Starting tomorrow, I'll no longer hold the title of "Senior Adviser" and I will step back from the editorial and day-to-day writing duties of BOR.
Four years and one month ago, I started writing for Burnt Orange Report. In my very first post, I wrote:
I want what I say to mean something. I want to open up the mind's of those who are resigned to believe that nothing's going to change their world. Passionate persuasion -- that's my gig, because the devil's in the details, but our faith's in what we feel. Our faith asks us to be honest with ourselves, and share what we believe with those we can get to listen.
Today, I wanted to tell you about my latest efforts to engage in "passionate persuasion" and talk about what I'll be doing between now and November 2010.
I moved back to Austin to do consulting work for the Texas Democratic Trust. My work will focus, among other things, on how to help develop online outreach and communications strategies for Texas Democrats, in a way that will support our candidates, our county parties, and our statewide groups and organizations.
The opportunity to move back to my hometown and do work I love is incredible. While in school at Boston, I really missed home. I just missed the heck out of Texas, and especially Austin. My biggest consolation while I was in Boston was that I could always write for Burnt Orange Report. It was my home away from home, keeping me connected not only with the news and stories from down here, but with the family and friends from home.
Writing for Burnt Orange Report, especially in these last two years, has allowed me to continually express my passion for Texas politics. However, now that I am home -- and given the new job that I have -- I don't think it would be fair to continue writing for Burnt Orange Report in my current capacity.
Starting tomorrow, I'll no longer hold the title of "Senior Adviser" and I will step back from the editorial and day-to-day writing duties of BOR. Beyond the obvious personal reasons for this decision, there are some site-related reasons that made me think that now was the right time to change my role at Burnt Orange Report.
KT has hinted at this before: in the coming months, there will be some changes to BOR that will help grow the site significantly -- both in terms of the content we offer, and the audience it reaches. As we make that transition, there will be a growth in the kind of editorial decisions that must be made on a regular basis, as well as a concentrated effort to market the site that I, quite honestly, should not play a direct role in. Additionally, I think it would be unfair if others continued to expect me to post on a daily basis -- something I just can't commit to at this time.
That being said -- you won't be able to get rid of me that easily.
For a while, now, I've enjoyed writing larger, big picture posts. Some of those included:
Much like Glenn Smith will write big-picture analysis pieces on Burnt Orange Report from time-to-time, I will continue posting ideas, reports, and analysis that are imortant to the understanding of Texas Democratic politics. There may be an opportunity for me to do even better research than I have in the past -- or, at least, to share some of the better research done by others, which could ultimately help all of our conversations about Texas Democratic politics.
Therefore, I'm not completely leaving the BOR community. Like a contributing columnist, I'll still write on BOR. My posts will begin to take a new direction, and I will be posting less frequently -- stepping back from all editorial decisions and embracing a different role in the coming months through the 2010 election cycle.
But I'll still be around. As long as failed and corrupt men and women like Rick Perry and Kay Bailey Hutchison are in charge of this state, I'm going to be around -- practicing passionate persuasion, and doing everything I can to share what I believe with anyone I can get to listen.
Thanks, as always, for reading. Enjoy the weekend, and I'll see you around.
The Burnt Orange Report is pleased and excited to announce that one of our writers, Todd Hill, was selected to be an Archer Fellow through the University of Texas at Arlington. Todd will leave for Washington, DC next year on January 4, 2010, and return on April 26th, 2010. BOR wishes to congratulate Todd on this prestigious honor.
The Bill Archer Fellowship is a highly competitive and prestigious internship program named after former congressman Bill Archer. Upon his retirement after 30 years representing the 7th Congressional District, Archer wished to leave a lasting legacy both in DC and within his alma-mater, the University of Texas higher education system. The Archer Fellowship is considered one of the highest honors a political science major can receive within the University of Texas school system. Todd will either intern at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, The Department of Homeland Security or the White House Office of Communications.
