As the dust settles (Firedoglake and Digby)

[Stockholm]

In the end did our efforts make a difference? Personally I like to think so and here is a couple of bloggers who agree:

I want to take a moment to thank each and every person who took the time to participate in the comments section on this and other blogs to voice your frustration and your willingness to do something. It really took me by surprise, I have to say, to hear people so engaged and ready to mobilize. This amazing move to fight this battle came from the ground up. DC pundits are feeling threatened, and many have tried to dismiss this as John Kerry's cynical attempts to manipulate the grass roots, but that's a mistake. It was a groundswell that swept me and other bloggers up and called out for direction, and somehow John Kerry heard that and he stepped into a leadership position and he gave it to us. He gave our frustrations a focus, he offered us a chance to stand up and fight regardless of the likelihood of success, and that was all we asked. He validated our efforts and he let people know that their voices were being heard in spite of the timidity gripping many of his peers.

I frankly think the passion of the netroots community surprised him. For those who want to criticize him for not acting earlier or better, I do not think he had any reason to believe that this kind of support was extant or that we would have his back. He put his neck on the line over at Kos and the Huffington Post, not knowing what was going to come back. The outpouring of gratitude that came back to him for his efforts was extremely moving.

Next time he'll know. And so will we.

more http://firedoglake.blogspot.com/2006_01_29_firedoglake_archive.html#113867195405228177

I didn't expect it to get more than 25 votes and I'm frankly stunned that we did as well as we did. Indeed, something very interesting happened that I haven't seen in more than a decade.

When it became clear that the vote was going against the filibuster, Diane Feinstein, a puddle of lukewarm water if there ever was one, decided to backtrack and play to the base instead of the right wing. That's new folks. Given an opportunity to make an easy vote, until now she and others like her (who are legion) would always default to the right to prove their "centrist" bonafides. That's the DLC model. When you have a free vote always use it to show that you aren't liberal. That's why she was against it originally --- a reflexive nod to being "reasonable."

Obama had to choke out his support for a filibuster, but he did it. A calculation was made that he needed to play to the base instead of the punditocrisy who believe that being "bold" is voting with the Republicans. Don't underestimate how much pressure there is to do that, especially for a guy like Obama who is running for King of the Purple. The whole presidential club, including Biden joined the chorus.

The last time we had a serious outpouring from the grassroots was the Iraq War resolution. My Senator DiFi commented at thetime that she had never seen anything like the depth of passion coming from her constituents. But she voted for the war anyway. So did Bayh, Biden, Clinton, Dodd, Kerry and Reid. The entire leadership of the party. Every one of them went the other way this time. I know that some of you are cynical about these people (and ,well, they are politicans, so don't get all Claud Rains about it) but that means something. Every one of those people were running in one way or another in 2002 and they went the other way. The tide is shifting. There is something to be gained by doing the right thing.

more http://www.digbysblog.blogspot.com/2006_01_29_digbysblog_archive.html#113867908339927928

[Nothing Without Hope]

1. Post on Jane Hamsher's firedoglake piece, with Digby piece in the replies:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x277470
thread title (1-30-06 GD-Alito): Jame Hamsher speaks for me re this historic Dem turning point over Alito:

Digby also really did hit it right on, as he often does.

[KoKo]

2. Good points about what was achieved by the Grassroots.

As angry, frustrated or despondent as some of us might be feeling, today, the effects of the effort will be lasting. A little at a time,eventually we will get to where we need to be with recognition from our Party.

[LizW]

3. Both make and excellent point.

I highly recommend re-reading these thoughts many times over the next few days. What happened in the last week was revolutionary, even though the pace of change seems glacial and the work yet to be done overwhelming.

I believe we do have to focus on the party leaders who heard us and believed in us and did the right thing. As for the others, forget about it -- we'll work on them again on the next issue -- look at all we learned, look at the action infrastructure that was created and will continue to grow.

And the next issue will come. We can't give up.