So far today I've been hanging out in the Big Tent in Denver .  It's a tent set up by DailyKOS, ProgressNow, Google, Digg, and a number of local organizations in Denver.  It's a place for bloggers to hang out, watch presentations and panels, and eat and drink beer.  So -if you want to see what a lot of blogger action looks like in one place --

Big Tent Blogger Lounge blogger lounge

The Capital Times recently ran an article on Cory Liebmann of One Wisconsin Now . Cory is one of the few bloggers in the state of any persuasion to do serious investigative reporting in his blog. 

We'd like to thank Cory for his continuing work on behalf of progressive issues in the state. One Wisconsin Now and his blog have made a difference in the state.  We all need to work toward bringing more serious and effective voices to the debate, and toward building out the progressive infrastructure so that more progressive news can be brought to the forefront. 

A couple of new blogs, or at least new to me, that I've run across recently and are worth checking out:

Mid-coast views, written by Michael Rosen, Milwaukee Area Technical College economics professor, union president, and longtime progressive activist. Rosen promises "commentary on issues concerning Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and the nation. (and sometimes wine & restaurant recommendations)."

Illusory Tenant, written by a nameless Milwaukee lawyer (or at least someone who says his/her profession is law.) Its topics are law, media, politics, and culture. What, no religion?

Both have a decidely leftward political lean.

As Chairman Mao said, "Let a thousand blogs bloom."

Or something like that.

I attended the WisOpinion/AT&T sponsored Blog Summit II in Milwaukee on Saturday. Live blogging was difficult because most of us could not get on the wireless network in the room. The meeting was held in a pleasant room at the Marquette Law School. Personally I found it interesting to meet many of the bloggers with whom I only have email relationships.

The sessions in the conference have already been covered by much of the Cheddarsphere, so I am not going to belabor the topics of discussion other than to say that although the sessions were interesting, the most interesting session to me was the final one which was a group discussion about the future of blogging in Wisconsin, which allowed much more participation from the assembled bloggers.

You might also want to take a gander at Mike Plaisted's article about the blog summit, most of which I agree with completely.