The Fellowship, although prestigious, is also quite expensive. Todd is the first in his family to graduate from college and has worked very hard to support himself through college while also co-founding and leading the Mid-Cities Democrats PAC in Northeast Tarrant County. Todd has contributed a number of great blog pieces since he joined the BOR family in early 2007 and we've been happy to have him as part of the Texas Blogosphere. Todd will continue his writing while he is in Washington DC so we look forward to hearing his perspective and following him while he is in our nation's capitol next year.
We here at Burnt Orange Report want to show our support by helping him to raise the funds he needs to cover the expenses of the Archer Fellowship and help him live in Washington while he is away. Todd has set a goal to raise $11,000 before he leaves in January 2010 and is already working hard toward reaching that goal, treating it like a candidate fundraising campaign (naturally).
Burnt Orange Report encourages you to chip in some money and help Todd get to Washington DC and pursue this tremendous opportunity that he has earned. Check out Todd's website at www.hilltodc.com and learn more about Todd's contributions to the progressive movement, the Archer program, and his fundraising goals. We hope you'll consider joining the Burnt Orange team in contributing toward Todd's fundraising goal today.
P.S. Remember, Todd's not leaving until next year, so he's making this a multi-faceted fundraising campaign and BOR readers are not on the hook for all $11,000! Since state PACS can make contributions as well, local ones in the metroplex will be helping Todd out. That also means the TexBlog PAC could help, too. In any case, consider giving today.
And to think that is another half a million visits since last October. So wonderful to pass another milestone as we close in on BOR's 6th Anniversary next Friday. We also passed the 8 million total pageviews mark last month.
This is a quick note to let you know that Burnt Orange Report is getting a long awaited move to a new server today. While there may be some intermittent "downtime" experienced as the Interwebz recognizes the IP of the new server, if everything goes right you wont notice anything.
The layout and look should stay more or less the same (maybe some small style, size, or spacing issues which we'll work out ASAP). The site should end up being WAY faster as a result and I believe that we'll be running on some slightly new code as well.
This isn't part of our eventual site redesign (which can now move forward more quickly) but is part of the "save soapblox" campaign that over $500 was raised from our readers as part of a national effort to ensure more stability in the state blogging network.
There are many driving forces that explain the "why" of Burnt Orange Report, and one of them is our love for technology. Matt was one of only twenty-five Social Media Award winners in Texas for a reason. KT is sought out -- from people in Austin, in Texas, and around the country -- for his technological expertise because he was one of the first to crash the gates after the first starting gun of the Netroots political movement was sounded many years ago.
I wasn't like that. I grew up as an English major at UT who loved to read and loved to write. I don't use Tivo. I only started using Twitter a couple months ago when it hit its mini-critical mass awareness. I'm still learning all the functions of Facebook, Google Reader, Delicious, et. all. I came to write for BOR at the urging of a friend because of my interest and passion for politics, not for my interest or passion in this new technological tidal wave -- a force so strong I often feel like I'm struggling just to keep my head above water.
It was only recently that I've stopped struggling and begun to learn how to truly surf the web.
Over the past year or so, I've learned to embrace the unfathomable largeness of the online world and treat it with a spirit of exploration and hope, instead of a lethargy of trepidation and fear. Though I don't think I'll ever quite match KT or Matt's impressive aptitude with the subject matter -- at times I think that they breathe binary -- I have found a way to turn my eagerness and curiousity into productive learning and practical application.
Yes, as has been the case with every adaptation throughout history, education has empowered better understanding of the internet and an ability to work within its existing power -- or, as I said before, to truly surf the web. Education continues to be the silver bullet -- a true instrument of progress that is immensely profitable to those who have the opportunity and the desire to harness its limitless power.
A lot of my education comes from working so closely with KT, Matt, and the entire BOR crew. A couple of the classes I've taken at school -- including Nicco Mele's course on digitial media, politics, and power -- have gone a long way towards enhancing my entry to the online world. But I've also found a number of terrific websites that have given me an opportunity to think and explore new ideas about technology in ways I'd never considered before.
