Cross posted at Common Sense

Our group has garnered a little attention.

This morning’s Morning News‘ convention notes mention a few of us by name.

A bloc of political bloggers

FORT WORTH – It doesn’t take a computer genius to figure out why Texas bloggers have a better view of the action at the Democratic convention than they did last week at the GOP gathering San Antonio. The state’s most prominent political bloggers tend to lean to the left politically, so it’s no huge surprise that they have a bona fide “bloggers’ alley” at the Fort Worth Convention Center.

Two years ago, that was unheard of. But sites like In the Pink Texas and Burnt Orange Report in Austin, Common Sense in Waco, Off The Kuff and Greg’s Opinion in Houston, and Annatopia in Fort Worth are making waves in the Democratic Party – and even, occasionally, making news in political circles.

In Fort Worth, the bloggers got media passes and a seat right next to the stage during the main events. Nate Nance, who writes the humorous and left-leaning Common Sense blog, seemed impressed with the setup. “I’m just surprised we even got credentials,” he said.

Greg says I’m easily impressed.

Democratic Senate Nominee Barbara Radnofsky has just confirmed that she will attend the Blogger’s Caucus on the Friday night of the 2006 TDP Convention at Flying Saucer! She’s planning on making her entry at 11 after a fund-raiser of her own and some other events. So, make sure you will be around when Barbara makes her enterance.

Also, over the long Memorial Day Weekend, I’ve been working “behind the scenes” here at Blogger’s Caucus to post the many, many updates I’ve received from Bloggers in the past two weeks. I’ve got them all ready to post, so expect to see everything I have online so far Monday evening.

Also, if you haven’t sent your credentials form in to the Texas Democratic Party for Media/Blogger credentials, please do so ASAP. The link to the credentials form is in the post below.

Also, if you are going to be blogging the TDP convention and haven’t sent your information to Blogger’s Caucus, there’s no time like the present to do so! Email me if you have questions!

Thanks to Amber Moon of the TDP and Phillip Martin of Burnt Orange Report (who has been helping her out) for doing a great service to Texas bloggers for Convention ‘06.

Amber emailed me and asked me to post this “blogger specific” information on press credentials.

Keep in mind that if you are a blogger and have intentions of liveblogging the convention or blogging from theconvention floor, you MUST, I repeat MUST fill out the credentials request to have access to the floor.

I’ve been contacted by several of you and I know there has been some confusion and that some are thinking they can just “show up and blog.” Please, please, please—for the love of God—help out the TDP staff and fill in your credential request!! If you’re going to make the effort to be there, you want to make sure you can blog, right? So, fill it out.

Next thing, there WILL BE SPACE FOR BLOGGERS ON THE FLOOR!!!

From Amber:

Technological Resources
There will be a section on the arena floor reserved for bloggers, where internet access is available. Additionally, a separate room equipped with internet access and hard phone lines will be available for all members of the media.

Also, while I love hearing from each and every one of you (and really need your bio information ASAP if you are going to blog the convention), please direct all of your logistical questions related to the convention to Amber. Her email address is: amoon-at-txdemocrats.org.

Also, here’s the complete text of what she asked me to publish on this site:

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TDP Communications Director Amber Moon sent out a very nice note to Texas bloggers this week along with the press credentials form I posted earlier (link here) which had previously been distributed to the Mainstream Media.

A big “thank you” to Amber & Hector who are doing a great job of keeping us informed and helping us out with technology issues.

Her letter is below the jump.

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The Texas Democratic Party has released the credentials application for the 2006 Texas Democratic Convention. Assuming it applies to bloggers (I got one), I’ve posted it here (.doc).

I do have some concerns (see email below) that there doesn’t appear to be a designated area on the convention floor for bloggers. I’ve emailed the TDP about this and hope to receive a response soon. It’d be nice if we were able to have a “blogger’s ally” area with internet access (wireless or ethernet, whatever) on the convention floor fairly close to the podium.

Below is the email from the TDP staff that accompanied it.

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The TDP has up the schedule for the State Convention. There was nothing on credentialling of bloggers or the press, though, so I sent them an email and was informed they’re still working on all of that.

So, hopefully we’ll hear something soon.

I just spoke with Donna Beth McCormick with the Democratic Party of Texas concerning media credentials for bloggers.

I was informed that Bloggers will be credentialed in much the same manner as the mainstream media, essentially.

At some point (hopefully in the near future), TDP will release an application form for credentials, I assume via its website.

Any blogger wanting to attend the convention must fill out the form and follow whatever instructions it contains.