Okay, we need to get a few things figured out. First up, what’s our name going to be? If we go with Blue Nation I suspect we can solve the URL problem by finding an unoccupied permutation such as Blue-Nation or some such. Maybe www.blue-nation.org or something. After we establish a name for the site we need to figure out who’s going to run it. MS01 Indie, aka “John” has said we can make use of his good offices in this matter. If his offer still stands I say we take him up on it.
Next up, who’s doing what? I would suggest we vote on our leadership, perhaps five people to get us started. I would think that five moderators should be sufficient (more than sufficient, actually) in keeping the place sane at first. I think there’s probably something special for each of us that helps to found this place, but realistically we can’t all be chiefs. There wouldn’t be any indians. I think we should have a vote, with nominations and so forth.
We also need a mission statement. I think I have an idea of where we should go with this:
Blue-Nation.org exists so that we can work together to further the Democratic agenda. As progressives we believe that the government can be a force for good in America. We will fundraise for candidates who share our vision, try to get out the vote for those candidates, and do our part to educate the public on issues of importance. This will be a website that cherishes free speech, though not anarchy.
Or something to that effect. So I guess what I’m hoping for is an agreement on a name in this thread and some names tossed around for our leadership. I expect we could probably call these first leaders a sort of ad-hoc leadership council. Once we get up and running we should probably hold elections or something with a larger membership. I think we should make this a democratically run site, meaning that if the members (or trusted members or some such) are manifestly unhappy with how the site is run they should be able to force the necessary changes.
Anyway, let’s get to work.
–edited by Kysen to remove link
atdleft
kysentoo
reaper0bot0
Blue Nation 
I’m glad to be here. Let me know if you need a humor writer.
We need a humor writer.
McCain, Bush, and Cheney walked into a bar…
Cool. I’m oozing with ideas. I’m not looking for a leadership position or anything. I just want to participate, and have a little fun…oh, and being a TU would be nice…wink…wink…
…and McCain said to Bush, who’s that old fart next to you…
What happened to the ‘Let’s Get Crackin’ Thread?
The comments in there were pretty informative….and discussion on $$ was good.
Sorry, I didn’t know how to merge the threads but we had too many separate discussions.
Let’s reprise those questions. I am not a lawyer, I am not giving legal advice. However, as someone who is most of the way through law school I think I have some idea as to the most important questions for us right now:
1) Who owns it?
2) Who pays for it?
3) Who runs it?
While the answers to those questions may overlap they also may not. Personally? I don’t have much money to contribute but I do have time, energy, and enthusiasm. I would like to think I’ve been a positive force pushing for this and as such I’d like to be on whatever managing board we agree on.
Doubleplus good, kysen?
Do we have a poll option here? I hate to publicly pick my choices for leadership positions, although I’ll go ahead and say atd should be one of them. I know he’s a good mod/manager from seeing what he’s done with C4O.
I’m cool with that. While I don’t want to get into factionalism I think its important to have the Clinton folks represented at the top.
I think I should be president, actually king sounds better…Yeah King Hootie. And let’s have a huge inaugaration where you guys and gals place the topaz studded golden crown on to my very royal dome. Who’s with me?
If this gets real, I will chip in some funds to help get it rolling.
Are you mocking me, good sir?
🙂
Hootie – Don’t get me started. I could play with you all night.
Hey. We get smileys! But no mojo buttons. I feel the overwhelming urge to troll someone…
That said, it’s amazing what you’ve done so far in a few hours.
Well, if a ‘leadership’ group or council or board or whatever you want to call it is going to be formed….I think that should be our first task.
There are LOTS of people that folks want to invite…but, IMO, we need to get a few things hammered down before we open the doors all the way.
Too many cooks in the kitchen and all that.
We have an EXTREMELY good charter group compiled already. I am confident that we can vote on ‘leaders’ from within the group as it stands.
I agree that said leaders would do well to be pretty much an even mix of C4O and non-C4O folks….even though we are ALL Obama folks, it would negate an chance of anyone trying to cry ‘bias!’. Perhaps 3 and 3? A total of 6 for the ‘leadership’ council?
As to how to arrange a vote for said leaders…I dunno.
Whoever is chosen, I don’t think it should necessarily a permanent position.
Kysen,
We have to start somewhere, so let’s start with your suggestion. We can always modify the structure and composition later.
As to voting, we can figure out how to do that, the question is: Will it be a public ballot?
