http://my.democrats.org/page/community/tag_rss/Amanda+Marcotte/html Admittedly, it has been a rough couple of weeks for the progressive blogosphere. What started as great news from the John Edwards presidential campaign - <a href="http://hughesforamerica.typepad.com/hughes_for_america/2007/02/congratulations.html">the hiring</a> of two insightful, respected bloggers in high-level positions - quickly deteriorated in the face of the right wing&#39;s last effective ways of doing business, <a href="http://hughesforamerica.typepad.com/hughes_for_america/2007/02/what_bloggergat.html">mock, hypocritical outrage</a> and disgusting threats. Despite Edwards&#39;s initial defense of bloggers Amanda Marcotte and Melissa McEwan, the climate of hate fostered, in part, by the bigoted Bill Donohue and, to a lesser extent, the bigoted Michelle Malkin led to the pair&#39;s resignation. In the midst of the controversy, I suggested the benefits of pursuing <a href="http://hughesforamerica.typepad.com/hughes_for_america/2007/02/clenchedfist_pr.html">clenched-fist progressive politics</a>. Upon further review, and armed with the fact that the right won&#39;t stop attacking no matter how far backward the Democrats retreat, it has become clear that a no-holds-barred approach is the only way to go. What&#39;s also clear is this: We&#39;re in this fight together. http://my.democrats.org/page/community/post/josephhughes/C3bY http://my.democrats.org/page/community/post/josephhughes/C3bY/commentary#comments Wed, 14 Feb 2007 17:00:44 EST http://my.democrats.org/page/community/post/josephhughes/C3bY Joseph Hughes Joseph Hughes 3 http://my.democrats.org/page/community/comment_rss/C3bY/ Score one for the good guys: To put an end to the <a href="http://hughesforamerica.typepad.com/hughes_for_america/2007/02/what_bloggergat.html">bloggergate non-scandal</a>, John Edwards announced that he is keeping Amanda Marcotte and Melissa McEwan on board. His brief statement, which can be found <a href="http://blog.johnedwards.com/story/2007/2/8/113651/4503">here</a>, discusses his views on the bloggers' past writings and closes, most importantly, with the candidate saying, "We're beginning a great debate about the future of our country, and we can't let it be hijacked. It will take discipline, focus, and courage to build the America we believe in." No truer words, and words I'll discuss in further detail later. Marcotte and McEwan, it should be noted, also released statements, which can be found <a href="http://blog.johnedwards.com/story/2007/2/8/112337/1160">here</a> and <a href="http://blog.johnedwards.com/story/2007/2/8/112321/6431">here</a>. While Team Edwards is moving on at full power, this entire episode, which is really just beginning, offers the progressive movement an object lesson in how we must operate as a unit in anticipation of 2008 - and beyond. "They wanted a fight," I wrote Wednesday. "Let's give it to them." And with this fight, the next era of clenched-fist politics has begun. http://my.democrats.org/page/community/post/josephhughes/C3Hv http://my.democrats.org/page/community/post/josephhughes/C3Hv/commentary#comments Fri, 09 Feb 2007 12:42:12 EST http://my.democrats.org/page/community/post/josephhughes/C3Hv Joseph Hughes Joseph Hughes 1 http://my.democrats.org/page/community/comment_rss/C3Hv/