Michigan Bloggers Have the 'Right' Idea
A model for other states to follow
By Bluey Posted in Blogosphere — Comments (0) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
I met Nick De Leeuw for the first time this weekend at the Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference. The young and energetic founder of RightMichigan.com was a fellow panelist during our online activism discussion Saturday. Nick is exactly the type of person we need in every state.
Earlier this year Nick felt there was a void in the Michigan blogosphere for a site that was devoted to conservative politics and online activism. With a background in campaigns and good contacts in Republican circles around the state, he decided to do something about it. The result was RightMichigan.com, a group blog that I'd describe as a mix between RedState (for its politics) and Daily Kos (for its activism).
Nick made clear this weekend that he built the site to serve as a hub for any conservative to get involved. With so many right-leaning blogs focused on punditry, Nick wanted something different. His work is already paying off. Michigan's GOP lawmakers are currently locked in a standoff against Gov. Jennifer Granholm and Democrat legislators over a proposed tax hike. Despite facing tremendous pressure from the Democrats, Republicans have held firm, resulting in some very long days and even longer nights in Lansing.
RightMichigan.com has served as the go-to place for updates on the tax hike. Nick and his fellow contributors have documented what's happening and who's vulnerable. So far their efforts have worked. During Saturday's panel discussion, Nick read an e-mail from one lawmaker who was contacted and lobbied to resist the tax hike. It's tone was a mix of both annoyance (that citizens were contacting the office) and appreciation (that someone was standing up for conservative principles).
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Nick De Leeuw isn't the only blogger making waves in Michigan. While Nick has established the preeminent state/local group blog focused on activism, another 20-something blogger, Dennis Lennox II, has shown how to effectively target a specific candidate. Dennis focuses his energy on Democrat Gary Peters, who is expected to run against Rep. Joe Knollenberg in November 2008. Dennis' blog serves as a valuable resource for keeping an eye on Peters. The left thought of this idea long ago, and even runs a training school called the New Organizing Institute to teach young liberals how to operate such blogs. It's nice to see a conservative doing the same thing.
Fortunately for Nick and Dennis, they have the support of two great individuals at state party headquarters. Chairman Saul Anuzis, the first state party chief to blog, and communications director Bill Nowling, a blogger at Lunchbucket Conservative, are role models for other Republicans.