Open Thread

by: Chris Bowers

Sat Feb 05, 2011 at 12:09


Well, all the goodbye posts have been made, so this is really it.

Comments on articles will continue to work for seven days after the articles were posted. After that point, Open Left will become frozen in time.

This is, both ironically and fittingly, an open thread.

Chris Bowers :: Open Thread

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Open Thread | 178 comments
so let's start again - (4.00 / 3)
(you know a 'Egyptian' never gives up!)
- and IF it is only about 'money' - the problem is easy to resolve. I am willing to spent 30$ a month for 'the progressive company' of the people I met here.
So we only need another 150? people who are willing to spent the same amount. There are over a hundred posters here who want to stick together - and I realize some might not have the money - so let's find a way -(as anonymous once wrote) - to get the dough.
Let's organize it like a real company. The 30$ are 'shares' - an investment in a site which soon will show all the other lefty sites what's what. To start - we need a headliner - I vote for Paul. He draws a salery. We then need as strong as a particpation as the reaction to the closing of Open Left. That shouldn't be a problem because with having a 'share' - everybody will be much more involved (in creating a interesting site - finding more shareholders etc etc)
Blogging as usual will not be enough - So we also have to get more into problem solving and act more like a 'think tank' -(even if we hate the word) - Huff is pretty clever and -(for example)- by helping 'people' - to think through the dilemma with their 'underwater houses' they helped themselves for example creating lots of 'traffic'.
That doesn't mean we should be into 'traffic' - I always loved the idea of a small 'elitist thinking blog' - where (after a while) - people (hopefully) will beg to become a member -(and if they can afford it - pay much more than a 30$)    

So it's very easy - and entirely up to y'all!
We just need about 150 'club members -(cancel the membership of your dogclub instead) - and then we will be able (again) to discuss all kind of things and I can bitch about it -(I need that!)
For example - I am very curious lately - if you can get rid of a dictator without doing so much damage to (ourselves) - 'the people' - and so I take the 'freedom' to post this suggestion on all these ByeBye posts -
Make it fly???      

I can't believe I'll never be able to not understand one of your posts again (4.00 / 8)
time marches on
[ Parent ]
does that mean - (4.00 / 1)
WE can count on you? - and on david kalb and sisterfish and anonymous and operative?
That would make 9
with katie, SpitBall and Upward and Onward...

and perhaps YOU are the right person to put this idea in a 'understandable' form -(You know I got a problem with that) - and could you please post it afterwards on reddit and all other progressive sites to get some 'outside' shareholders and Paul can start when this site is frozen?!  

[ Parent ]
that nice (0.00 / 0)
[ Parent ]
show me where to contribute and I'll do it. (0.00 / 0)
also are we sure that it's JUST money?  It may be time for them to make a change regardless of any money we raise.
[ Parent ]
uh - (0.00 / 0)
I forgot the dude from Chicago - So we are TEN!
(that's pretty good for two hours don't you think?)
and Hey - disaster - (0.00 / 0)
don't underestimate the young and uncoordinated - we kind of started a whole revolution somewhere!
[ Parent ]
and if - (0.00 / 0)
we talk 'funny' (sometimes) - that necessarily doesn't mean that we are NOT serious -
(it's probably more - like - like a 'style' right now!)
[ Parent ]
and I see - (0.00 / 0)
Emocrat has joined us too - 11!
[ Parent ]
Yep! (0.00 / 0)
I have a rather busy weekend, but I can start doing something or other on Monday.

"More than any other time in history, mankind faces a crossroads. One path leads to despair and utter hopelessness. The other, to total extinction. Let us pray we have the wisdom to choose correctly." -Woody Allen, My Speech to the Graduates
[ Parent ]
Open Left Archives (4.00 / 4)
http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.openleft.com

They do good work at the...



Antemedius | Liberally Critical Thinking

Blog shutdowns are always sad. (4.00 / 16)
Especially if there's been an active community with which you feel some sort of kinship - even with the people who fill the Crazy Cousin or Drunk Uncle role in the family. At least you know them, and the rest of the family keeps them in check for the most part so it's OK.

This is blog shut down #3 for me as far as blogs that I didn't just go to for pure information, but were also like a kind of online home. It's never any fun, always a kick in the gut. Because even though you're not face to face, you're still building relationships, making connections, sharing laughs, sharing space. And as for the blog posts themselves, here at Open Left those of us who were especially fond of Paul's writing are facing a very particular kind of daily online content void. So that's a double gut-kick.

I was hoping OL would continue to exist even with the founders gone. I would have liked to have seen regular front page reporters/advocates specifically for People of Color and Women like Adam Bink did for the GLBT community. And with Deb getting some recent front page time, I really thought we were headed in that direction.

Well, me being the soft, sentimental type (with no money), I guess all I can do is send hugs to you all and say thanks for sharing yourselves with me. Take care.  

Thanks for this... (4.00 / 9)
You said it really well and, oh, does it ever resonate for me.  Missing some voices (yours among them) will be the hardest part of it.  I know where to find Daniel, and Chris, and Matt, and Adam, and David, and maybe eventually I'll find Paul.  But the many folk whose voices I'd come to depend on and respect in the threads will dissipate, and that strikes me as quite sad indeed.

Best wishes to you, Oaktown Girl, where ever the current of the internet might carry you.

[ Parent ]
Are you on Twitter? (4.00 / 1)

[ Parent ]
No. Should I be? (4.00 / 1)
Is that a good way to stay in touch with people?
[ Parent ]
I think so ... (4.00 / 1)
at least other people can find you  ;-)  and you won't be stuck if a blog decides to shutdown
[ Parent ]
What are all of your twitter handles? (4.00 / 3)
How do I find you on Twitter?  I never use my account so I'll have to get into the habit.
[ Parent ]
You can find me ... (0.00 / 0)
here:

http://bit.ly/9q2ehZ

... and I know there is graygoods as well .. though I forget his handle here .. I think there are a few others.