Six sounds good, 3-3 an even split.
Everyone keeps talking about money. Okay, how much are we talking here for the domain name?
I think this is a great initial charter group, and the election of a leadership council is important. A split 50 50 to reflect the primary vote between Clintonista and Obamaites is also crucial. Unity and friendly debate go hand in hand. I personally don’t need to go to a site which is uncritical, but in good faith, with genuine progressive beliefs.
However, the council have to have some basic political savvy: i.e. have to all be voting for the democratic nominee.
Which would exclude me dammit, as an ALIEN
Well, if going with my idea of 3 and 3….
I’d like to vote atdnext, canadian gal, and sricki to represent C4O on the leadership crew.
And for the non-C4O folks I would like to vote for Reaper, MS Indie and put myself up for nomination.
I think that this group should be solely to get things up and running….with knowledge that leadership will be revisited after all start-up has been completed.
Just my 2 cents.
TOTALLY want everyone else to toss in theirs as well!!
With the proviso that I’m unsure about those who cannot vote in the election being on the board (not opposed to it, but we should discuss it) I have no problem with Kysentoo’s proposal en toto.
Sounds good to me. All in favor, say Aye!
Kysen – you first built bridges with c40 – you should be on that list
Reaper started this movement and I think that Ms Indie was the one who turned it into initial blog shape. So my votes would be with them
But KLRinLA also did a lot of spadework. He’d be good to consider if he’s here yet
Heh, Brit. My uncle calls you guys “FUR’NURS”. That’s “foreigners” in redneck.
That poll doesn’t have as many names as I’d like… what about CG? She’s better with WordPress than most of us anyway.
Oh and one other question – is this blog private at the moment?
Hey sricki. I call your uncle a cheeky southern gentleman by way of witty riposte. Then I would slap his cheeks with my silk glove and challenge him to a duel – on horseback, with lances
If we are going to have a Canadian in the C40 contingent why not have a Brit in the Obama group? I think duende would be a valuable addition. This keeps us international.
BTW, I’d like to move away from the designations as C4O and Obama supporters as soon as possible. Let’s go post-primary with this site.
There are issues other than money that arise when it comes to registering a domain name.
Whose name do we put it under?
What if that person gets bent with the group for some reason…or, gets struck by lightning and decides to promote Gravel and Gravel only?
If/When Ads bring in revenue….where does it go?
Personally, I’m of the opinion that no matter how large this group gets…any monies that come in go to overhead, and then to an agreed upon charity or other non-profit (be it political in nature or otherwise). There are enough of ‘us’ that moderation should not need be a ‘paid’ position. And, no matter how you slice it, if someone/anyone is getting $$ it will eventually cause problems.
Unlike MYDD and/or DKos (not that we will ever be so large!), this group is actually being ‘started’ by 20+ people. This should not be looked at as a source of profit for any of us. Again, just my opinion (though, one that I am pretty firm in).
I think that, first things first, we need to get a ‘leadership’ cadre together. Then move on point by point from there.
Maybe I jumped the gun on the vote!
That’s all so lovely and British.
Sadly, my crazy xenophobic uncle would probably get to you with his rifle before you could get to him with your glove. He doesn’t like those “limey Brits”. Of course, he’d shoot a Frenchman much faster.
And Kysen, I second your nomination.
I took the poll down because I’m not sure it really worked, or reflected what we’re discussing.
Kysentoo, you pretty much echoed my thoughts that I wrote up on that other thread on the issue of revenue. Not that there will be much if any for quite awhile to come. This isn’t going to be some huge money-maker that is going to make us rich. Far from it. More like lots of work for the fun of it.
Actually, just read brit’s post above about this blog being Private for now. I hope it is….and I think it should stay as such until we have things more in shape. Also, once we go ‘public’ I think that these initial threads should be documented, and then deleted.
And, sricki, I DID mention CG…she was one of my votes (along with you and Andrew) to represent C4O. 😉
I am gonna take a looksee and and see if I can find some sort of polling place online where you can build your own polls.
I think we should take steps to ensure that ownership is shared among those who are participating at this point. In the unlikely event that this ever does monetize I do not want a prayer in hell that anybody goes litigious.
We *need* to establish who owns this. I say we all do, but we should go on the record as such.