Therefore, in the interest of paying it forward, today's links -- or "clearing the cache" as the excellent website techPresident puts it -- are focused on stories gathered from various sources on new innovations and technology. Please add your stories in the comments, too, and pay attention to our new "BOR Reader" on the top-right of our page as KT, Matt and I share technology stories -- as well as political stories -- with everyone.
Happy surfing -- and if you like the sites, you should sign up for the RSS feeds to follow them regularly:
Legislation 2.0.2 (techPresident): An excellent story about how some legislators aren't just goofing off with new technology like Twitter, but actually using the internet to solict input on how they can do their jobs better (for example -- Senator Claire McCaskill asks how to better do government contracting oversight and is taking cues from the responses).
While Microsoft was busy rolling out a new version of Internet Explorer Thursday Google has been busy pushing the boundaries of not just the web browser, but what the web itself is capable of doing. [snip]
And Google Chrome is certainly not the only browser encouraging developers to experiment with both the browser and the web. Mozilla has an entire division of the company — Mozilla Labs — devoted to the very same sort of envelop pushing.
Follow that link and scroll down the page to watch a video showing what Google Chrome can do.
List of Web 2.0 Resources: This PDF has a great bibliography -- including a number of online white papers that it directly links to -- that serve as an archive to explain the theory of Web 2.0. A link you should bookmark and return to time and time again.
Twitalyzer: This amazing website measures your performance on Twitter. Almost scary.
What is Web 2.0? (Tim O'Reilly): Finally, I have to provide the link to the definitive article on Web 2.0 -- written three and a half years ago. If you only read one thing and really want to begin understanding the whole web/technology movement, read that piece.
That's probably enough for now. What else is out there that is good to share? Please provide context and leave links in the comments...
Here's a look at some posts I'm going to have online next week:
Sunday: A post on the proposed solar project that goes before the Austin City Council next week. I'll be detailing some of the background on the issue, highlighting the pros/cons of the proposal, and hopefully getting a discussion going amoung our community about the future of solar energy in Austin and the greater Texas area.
Monday: Interviews with Brewster McCracken and Lee Leffingwell about the proposal. I talked with each of the leading mayoral candidates, and will post the transcripts from my interview. This will hopefully provide some additional perspective on the solar panel proposal that is set to be voted on next week. We'll also have a post for Texas Independence Day.
Tuesday: An interview with State Senator Leticia Van de Putte. You won't want to miss this one.
Wednesday: Almost two weeks ago, KT, Matt, and myself sent an open letter to the Republican Party of Texas, the SREC, and all the Republican County Chairs asking them how they plan to handle the massive failures of the Texas Republican leadership -- namely Governor Perry, Senator Hutchison, Senator Cornyn, and Congressman Sessions -- over the past few weeks in regards to the economy. We'll post that letter in its entirety, along with some of the responses we got back.
Thursday: "The Stimulus Series." I've had a number of posts prepared regarding the stimulus package that I hope to have ready by Thursday. The incredible short-sightedness of Governor Perry on the entire stimulus situation is absolutely remarkable.
Friday: The Top 10 Twitterers of Texas politics. We're following a lot of folks on Twitter now, as its use continues to grow. Who's funny, who's smart, and who is using Twitter in a way that is at all effective? We'll unveil our list next Friday.
I know we're no state reporters, and just a lot of kid bloggers, but I have all of those posts planned/penned for next week, and that's not even including the day-to-day stuff that will naturally come up. And who knows -- we may even have another surprise or two we're not sharing yet.
Expect all that, and more, from Burnt Orange Report next week. Stay tuned, and thanks for reading.
I'd like to announce a new policy at Burnt Orange Report which is to be formalized by this post. Inspired by Open Left, and necessary due to our regular commentary on public figures and organizations, I'm announcing our "Right to Respond" Policy.