[ Parent ]
and let's not forget - (0.00 / 0)
anonymousanonymous:
"You don't need a billion or two. Your potential consumer base will provide that. And I think just about everyone commenting here -- or else, why stick around? -- believes there is enough hunger and support for large-scale, widespread, nationally broadcast left media, they're just waiting to be told who to make out the check to, or where to report to contribute their time. But there certainly is enough money in left and left-sympathizing circles to fund a sustainable left media operation, but you've got to draw up the road map. And contrary to what others have said above, I don't think it's untenable to generate a healthy return for your initial funders and long-term ownership, I just think no one's drawn up and implemented a plan with an effective model and compelling content.

...I don't think it's at all untoward to say forcefully that you and others in that industry who share your view should be leading the charge, and thinking more energetically, more creatively, and more rigorously, and working more urgently to craft and implement a compelling, effective plan.

...it's just that simple. Laura Flanders, Amy Goodman, Paul Jay, Arianna Huffington, and Michael Moore have begun paving the road. Time to build the highway. Talk to them, draw up a plan together, and if they're not on the same page, do it yourself. Then bring it back here and use the incisive and valuable input of Open Left readers to refine it. And if Huffington or Soros won't fund your plan, so much the better -- come to us again and start your crowdsource funding here. National media produced by the left, delivered to the left, and owned by the left. No one's done it. Be the first".

"And (4.00 / 1)
if Huffington or Soros won't fund your plan, so much the better -- come to us again and start your crowdsource funding here'.!  
[ Parent ]
Let's Get On It. (4.00 / 1)
SpitBall's temporary OlSurvivorsBlog is a good place to start working on it.

"You want me to make all the roofs in Harlem white?" Mr. Paterson recalled asking Mr. Clinton inside the former president's office on 125th Street. Mr. Clinton nodded. "Don't you think Harlem has become white enough?" Mr. Paterson asked him.  
[ Parent ]
we can try - (0.00 / 0)
but perhaps it's just a big misunderstanding on my part?
There was such an outpour of solidarity... and I thought: 'This is good' - and then we end up with 10 or 11 names?
I marched for sanity (with lots and lots of 'people') - and I cleaned beaches in the Gulf of Mexico with a lot less - and there are some friends of mine who use to joke about the 'unmovable Left' -(and wonder what I am doing on these 'unfunny' blogs) - because most of them (the friends) - are 'left' without being 'institutional left' -(if you know what I mean) - and to make a long story short -
I just think it should be a much 'bigger' effort if you try to carry on -(and the 'brand' OL is 'finished') - and there is this German saying: "Du kannst kein Hund zum Jagen tragen" - which roughly translates into: You can take a horse to water - but you can't make it drink!  
[ Parent ]
I wouldn't worry. (4.00 / 1)
The level of work up front isn't gonna be most folks' cup of tea, 1, things'll benefit from the potential focus of a smallish group, 2, and, 3, if it's done well, the larger open left will come around later.

So I wouldn't worry about it.

"You want me to make all the roofs in Harlem white?" Mr. Paterson recalled asking Mr. Clinton inside the former president's office on 125th Street. Mr. Clinton nodded. "Don't you think Harlem has become white enough?" Mr. Paterson asked him.  

[ Parent ]
so - (0.00 / 0)
I got a last suggestion - and I put it on the survivalthing tomorrow!
[ Parent ]
link please? (4.00 / 1)
thanks.
[ Parent ]
Link to OL Survivor Blog (OLSB) (4.00 / 1)
Come on over!

Some of us are discussing where to go, what to do.

We need all of your insights.


"It sounds wrong...
     ...but its right."

[ Parent ]
Well, suddenly Arianna's… (4.00 / 1)
...come into a bit more money...

http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2...

"This ain't for the underground. This here is for the sun." -Saul Williams

[ Parent ]
But this suggests… (4.00 / 1)
...she's not necessarily gonna share the wealth with her bloggers...ugh!...

http://www.theatlantic.com/tec...

"This ain't for the underground. This here is for the sun." -Saul Williams

[ Parent ]
Habits (4.00 / 18)
I get on the computer, go to the 'Politics' bookmark section and bring up OpenLeft.  Oh yeah.

It may take a while for that habit to die.  I doubt I'm the only one.

Nope. (4.00 / 4)
You're not. ;-)
[ Parent ]
Now Mark - (0.00 / 0)
that's a bit dissapointing that you didn't understand me - and if you give me another chance to explain it  - I will try...
You know - I joined a tribe of Surfers and I'm in a Archaelogical society and I'm a member of a 'grassroots environmental organization' and for all of these 'organizations' or 'clubs' I have to pay -(and I gladly do!) - and when I read all of these posts about how much the members of this 'club' (Open Left) will miss each other - I somehow thought: Now that problem is kind of easy to solve - You offer to pay and you ask ALL the others to pay for it too - And there will be some who can not afford it - and so we will have others who pay a bit more -(that's how it's done in a lot of 'clubs') - And then my American half 'kicked' in - and I thought - that's not enough - there has to be some 'win win' situation in the whole deal - and that's where I came up with this idea that it could be 'comercialyl' succesful too - Now where is the... the... 'miscalculation' in my way of thinking?

 

[ Parent ]
MIscalculation? (4.00 / 2)
You repeatedly equate money with time.

Just a WAG...

[ Parent ]
bookmark section? (4.00 / 4)
I have OL on firefox's personal toolbar!
[ Parent ]
I know! (4.00 / 3)
Me too!

Montani semper liberi
[ Parent ]
me too, exactly (nt) (4.00 / 1)

[ Parent ]
If anyone's tempted to gag tomorrow from all the lies about Reagan… (4.00 / 4)
http://thinkprogress.org/2011/...

