September 30, 2004
Online Debate Scorecard
This should be fun to use tonight - from MediaChannel:
While pollsters and pundits concentrate on how to spin the candidates' performances in Miami tonight, MediaChannel.org and the Tyndall Report have created the Citizens Debate Scorecard so viewers can respond in real-time to the format of the presidential debate and the performance of the media moderator.
The Scorecard asks which issues and candidate aspects were glossed over, which were examined in excess -- and which were just right. We rate the questioning skills and style of PBS moderator Jim Lehrer. And we respond to the debate format and whether it encourages a frank discussion between candidates.
Posted by Buzz Webster at 05:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Mock the Vote
Good to be on board, Buzz Webster.
After watching the debate tonight, and hearing enough over-analysis and spin you begin to feel nauseated and dizzy...shut off the TV, and go online to take a break to Mock the Vote.
AtomFilms, has compiled a number of Political Animations (PolAnime!)
in the Mock the Vote site.
Click here to "Mock the Vote"
Posted by Real Deal at 01:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
AOL To Launch Searchable Video Archive Of Presidential Debates
Below is a message from our friends at FedNet who gave us the scoop on a new tool:
I wanted to give you a heads up about a project we are working on with AOL to create a searchable video archive of the presidential debates. FedNet has integrated our proprietary searchable video platform (reCap) into the AOL subscriber service to provide a state-of-the-art keyword search access to the Presidential debates.FedNet will capture and process the video content of the debates, indexing the information and enabling the event to be searched by keyword for user replay on their desktop through the AOL service. With the Presidential race so close, voters need the ability to reclarify what a candidate said, how they reacted under pressure, how they expressed their leadership ability.
The service will allow AOL subscribers to search for video of the debates that contain issues important to them through a simple interface on AOL, subscribers will enter the keyword and be brought to a results page of video that includes that word being spoken by a candidate.
There are a great number of voters that are anticipating the Presidential debates. They want to see and hear how the candidates carry themselves. This exciting service enables voters to clarify, not only what the candidates said, but how they said it.
You might want to take a look at the service on AOL - it will be up within about an hour after the debate has concluded or on Friday morning and we will be providing the service for all of the debates. Please take a look at AOL if you get a chance - at this time they are planning on putting it on the Press Pass page of the election coverage.
Regards - Keith
Keith Carney
Federal Network, Inc.
Posted by Buzz Webster at 01:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Spreading Peace And Propaganda: ePolitics Buzz Brief
- OJR deserves a round of applauds for one of the most innovative ideas in online discussions I’ve seen -- A special virtual roundtable of U.S. military bloggers and Iraqi citizen bloggers talk about life in the war zone, the problems with mainstream media coverage and common misperceptions between soldiers and Iraqis.
- Online rumors of a U.S. military draft are spreading faster than lice in a kindergarten classroom. Is it election hype to get the youth vote or serious stuff? Mtv’s Rock the Vote seems to think it's true, among others (1, 2). I’m not drinking that Kool-Aid...yet.
- D.C. has reasons to be happy. The capital has a new wireless network for public safety workers, and a unique new blog. Politopics joins the short, but growing list of African-American web logs focusing on public policy and Capitol Hill.
- A Harris Interactive Online Poll shows Bush with a two-point lead over Kerry among likely U.S. voters (48% to 46%).
Across the pond
- Political Blogs and ePolitickin’ aren’t just hot in the United States. The U.K. is another high-tech hot-bed, and for excellent coverage of U.K. politics and eDemocracy try the blog Perfect, ran by Robin Grant.
Posted by Buzz Webster at 11:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Vote Health-Smart On November 2
On November 2, Californians have a historic opportunity to affect the future of the state's health care system by casting their vote on five ballot measures. HealthVote2004.org provides voters with facts and non-partisan analysis, as well as easy access to information on who supports and opposes the measures, who is paying for the campaigns, how much is being spent, results of statewide polls, and the latest news.
Online issues and resources related to Health have never been greater than in 2004 for Californians.
