Thoughts on BFL Conference

The BFL conference, yesterday in Pasadena, was a wonderful opportunity to meet fellow BFL bloggers--a varied group of unique personalities but all talented writers. I have several impressions that I would like to share of the BFL and reactions to the provocative and informative talks by the speakers. I add my public gratitude to Justene and other organizers of the event.

Here are photographs, by Left Beach, of conference organizers and speakers: http://breakers.typepad.com/leftbeach/2005/07/bear_flag_leagu.html

Is the League inching toward the question whether it might constitute (or re-constitute?) itself as a political action organization, perhaps to participate in electoral politics?

• I think such a trajectory is frought with problems, not the least being the tendency of political action to build a party line. With a loose affinity group, such as BFL, an effort to take positions would probably push some bloggers out of the League.
• It is a rule of politics that politicians listen to organized constituencies, not to individual voters (or writers or bloggers). Organized groups have letterhead stationary with a title, logo, and sometimes a motto. That sounds foolish, perhaps, as a way to impress a politician; but to the politician, it signals that the voters have taken the time to organize themselves, pool some amount of money, and plan to be around longer than the passing interest of the particular individuals who are in the group. Are we ready to have a letterhead stationary for political purposes? See, that's a big jump. I should have asked Bob Hertzberg his opinion, whether my view is on target; but the question  did not occur to me  at the conference.
• Personally, I think a stronger, more natural, role for the BFL is to develop issues of conservative concern. Issues need to be defined, background research done, print references accumulated, optional political positions developed, policies and solutions suggested, documentary sources accumulated, audiences identified, interest groups contacted, voting alliances identified, and so on.
• In this line, to my perception, the strength of the BFL is its diverse and cumulative intellect and energy. Lots of ideas, discussed and hashed out, seems to be where we could quickly make a contribution. Allan Hoffenblum and Ted Costa both made the point that if electoral districts could be made competitive (as with the ballot initiative), elections would be forced to focus on issues. Then BFL's role (in the sense of the ideas of the individual bloggers) would automatically enhanced and more important.
• Creating special interest side-groups, such as Log Cabin Republicans, seems like a more effective way to go for political action. I think it would be great if a whole bunch of such side groups  might be formed and affiliated with BFL without compelling BFL to take positions.

Dan Weintraub discussed the role of the BFL blogging in terms of "citizen journalism". He suggested that citizen journalism has a strong contribution to make to political discussion by providing information and ideas; but that bloggers need to utilize the regular tools and sources of investigative reporting. I think that we will need to do so if we are to have our voices heard, once corporate America and hard political organizations use blogs more. Is there a way in which BFL might, as an organization, separately considered from individual efforts by League members, engage in investigative journalism?

• I think we are taking a step in that direction with the special election blog for cross-posting of articles about the Fall's special election.
• What do you think about the idea of paying a member of the league to blog a special event? We could identify a few special events and then invite BFL bloggers who would have to ability to attend them to  do so. We might pay a small stipend to cover expenses, to be raised by voluntary donation from members. Special events might include political debates, or interviews with candidates, or assembly votes, or campaign rallies, and so on.

Sorry for the length of these notes. As other ideas occur to me, I will add them. Of course, I hope you will respond in comments.

Here are other BFL links to the conference:

Log Cabin Republicans: http://blogcabinca.org/2005/07/18/bear-flag-league-conference-post-mortem

American Digest: http://americandigest.org/mt-archives/005658.php

Baldilocks:  http://baldilocks.typepad.com/baldilocks/2005/07/upon_.html

BoiFromTroy: http://boifromtroy.com/archives/004282.php

California Mafia: http://camafia.blogspot.com/2005/07/bear-flag-league-wagging-dog.html

Captain's Quarters provides a transactional account of the conference: http://www.captainsquartersblog.com/mt/archives/004983.php

Cobb: http://www.mdcbowen.org/cobb/archives/004273.html

Democracy Market: http://democracymarket.blogspot.com/2005/07/bear-flag-league-summer-conference-re.html

Flap: http://flapsblog.com/?p=585

Local Liberty: http://www.claremont.org/localliberty/archives/003473.html

Miller's Time: http://millers_time.typepad.com/millers_time/2005/07/bfl_conference.html

Patterico: http://patterico.com/2005/07/17/3336/bear-flag-league-conference-2/

Prestopundit: http://gregransom.com/prestopundit/?p=147

Right on the Left Beach: http://breakers.typepad.com/leftbeach/2005/07/the_incriminati.html

Tan Horizons: http://tanhorizons.blogspot.com/, updated http://tanhorizons.blogspot.com/2005/07/bfl-summer-conference.html

I have not linked all of the BFL articles that only point to the Weintraub column about the Conference in the Sacramento Bee.

(Revised 7.19.05, 7.20.05, 7.22.05)