Netroots Nation

Netroots Nation Strives To Keep Right Online Away From Next Year's Convention

Evan McMorris-Santoro | June 22, 2011, 12:24PM

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Political Columnist S.E. Cupp

The organizers of Netroots Nation 2012 are doing their darndest to keep the conservative Right Online conference from horning in on their action.

Netroots is headed to Providence, RI next year -- offering attendees a chance to be close to major cities on the East Coast for less bucks, organizers say -- and, unlike this year's conference in Minneapolis, RightOnline won't be able to crash it.

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Right Online

Hijab-Wearing 'Flash Mob' Invades RightOnline

Evan McMorris-Santoro | June 18, 2011, 5:42PM

MINNEAPOLIS -- A group of around ten women in Muslim headscarves crashed the RightOnline conference for about ten minutes Saturday, protesting what they said was an incident targeting Muslim women Thursday night.

The event was the latest spark kicked up by the proximity of Netroots Nation and RightOnline. The two conferences are blocks apart -- RightOnline is being held in a hotel many Netrootsers are staying in -- and interaction between the progressives at Netroots and the conservatives at RightOnline has been inevitable.

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Van Jones

Van Jones Calls End Of Glenn Beck's Fox Show A 'Triumph Of American Capitalism'

Evan McMorris-Santoro | June 18, 2011, 3:51PM

Van Jones, Fmr. Obama Green Jobs Advisor

MINNEAPOLIS -- Van Jones, the Saturday keynote speaker at the Netroots Nation conference here, has a special relationship with Glenn Beck.

Asked to ponder the end of Beck's Fox News show on June 30, Jones pointed to what regular Beck viewers might see as an unlikely ally: capitalism.

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Al Franken

Al Franken: Congress Needs To Vote On Libya

Evan McMorris-Santoro | June 18, 2011, 2:02PM

Sen. Al Franken (D-MN)

MINNEAPOLIS -- Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) told TPM this morning that if the President Obama wants to keep bombing Libya, he'll need to ask Congress' permission.

"We're going to have to vote," Franken said shortly after his speech to the Netroots Nation crowd gathered here in his home state Saturday.

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Andrew Breitbart

Andrew Breitbart (Briefly) Crashes Netroots Nation, Commotion Ensues

Evan McMorris-Santoro | June 17, 2011, 2:59PM

Andrew Breitbart

MINNEAPOLIS -- There will be no Weiner-style gatecrashing from Andrew Breitbart at the Netroots Nation conference here.

That is, unless Breitbart wants to pony up $355 for a ticket.

With the annual conservative Right Online conference just down the street from Netroots Nation, it was inevitable that some sort of shenanigan would occur in Minneapolis this week. And so it did, early Friday afternoon when Breitbart, camera crew in tow, showed up at Netroots unannounced and uncredentialed.

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DNC

New DNC Chair Showers Howard Dean With Praise, Says She'll Ask Him For Ideas

Evan McMorris-Santoro | June 17, 2011, 12:54PM

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)

MINNEAPOLIS -- Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), who was named chair of the Democratic National Committee in April, praised Howard Dean for his tenure leading the party and told progressives gathered here at Netroots Nation on Friday that she intends to turn to him for ideas.

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Netroots Nation

Netroots Challenge White House Spokesman on Gay Rights

Evan McMorris-Santoro | June 17, 2011, 10:14AM

White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer

MINNEAPOLIS -- Here's how Netroots works: Just about everyone here plans on voting for President Obama next year, and more than a few of them will work on his behalf, too. But you don't come here to talk about how great the White House is -- you come here to talk about how disappointed you are in the team that's running it.

On Friday morning, White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer came to Minneapolis to face the music. In an hour-long grilling session led by DailyKos blogger Kaili Joy Gray, Pfeiffer took tough questions about tax cuts, the health care plan, the environment, the general ineffectiveness of Congress, Afghanistan, Libya and progressives' number one beef, Obama's compromising nature.

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Howard Dean

Howard Dean's Koch Brothers 'Freudian Slip' (VIDEO)

Evan McMorris-Santoro | June 17, 2011, 9:41AM

MINNEAPOLIS -- Howard Dean gave a classic Netroots Nation keynote here last night, hitting all the buttons with the crowd of progressive activists and bloggers gathered here for their annual conference.

One of the most Netroots-friendly buttons he hit accidentally. Or so he told the crowd. While launching into an attack on the right and the conservative funders/progressive bogeymen known as the Koch Brothers, Dean first pronounced their name more like a famous part of ex-Rep. Anthony Weiner's anatomy than the classic cola.

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Netroots Nation

Russ Feingold: Democratic Super PACs Are 'Dancing With The Devil'

Evan McMorris-Santoro | June 16, 2011, 10:21PM

Former Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI)

MINNEAPOLIS -- Former Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) took direct aim at a key part of the Democrats' 2012 electoral strategy during his keynote address at Netroots Nation here Thursday evening.

