Democratic Website "OPEN LEFT" is CLOSING DOWN...(Chris Bowers Message re Closing)

[KoKo]

Sad news, but not unexpected, in these times.

If you cared about the site..go over there and pay your respects, if you are so inclined. If you hated them and want to do snark...please refrain.

Every Democratic Website that was tied to "THE MOVEMENT" to change our Democratic Party that goes down is a loss to us. I'm sure Freepers and Trolls would want to do "Grave Dancing," but this is "one more force for change" going down. It's very sad, indeed.

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Open Left is closing
by: Chris Bowers
Fri Feb 04, 2011 at 09:00

I have some sad news. After nearly four years in operation, today will be the final day Open Left publishes new content.

The site will not disappear, and all published content will remain online, but after today we will cease producing new content.

As the people who founded the site, myself included, moved on to other projects, we have gradually run out of money to maintain operations. It is a difficult decision, but we kept going for as long as we could.

I am, and always will be proud of the work we did here. I am, and will always be grateful to everyone who supported, visited, and participated in the site.

No matter what, the inside-outside fight we engaged for progressive change at Open Left will continue in other venues, even though this blog is about to close. The movement is much bigger than one blog.

Farewell posts will run throughout the day. Thank you, so much, to everyone.
Chris Bowers :: Open Left is closing

[KoKo]

1. Kick...because it's so sad to see a Dem Website with many Netroots Activists Go Down and see that

No One Cares. In fact it got no interest....and, I think that's why Left Democratic Websites will go down ...one by one..by one.

Some folks, here..might find that a good thing. But, EVERY VOICE WE LOSE is another death to Liberal values.

Yet, so many here post about "Women's Rights, Homeless Rights and Elderly American Rights that go back to the NEW DEAL and GREAT DEM PRESIDENTS who FOUGHT FOR THE "Least amongst us."

So...if no one cares if "Open Left" goes down then ...so be it. I think EVERY VOICE for the LEFT that GOES DOWN..is a sad thing for the Progressive Movement against Corporate, Military Industrial Complex's Influence.

So..if you don't care, I got it. BUT, it was important to post the DEMISE of a NETROOTS WEBSITE.

Just remember that DU could be Next!

[Hello_Kitty]

2. Well, with some of our fellow Democrats disdaining the Left and doing their damndest to shut us up

It should come as no surprise that voices from the Left are being silenced.

[KoKo]

3. I know...it isn't surprising...but nonetheless...it's sad to see the HOPES of Us.........

GO DOWN. Maybe it isn't as depressing as I think on "first view."

It...Is..WHAT IT IS... We Morph FORWARD. :shrug: Maybe it's in "Other Ways?" Still... I hope folks who read them "over there" will go over and join in the Eulogy. Even if you are not religious to know what a "Eulogy" means.

[KoKo]

7. I didn't think other folks here got what a loss it was. Thanks for seeing that and posting.

It's not often that many of us who are upset about the demise of the Left even get anyone posting in sympathy...of some kind.

THANK YOU. What do we do going forward?...We seem out of ideas. :-(

[bluestate10]

15. What does that say?

The overwhelming majority of the country is moderate in politics and tone. It comes as no surprise to this poster that Left and Right sites are struggling to stay afloat.

BTW. If the site was so important to Netroots types, why didn't they shell out cash to keep it running? At the risk of sounding like a broken record, the issue that I have with progressives is the disconnection between what they believe and how they act. I have an almost identical complaint about the right.

[Hello_Kitty]

17. Um, the the rabid right is fomenting VIOLENCE

Especially against liberals.

Name some liberals with anywhere near the prominence of Rush or Glenn Beck doing the same. I'll wait.

[bluestate10]

20. I am not defending the right, I hate the neanderthals.

The point that I was making is that the country is neither Left or Right, regardless of what those fringes think of their power or base. BTW, the Left does not issue threats or incite violence like the Right, your point on that is accepted as being 100% true.

[LWolf]

18. +1

[madfloridian]

4. Very good site. Sad.

Chris came from the Dean Campaign...a great blogger and researcher.

[KoKo]

5. Okay...it's Sad to have to KICK this One. I wonder how many more Lefty Sites will go down

in the next two years.

It's something worth thinking about...and, again, I'm sad to have to KICK my own post to BRING HOME that LEFTY WEB SITES ARE DISAPPEARING!

It seems that DU..."DEMOCRATIC UNDERGROUND" is OKAY with this.

I can UNDERSTAND. Take that for what you will..........................

[KoKo]

6. Another "kick" for "Open Left" going down..sad stuff...........

:-(

[KoKo]

8. ...! for one of our best DEM LEFT Web Sites...going down...in these times.

:kick:

[FLAprogressive]

9. very disappointing news

[marmar]

10. Oh No !!!! I love OpenLeft....

This truly sucks......

[KoKo]

11. Gotta do my "Night Shift" ...work...so a KICK for folks logging in later tonight.

I just can't not "Kick" a site with folks who worked so hard after "STOLEN ELECTION 2000" and give CREDIT for the NETROOTS THEY BUILT and not feel they need a EULOGY...when they can NO LONGER SUSTAIN a DEM LEFT WING WEB SITE.

It's SAD...but they DID GREAT, INSPIRING WORK...and THOSE OF US WHO WERE WITH THEM...from the UP's and DOWNS's will ALWAYS BE GREATFUL TO THEM FOR WHAT THEY DID for Democracy and FREEDOM AGAINST BUSH! and PUSH FOR CHANGE!

:party: :yourock"

:toast: :toast: to "OPEN LEFT!"

[Flubadubya]

12. I'll be glad to kick this for you KoKo...

It is truly sad when the voices on the left are silenced... and the saddest part is how they go out, not with a bang, but with a whimper.

I also have to agree with Hello_Kitty, however, and lament the fact that we on the left are often so disrespected by our own so-called party members... even right here on DU, mind you.

It's particularly sad to see what passes for "Democrat" these days anyway. I live in Mike Ross' 6th District in Arkansas and I have had to quit voting for this sucker altogether. Except for this past November election I haven't voted for him in 5 years. I can't. This moron votes with the Repugs at least 80% of the time; voted to repeal HC, voted with the Thugs on the "rape bill". I wasn't sorry to see Blanche Lincoln go either, and feel just about the same way about Pryor. I hate to see them replaced with with the likes of tea-baggers and GOP criminals, but I'm not so sure anymore that the country will ever turn around until we have hit "rock bottom"... so sad.

Alas, not until "Dems" become true Dems again (in values and principles) will we see the revival of any sort of Progressive movement in this country. I hope we still have a chance, but right now the prospects appear rather dismal. :cry:

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

13. K&R

[mr clean]

14. Kick

[xchrom]

16. a sad recommend. nt

[WillyT]

24. Me Too...

:(

:kick: & Rec

[cate94]

19. k & r

Sad to see it go.

[defendandprotect]

21. Never even knew it existed ... !!

[Fokker Trip]

22. K&R

[rhett o rick]

23. k&r

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

25. another kick