"This ain't for the underground. This here is for the sun." -Saul Williams
don't forget lebanon (4.00 / 1)
[ Parent ]
Would be nice . . . (4.00 / 2)
Would be nice to hear what Paul Rosenberg has to say about this.

Will have to check random lengths.  

"You want me to make all the roofs in Harlem white?" Mr. Paterson recalled asking Mr. Clinton inside the former president's office on 125th Street. Mr. Clinton nodded. "Don't you think Harlem has become white enough?" Mr. Paterson asked him.  

[ Parent ]
frozen (4.00 / 5)
I feel so empty today...
Erased? (4.00 / 9)
What a weird sensation.  In my own morbid way I went looking for those places where I recalled Open Left appearing on various A-list blog rolls.  Every place I looked there was no indication that Open Left had ever existed.  I can't decide whether my memory is faulty - that I had recalled seeing Open Left on a blog roll where it had never been?  Or, if in the space of 48 hours from Chris' announcement every place I had recalled seeing Open Left on a blog roll had updated without even mentioning the blog's being shuttered?  Even Digby (who recently linked to Debra Cooper's most recent substantive post) and FDL (after an interminable number of page refreshes because their blog roll appears to be lengthy and randomized), both who have extensive lists of left leaning/progressive blogs showed no trace of Open Left.  Now, I wonder if they ever did - or if I only imagined that they once had.

In a really odd way, as a dedicated reader, and fairly frequent thread discussant - though perhaps less so in the last couple of months - I kind of feel as if I'm being erased, too.  Or, at least the "me" that was part of Open Left.  What a genuinely odd experience.

The one exception I found was at DKos.  But, then, they still have a link to FiveThirtyEight that took me to Nate's original blogspot; within about 10 - 15 seconds it rolled to Nate's place at the New York Times.  How amusing is that?

And, just to punish myself a bit more, I dug around until I found what I think is Stoller's inaugural post, What is OpenLeft.com ... and, worse, read it.  For the first time.  Ouch.

If I wasn't thoroughly depressed before, I am now!  But.  All good things do come to an end.  And, since nature abhors a vacuum, I take heart that there are other Stollers and Luxs, and Bowers out there who will come forward to fill the void.  And, when they step forward, I'll be waiting for them.

1262 pages back! (4.00 / 1)
http://www.openleft.com/main/1262

unfortunately, I wasn't to be around at the time...

[ Parent ]
I didn't want to move, But all things must pass (4.00 / 3)
Others have said what needs to be said better then I could. Even so I need to document my feelings, if only for myself.

First, a heartfelt thank you to the entire community. I don't think I have found such a wonderful mix of opinions that still managed to stay within bounds of the canvas. The picture that emerged was colorful, energetic, thought provoking and while sometime jarring overall pleasing to the soul. The front page artists sketched the patterns but the comments applied the defining brush strokes.

Nobody died. They just moved or will be moving. The NetRoots is changing. We did the Crash the Gates campaign thing and realized it wasn't an end in and of itself. Just the first step in a continuing process. Something that can only be learned by doing. While this came as a surprise to some it certainly didn't to many. But as an institution the NetRoots had to learn it. I was expecting Open Left to play a big part in the redefinition of our place. It seems however the common thread that held it together was just a bit to frayed. However the voices here will be heard, it just wont be on this corner.

While I scanned this blog every day I really sat down and read it on the weekends. I think I have to blame Paul for that. What that did however is let the comment strings from the week play out and so gave me a really wonderful look at the bigger picture instead of the more instant reaction of an ongoing comment string. There is probably a really important place in the NetRoots for a space like that. Sort of a Atrios and Digby  combination.

Finally, Armstrong has let MYDD linger on life support. It would be kind of fitting to meet there occasionally. An OL in the headline or an Open Left tag and I'll be there.

Check out Progressive Populist Today (4.00 / 4)
It's the daily blog of The Progressive Populist, the twice-monthly journal of politics and economics for workers, small businesses and family farmers and ranchers. Also see selections from our current issue. Any port in a storm.
Active members PLEASE post links to your new blog homes. (4.00 / 11)
You who have posted regularly to OpenLeft proved yourselves early on to be grounded in verified facts and well-reasoned, practical ideologies. Like the closure of a good library, the tragedy in OpenLeft's breakup is that people seeking good, quality information will now face further impediments and inefficiencies in their search for truth about the world. I don't doubt, when you scatter to your various new blog homes, that you will bring quality and clarity to those organizations. I'm not going to rant or lament much more, but as an example, one of you is going to DailyKos. Daily Kos is great, but that website is noisy and cluttered--not just literally (in its appearance)--but something over there obviously encourages too many posts from sophomoric chatterboxes (like me) and too few from rigorous academics with the capacity to test their conclusions and with the ability present their ideas as elegantly as you have here on OpenLeft. I have been a silent participant in OpenLeft, but I have been here listening intently and thinking with you along the way--passing on your wisdom to others in whatever small ways that I can muster. You have greatly enriched and challenged my understanding of society, and there will now be a big void in what has nourished my capacity to be a good citizen. I will go out there now and try to fill that void. You obviously don't owe me any help in doing so, but in an appeal to all our interests in having a better educated citizenry, PLEASE post links to your new posts at your new blog locations--at least for a while. The sooner we fill the void that results from OpenLeft's closure, the better.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I love and appreciate all that you have done, and I will miss OpenLeft--dearly.

Left Ed???? (4.00 / 6)
Why didn't jeffbinnc get a farewell post?  How do I keep up  with the assault on teachers now?
Send me your email address (4.00 / 1)
I'll send you a link when I find a new home.
My email:
jeffb.cdm@mindspring.com

Save Our Schools! March & National Call to Action, July 28-31, 2011 in Washington, DC: http://www.saveourschoolsmarch...
[ Parent ]
I don't know who is still monitoring this, (4.00 / 12)
but I only belatedly realized I forgot to say thanks.

