bryant

Today we're going to dispel the myth of chaos in the Democratic ranks. This is a really popular one, because everybody knows that the conservative movement has spent 40 years building a network of think tanks, foundations, funding, and so on. Progressives can't compare. Wring your hands.

This apocalyptic vision fails to take into account the utility of the Internet, which makes a huge difference when you're trying to build a movement. Thankfully, someone figured this out. Make no mistake: Howard Dean will be as responsible for a Kerry victory as anyone.

So what's it look like in the field? I turn you over to Harold Meyerson, who says "Those liberal organizations that already knew how to do politics -- the AFL-CIO, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) and a few others -- are doing it better than they have before. Those liberal groups that stayed aloof from elections or phumphered ineffectually are now playing the game like seasoned pros."

He goes on to talk about the organizational umbrella provided by America Votes. I hadn't been paying attention to those guys, and clearly I should have been -- their membership list is startlingly comprehensive. As Meyerson says, this is a new high water mark for left-wing unity.