What is the role of the blogosphere? How does it work? Why does it matter? Does it matter? These are questions I often get and often ask myself.
Are we infobating by ourselves, speaking alone of the forest and no one hears? It is easy to be discouraged on days when our mutual and collective efforts don't seem to matter much at all.
Then, something happens. A moment of light where you see what the online world and the breakdown of barriers actually gives us - we see a moment where someone 'crashes the gate' as Jerome and Markos might put it.
I give you: Paul Abrams. Actually, Dr. Paul Abrams, an oncologist who lives in Seattle. Paul is one of those high end donors who actually could contribute something more than money to a Presidential Campaign.
Historically, what would happen (and I saw this first hand) is that he would speak with the candidate at a fundraiser. Said candidate nods in deep appreciation as he / she pockets the check. Said candidate puts donor in touch with campaign staffer who nods in deep appreciation and never does a thing about the idea that donor had.
But now, Paul has a new forum. He is a valued contributor here at Huffington Post. He shares his ideas not with a candidate (though he still is prone to do that) but with the people who support candidates.
And for the last few months, Paul has been bird-dogging a very strong idea.
IF REPUBLICANS ARE SO INTENT ON STAYING IN IRAQ, WHY DON'T THEY AND THEIR SONS VOLUNTEER TO FIGHT THERE?
Paul asked Jeb Bush is his children were going to volunteer and almost got punched.
Paul asked Bil Kristol about Kristol missing the opportunity to serve in Vietnam and almost got punched.
Paul has been asking everyone to help him carry the torch on this issue. Bringing it up with candidates in the halls of YearlyKos and with anyone he thought could help, from Eli from MoveOn to a young woman from Iowa, Rachel Griffiths.
An engaged citizen who attended our panel on Smoking Politics and then thought:
I can ask that question and she did.
Boom.
Mitt Romney was the recipient of the query and he didn't have a good answer. (There are over 200 news stories on this already.) Now, the question is on "Hardball" and Rachel has been on MSNBC. Now, again, the core hypocrisy of the Republican Party is once again on display.
This would have never happened with the blogosphere.
Paul wouldn't have had an outlet and a way to fine-tune his idea.
Rachel would have never met Paul without YearlyKos.
And this idea would have never seen the light.