The Spencerian: We're Not Giving the Microphone to Kanye

A couple of months ago I mentioned that nominations had opened for the 2009 Netroots Awards.  Well, now they're closed -- and it's time to vote!

First off, someone needs to thank Kenneth Quinnell, who always honchos this stuff, and does a great job of it.  So thanks once again for taking the lead on this deal, Kenneth.  Know that your colleagues in the blogosphere appreciate it.  

Second, some good and decent soul was kind enough to nominate me and the Spencerian in a couple of categories, and as it was the last two times, it is a genuine privilege and honor to be nominated.

The regular feature we have here, "Political Newsclippings," was nominated for Best Ongoing Series.  Competition is tight.  We're up against the South Florida Daily Blog's "Daily Sift."  We are also up against some of the best -- maybe the best -- coverage of the St. Petersburg Mayoral election from Peter Schorsch's St. Petersblog 2.0.  The Tampa Bay area is well represented in this category, because also nominated is Susan S of the Florida Progressive Coalition (and many, many other awesome things).  But as usual, I have saved the best -- and most humbling -- for last: Mustang Bobby's "Question of the Day" at Bark Bark Woof Woof.  To be in the same category as a blogger I deeply respect and a blog I treasure is really a sort of victory in and of itself.  So thank you, whoever you were, for the nomination.  Please be assured that any of these would be worthy of your vote.  Check them out and vote today!

To have "Political Newsclippings" be nominated for something is awesome enough -- to have it win this award would be remarkably humbling.  But my other nomination for a Netroots Award is  exciting almost beyond words: Best Writer.

I should start by saying that Kenneth Quinnell won in this category last year.

The competition for this category will be fierce, I'm sure.  Every one of these folks is a remarkable contributor to the online conversation, and it's a privilege to be considered with them.

Once again, Peter Schorsch at St. Petersblog 2.0 is nominated.  Also nominated is another big winner -- Best National Blog last year -- Ranger Against War.  Another personal favorite of mine is nominated as well: Sinfonian.  The Bilerico Project is the largest LGBTQ group blog on the web, and their Waymon Hudson is nominated.  One of the nice things about blogging is when you discover a blog you should have been reading and only just found.  Truman's Conscience is relatively new to me -- and if you haven't checked it out, read TrumanDem and this good blog and make it new to you, too.  I met Rick Spisak a couple of years ago when the FPC folks got together in Tampa and have been following his Avery Voice ever since.  He's nominated as well.  I owe Ray Seaman, another nominee, an apology -- he made me a front-page poster at Progress Florida (which should be a daily stop for you if it's not already), and I've totally let him down.  I need to post there more.  Vicki Impoco at Florida Today's "Opinion Matters" is new to me, too -- and you bet I'll have her on my blog roll soon enough.

There are two more nominees in this category, and though I want to take nothing away from these other fine nominees -- any of whom would be worthy of your vote -- I do want to single these two out because being nominated with them means a great deal to me. 

Not to overstate it, but being nominated with Senator Dan Gelber is a transcendant honor.  This guy is going to be our next Attorney General.  And who knows after that.  I have admired Senator Gelber from even before he started blogging.  But his forthrightness, honesty, and accessibility has made his blog a joy to read.  It may be that Senator Gelber was born to lead, and he'll have my vote.  But he was also born to blog, and I hope he doesn't stop.  

Finally, let me say this: I have been writing for quite awhile.  It is the one thing in my life I have done consistently for the longest period of time.  From the time I scribbled notes to myself in the early '90s in little notebooks, to the three (or so) notebooks I keep up with now, to the two novels that never seem to get finished, to the non-fiction that never seems to get started, to the writing I do for my job, to the epic emails with which I burden friends and family, to this blog, I write. 

But I dare not call myself a writer.  I never have.  It is simply a step I seem apparently unable to take.  I get more comfortable with that reality after each passing year. 
 
Folks, Deborah Newell Tornello -- aka litbrit -- is a writer.  Her blog is a must-read for me.  And I go there for the quality of her writing.  

So thank you again, anonymous nominator.  It is just a real thrill for me to be in the same category as these folks.  I hope you will check them all out and find some new blogs and bloggers to follow. 

By the way, one last pitch.  If you're going to vote -- and you should!  Vote before September 29 when polls close! -- I do want to ask for your support in one area: Best Candidate Website.  Consider voting for Keith Fitzgerald's Go Fitz Go site, as well as his We Deserve Honesty site.  Go Fitz Go is Keith's regular campaign site, and the We Deserve Honesty site was born out of the vicious personal attacks against him in the last campaign.  I really do like all the other nominees -- but there is no question that Keith's site(s) are the best.  Give a vote and a visit.  And if you can make a donation and support Keith's re-election, that would be great, too.

Thanks again for reading, everyone.  We sure do appreciate it.     

Comments

[Kenneth Quinnell]

Thanks for the shout-out. I do think, though, that I will give Kanye the mic, just to see what he says...

[Microphones Round Up]

Never ever give the mic to Kanye again!