When you give your time, you give your life, because time is all we really have.

So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Montani semper liberi

Please stop by the OLSB (4.00 / 3)
We need your insight.


"It sounds wrong...
     ...but its right."
[ Parent ]
Link (0.00 / 0)
OLSB; Open Left Survivor Blog


"It sounds wrong...
     ...but its right."
[ Parent ]
It must be more than money... (4.00 / 2)
... I know in the past they've done fundraisers here and I've contributed when I could, so to close without asking for money tells me that the headliners here needed a change and while I'm incredibly heartbroken to see this place shutting down; I can't blame them at all.  The amount and the quality of the posts here have been phenomenal.  Cheers and good luck with your future projects.  Please keep me on your email lists etc. etc.

I have to admit that I too have been lazy about finding other good progressive/liberal blogs to follow so I suppose I'll finally be forced to go out and search for them.

Where are you going?  What blogs will you frequent?  I'd really genuinely like to know.

jeffvlarson (AT) gmail

:'(

Thanks, Open Left (4.00 / 5)
I'll be missing you.

Peace.

Food for Thought (4.00 / 9)
I will always remember the great dialogues we had on this site, back in the days when Matt Stoller was a part of the triumvirate with Chris and Mike.

I began my day with Open Left because I knew that I would get the best bird's eye view of what the best progressive political minds in America were thinking about the issues I cared most about.

It was terrific when Matt moved over to Capitol Hill to work with Alan Grayson and to see Matt's views blended with Grayson's.

But I really did miss him greatly. The alchemy of Matt, Chris and Mike was just too terrific and the absence of Matt was strongly felt, at least to me.

Then the progressive balloon I saw waving in the air at the time of the 2008 elections really burst when it became clear that Obama, despite his rhetoric, was getting behind a center-right legislative agenda.

The Open Left edge was blunted, IMNSHO, by the wishful thinking that clouded the thinking of far too many members of the progressive blogosphere that maybe Obama had just hired the wrong people (Summers, Geithner, Emanuel) and that he would soon correct his errors and get into gear with a progressive agenda.

But this has not happened and will probably not happen, leaving progressives up the creek without a paddle in terms of developing a robust progressive movement in the near term. Having both Democratic and Republican parties pandering to the corporate special interest sector leaves voters with few if any alternatives.

Paul Rosenberg did a great job of keeping the progressive fires burning on Open Left after Matt left and Chris was distracted by having to tend to other revenue-generating gigs, but the free fall of the economy and the stranglehold that the Democrats and the Republicans had seized over the body politic have cast a pall over our forlorn democracy that is not going to be lifted any time soon.

This no-exit scenario took its toll on Open Left, as far as I was concerned, because I did not perceive it to be incubating any kind of push back, not that a single blog could undo the decades of political propaganda and attitude manipulation that has stultified U.S. politics.

But, looking forward in my crystal ball, I am totally confident that Mike, Chris, Matt and the good people over at DailyKos have the political savvy to be writing new unforeseeable chapters in the struggle to re-democratize our political system. There are no smarts they need that they cannot develop. Of that I am certain. I wish them well and will be following their exploits with great interest.


Can't we all just imagine (4.00 / 3)
this notion of the Lesser Man of history in Paul Rosenberg's capable hands?

What a bloody bloomin' loss.

Thanks for everything! (4.00 / 2)
I'm going to miss you guys -- this has been one of the first blogs I check every day. I hope you'll all continue your writing, analysis, organization and activism in other venues!

Any chance you could post "where are they now" links before you freeze the site in time for good?

-- Joel

"In a mountain half-way between Reno and Rome/ We have a machine in a plexiglass dome/ That listens and looks into everyone's home." -- Theodore Seuss Geissel

to have succeeded... (4.00 / 4)
I'm reminded of Emerson's quote on what it means to have succeeded, pasted below:

To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded

Emerson would have been proud of how OpenLeft helped to transform the conversation on many topics and how it has left the world a bit better.

So often when I felt alone, even though I have many progressive friends, the OpenLeft bloggers and community were there.  

Thank you for your insights and leadership for the progressive movement.

Chris and Matt - I have followed you from MyDD to OpenLeft and now on DK and wherever else your work takes you.  You are amazing men - heroes in many ways for me and other progressives.  Thank you for your commitment to protecting democracy and letting truth be told.

With much admiration...

Richard

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. -- Martin Luther King, Jr

As a lurker... (4.00 / 4)
....I never engaged in the fascinating discussions that were this blogs greatest feature: The multi-layered and highly informed comments that threaded out into debates about the future of the Democratic Party and the left; the insightful and prescient discussions regarding the President and his political leanings and motivations, and the multitude of other discussions that were held throughout the blogs lifespan. But I read it. And it helped me understand my own political beliefs to an extant that I wasn't aware was possible before I came here after I read the diary on Daily Kos that announced Open Left. I will miss it, as it left an indelible memory in my mind as one of the smartest, most challenging, and most intellectually invigorating blogs that I have ever come across.

Thank you, bloggers (and commenters) of Open Left, you have truly left an impact on at least one life.

Goodbye.

Thanks for the memories (0.00 / 0)
For the time it was in operation, this was a great site that I enjoyed visiting frequently.  I'll miss Matt, Chris, Dave, and Paul.  See you guys around the internet (and print).

Our Dime Understanding the U.S. Budget
Thanks again! (4.00 / 2)
Oh, I almost missed it.

You have all done a great job creating an intelligent and informative website for progressives.  I'll certainly miss the site, but I thank you for the work that you did put in.

Until we meet again... (4.00 / 6)
We must be getting close to the witching hour when this (almost) 4 year old Cinderella's coach turns into a pumpkin.  Who will claim glass slipper that has been left behind and search for the Cinderella community?