The Super PAC Priorities USA, which was founded by former Obama White House aides to collect and spend the unlimited corporate funds allowed under the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision, and other Democratic Super PACs are nothing short of a disaster for the party, Feingold said.

"It's dancing with the devil," he told hundreds of liberal activists gathered at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

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Netroots Nation

Howard Dean: I'd Get A Congressional Authorization On Libya War

Evan McMorris-Santoro | June 16, 2011, 5:26PM

Former DNC Chairman Howard Dean

MINNEAPOLIS -- Howard Dean, the former Vermont governor and 2004 presidential candidate who helped spark the Netroots Nation conference being held here, told TPM that he would not continue the war in Libya without congressional authorization the way President Obama has.

But he declined to criticize Obama over his choice to continue the fighting without asking Congress to weigh in.

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Anthony Weiner

Markos On Weiner: 'The Guy's An Idiot. No Sympathy.'

Evan McMorris-Santoro | June 16, 2011, 4:30PM

Markos Moulitsas, Founder of the Daily Kos

MINNEAPOLIS -- If Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Resigned) thought his progressive allies would stand by him through his resignation, he must not have talked to Markos Moulitsas recently.

Asked about Weiner's resignation after a panel at the Netroots Nation conference here, Moulitsas was blunt. Weiner didn't need to resign, he said, but the Democratic firebrand doesn't need to be defended either.

"The guy's an idiot," Moulitsas said. "No sympathy."

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2010 elections

Rough Road Ahead: November Looms As Progressives Question Priorities (VIDEO)

Christina Bellantoni | July 27, 2010, 9:18AM

A donkey on a long road winding into the horizon.

There's no doubt about it, things aren't looking good for November for the Democratic party. It's way too early to know if they will lose the House, but there is broad agreement that 100 days from now, there will be losses and Democratic numbers in Congress will dwindle.

On the ground in Las Vegas for the last several days, TPM took the temperature of Netroots Nation activists, the candidates courting them for dollars and door-knocking and the official party operatives who need progressives engaged if they want to prevent a total wipeout this fall. Most campaign types sounded hopeful notes that it won't be as bad in the end as it looks now, and there seems to be broad agreement that, if the races are put into the context of the idea that Democrats move forward and the Republicans want to take you back to the Bush era, they might just stave off the worst of the losses.

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Financial Reform

Administration Warms To Warren, The New Progressive Darling

Christina Bellantoni | July 26, 2010, 3:40PM

Chair of the Congressional Oversight Panel created to oversee the expenditure of TARP, Elizabeth Warren.

Even as the administration began sounding a more positive note on the potential of Elizabeth Warren earning President Obama's nod for the newly-created Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, she's emerged as the clear progressive favorite for the post.

Obama's team has recently seemed to warm to the idea that Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd splashed cold water on last week, with Press Secretary Robert Gibbs saying this afternoon that she's "terrific."

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Pres '12

It's A Landslide! Netroots Want Sarah Palin To Run For President

Christina Bellantoni | July 26, 2010, 12:00AM

President Barack Obama and Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin

Well, it's official. Progressive Democrats want President Obama to face off against former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin in 2012 as the battle for the ages.

An early release of the Netroots Nation straw poll taken from Thursday through Sunday and obtained by TPM shows that attendees of the convention in Las Vegas overwhelmingly want Palin to mount a presidential bid.

Respondents were asked who would they "most like to see" as the GOP nominee to challenge Obama for reelection two years from now. Netroots attendees preferred Sarah Palin, with 48 percent of them choosing her. The next closest vote-getter was libertarian Rep. Ron Paul with 11 percent, followed by former Sen. Rick Santorum with 10 percent and former Gov. Mitt Romney with 9 percent.

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NV-SEN

Silver State Showdown: Reid And Angle Barnstorm Las Vegas For Conventions

Christina Bellantoni | July 25, 2010, 1:24PM

US Senate candidate Sharron Angle (R-NV) and Senator Harry Reid (D-NV)

Harry Reid and Sharron Angle were the boogeymen in the backdrop of this week's political conventions in Las Vegas, with activists on the liberal and conservative side of the spectrum setting their sights on defeating the other. Reid (D-NV) and Angle (R-NV) each spent less than two hours addressing their respective groups -- Netroots Nation and RightOnline -- but their electoral showdown was high on the agenda at each.

Reid barely mentioned Angle during his remarks to Netroots Saturday, promising instead that he'd keep fighting for progressive agenda items like the public option and immigration reform. (Reid faced little overall pushback even though progressives are frustrated with the progress of his Senate Democrats, but was confronted by Dan Choi over gay rights.) Other Netroots speakers did most of the attacking when it came to Angle, highlighting her positions on Social Security and accusing her of inciting violence by referencing "Second Amendment solutions" to get Reid out of Washington.

