Cross-posted from Calitics

Something critical to any successful future for the Democratic Party is happening in Orange County.

Young people are developing into leaders, reaching out to their communities and claiming ownership of their government and future.

Today's announcement by New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson continued the trend of 2008 presidential contenders kicking off their campaigns accompanied by an online video. Like former Governor Tom Vilsack, former Senator John Edwards, and Senators Chris Dodd, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton; Richardson addressed supporters, skeptics and the world through the blossoming medium of political web videos.

The contenders' videos show differences in rhetoric - to be sure. I'll leave discussion of that to a million different blogs, and the traditional media. What interests me in the release of these announcement videos are the differences in how each campaign uses the medium.

Cross-posted at Calitics

The efforts of netroots bloggers, grassroots activists, members of the Progressive Caucus, denizens of the Democratic Clubs - and assorted others - to facilitate change and growth in the California Democratic Party (by way of Democratic State Central Committee elections this weekend) has gained a great deal of attention.

While the hottest action is going down at Calitics and in The O.B.(Orange Blog...y'know, Kos?), the effort has come to the attention of the traditional media, as well.

The saying goes to not pick fights with those who buy ink by the barrel.  But how about those who heat their hot tubs with wood?