| Ever since New Nebraska Network switched over to a community format three years ago, the About NNN box in its top left-hand corner has introduced the site by stating, "Since March 2005, New Nebraska Network has been the state's premier source of progressive online political commentary and community-building." I've always defended that description from suggestions of boastfulness based on the simple fact that no one else was even attempting to fill these voids in our state's political consciousness. Essentially, it wasn't bragging when there was no real competition.
Well, I'm happy to say that's no longer the case. Bold Nebraska has been up and running for the last month, and it's doing one hell of a job!
With its early leadership raising awareness of the TransCanada oil pipeline, Bold Nebraska proved itself an impressive force for progressive action right out of the gate. It's continued to impress with great online features like the Bold Roundup and Wimp Wednesdays. And, confessing that my own dedication to blogging has waned considerably in recent months, I can't give credit enough to Bold Nebraska's Jane Kleeb and Malinda Frevert for the great work they're doing holding our elected officials accountable and offering a different, better vision for the future of our state.
What's best of all is that they're only getting started!
The Nebraska Republican Party has already shown just how fearful it is of a progressive organization with some actual resources treading on its supposed territory. From a mock website to endless conspiracy theories about Bold Nebraska's funding among the commenting hordes at Leavenworth Street, it's clear that a nerve's been struck and that there's some measure of panic in right-wing political circles with a lot invested in protecting the status quo.
Of course, the very idea of a Republican complaining about the transparency of Bold Nebraska's funding is positively absurd and insanely hypocritical. Just look at the whole slew of right-wing front organizations in the local poltitical landscape (i.e. Omaha Alliance for the Private Sector, not to mention the Pete Ricketts-funded Platte Institute for Economic Research, Nebraska Watchdog, Education Opportunity Nebraska, and - brand new - Plains States Legal Foundation). Bold Nebraska's small team can't possibly compete on all those levels. But, just by offering a competing voice and helping to organize Nebraska progressives at the grassroots, their work opens a world of possibilities for our state's political future.
So, how does New Nebraska Network fit within that future? I don't really know yet. Since the 2008 election, I've generally been keeping this site going out of a sense of obligation - because something like it SHOULD exist. That self-imposed burden has lifted quite a bit since Bold Nebraska entered the fray, doing many of the things I've tried to do - only better.
For now, I'm still going to try to keep NNN running with new content. But, it's really on the backs of readers to pick up some of my slack with your own diaries and discussions if you think this forum serves an important function and you want to see that it continues. We'll see what happens on that one. Until then, I'm content to be excited by the great work being done by our friends at Bold Nebraska while looking forward to new ways to contribute to those causes and ideals we share on the road ahead.
And, yes, I will be changing that About NNN-intro to reflect the site's newly humbled status . . . just as soon as I get around to it, with a welcome sigh of relief. |
