At the first keynote of YearlyKos, on Thursday night, Air America's Sam Seder bounds onstage to be the night's MC. After he charmed us with some Democratic funny-stuff, we heard from two comedians specializing in left-of-center humor.

Gina Cooper, the organizer of the convention, gives a spirited address. There's over 1000 attendees here, she says. We'll be seeing Richardson, Obama, Edwards, Dodd, Gravel, and Kucinich at the leadership forum.

Then Howard Dean takes the stage, first talking about the successes of his 50-state strategy.

Judging from the rapturous reception he received when taking the stage, it's clear that for many Dean is the leader of the netroots. The organizers placed signs reading "Howard Empowered" on every table, which are waved vigorously when he shows up on stage.

The real excitement starts when Dean brings up the Internet.

The is the most extraordinary invention for empowering people since the printing press, Dean says. He thought the YouTube debate was "sensational." This was the first time that ordinary people can ask questions, and many of those questions were tougher than what of the media would have asked. The debate took us outside the cosy realm of the beltway and into the rest of America, he says. What a surprise the Republicans don't want to do it.

He goes on to say that Iran and China will have to decide to become democracies because of the influence of the Internet. Bold statement! But one that brings lots of applause.

Hundreds of thousands of net-working citizens will find ways to circumvent repressive governments. These governments face a difficult choice, they can allow the internet to thrive or they restrict it; if they restrict it they will inevitably fall back to third-world status.

He says that traditional campaigns have used TV ads to tell us what to think and do. Now, politicians listen to the people before they start talking, and they ask for advice. This means real two-way campaigns are blossoming where the American people have an impact on the leadership.

Now, the politicians have to acknowledge that power is loaned to them, they do not own the power, and they have to earn that power every two years.

Dean went on to acknowledge the power and impact of young people on the election. The youth are changing America in a different way, he says, and they are not as confrontational as Dean's generation, which he attributes to their use of the web.

Dean was extremely well-received. He received several standing ovations and brought the crowd to a heady fervor. Very, very impressive.