To all - the creators of this blog, the folks who found their way to the front pages, those who participated in the threads and/or action alerts, as well as those who simply read or lurked - best wishes.

Adiós mis amigos.

In before the lock... (4.00 / 8)
Maybe I'll be the last comment... I haven't said anything up 'til this point 'cos I was too shocked to know what to say.  I specifically came over here from MyDD to follow Chris and Matt, both of whom I greatly admire. Now both sites are essentially dead.  It makes me very sad.

This was THE place to be during the 2008 elections.  No other site had more up to date details on the race and the Quick Hits was like a realtime news ticker with updates.  It was a great resource and a lot of fun.  I will never forget it!

To my friends on the site (and even my enemies), thank you for all your hard work, and I hope you keep up the fight to make a better America.

And to any right wingers reading this, possibly gloating, I quote the movie Papillon: "Hey, you bastards, I'm still here!"  You're not going to be rid of us that easily...

I guess that's it, huh?  Chris is ready to time lock this thing and freeze our words into the ether for all eternity... Ok, then... I'm ready... So long, and thanks for all the fish! ;-)

REID: Voting against us was never part of our arrangement!
SPECTER: I am altering the deal! Pray I don't alter it any further!
REID: This deal keeps getting worse all the time!

Going to miss it all, truly (4.00 / 4)
Openleft was one of the websites I always had bookmarked, and when what was good about mydd came here, I followed.  Sad to see openleft closing, and as for mydd...well it should have closed long ago.  I will see all of you elsewhere and look forward to continuing the good fight.  R.I.P. Openleft.
Surprise (4.00 / 2)
Here I thought OpenLeft was just going down temporarily to upgrade to its fancy new OpenLeft v4 persona. Or was that someone else?
It's going to take some time (4.00 / 7)
It's going to take some time before I stop opening this site as soon as the computer is on.

Did they get you to trade your heroes for ghosts? Hot ashes for trees? Hot air for a cool breeze? And cold comfort for change?
It's been fun (4.00 / 4)
This has been a great site and I will miss it.  See you all at the other ones.

Now to re-do my favorites so it stops opening.    

End of Era. (4.00 / 4)
Great Job.  You should be pleased, this site was instrumental in so many victories.

I wish you all the best of luck in your future endeavors. See you around.    

Hello? (4.00 / 3)
Is this thing still on? I thought it was supposed to shut down at noon.

Not that I'm complaining, mind.

They must be having trouble with the carbonite freezing process... ;-) n/t (4.00 / 6)


REID: Voting against us was never part of our arrangement!
SPECTER: I am altering the deal! Pray I don't alter it any further!
REID: This deal keeps getting worse all the time!
[ Parent ]
Good Bye (4.00 / 4)

Like a Patient Etherized Upon the Table (4.00 / 3)
I get the feeling that OpenLeft is now participating in a very famous Monty Python skit.

"I'm not dead yet!"

sigh (4.00 / 3)

See You Here Again Tomorrow! (4.00 / 2)
 
[ Parent ]
Last? (4.00 / 3)

Yeah, It Looks Like It's Going To (4.00 / 3)

[ Parent ]
Still here!! ;-) (4.00 / 2)

There seems to be a tear in the space time continuum... (4.00 / 4)
Daily Kos is not operational, yet OpenLeft still survives...

Can we breathe life into this spark and make OpenLeft live again?

REID: Voting against us was never part of our arrangement!
SPECTER: I am altering the deal! Pray I don't alter it any further!
REID: This deal keeps getting worse all the time!

[ Parent ]
Server Redirect (4.00 / 2)
Or maybe just take over the DailyKosBeta.com servers. They won't be needed for too much longer, hopefully.
[ Parent ]
For me, as it was for many of you, OL was the first stop of the day every day. (4.00 / 6)
It and you will all be missed.

Happy trails and thanks to all!

Until we meet again....

Valentine's Day? (4.00 / 6)
You can't freeze us out on Valentine's Day. You're not that cruel.
Onward to the Fifteenth (4.00 / 3)
Maybe Chris has just forgotten all about OL. Maybe this one last Open Thread will go on forever.

Heh.

Onward to the Sixteenth (4.00 / 3)
Next I will post a longer comment.

--

The government has a defect: it's potentially democratic. Corporations have no defect: they're pure tyrannies. -Chomsky
Experiments (4.00 / 2)
FWIW, I tried to post a quickhit, and that, at least, is turned off.
[ Parent ]
Perhaps we can create our own little microcosm here... (4.00 / 3)
Post diaries in the open thread and that... make it into our own little petri dish of life!  ;-)

REID: Voting against us was never part of our arrangement!
SPECTER: I am altering the deal! Pray I don't alter it any further!
REID: This deal keeps getting worse all the time!
[ Parent ]
Hmm, what to do with this space...? (4.00 / 3)

YouTube sucks at playing playlists at YouTube itself.  It works pretty well when embedded, though.

Try this .. ;-) (4.00 / 2)

[ Parent ]
And this ... (4.00 / 2)

Longest Open Thread (4.00 / 2)
EVER
I'm amazed that this place .. (4.00 / 4)
is still getting about 1,000 hits a day  ;-) .. it's not all you and me .. and LordMike
[ Parent ]
It is those of us diehards... (4.00 / 4)
Who think that the Cubs can win a world series, that the Dem party will veer left, and that the OL closing is a hoax, because we want it to be true.

:(

[ Parent ]
Presence (4.00 / 2)
The fine irony of all this is that, although I have been registered here from the early days (UID 927), I have now made more comments at Open Left since the blog closed than I did in all the years it was open.
The "Survivors" are picking up steam (4.00 / 6)
A mere 2 weeks out from the closing of Open Left we are on the brink of launching a new site. Stop by, join in, sound off!