MS01,
Exactly! I will spend money to hang around with you guys.
lol
Appears as though, per Reaper, there is a polling option on here somewhere…lol
Hey everyone, take a look at this forum I just setup. I think it will be a lot better for carrying on discussions like the ones we need to have to get this site started. Forums are made for discussions. Blogs are made for daily diaries, like on dailykos and mydd. http://www.jonra.com/forum/
It’s setup for immediate registration and anyone that is logged in can start a discussion.
No, Kysen I was talking about reaper’s poll. I know you mentioned our beloved CG. *insert smiley text which I will not type because I loathe emoticons*
I’m going to put up a notice that we should instead discuss these matters over there, at least in the short term. No offense Andrew (you’ve done a great job), but a messageboard would be MUCH better for this.
Heh, I never saw the poll.
*winky smirky eyebrow raised emoticon
The threads on our new WordPress forum are depressing me. As I just mentioned, thousand-word response to Reaper’s missive I just wrote became akin to a dress on prom night- gone forever-
Blue Nation. I like it. Catchy. I’d go for something more centrist, but then again I’m a former Republican, and some of my views are probably much farther to the right than some of yours. I’m not in this for an opportunity- the Republicans have made it clear that if I wasn’t willing to toe the party line, I wasn’t welcome. This is the opposite of the reception I’ve gotten from my friends here, like you guys- but will everyone feel the same way? This is actually the subject of a diary I’m writing right now- perhaps my first contribution to our new site. I know you guys are open to having moderates and conservatives around- if we could find a catchy name that might appeal to a more centrist platform, I’d personally be for it, but if we went with a mission statement that’d make it clear we’re in favor of expanding the tent, I’d be fine with it, too. Perhaps that could be part of our appeal, a niche we can operate in that MyDD and DailyKos don’t seem to offer.
Nonetheless, I like the idea. I wish we could do something outside the realm of WordPress, a fully independent site like DailyKos, or MyDD. That would take an amazing amount of hard work and commitment. I’ll provide what I can, but with the baby, and when school starts, it’ll diminish severely. But I can provide money, at least some- $50 to start. That’s enough to buy a domain name for several years, or two for a couple (Blue-nation.org, Blue-nation.net); Bluenation.net would cost $888/year, I think that’s a little more than we need to spend. Consider, too- head over to Alexa.com and take a look at page traffic in non-election seasons, especially at “fringe” blogs like MyDD, Firedoglake, et cetera.
I don’t know what the right way to set up a moderating or leading hierarchy is. Kos and MyDD are pretty much autocracies, but too many chiefs and not enough Indians don’t help much, either. I’d be happy to contribute to the effort in whatever form you guys would like, even if just to hang around to help foster a post-partisan atmosphere. As far as a split between Clinton and Obama supporters? I don’t care in the slightest. I don’t see Clinton and Obama supporters anymore, I see friends. I don’t think we need to setup the hierarchy in such a manner- what will that matter a year from now?
Just my two cents.
I think all the ideas above are good, and could protect a long term future.
In the interim, we’re more like a pressure group and a safe place to share notes. That makes us much more powerful and secure, as the C4Os discovered, when going to another site; i.e. MYDD
I think if we leave the place, make this bigger, hit Jerome’s revenues – then he might finally listen. But my hopes are not high
So this is like a declaration of Independence. There’s still time to go back and recolonise the mother country..
Which is exactly what you Americans did to us!
Just read ragekage and think that a title which is progressive but not too partisan is great. Think of the other sites – the titles don’t actually say they’re dem blogs. Something a bit whacky and left FIELD is also good, given the age, humour and character of the founder members
hi all – looks like i missed quite the pre-party. as you can see i changed the header. but damn wordpress is fighting with me about the title.
this is a stupid test post. Cannot figure out how to post in the blog though..
Howdy Louis and CG.
–edited by Kysen to remove link
Hello everyone. This is very interesting and it is good to be here. What do we want to do here?
i just wanted to say hello, i’m a long-time lurker at myDD who didn’t bother with the commenting, this blog is basically a list of the people i went there for and i’m glad i stumbled on it through C4O, i don’t know if there’s anything I can do to help but please let me know, I do have a somewhat outside opinion on things and would be more than happy to help out. again, thanks for doing this, i look forward to hearing more in the future
Hey guys, love the idea, can’t wait to see what yall come up with. If I had one suggestion it would be to dispense with comment-rating altogether; I’ve always thought that flame-baiting and troll-wars are the inevitable result of being able to rate someone else.
Will be checking in frequently.
–Koan
So, what did I miss?
–Ryan