Also see: California Gov. Vetoes Bill To Ban Health Info Outsourcing
Posted by Bob Pyke Jr at 08:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
September 29, 2004
Listen To Jimmy Orr
An excellent interview with Jimmy Orr, White House Internet Director, is now available on the PolticsOnline homepage.
Orr talks with PoliticsOnline’s Phil Noble about the exciting things happening at the White House website and how his team is leading the way in interactivity.
Transcript and Audio are available. Check it out!
Posted by Buzz Webster at 11:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
September 28, 2004
Political Blog-Spotting
Political Bloggers are hot commodities these days. The most recent news is that the potty-mouthed pundit Wonkette is set to keynote the second day of the annual conference of the Online News Association on Nov. 12 and 13 in Hollywood, Calif. The Wonkette.com blog author will speak ahead of an afternoon panel debating the role of the Internet in the presidential election.
It should be no surprise that all the panelists are bloggers too. Panelists will include Joe Trippi, Arianna Huffington, Slate's Mickey Kaus and Harvard's Dave Winer.
In other blogger-spotting news, Guardian Unlimited of the U.K. confirmed it has signed up two of the U.S. leading political bloggers to each write a weekly column in the run-up to the U.S. presidential election. Right-wing Glenn Reynolds of Instapundit and Left-wing Markos Moulitsas of Daily Kos will be added to Guardian Unlimited's coverage of the election. More
I’m still waiting for a phone call.
Posted by Buzz Webster at 04:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
September 27, 2004
Swiss Success, U.S. Duress
This November 29% of America’s registered voters will use electronic touch-screen machines to cast their vote, up dramatically from 12% in 2000.
The U.S. is headed towards the virtual ballot box, but not many folks like the idea of their vote being part of an experiment to get there.
While U.S. E-voting paranoia (and rightly so in some locations) is starting to surge faster than a swift boat in Cambodia taking on enemy fire, did you know that on Sunday Switzerland conducted the world’s first nationwide vote to take place over the internet. It was a success according to Swiss authorities.
Does this make you want to move to Switzerland forever? Sorry, yesterday’s online vote was actually a referendum in which Swiss people voted against making it easier for immigrants to become Swiss citizens.
Posted by Buzz Webster at 05:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
September 24, 2004
Pew Survey For Experts Like You
From The Pew -
"The Pew Internet & American Life Project is surveying experts about the future of the internet and we would very much like to include your views in our research.We hope you'll take 10-15 minutes to fill out our survey, which you will find here."
Posted by Buzz Webster at 06:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Libertarian Up-rising
Libertarian presidential candidate Michael Badnarik has relaunched his campaign website with a new look and added bells and whistles.
In an email announcement the campaign gave props to Howard Dean for bringing online innovation to politics, explaining the website change was Dean and supporter inspired.
Although Nader seems to get all the third party press in the mainstream these days, if what a Badnarik staffer says is true, Nader might not be the most popular alternative candidate... at least online.
“The Badnarik campaign has been dominating Nader with respect to Internet traffic since shortly after the Libertarian Party Convention. The other third-party candidate web traffic is not even a blip on the radar screen. We are close to reaching the traffic level of Bush and Kerry." - Stephen P. Gordon
Posted by Buzz Webster at 12:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
September 22, 2004
NaderTrader and Drudge Twin: ePolitics Buzz Brief
Here’s everything you really need to know about the world of Internet and Politics Today.
-- Remember the days of Nader Trader? It’s baaaaaaaaaack! A coalition of groups has formed a Web site called www.votepair.org to serve as a clearinghouse for those who want to swap votes.
-- Howard Dean is attacking Jerry Falwell in an email to raise 250k for liberal Democrats. Just so you know, this will not influence the presidential race.
-- Radio talk show host Michael Savage posts video beheadings of Americans on his website, is it disgusting or necessary? We are afterall, living in a Savage Nation. Talk amongst yourselves.
-- Federal websites have mediocre reviews, but its all about to change with the global powerhouse of Edelman doing PR for .gov.
Outside The US
-- Did you know there was an Italian version of Matt Drudge? Meet DagoSpia XXX Warning Site Has Extreme Nudity XXX. The website is a huge hit, unless of course you are a celebrity or politician.
