Well, it is all your fault. That’s right your support for the Dog has resulted in the great folks at Democracy for America awarding the old hound a Netroots Nation Scholarship!

For those who don’t know, Democracy for America is Dr. Dean’s social activism group. DFA provides all kinds of great things; it provides a place to get hooked in with other progressives from your area, it provides training in candidacy, campaign management and activism and this year along with last, it provides scholarships to the Netroots Nation.

"Originally posted at Squarestate.net"

For those of you who have the means, the Dog strongly recommends that you donate a few dollars to this worthy organization. You can donate here.
This is not just about Netroots Nation, DFA is one of the organizations which is leading the fight for national health care. Before he was a Governor, before he was a candidate, before he was the DNC Chairman, Dr. Dean was a medical man. He knows what it means for us if we fail to pass health care reform with a strong public option. He and DFA are working tirelessly in the pursuit of this needed reform.

Beyond that, DFA is committed to the ideals that Founders had for our nation, the belief an informed citizenry is the best way to deliver the needed governance of a free people. It is to this end they are sending 40 activists and bloggers to NN ’09. There are Kossacks and Square Staters, local community organizers from all corners of the Untied States, from Florida to Alaska. The Dog is more than a little blown away to be amongst this group.

So, let’s talk about the real issue of this diary; the Dog’s thanks for all of incredible support he has received from so many corners. You folks are amazing! Really, you did not have to take the time out to go to DFA and push the Dog for a scholarship, and yet you did. It was kind of uncomfortable to ask for support, but there you were giving it!

With Mrs. Dog getting fired and then 10 weeks later the Dog getting laid off there was just no way to afford a trip like this. DFA and you have made it possible for the Dog to go and sharpen up his skills. The payback to all of you is you can bet your bottom dollar this in increase the Dog’s activism and engagement.

The Dog needs to single out a couple of folks who went above and beyond in their help. Lady Libertine and Ralphie are blog friends of the Dog, and both of them wrote and pushed and cajoled folks to support the Dog, frankly it seems unlikely the Dog would have gotten this scholarship without there support and action. Thank you to both of you….funny for a damned wordy hound the Dog finds himself unable to find words strong enough to express himself, so he will just say: THANK YOU!

In any competition there are always those who did not make the cut. This is true this year as well. Some seriously heavy weight bloggers were not selected this time. To them the Dog says, we will get your there next year. This is not just consolation but a commitment, Colorado is the Shiznitz, Ellinoranne, Casual Wednesday, when this comes around next year, the Dog is going to be your advocate all over the blogs. One way or the other, you are going to show, in 2010. Count on it, start planning on it, we are going to make it happen.

So, the Dog is going to the Show, and it is all your fault.

The floor is yours