First off, I should point out that CK isn't a dKos fan site by any means. Each of us has our own criticisms of dKos, though I, for one, still post there and find it a valuable tool for at least some aspects of the left. I am not sure how progressive I call it.

Now, having said that, I think it is only fair to point out that some other very good people have switched.

Arianna Huffingon: Republican and major Gingrich supporter. Now she is the darling of the left. Her conversion came when she actually saw Gingrich in power and was horrified.

Looking to Brooklyn, there is a gentleman named Eric Adams. Former Republican, now well loved by most factions of the local Dem. party, moderates and progressives, machine and reform. He won his very first election (state senate) by an amazing 75% of the vote. In his case I have no idea why he converted and he has been quiet about it. But as a former cop (retired as captain) who stood up to the mayor and police chief on several issues, founded 100 blacks in law enforcement who care, and has been an ally of Norman Siegel, former head of the NY Civil Liberties Union, no one really cared about his Republican past because he was such a strong candidate. I have seen middle aged, Brooklyn matrons swoon in his presence.

I believe some of our new Congress Critters, elected in the wonderful November 2006 rout of the Halliburton Republicans, were former Republicans, if memory serves. I could be wrong about that. I just vaguely remember it coming up with some of the candidates I supported.

Seeing one's error and changing one's mind can be a sign of maturity. Reagan had a huge appeal, for reasons I fail to understand. Wooing some of those infamous "Reagan Democrats" back to the fold was necessary and if one of those converts founded dKos, what's wrong with that?

Today's Republicans really have abandoned most traditional conservative values. There is almost no "states rights" left in Bush's polcies. No individual freedoms. No fiscal responsibility. No small government. Bush may shring social spending down to nothing, but he has presided over the largest deficits, most intrusive government policies and largest expansion of Federal powers this nation has seen. So it isn't surprising that some reasonable Republicans would flee to the Dems. I for one, though I may differ with them on some points, think there is ample common ground to come together and fight the Bush neo-fascist doctrines.

The fact that Markos may have a bit of an ego problem and the fact that dKos is a bit too big to get noticed much if you aren't some kind of celebrity would be my personal complaints. But I still think dKos has done wonders for getting info out there and, when all works well, dKos can really help get a candidate elected.