Our workshop worked out well. The barn we raised isn't quite finished, but we're going to stick with it and launch it for reals by the end of the weekend (we hope). If you want to peek:

http://ykos.publicpool.org

For my conference assessments, I may be kind of crisical from time to time. I'm not trying to run anyone down, and the fact that this convention is happening at all is sort of miraculous, but I think there's a creeping danger of happy-talk and toeing the party line in this community. Tribal norms are inevitable, and when a community is under pressure (e.g. in the home stretch of a campaign or in the midst of some scandal) people pull together and present a united front. I understand this. However, now is not the time to close ranks.

In spite of the fact that there are "mainstream" journalists here (and The National Review too), and that bloggers and the traditional press have a contentious relationship, and that we're headed into a midterm election in which base mobilization will be key, I think it's vastly important now more than ever to take an honest look in the mirror.

It's not quote the revolution, this thing. It feels more like the professionalization of the movement, and there's no free coffee. It's an important thing to turn pro for a lot of thses folks, important to drive that, to show (as Markos said) that many of the mainstream narratives about the netroots are incorrect. It's important to get face time with people, for online interlocutors to get into a room together and sense their potential collective power.

But it's a conference, a political conference. Maybe I'm jaded, but it's not getting my mojo rising. The rehetoric is pretty weak -- lots ot tribute being paid -- and everyone needs public-speaking bootcamp. If one more speaker limpidly repeats that "we are crashing the gates" my head may 'splode.

The best thing I felt so far was the MyDD caucus, and not just because it was at the end of the day and Matt and Chris organized a beer run. It seemed to be the place with the most real spirit, where the rubber was meeting the road and where people were being open and heartfelt. I think there's a great deal of virtue in having something like that which is in some ways small... I find myself getting nostalgic for the old days of Kos, before this element of celebrity was introduced.

There are a few kids here, mostly the usual suspects, but the vast majority of the crowd seem more like parents. That's cool. The kids seem to be mostly ladder-climbers and game-players. That's cool too. We need these things.

I just don't find it very exciting. Yet. We'll see.