Howie Klein, of Down With Tyranny and Blue America, will speak to Democrats of the Desert about the netroots here in Palm Springs on May 16th. This is such a gift to us, the latest of many. Thank you, Howie!
Like most Dem clubs, our membership is largely senior, and many of our members don't drive at night. Imagine the manpower they'd represent if they spent those evenings in the blogosphere. I'm also hoping to appeal to the younger set, who already spend excessive time online, but don't yet get involved in politics. They really need to see what Howie's doing.
Cross-posted at Calitics
So much more after the jump:
I first discovered DownWithTyranny while googling for mentions of Mary Bono, and soon found this: Nobody Knows the Trouble I'm In, complete with excellent photoshopping of Bono as a rubberstamp. David Roth found a trusted and valued ally in Howie Klein. Here's the Blue America profile of David Roth. Here's the Team Roth staff profile on TRex's Virtual USO Tour which got picked up by Hotline, btw.
Blue America gave David Roth the Have You Had Enough? video, a fundraising link on the BlueAmerica page, a slot in the BlueAmericaVirtual Tour, and raised over 6 grand for Roth online. Even so, many active Democrats here still don't realize the scope of the netroots role. I know you're wondering- Is Roth running again? Well, we don't yet know if Roth is running again, but Democrats here in red, red Riverside County need this information for 2008 no matter what.
Event details are posted at the Calitics events calendar. If you're in California, you'll find it extremely helpful. Naturally, the local media got a presser as well:
Democrats of the Desert will welcome Howie Klein of Blue America on Wednesday, May 16th from 5:30pm to 8pm. Howie will address the current state of national politics and the 2008 races from his perspective as a netroots activist.
Who After completing university Howie Klein spent 7 years wandering around the world and living in places like Afghanistan, Nepal, Holland and Morocco. He moved back to America when Richard Nixon resigned and promptly helped start the first punk rock radio show in the country and then a DIY punk rock record label. His adventures in the music business ended a couple of years ago when he retired as president of Reprise Records. He began blogging almost immediately, starting Down With Tyranny.
What Blue America works actively in congressional districts and states (in Senate races), collecting money and placing radio and TV spots, like the "Have You Had Enough?" video. Blue America is an online collaboration of Firedoglake, Down With Tyranny, and Crooks and Liars. In the last 4 months of 2006 they raised $545,000 online for progressive Democrats and helped elect Jerry McNerney (CA), Jon Tester (MT), Joe Sestak (PA), Ben Cardin (MD), John Hall (NY), Mike Arcuri (NY), Chris Carney (PA), Bruce Braley (IA), Amy Klobuchar (MN), Patrick Murphy (PA), Paul Hodes (NH), Kirsten Gillibrand (NY), and Jim Webb (VA).
When Wednesday, May 16th from 5:30pm to 8:00pm
Where The Cathedral City Senior Center
68-727 East Palm Canyon Dr., Cathedral City (across from Starbucks)
$10 suggested donation, easy parking, refreshments
Contact: Beth Caskie, VP Programs for Democrats of the Desert
at vp-programs@desertdems for more information.
Democrats of the Desertis the largest and oldest Democratic Club in the Coachella Valley, chartered by the State Democratic Party of California. Its mission is to advance Democratic values and to elect Democratic candidates at all levels of government. Democrats of the Desert has active programs of speakers, publications, political action, fundraising, and outreach. Membership is open to all registered Democrats.
Here's a photo of the Roth team from last year:
I know I'm not the only one grateful for the chance to thank Howie in person. If you live in driving range of Palm Springs, you should come. There's an outside chance we'll experiment with some video live-blogging.