You Did It!

   To the entire blogging community comes this from Daily Kos and I could not agree more.

You Did It

by Devilstower    Fri Mar 23, 2007

You're the one.  You're the malcontent who made waves, the one who broke up the chummy atmosphere between the White House and reporters.  You're the one who forced them to drag out their pens and actually write a story about the perversion and politicization of the Justice Department.  

If you have ever doubted for a moment that what we do here as a community is important -- in fact, of growing importance -- listening to a discussion held this morning with NPR's Washington editors should smash those doubts.  

I don't think anyone picked this ground for the fight.  I don't think either the White House or the Democrats in congress would have chosen  this issue first, but it kept bringing itself back up.  It was kept alive largely by bloggers, people on the Internet, people who cared more than the traditional media did, and that's really been driving this story.

If it hadn't been for you, the White House would still be rating attorneys by their Bushie level and growing ever more secure behind a wall of sycophants.  If it hadn't been for you, congress would still be keeping its powder dry, looking for an issue with an iron-clad guarantee of success and no possible downside.  If it hadn't been for you, the traditional media would have kept its focus on the issues it cares deeply about -- like whether or not Lindsay and Paris wore underwear to the club last night.

Absolutely, it makes a critical difference that there are now Democrats in Congress who can hold the White House to standards in the same Zip Code as legality.  For the first time, Bush is having to face people in the House and Senate who aren't happy to receive just a lie, a wink, and a knowing smirk as a response to every question.  That's vitally important.  You had a hand in that, too.

But it wouldn't be enough, it won't be enough, without the force of this community, and the broader blogger community, relentlessly digging up facts, bringing them to light, and pressing for action.  Both Congress and the media will take the easy thing over the right thing if no one is forcing their hands.  So give yourself a pat on the back, but make it quick, and get back to work.  In fact, don't take this as congratulations, take it as a spur to work harder.  

 

Technorati tags: bloggers, Alberto Gonzales, Congress, White House