most of the founders and early users of MichLib and other state-wide blogs were originally DailyKos users who found each other their and eventually created the idea of "DailyKos for our state."  State-wide blogs cover capital politics, governor races, US Senate and House races, major state Senate races and some state House races.

So, now, I think it's time for intra-state regional blogs.  We're the grandchildren of the blogosphere -- the next generation.  

Levin to grace Michigan blogosphere

by: Eric B.

Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 10:43:41 AM EDT

I just got some news that is very good for our friends at Blogging for Michigan.  Occasionally, lawmakers drop by and provide some insights into the things they're doing and what's on their minds.  It's one of the great things, I think, about blogs like this and BFM, since it offers a way for elected officials to interact with constituents.

This morning, I'm told that Carl Levin his-own-self will post at BFM about his work ending credit abuses.  When it goes up, we'll be sure to be linking to it here.  I'm also told that Levin will do this again in the future, spreading the love around Michigan's progressive blogosphere and posting on this site.

The post is here.

Toward a Progressive West Michigan Blog

by: philgoblue

Sun Feb 03, 2008 at 23:36:24 PM EST

While I started as a national-blogger on national issues, I'm a big proponent of state-blogs and wish we'd have had a chance to develop ours more this past year.  I think MichLib is poised to grow a great deal with the excitement of the coming election season.  Getting to talk with some electeds and staff in Lansing, I've been amazed at just how influential this blog actually is within Democratic political circles.

I think the next wave in the blogosphere is intra-state regional blogs that act as
* Clearing-houses to get news out to activists about events
* Advocates for our candidates and report on campaigns
* Providers of commentary on local issues and report on events, meetings, etc.
* Give a voice to those topics -- the Democratic Party at the county and congressional district level, labor, city and county politics and government, etc -- that are largely left out of local newspapers
* Publicizers of the record of West Michigan Democrats and encourage them to be more progressive.
* Encouragers for local parties to get more involved with the blogosphere and expand their untilization of the internet.  Spread good mobilization ideas around West Michigan.
* Watchdogs of local Republicans.

I think West Michigan is ready for a Democratic, progressive, populist and partisan blog.  

In the real spirit of Hanuk-Kwanz-mas, regardless of "weird little p-ckers"

by: David Boyle

Mon Dec 24, 2007 at 14:51:03 PM EST

    While I believe we are open to constructive criticism, we are also open, I think, to some destructive criticism, not being censors (though I don't run this site and speak only for myself); visitors who find the majority of our content to be inconsistent with their values should consider reading us more frequently.

    We are proud (at least I am) to be a part of the Michigan progressive blogosphere, and I imagine we wish all bloggers a happy Hanukkah, cranking Kwanzaa, cool Christmas, and a New Year full of worthy and independent-minded blogging.      

    "HAPPY HANUK-KWANZ-MAS!!!"

"'Blogging for Michigan': where Granholm gets more respect than Jesus!"

by: David Boyle

Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 13:43:07 PM EST

    I was looking at the front page of B4M today (I'm not registered there, but try to monitor what they're up to, etc.), and saw a "Pastor John" with a smily-faced picture offering a diary Christmas - Immanuel, with the observations

If Jesus is God's Son, and the Godhead is the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and Jesus is conceived in Mary's womb by the Holy Spirit then is not Jesus his own father? ...
If these words offend you, I am sorry. There are some who would say I just committed terrible blasphemy.

    I find the Father-Son-etc. relations a little theologically confusing myself, but I think Pastor John is still being a little flip, even though he apologizes. (Something like "Jesus could be technically considered his own father by these statements, but that sounds silly" might have been more appropriate, while still exploring any paradox or confusion.)
    P. Jo's diary has some other, good points, but he does openly admit he may be being offensive. (And the Pharisees were "pastors" who gave the Lord a lot of trouble and open disrespect, too...   :P )

    But does Granholm ever get the grilling and scrutiny that poor Jesus Christ gets at B4M?

    Let's see another B4M diary, from yesterday, Granholm's List of Accomplishments 2007, complete with big photo of J. Grho.
    There's nothing on the primary debacle, the voter list graft issue, the likely favoritism towards Hillary towards the point of even throwing the Michigan election, the State Police Headquarters corruption issue, the government shutdown (brief, but real), the recent "I'll never raise taxes again" slip, or other "accomplishments" of the Governor. What kind of balanced analysis is that diary, if balanced at all??
     And in comments, there is open and astounding adulation like

"Yes thank you Gov! (4.00 / 2)
There isn't a day that goes by that I'm not thankful you're the Gov!!!"

    Now, I'd thought that the theme of "Our Goddess Granholm" stuff was a just a joke by Mich Lib frontpager, rich--but judging how J. Grho gets treated over at B4M, maybe it's not! (heh)

    Well, just a little light-hearted holiday humor here, poking a little gentle fun at That Other Blog. But I will note that a few less insults to Jesus (and to Michigan Liberal!!!), and a little more attention to the failures of a very human (not divine) Michigan politican who is at least as fallible as the rest of us, might be in order, especially during the Xmas season...   :D

    MERRY XMAS!!! (or MERRY GRANHOLM-MAS, depending on whom you worship!!)