MSNBC:

MIKE VIQUEIRA:  Let me ask you this, Chris you know..I’m sorry, Ari.  Chris Cilizza, the Fix blog in the Washington Post, quoted a Democratic aide who said about  bloggers and the Lieberman vote, quote  "They can rant and rage but they still do not put the fear into folks to actually change their votes."

You know, I work on the Hill and I’ve heard that sentiment expressed many times  over again, that the netroots — the liberal blogosphere — overestimates its influence.  What do you say to that?

ARI MELBER:   Well, number one you have to look at the source.  There you have someone who isn’t even going to speak on the record, under their own name.  That would suggest some fear right there, hiding behind anonymity for a very basic claim to the Washington Post.  And someone who sees themselves potentially — I don’t know the person because they won’t stand up for themselves — but potentially a competitor with the liberal blogs.  Maybe it is from  a congressional office that has had conflict — maybe it was a Lieberman aide, we don’t know because that person won’t say.  But I do think you have competition here.

Good one, Melber.

(video courtesy CTBlogger)