"It sounds wrong...
     ...but its right."
And this is for all the haters out there: (4.00 / 4)

Nightline (4.00 / 5)
"Good Evening, this is Ted Koppel, coming to you live from Washington, DC, as we enter Day Fourteen of the Open Left Closed Open Thread Closure Crisis — a crisis which some say is not being taken as seriously as it should because no one in the media has yet figured out a way to append the suffix '-gate' to it."
How about "gateleftopen" (4.00 / 2)
or opengateleft, or openleftgate?

I am sad, so maybe openleft-gated?

--

The government has a defect: it's potentially democratic. Corporations have no defect: they're pure tyrannies. -Chomsky

[ Parent ]
Wasn't Ted Koppel gone from "Nightline"… (4.00 / 2)
...before OpenLeft got underway? Simultaneously funny and sad...

"This ain't for the underground. This here is for the sun." -Saul Williams
Monday Monday (4.00 / 1)
...and we're still hanging in here. Damn.
Yup!! ... (4.00 / 1)
Still here!   ;-)
[ Parent ]
Come drop by the new place (4.00 / 3)
http://www.sitenamehere.org/

Perhaps we'll have a real name someday...

[ Parent ]
Signed up!! ;-) (4.00 / 1)

[ Parent ]
Wednesday Wednesday (4.00 / 2)
I'm beginning to wonder if this isn't all just some experiment to see how long people will keep dropping by.
I can't help myself... (4.00 / 3)
It's habit...

REID: Voting against us was never part of our arrangement!
SPECTER: I am altering the deal! Pray I don't alter it any further!
REID: This deal keeps getting worse all the time!
[ Parent ]
Hundredth! (4.00 / 2)
I couldn't bring myself to post "FIRST!!!!1!, even ironically/absurdly.
101!! ... (4.00 / 2)
and I hope everyone is out in the street today!!
Hail, Hail, The Gang Is Everywhere (4.00 / 6)
Daniel DeGroot has been at it since this site closed.  Lots of good, thoughtful stuff there.

Paul Rosenberg has a new home at Dirty Hippies, as well as keeping the fires burning at Random Lengths.

Chris Bowers at the new DKos4.

Matt Stoller has been busy at  Naked Capitalism.

Mike Lux has been equally busy at Crooks and Liars. As has debcoop.

William Timberman has dusted off Canecittà and writes to the heart of it, as is his wont.

The Renegades, Reprobates, and Noisy Ones from the threads at Open Left have landed their own site.

Others to add?


A reminder for Adam and David (4.00 / 3)
Adam Bink's been really busy contributing to the Prop 8 Trial Tracker.

And, David Sirota's columns can be subscribed to; the most recent is here.

[ Parent ]
LIVE Wisconsin Fight Back Event!! (4.00 / 3)
moveonorg on livestream.com. Broadcast Live Free


--

The government has a defect: it's potentially democratic. Corporations have no defect: they're pure tyrannies. -Chomsky
Sigh... I'm still checking this damn site. (4.00 / 5)

Wow!! ... (4.00 / 4)
has everyone finally given up?   ;-)  .. or will this thread get new life?
join us, CJATTA (4.00 / 3)
we need you at sitenamehere.org
[ Parent ]
I already have ... ;-) ... (4.00 / 2)
under the name I use at all places other than here and TGOS
[ Parent ]
I have not given up! (4.00 / 5)
It is a pilgrimage to a fantastic site, that even today has no match. for various reasons. There are other good sites, there are places that are growing in importance, and sites that have matured a good deal.

But even now, the "thousand or so" who visit here think so.  

--

The government has a defect: it's potentially democratic. Corporations have no defect: they're pure tyrannies. -Chomsky

[ Parent ]
*tap* *tap* *tap* (4.00 / 2)
Is this thing still on?

Am I ever sick of the sycophants over at DKos...

- bp

Wisconsin LIve! Sat 12th March 2011 Go Wisconsin, All of America is with the Badgers! (4.00 / 4)
Watch live streaming video from indiancountrytv at livestream.com


--

The government has a defect: it's potentially democratic. Corporations have no defect: they're pure tyrannies. -Chomsky
This Is Just Goofy (4.00 / 3)
My laptop blew up after I installed Windows 7 SP1, and it took me a couple of weeks to get (most) everything back up and running; and I come back here and this Open Thread is still alive?

Wow.

We have been waiting for you, we didn't want you to think we didn't care. (4.00 / 3)
Now on to the 17th!

--

The government has a defect: it's potentially democratic. Corporations have no defect: they're pure tyrannies. -Chomsky
[ Parent ]
Now ... (4.00 / 2)
the 18th ...  ;-)
[ Parent ]
Week-Minded (4.00 / 4)
Well, I was only able to hold out just under six days before posting yet again this time. Maybe this is like the afterlife, or something. After all, as David Byrne has assured us, heaven is a place where nothing ever happens.
And yet .. (4.00 / 3)
this place is still getting close to 1,000 hits a day .. almost 2 months after the original goodbye  ;-)
[ Parent ]
Last! (4.00 / 3)
Goodbye, and good luck to all.

Keep your mind free and clear, Donna Edwards, and don't sell your soul.
I am sorry to see you go, we will post forelornly for as long as we can. (4.00 / 2)
The community was worth preserving, even it had fewer articles, as a meeting space, and as a breaking news source of all too ignored stories.

Come back openleft! we will feast and drink at the return of the prodigal!

