Clinton Changes Tune, Blog vs. Mainstream Showdown, the New Politics

Jonathan E. Kaplan, a staff writer for The Hill, is covering the YearlyKos convention and will provide periodic updates on the Congress Blog.

Before I head off to Time Magazine’s party a few blocks from the McCormick Place Convention Center, here are a few highlights from the days’ events.

First, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) had been scheduled to participate in the “candidate forum” on Saturday, but she had not planned a post-forum with the bloggers here. That’s changed. To see why, click here.

Second, fireworks flew during a panel discussion between bloggers and some members of the so-called Mainstream Media (MSM). The bloggers ripped the media for a host of sins relating to its coverage of the run-up to the Iraq war and not holding the Bush administration accountable.

Finally, I’ve sat in on panels talking about the emergence of a new politics and innovations in campaigning. Right now, I’m listening to Joe Trippi, an advisor to former Gov. Howard Dean (D-Vt.) in 2004, Stephanie Cutter, spokeswoman for Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) in 2004, and Jerome Armstrong, the founder of mydd.com. Simon Rosenberg, the president of NDN, the New Democratic Network, is moderating the discussion, which is centered on how the Internet has changed campaigning.