Liberal blogger day on the hill as explained by Betsy Philips.
House Democrats briefed us on upcoming races, and whether they just have more folks they feel good about this year or have at least developed a strategy of seeming like they feel good about folks this year, folks seemed genuinely excited by the people running for office for the first time this autumn.
There was a lot of budget talk, too, as you might imagine, and a general feeling that the Republicans needed to start putting some specific ideas on the table. There was also some irritation that, even with all the talk of needing to cut and sacrifice, that there was still money in the budget for fish hatcheries but not for some mental health services.
In contrast to last year’s outing, this year many Democrats stopped by to meet the bloggers — Naifeh, DeBerry, Armstrong and Stewart among them. Last year, it seemed to me, the attitude of many Democrats was one of stand-offish hostility (if they knew what a blogger was) or confusion (if they didn’t). This year, we were met with genuine curiosity and a willingness to talk.
Anyone who didn’t have to run off to a meeting eventually got around to talking about the flood. And I think, honestly, that the online response to the flood — people seeing how quickly information can be disseminated and how effectively people can be mobilized to act — has helped politicians “get it” when it comes to blogging and other forms of social media. That accounts, in great part, for the curiosity on the part of folks. They now have a sense of the online world as more than just a place where kooks gather to complain about them.
Her assessment was much the same as mine was. We are learning more about them.
And they are learning more about us. Of course the flood was on everyone’s mind, as is the budget.
The fish hatcheries also stayed at the front of my mind after these meetings. It’s only pork when someone else is getting the cash. Ahh, the GOP way.