Live from Chicago: National Review acknowledges the power of the netroots

A certain local right wing blog, which some of our readers are familiar with, has long been in the habit of sneering, mocking, and deriding the growing local netroots community from time to time. The next time they think about calling us a group of nuts, they should keep Byron York's words in mind:

The turnout in Chicago shows that the Kossacks and colleagues from other activist websites have taken their place as the newest wing of the establishment in Democratic-party politics.

They’re not exactly the new bosses; it’s not as if the unions and interest groups have disappeared, but it is true that the netroots now rank alongside them. A candidate who wants to win can no longer ignore the netroots, even if he or she would like to. Politicians like Reid and Pelosi, who not too long ago paid little attention to blogs and new activist groups, now cultivate the netroots at every opportunity.

For once, we'd have to agree with York's analysis. Right wing bloggers may despise the success that our community has enjoyed, but the argument that we're insignificant or somehow not credible is phony.