--

The government has a defect: it's potentially democratic. Corporations have no defect: they're pure tyrannies. -Chomsky

[ Parent ]
We should all come back .. (4.00 / 2)
and see if we can get this thread to 1,000 comments  ;-)  .. talk about all the crappy GOP Governors or something
[ Parent ]
You are right... (4.00 / 4)
That the community was worth preserving. Its a shame Chris and Mike didn't put more thought, or care, into that aspect of how they ended this. Progressives need to get better at being serious about the term "community," and builing structures to support it - that don't depend on the good will, or thoughtfulness, of a few individuals.  
[ Parent ]
I have come to that conclusion too. (4.00 / 2)
I was shocked at first and in denial, like a lot of people with bad news I went through stages. But I have ended up with a little anger, communities are hard to build, and I mean more than the work of setting up a site. Openleft in some part was its' frontpagers, but also it's community of a vary diverse set of viewpoints, who were more than willing to talk and argue, even as heat built often.

Thousands of people came to learn and contribute.

Its a damn shame, and I still miss it.

Think what we could have discussed around egypt, the power of police, the role of state media vs. popular media, comparing Egypt to Wisconsin, our press to theirs, similarities and differences.

--

The government has a defect: it's potentially democratic. Corporations have no defect: they're pure tyrannies. -Chomsky

[ Parent ]
Here is a fresh topic. (4.00 / 1)
Think of it as fresh thread.

The press the world around is no longer covering the Japanese nuclear crisis.

1) Nothing good, no good news has come from Japan's reactors for weeks, and there is plenty of bad news.
   Including: High radiation has been found outside the evacuation zone.
   Including: Plutonium is leaking into the ground water.
   Including: The sea water used to keep it cool, is going back into the ocean, where they are relying on dispersal to lower it's radioactivity. Sad, Just incredibly sad, horrifically sad.

The energy companies are owned by the same people who own the press.

No nukes ever, they are lying, spread the word.

--

The government has a defect: it's potentially democratic. Corporations have no defect: they're pure tyrannies. -Chomsky

Two Months and Counting (4.00 / 3)
This is officially the longest seven days ever.
Wow .. (4.00 / 4)
a week went by ... is anyone still here?  ;-)
Nope (4.00 / 4)
These are just voices in your head, man.
[ Parent ]
I don't think I ever said (4.00 / 5)
"I'm going to miss this site" in any of the farewell threads - I didn't see the point.

But after a couple of months I can honestly say that I miss this site. Quick Hits and Paul Rosenberg especially.

Though if this comment makes it up, I'm thinking about posting regularly in this thread in the hopes that some front-pager gets annoyed enough to resuscitate the whole shooting match.

Never did care much for the site. (0.00 / 0)
To much democratic party sycophancy, glad to see it go. Really hated Lux, Adam, Rosenberg, Bowers, et al. I suppose they are reformist capitalist democratic party apologist, and I'm a Marxist, so i suppose we were never going to see eye to eye, however their milquetoast arguments did help me evolve politically.  
does anyone else (4.00 / 4)
see the irony of this comment?

Oh wait, there's nobody here.

[ Parent ]
Well ... (4.00 / 2)
this place is still open .. kinda .. and despite it being "closed" .. it doesn't get that much less traffic than MyDD .. wow!
Which is sadder - (4.00 / 4)
that folks still come by, or that folks still feel the need to come by?
[ Parent ]
That folks... (4.00 / 3)
still recommend the comments. :-)
[ Parent ]
Oh Good... (4.00 / 2)
...y'all still here. Had to check in one more time before the Rapture. ;-)
get a few pairs of shoes, pants and some shirts (4.00 / 1)
leave them lying around, laid out nicely in your town.

I like the idea of a set of them just outside the elevator in the parking garage of your apartment building, if you can, a just emptied pair of heels, pantyhose, skirt, blouse and pearls adds to the scene.

Have fun you rascals.

--

The government has a defect: it's potentially democratic. Corporations have no defect: they're pure tyrannies. -Chomsky

[ Parent ]
I guess ... (4.00 / 1)
I missed out on the rapture .. I'm still here  ;-)
[ Parent ]
Is anyone still alive out there? (4.00 / 2)

bruce (4.00 / 3)

[ Parent ]
yes (n/t) (4.00 / 3)


Politics is the art of the possible, but that means you have to think about changing what is possible, not that you have to accept it in perpetuity.
[ Parent ]
Almost too late! (4.00 / 3)
We'll keep it going.  Still bummed about no Open Left.
[ Parent ]
Anyone still out there? (4.00 / 5)

[ Parent ]
yup (4.00 / 3)

[ Parent ]
Marching Towards August (4.00 / 2)
...still.
[ Parent ]
And . . . (4.00 / 2)
we're there. Though I think the comments are getting less frequent.
[ Parent ]
Open Left will never die (4.00 / 1)
Does anyone know a good new home for nerdy progressives?  Dailykos is a little better now that they are calling out Obama a bit more, but the groupthink is still annoying.
[ Parent ]
It seems no one .. (0.00 / 0)
wants to continue the comments ..  :-(
[ Parent ]
Just Checking (4.00 / 1)

[ Parent ]
This thing still on? (4.00 / 2)
So cool.
whatzup (4.00 / 2)
You should pull a Billmon and turn the neon light back on.

On twitter: @BobBrigham
[ Parent ]
I'm thinking Buffalo Bills chat room (4.00 / 1)
I'll start: #LetsGoBuffalo
[ Parent ]
Buffalo still has a team? (4.00 / 1)
Did you see this?

SYRACUSE, NY-In a hastily delivered statement from the passenger side of the young woman's lime-green Hyundai Tiburon, Syracuse University announced Sunday it was leaving the Big East, the conference it helped create more than 30 years ago, for a 23-year-old exotic dancer and vodka brand ambassador named "Misti." "We've had a nice run with the Big East, but we think Misti has more to offer us," said Syracuse athletic director Daryl Gross, crediting the woman for bringing a "renewed sense of purpose" to the 141-year-old research institution. "We have had some good times-great times, actually, really great-with the Big East, and we hope we can continue to maintain a friendly relationship, but we think it's time for us to pursue other options." Gross quickly added that the young woman is "really smart" and wants to go to school to become a dental hygienist, which is perfect, because they are a school.


