It’s that time of year again. The Florida Democratic Party Netroots Coalition is opening nominations for the best of the blogs and online activism. There are a few changes this year, but the process will largely be the same. Between now and the end of August, we’ll be taking nominations for the best writing, posting and online activism in the state of Florida amongst the left-wing blogs. The process is simple. Send me your nominations in the categories below. This is just the nomination period. All nominations that fit the category descriptions will be accepted. Any nominees that are in the wrong category will be moved to the right category. Keep in mind that all nominees have to be Florida-based and that they can’t be Republicans. Any posts, blogs, etc., that have appeared since last year’s awards are eligible for the awards.
There is no reason to nominate a site more than once, one nomination gets it in. Don’t get your friends to nominate your blog more than once, it doesn’t help and nominations don’t count as votes and they don’t carry over to the next round. Also, keep in mind that last year’s winners can’t be nominated or win in the same category this year. You can send me your nominations via e-mail or you can post them in the comments here.
After the nomination period is over, we will move to the first round of voting. All nominations will be included and we’ll set up the official survey voting software that will tally the votes officially. Any nominees that get 50%+ in the first round will be the winners for that category. If no nominee gets that percent of the vote, there will be a runoff with the highest vote getters. (Special rules apply to the hall of fame category, see below). The final winners in each category will be announced at the Democratic State Convention in October.
Here are the categories with a basic description and last year’s winners:
1. Best National Blog (Last year: Ranger Against War): Blogs written by Floridians that covers primarily national politics.
2. Best State Blog (Last year: Florida Progressive Coalition): Blogs about statewide politics in Florida.
3. Best Local Blog (Last year: St. Petersblog): Blogs about city/county/regional politics in the state of Florida.
4. Best Media Blog (Last year: Political Whore): Blogs written by professional journalists at Florida publications.
5. Best Professional Blog (Last year: The Gelber Blog): Blogs written by state or local political parties, candidates or party operatives in Florida.
6. Best Party Website (Last year: Florida Democrats): Best Florida-wide website associated with a political party or political party unit (such as a caucus or coalition).
7. Best Candidate Website (Last year: Dan Gelber): Anyone running for statewide or local office in Florida can win this one.
8. Best Local Party Website (Last year: Hillsborough County Democratic Party): This one is for Florida DECs, clubs or local chapters of statewide caucuses or coalitions.
9. Best Interest Group Website (Last year: Progressive Democrats of America/Florida Red & Blue): Any Florida-based nonparty activist, charitable or grassroots group. Last year there were two separate categories here — a professional and an amateur one. There wasn’t enough competition to fill both categories, so we combined them.
10. Best Writer (Last year: Kenneth Quinnell): Anyone whose writings is published at any of the above websites is eligible for this one. Winners should have one or more of the following qualities: good grammar and presentation, provides original reporting, has a good sense of humor, shows creativity, has a strong personal touch, or has an effect on the real world because of their writing
11. Netroots Candidate of the Year (Last year: Dan Gelber for State Senate District 35): The Florida candidate at any level who has best incorporated the Netroots into her/his campaign and done the best job of treating Netroots activists as valid constituents and not just another group of people to exploit.
12. Netroots Activist of the Year (Last year: Alison Berke Morano): The individual who has done the most to advance the goals and activities of the progressive Netroots in the state of Florida.
13. Netroots Organization of the Year (Last year: Florida Netroots): The organization that has done the most to advance the goals and activities of the progressive Netroots in the state of Florida.
14. Best New Blogger (Last year: Dan Gelber): This one should go to the best blogger who has been blogging about Florida politics for no more than a year and a half.
15. Best Online Campaign (Last year: Say No 2): This is an award for the best use of the web and related technologies to achieve some kind of goal, such as fundraising, fighting legislation or other activism.
16. Best Use of Twitter (Last year: New category): Any Floridian who uses Twitter and whose posts incorporate the following qualities: good use of the language, original reporting, a good sense of humor, creativity, a strong personal touch and an effect on the real world because of their writing.
17. Best Overall Use of Social Media (Last year: New category): The best use of the various social media sites (Twitter, Facebook and other similar sites) in accomplishing political goals.
18. Best Post (Last year: It’s Not Called the Hate Amendment for Nothing by Kenneth Quinnell at FLA Politics): The best-written post since last year’s awards.
19. Best Ongoing Series (Last year: Stories to Read, Florida Progressive Coalition): The best regular feature that incorporates at least five posts since last year’s awards.
20. Best Online Radio Show (Last year: The Big Show with Alison Berke Morano and Kenneth Quinnell): The best progressive/liberal/Democratic radio show that is aired solely online and does not air on traditional radio.
21. Florida Progressive Coalition Progressive Hall of Fame (Last year: Alison Berke Morano, Susan Smith, Joe Garcia): FPC is sponsoring a virtual “Progressive Hall of Fame” that should be awarded as sort of a lifetime achievement award to a person or organization (amateur or professional) that has made a significant contribution towards making Florida a bluer, more progressive state. This award may have more than one recipient.
I nominate Susan Smith for NetRoots Activist of the year
her untiring efforts to support the Netroots Board Activity
solidarity & peace
RW Spisak
http://www.AveryVoice.com
I nominate Rob Field for http://www.rantsofrob.com for best new blogger.
http://www.dfamiami.com
I nominate http://www.rangeragainstwar.blogspot.com for best writer.
