Just an announcement:
Shortly after the State of the Union ends, Congressman Jim McDermott (D/WA-07) will post a rebuttal and will respond to comments live at Washblog.
For those who haven’t heard yet, Washblog is Washington state’s answer to Kos and Booman, a scoop-based community blog focused on Washington state politics. We already have a Mukilteo City Councilman as a front-pager, and we’re thrilled to welcome Congressman McDermott into the fold as our newest Washblogger.
Below the fold is the media advisory we sent out this morning.
Please stop by Washblog tonight around 7:30pm Pacific time, and say hello to the Congressman!
SEATTLE–On Tuesday, January 31, 2006, Washington political activists will join Congressman Jim McDermott in a live on-line rebuttal and discussion after President Bush’s State of the Union speech. Washblog (www.washblog.com), a local community weblog focused on political debate, will host the conversation shortly after the State of the Union ends.
Featuring Washington politics and free, open debate, Washblog was founded in 2005 by Brian Moran of Everett. Readers are encouraged to create a free account and interact by leaving comments or writing their own stories, known as “diaries”. Washblog recently blogged live as HB 2661, the gay civil rights bill, wound its way through the state Legislature, and was first to report on the bill’s passage.
Congressman McDermott will join his colleagues Tim Ryan (D-OH), Rush Holt (D-NJ) and Frank Pallone (D-NJ) in a coordinated response beginning at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s blog (http://blog.dccc.org/). About 45 minutes after the State of the Union, the Congressmen will each post on different blogs, MyDD (www.mydd.com), Blue Jersey (www.bluejersey.net), and NJ for Democracy (www.njfordemocracy.com/) respectively.
“We are extremely excited to have Congressman McDermott join the conversation at Washblog,” Moran said, “His is a powerful voice in Washington State, and we look forward to his thoughts on the various subjects that affect all of us.”
McDermott is expected to speak to issues regarding the war in Iraq, healthcare, and the difficult economic choices average Americans face under the Bush Administration. Other possible topics include warrantless wiretapping and the Republican corruption scandal in Congress.
“Political discourse has changed,” said writer Arthur Ruger of Willapa Bay. “Elected officials have the opportunity, and a responsibility, to use these new tools to engage directly with their constituents. We’re all very excited that Congressman McDermott has chosen to lead the way in embracing this new opportunity to speak with voters. As Democrats, we certainly look forward to his take on President Bush’s optimism in the face of real-world problems.”