On twitter: @BobBrigham
[ Parent ]
That hurts (4.00 / 3)
Don't kick us when we're down. (sniff)

Long live the Big East!

[ Parent ]
Feeling better about the Phils yet? (n/t) (4.00 / 1)


Politics is the art of the possible, but that means you have to think about changing what is possible, not that you have to accept it in perpetuity.
[ Parent ]
I AGREE, Hell , I'll beg. Please Chris, Please, reopen openleft (4.00 / 1)
It was before its time, and it is now perfectly set for the discussions that have started.

Its big, its time.

Lets openleft.

--

The government has a defect: it's potentially democratic. Corporations have no defect: they're pure tyrannies. -Chomsky

[ Parent ]
What ever happened to Billmon anyway? .. (0.00 / 0)
he reappeared at TGOS for a while .. and now has apparently disappeared again .. given the latest developments .. I hope he comes back!
[ Parent ]
old school (4.00 / 3)
It's like putting on your winter coat for the first time all season and finding a full pack of cigarettes from when you last wore it in the spring.

Smoke 'em if you got 'em!

On twitter: @BobBrigham

Can't believe I remembered my login. (4.00 / 2)
Like going through the rooms of an old house.

Blue Hampshire - Defeating Republicans since 2006.
[ Parent ]
wow (4.00 / 3)
A veritable outburst of OpenLeft activity.
is it just me (4.00 / 3)
Or was Openleft prophetic about what needed to happen for the left to succeed post-economic collapse? To considerable derision, Openleft was advocating, 3 years ago:

Going after the financial industry/banks

A populist movement on the left

The "nuclear" option to end the filibuster in the Senate

I guess when all else fails those crazy ideas don't seem so crazy.

It's not just you. n/t (4.00 / 2)


Politics is the art of the possible, but that means you have to think about changing what is possible, not that you have to accept it in perpetuity.
[ Parent ]
Is it just me, or is it time for a heterogenous left (4.00 / 2)
discussion place, to take up the difficult task of being outrageous, dreamy, excited, voting and not, active and not, on wall street and occupying Kansas city, to have a place like openleft?

Because this is the most exciting dangerous and momentous time in modern American history

Damn I'm excited.

--

The government has a defect: it's potentially democratic. Corporations have no defect: they're pure tyrannies. -Chomsky

I have statred a new thread/diary (4.00 / 3)

"We Need to Openleft. History changes, opportunities arise. Re-Open OpenLeft"

--

The government has a defect: it's potentially democratic. Corporations have no defect: they're pure tyrannies. -Chomsky

Where are all the peeps at? ... (4.00 / 2)
I thought we were going to keep this going!!  ;-)
Happy holidays (4.00 / 4)
I just reactivated my Dkos account (last logged in in 2006, my name is Karl B) and realized that I was doing it because OL had left a void in my ability to comment on intelligent postings. Yeah, I know I'll have to sift through a lot of stuff to find the good diaries at dkos. I'll start with Chris B. and go from there...

Anyway, I dropped by to see what was up here and am surprised that this topic is still open. So hurrah for that and see you all around. Have a Happy Christmas and Merry 2012.

Karl in Drexel Hill, PA

Happy Birthday Chris Bowers! (4.00 / 2)
It's his birthday and this site ain't dying!  Happy Birthday Chris!
Any small bit of news creates hysteria... (4.00 / 1)
When did there get to be five choices in the recommend / troll drop-down?

Has someone idly upgraded some code? added a plugin? And who might I ask is someone.

Don't toy with us!!!

LOL

oh pulease, its open left! Open it! I want a Paul! I want a Chris. Mike David Natasha Adam! Damn it!

--

The government has a defect: it's potentially democratic. Corporations have no defect: they're pure tyrannies. -Chomsky

Dang!! .. (4.00 / 1)
It's been a year since OL closed up shop .. glad to see someone still remembers this place!!  ;-)
[ Parent ]
Here's something you didn't know about openleft.com (4.00 / 2)
Openleft.com still gets, now, when closed, an average of over five hundred hits a day.

500.

Yep, and it shows little inclination of going down, it fell off by two thirds last year, but is averaging about 18k visits a month, pretty regularly since then, and is on track to make that this month too.

So, one, put some more ads on the dern thing, and open it up again.

Eighteen thousand a month, when it's been closed for a long long time. Its not just a couple of old hands a week making poking motions, or jotting a sad request, it's 18,000 visits a month.

Openleft, open openleft, open openleft.com please, you will be glad you did.

--

The government has a defect: it's potentially democratic. Corporations have no defect: they're pure tyrannies. -Chomsky

in the meantime, here's a new video listen to (4.00 / 1)

[ Parent ]
Good to see some people still come back!! ;-) (0.00 / 0)

[ Parent ]
I am going to call it. Chris is checking in, Updating the code and planning (4.00 / 1)
on reopening the site.

I get four OL points, three Karma points and tin hat.

googleplus? not there when it closed.

--

The government has a defect: it's potentially democratic. Corporations have no defect: they're pure tyrannies. -Chomsky

I don't know much about these things, but it's conceivable (4.00 / 1)
that the template got updated automatically somehow.

Here's hoping, though.

[ Parent ]
OL is back!! ... (0.00 / 0)
I don't know what the heck happened .. since it was down for almost 2 weeks .. but it's back now!!
soon as OL went down, Romney's numbers started to improve (4.00 / 1)
Coincidence???
[ Parent ]
Helloooooooooooo (0.00 / 0)
Anyone still here?

Politics is the art of the possible, but that means you have to think about changing what is possible, not that you have to accept it in perpetuity.
yes (4.00 / 1)
nt
[ Parent ]
Question for 2016 (0.00 / 0)
Predict who will be the presidential nominee for each party in 2016. If this thread is still going we can see who was closest.
Open Thread | 178 comments
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