I nominate “The K.F. Stone Weekly,” http://www.kurtfstsone.typepad.com for best national blog. Week in, week out, Kurt Stone writes a national political blog that is progressive, immensely well-written, humorous and charming, and puts things into great historic perspective.
this may be a duplicate. At any rate, it’s my last attempt. I also posted this at smashed frog who may be forced to show up and nominate herself…… a person only has SO MUCH time .. (lol)
I waited all this time to nominate Truman’s Dem for best writer but now see he has not blogged since Mar. 31, 2009.
Nonetheless, his articles are always thorough, timely and very well-researched.
It’s my humble opinion that just because someone shows up EVERYWHERE that does not make a ‘good thing’. Perhaps this stems from my life in Hillsborough County where the faux democrats outnumber the republicans and the neocons (and appear to be batting on the same team ALL TOGETHER) But, when one attends events and it’s always the same faces because the song they sing is that they are ‘the only ones’ who bother, this is an untruth. The truth of the matter is that these folks rely on the fact that others will be discouraged because they can’t hope to out throw the vocal minority who seemingly have no life outside of political events where they cloy the atmosphere continuously.
That said, I Smashed Frog for activist of the year. Her continuing coverage of the inhuman and nazi-ish sex offender laws is far and above out there by itself in a needed capacity.
Anyone who calls themselves a democrat and/or a progressive and is ignoring these laws or referring to them as ‘child protection’ laws has a motivation that should be examined closely.
For these laws are about anything BUT protecting a child. If the inteelectual capacity does not merit discovery of this important fact, no one who can’t figure that out needs to be involved on the political landscape.
Speak up.
Niemoller.
Thanks sunny.
And ftr I do not know ANY sexual offenders. There is a disgusting presence in my hood but that fellow is used by the City of Tampa to degrade the property value and, in fact … his best facet is that he is a sexual predator. He goes downhill after that.
I AM able to see the forest despite the many trees.
Please, feel free to stay home sometimes and let others step up.
Or your constant presence is viewed as a ‘takeover’ attempt.
We in Hillsborough county aren’t as stupid as some like to think.
Love, and peace,
Vox.
Reid Report for Best National Blog.
I nominate http://blog.reidreport.com/ (THE REID REPORT) for Best Media Blog.
voxpop, the awards are for the last year, so nominating Truman is fine.
I would like to nominate Bob McKnight’s blog for the following categories:
#14 Best New Blogger
#18 Best Post: “The Quorum Call” (A Political “Hall of Fame” From Florida’s Golden Era)
I nominate Waymon Hudson for best writer: http://florida.bilerico.com/contributors/waymon_hudson/
and Waymon Hudson for best Twitter:
http://twitter.com/Waymonhudson
I would like to nominate DFAMiami for best overall use of social media.
“Florida Progressive Coalition” for best Florida blog.
I’d like to nominate FLA Politics for best state blog. I think it’s essential reading for any Florida political junkie!
http://www.flapolitics.com
and the Miami-Dade Dems blog for best local party site
http://miami-dade-dems.blogspot.com/
Thanks!
I nominate Vicki Impoco. Vick blogs for Florida Today newspaper in the Opinion Matters section. She is one of the few progressive voices in a very conservative community.
Vicki is on the Citizens Advisory Board for Florida Today.
Vick is the President of The Peace Coalition of Brevard and has worked tirelessly since the beginnings of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq to bring the troops home.
Vicki is also the Treasurer of Brevard NOW (National Organization for Women) and is on the organizing committee for Take Back The Night, an community-wide domestic violence awareness rally to be held in Melbourne on October 24th.
In addition to her blogging and activism work, Vicki works at Holmes Regional Medical Center as an intensive care nurse. She is married with five children and one grandchild. She is most deserving of this award.
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Heritage_Foundation
I second that, i too vote for vicki impoco. There is nothing i can add to the above it is all stated so perfectly and i agree with it all.
I also nominate Vicki Impoco, she has done so much for progressive causes for Brevard County and the state of Florida. Everything Laura Fausone said, is a ditto. She is an amazing and hard working progressive. Thanks Goodness for Vicky Impoco, Thanks Michele Paccione/Palm Bay City Council Member
I nominate Vicki Impoco who is the President of The Peace Coalition of Brevard Her blog on Opinion Matters on Florida Today helps bring a progressive light to our right wing county.
I nominate Vicki Impoco for best new blogger.
http://www.floridatoday.com/content/blogs/opinion/2009/08/rep-bill-posey-to-host-health-care-town_25.shtml#comments
I Nominate Vicki Impoco for BEST LOCAL BLOG for her remarks in Florida TODAY. She is a peace activist and works with NOW for the Take Back the Night Event for Domestic Abuse.
#3: Opinion Matters blog (www.floridatoday.com/content/blogs/opinion) for the FLORIDA TODAY
Thanks, Tyler. It’s too late to make any nominations at this point, but you can vote now at: http://www.esurveyspro.com/Survey.aspx?id=1cf67d0a-b4f1-48cb-97db-d36855cbe9ee
Please accept my nomination for Vick Impoco, who works tirelessly for global peace and prosperity for all.