The "Right to Respond" will be a standing promise on Burnt Orange Report where any Democratic or progressive candidate, campaign, or organization we discuss in a front-page post is granted a front-page post in response. The individual, campaign, or organization should preferably do so through their Burnt Orange Report user account (create one here) so that they may engage in comments on that and future posts that are related to them.
The "Right to Respond" is rooted in our Democratic values of openness and broader participation in politics. It also recognizes that while we may disagree at times, we support (generally) civil discussion that promotes honest debate. If you, your campaign, or your organization wishes to formally respond to a front-page article in which you were mentioned, don't hesitate to contact us about posting a response.
We finally had Google (which bought FeedBurner) update and merge our RSS feed with their services. Took long enough.
In any case, I don't think there should be an interruption in service if you read via RSS but you would be well to do if you updated it to the the following RSS URL.
I've always been a Democrat. Since I first became aware of our electoral system, I've supported the party that acts in the interest of what's best for all Americans, and reflects as best as possible the notion that we're all in this together. I've always been an avid voter. My parents made me watch them vote for 18 long years before I finally was able to do it myself. I've considered myself a progressive since I encountered the distinction, since I believe that the role of government is to expand rights and attempt to redress systematic inequalities that persist in our society.
I first became politically involved in 2004, when I was living on the South Side of Chicago and my State Senator entered a crowded Illinois Senate primary. My first political event was a house party--a BaROCK the House Party--hosted by a friend's friend, and my first volunteer effort shortly after that was voter registration on Chicago's West Side. Friends and I registered folks at subway stops. The excitement people felt about voting for the first time stuck with me, and I realized that if even just one of the hundred people or so we registered actually voted, our efforts had made a difference.
I started reading and commenting on political blogs in the spring of 2006 to find a sense of community. I was frustrated, outraged, faxing my Senators and calling my Congressman about every bill or vote, and looking for an outlet. At first I wanted a group of simpaticos to grouse with, other people who were similarly informed and concerned. Over time, I learned so much more about our dysfunctional political system and the potential I believe it still holds to empower every American. My awareness translated into a need to get involved, to help elect the people who can realize this potential, and help bring progressive change to our country.
I blog about activism. I volunteer extensively offline. I believe that if you see a problem, it's your job--nay, your duty!--to try and fix it. For the past two years I've blogged on DailyKos and Burnt Orange Report as kath25, where I've primarily focused on local grassroots efforts, with the purpose of encouraging others to get involved in their own community. Over the past year, however, there has been enough blurring of my online and offline life that it's time for me to blog openly under my real name. (Not that you'll be able to actually spell it.) After all, bloggers more than anyone else have an obligation to translate their words into results, and I no longer feel the need to use a thinly-veiled pseudonym when I do it. To this end I'm proud to join a website with one of the most engaged and active staff offline as well as on, across the political blogosphere.
I haven't always lived in Texas. My peripatetic educational journey has taken me from New Jersey to New York City to Chicago to New York again, before I moved down to Austin to start graduate school at UT. Admittedly, I wasn't too keen on moving to a Red State, but was calmed somewhat by the frequently-repeated promise of liberal Austin. After spending several years here, however, I've developed a stronger love for actually fighting the good fight in Texas than I felt in any Blue State prior. We're making great gains here with each election cycle, and it's exciting to know that every volunteer in Texas can make a tangible impact state-wide.
I believe in people-power, grassroots organization, and bringing together concerned communities to empower them to make change. I don't believe that one small group of people should hold office, run campaigns, and care about what happens in our government. We're best served when every citizen is involved and engaged, be it in electoral politics on a local or federal level, issue-based activism, or working with people in their community. I see more potential for this level of engagement in Austin--and across Texas--than anywhere I've ever lived, and I'm optimistic that as a member of the Burnt Orange Report staff I can help make this happen.
Thank you, KT, Matt, and Phillip, for the opportunity to come aboard in an official capacity, and thanks for all of your work thus far to show the world that Texas can and will elect strong Democratic leaders again.
