It was only 8 years ago
Yep - about Just over 8 years ago, Bush was announced victor in the 2000 election and ultimately that announcement was confirmed by the Supreme Court. Then there were midterms on 2002 and another election in 2004. Can you say bleak?
There was good news in 2006 with retaking the House and Senate and we are poised for greatness in 2008. Note: - poised - Democrats still have the opportunity to screw it up.
This article over Politico is a great summary of events how how the Democrats have begun to change their party as well as issue other outside groups have helped contribute to the cause.
Let’s start with this…
In contrast, the progressive side was armed with some remnants of the Clinton machine, a few centrist-minded think tanks dismissed by some as conservative-lite and a handful of ponderous policy organizations that lacked communication wings.
The national party committees weren’t in much better shape after suffering for years from chronic fundraising deficits and recruitment challenges.
Roughly 40 state party headquarters were in disarray, some on the verge of closing down. The Democratic governors had lost their majority in 1996 and, in 2002, the party lost its majority status in national state legislative seats for the first time in 50 years.
It goes from there to discuss DNC Chair Dean and the 50 state strategy, the start of progressive think tanks, Internet, issue oriented groups blogs, and use of language.
it seems there is a lot not mentioned - progressive media like Air America or Jones Network, some blogs and communities like DKOS or YKOS didn’t get mentioned, in fact RT wasn’t mentioned mentioned either 
) but I’m chalking it up to article space.
What impressed me as I look back on how things were as opposed to now is that there is a budding movement growing, changing and evolving to get messages out, to offer a counter to what has become the right wing noise machine. People are being offered options an alternative candidate or a different voice.
It is certainly far from perfect and as I have always maintained various groups like MoveOn, DFA, issue groups like Sierra Club and such offer an on-ramp into the political world. I’ll also maintain that there isn’t a single savior either - be it the 50 state strategy or the creation of the various groups discussed.
Everyone, every group, event, whatever has a role to play in shaping what is to come. All need each other.
The article is a decent read sometimes we need to be reminded how far we have come. For example -
Back then, Media Matters scrambled to challenge Corsi’s anti-Kerry book, but the organization was just three months old and had only about 15 full-time employees.
Today, Media Matters is home to more than 100 full-time researchers and monitors. Its communication team alone has gone from two people in 2004 to 20 today.
Thus, the day the Times reported that Corsi’s Obama book was going to top the best-seller list, Media Matters flew into action.
It blasted reporters and bloggers with e-mails showing a litany of errors in the book and attacked Corsi’s credentials as a serious author.
By nightfall, Media Matters’ Paul Waldman went toe to toe with Corsi on CNN’s “Larry King Live.”
Anyone want to share your stories.
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Just over 8 years ago???
From today , November 2000 was just over 8 years ago.
“Just over 8 years ago, Bush was announced victor in the 2000 election”
Nevermind - I see the problem. I’m writing from a November 2008 perspective as in “we have come a long way from November 2000″. My starting point is November 2008 mapping back to August 2000 .
You are saying, rightly so, that today it is August 2008 so it isn’t quite 8 years to November 2000.
Sorry for the confusion.