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Netroots Nation

Franken: 'If Republicans Take Over Congress, They'll Implement A Truly Dangerous Agenda' (VIDEO)

Christina Bellantoni | July 25, 2010, 10:28AM

Sen. Al Franken (D-MN)

Las Vegas -- Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) last night told progressive activists and bloggers that they have a responsibility to stay engaged during the crucial midterm elections -- lest they allow Republicans to not just roll back the Obama administration's real gains, but enact an agenda he called "dangerous." Franken then acknowledged that it's a tough election year but, especially in Sen. Harry Reid's home state, Reid (D-NV) shouldn't be underestimated.

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Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Discharged Dan Choi To Harry Reid: 'It's Not About Me Anymore' (VIDEO)

Christina Bellantoni | July 24, 2010, 9:38PM

Lt. Dan Choi at a protest against Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Las Vegas -- This morning at Netroots Nation, (former) Lt. Dan Choi confronted Sen. Harry Reid to tell the Senate leader that he will hold him personally accountable for an unfulfilled promise to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Choi gave Reid his West Point ring, but Reid said he couldn't accept something he hadn't earned.

Choi, discharged this week under the Don't Ask, Don't Tell ban on gay men and lesbians serving openly in the military, hopped onto the stage during Reid's Netroots Nation speech and gave Reid his discharge paperwork. The two agreed that Reid would hang onto the ring until the repeal is passed and the new law of the land. Choi also gave Reid letters containing the original promise the Clinton-era policy would be repealed in 2009.

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Netroots Nation

Raul Grijalva: 'It Shouldn't Be The Tea Party Alone That Gets To Beat The Drum' (VIDEO)

Megan Carpentier | July 24, 2010, 8:33PM

Rep. Raul Grijalva

Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), who earlier this year called for a boycott of his home state over its new anti-immigration law and once closed his office over death threats to his staff, caught up with TPM reporter Christina Bellantoni at Netroots Nation. (Follow news from the convention in Las Vegas here.)

Bellantoni, in the video below, asked Grijalva on whose side he stood: that of MSNBC's Ed Schultz, who slammed the White House and Congressional Democrats on Thursday over the lack of substantive change; or that of Van Jones, who on Friday exhorted the netroots not to despair and to work with the Obama administration and bring about change.

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NV-SEN

Angle Backtracks On Social Security: 'I've Never Said' I Wanted To Scrap It (VIDEO)

Christina Bellantoni | July 24, 2010, 4:10PM

Las Vegas -- Senate candidate Sharron Angle (R-NV) revved up a conservative crowd today, even as she denied her pre-primary win statements on phasing out Social Security.

Addressing the conservative convention RightOnline at the Venetian casino this afternoon, Angle was hailed for pledging to "permanently repeal the death tax" and for saying she stands with Arizona's new immigration law. She has become a conservative darling in her bid to unseat Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV).

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Netroots Nation

Obama In Surprise Message To Netroots: 'Consider What We've Accomplished' (VIDEO)

Christina Bellantoni | July 24, 2010, 12:22PM

President Barack Obama

Las Vegas -- President Obama greeted progressive activists and liberal bloggers this morning via video message, telling the group during the final full day of Netroots Nation that he gets their frustration that "change hasn't come fast enough."

"I hope you take a moment to consider all we've accomplished so far," Obama said. Then the pre-recorded video showed a segment from MSNBC's Rachel Maddow rattling off the administration's achievements.

Obama promised, "we're not done." He said that the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell is in the works and touted his own plan to draw down 90,000 troops from Iraq.

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2010 elections

Michele Bachmann's Vision: 'Mother Of All Repeal Bills' (VIDEO)

Christina Bellantoni | July 24, 2010, 12:47AM

Las Vegas -- Rep. Michele Bachman brought the conservatives attending RightOnline to their feet multiple times tonight in a keynote speech where she said she'd like to repeal "almost everything" and predicted President Obama is a one-term president.

During the wide-ranging speech at the Venetian casino here, Bachmann (R-MN) bragged she'd reached 40 members of her newly formed Tea Party Caucus, but stressed her goal is not to be a "mouthpiece" for the movement. Instead, she said, members would listen and be an "ear piece."

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Right Online

Conservative Counter-Event Boasts Bigger Size Than Netroots (But It's Not)

Christina Bellantoni | July 24, 2010, 12:35AM

Las Vegas -- Organizers of a conservative convention designed to counter Netroots Nation tonight declared they'd put together a larger event for the first time, mocking the progressive activists also in town as "angry and bitter."

"Netroots Nation going down faster than Mel Gibson's career," Erik Telford of Americans for Prosperity told a laughing crowd at the Venetian casino gathered for the third annual RightOnline.

AFP started RightOnline to counter Netroots Nation, celebrating its fifth anniversary and holds the event each year in the same city as the progressive event.

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Netroots Nation

Netroots Nation Straw Poll Asks About GOP 2012 Nominees, Obama Support

Christina Bellantoni | July 23, 2010, 6:28PM

Former GOP Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin

Las Vegas -- Every political convention needs a straw poll, and Netroots Nation is no different. TPMDC obtained an advance look at most of the questions the netroots will be answering over the next few days, and there are more than a few surprises.

Netroots participants will be answering questions, of course, about how they feel about Obama, which parts of his agenda are most important to them and what they think his greatest accomplishments to date are. They'll be asked what Congressional races are most important to them, and given choices from a familiar line-up of heavily contested seats. But they'll also be asked, like CPACers before them, who their preferred candidate is for the top of the Republican ticket in 2012. And, of course, Sarah Palin's a potential contender on their list, too.

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2010 elections

DNC Seeks The Next 'Macaca Moment' With Help From Netroots (VIDEO)

Christina Bellantoni | July 23, 2010, 5:29PM

DNC Executive Director Jen O'Malley Dillon

Las Vegas -- When liberal activists and progressive bloggers took their seats today for a panel on the 2010 elections, they found fliers with instructions about how to track Republican candidates and upload unflattering video for the Democratic National Committee to use during this fall's races.

The DNC's "Accountability Project," which we first told you about last month, allows voters to be their own trackers in races across the nation. DNC executive director Jen O'Malley Dillon told party supporters in an email announcing the new effort they could help capture the next "macaca" moment, a reference to former Sen. George Allen. Allen (R-VA) was unseated in 2006 in part because a video went viral thanks to the then-newly strong netroots movement.

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Van Jones

Van Jones' Full Speech: Sherrod Is 'A Teachable Moment' About Hope (VIDEO)

Megan Carpentier | July 23, 2010, 5:05PM

Former Obama Administration official Van Jones

When Van Jones addressed the crowd at Netroots Nation this morning, he brought one overarching message: what happened to your belief in hope and change?

But it wasn't just a speech about why the netroots should get behind Obama rather than be part of a two-front war on his agenda. He also touched on everything from BP, the promise of America and how the conservative media can and will slime anyone -- him, Shirley Sherrod or you.

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Netroots Nation

Van Jones To Netroots: Quit Beating Up On Obama

Christina Bellantoni | July 23, 2010, 1:54PM

Van Jones, Fmr. Obama Green Jobs Advisor

Las Vegas -- Former White House green jobs "czar" Van Jones told progressive activists and bloggers today that, rather than bash President Obama for not changing the country as fast as they'd thought, they should maintain hope and help him with his agenda.

"I can't stand it. President Obama volunteered to be the captain of the Titanic after it hit the iceberg," Jones said at Netroots Nation while being interviewed by journalist Ari Melber of The Nation. (Follow our live coverage here.)

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AR-SEN

Bill Halter At Netroots: Blanche Lincoln Can Win (VIDEO)

Christina Bellantoni | July 23, 2010, 1:28PM

Arkansas Lieutenant Gov. Bill Halter (D)

Las Vegas -- Lt. Gov. Bill Halter said in an interview that his one-time primary rival embattled Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln can win reelection this fall, and believes she can frame it as a "classic" Republican v. Democrat race on the Arkansas ballot.

Can she win? "Yes, I think yes," Halter told TPM in an interview Thursday afternoon from the Rio Casino's Starbucks. Of course, he also believes he would have won the primary if he'd had more time. "Winning a primary against an incumbent senator is one of the hardest things to do in American politics," Halter said.

"Obviously it's a difficult year and everybody knows what the current polls show," Halter said. "I don't think there's any question that it's a tough year."

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Progressive Community

Ed Schultz Slams White House As Afraid Of Fox News (VIDEO)

Christina Bellantoni | July 23, 2010, 2:12AM

MSNBC anchor Ed Schultz.

Las Vegas -- MSNBC's Ed Schultz tonight slammed President Obama's White House for its handling of the Shirley Sherrod debacle, suggesting that Obama and his team are afraid of Fox News and don't use progressive media enough.

Speaking to a roaring opening night crowd at Netroots Nation at the Rio casino here, Schultz cursed through a spirited critique of Obama. Schultz pointed to the camera and said he was glad the speech was being recorded and wanted the White House to hear his message. Schultz also leveled insults at conservative Democratic Sens. Blanche Lincoln (AR), Ben Nelson (NE) and Mary Landrieu (LA), along with Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), who the netroots helped boot from the party in 2006. Schultz said he didn't care if Democratic Senators boycott his show because he doesn't need them for ratings. He also said that MSNBC "did a hell of a job fighting for health care."

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