-- As one might imagine, Iranian bloggers aren’t too happy with their government censoring the Internet. Will a free Iraq cause a mass migration to the country once it is stabilized? How do you say "Blogger" in Persian?
Posted by Buzz Webster at 02:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
September 21, 2004
Human OnStars And E-voting: Politics & Internet Buzz Brief
Buzz’s Points To Ponder
-- What’s left for the Internet in the 2004 presidential elections? Answer: Quite possibly the biggest coordination of GOTV drives in history. That, and some pretty nasty online attack ads.
Outside Electionland
-- Should important government officials be implanted with a RFID chip that tracks their every move for “security” reasons? Mexico seems to like it. And what about citizen’s? Would you like to be a human OnStar device if it meant not carrying a wallet or purse?
-- Is it possible most people’s views on electronic voting stem from how it might benefit their candidate, as opposed to the overall costs vs. benefits analysis? Are some security concerns legitimate or scare tactics?
Europe is way ahead of the U.S, in not only touch screen voting but also online voting and it appears the benefits are out weighing the risks involved. Examples: for the first time this month, Swiss citizens can vote online for a federal ballot, Spain had a successful online voting trial in March, and Finland plans test online voting in 2006.
Posted by Buzz Webster at 11:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
September 20, 2004
Top Five Positive Things To Come Out Of Rathergate
Rathergate is not an end to traditional journalism as we know it. Sure bloggers rule and all that, but a lot of postive things have emerged from this event in our developing techno-history:
1. The clothing industry can capture a new market as kids, in an effort to be cool, flood stores for the latest line of “pajama journalist” sleepwear.
2. Parents can now use Rathergate as a teaching experience to explain to their kids what a typewriter was and how things were so hard back then, using phrases such as “your word and a handshake were all that was required”, “uphill both ways in the snow” and “only cost a nickel.”
3. People with lisps can now confidently use the “th” sound when talking politics.
4. Geraldo can stop risking his life in an effort to pass on his title as “least credible journalist.”
5. It looks good for Microsoft Word to be the featured sponsor at the upcoming National Forgers Convention.
Posted by Buzz Webster at 11:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
September 16, 2004
Hurricane Betty Bounces Out Of Florida
At first tropical storm Betty Castor hovered undetected under my e-dar. I thought she was just another passing storm hoping to reach the senate and replace Bob Graham representing Florida.
I was wrong. Betty Castor is now a full-fledged category 5 hurricane.
Category 1 - you have a website, most likely maintained by a relative or someone under 19
Category 2 - you have a website and newsletter that people actually read
Category 3 - your online communications are popular among supporters and actually raises some money
Category 4 - you have a paid tech staff and the ability to not only raise money, but also mobilize people to take action
Category 5 - your online communications are so good your opponents copy you, while your online reach is national with the ability to raise over six figures
Off The Chart - you have a link to BuzzWebster on your blog or homepage
To explain, in the past few weeks Betty has been the subject of e-newsletter campaigns for the online PAC’s of Howard Dean, Hillary Clinton, MoveOn and the New Democrat Network.
You know your popular when your name shows up in email boxes more than Viagra.
Betty built up to this category by snagging Larry Biddle as her deputy campaign manager. Biddle was deputy national finance director for Howard Dean's presidential campaign. Need I say more?
I can’t. I don’t know much else than that, but for various reasons the seat she wants has interested some very big names in the online fundraising world.
Her opponent is former HUD Secretary Mel Martinez.
News on $ numbers and are developing...
Posted by Buzz Webster at 01:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
September 14, 2004
Politics & Internet Journalists
While there is a tiny lull in the CBS-Bush debate, I’ll take a minute to answer a question.
Sometimes strangers ask me, “Buzz, who are the best journalists writing about IT and Politics. Not hacks, wonks or pundits but journalists by trade writing about this crossroad?”
I usually respond by saying, “How did you know my name and what’s wrong with my writing?”
Here are three journalists I always enjoy reading in this tiny niche. Although there are more, these folks always seem to write articles that teach me something new:
- Kate Kaye - Media Post
- Declan McCullagh - Usually in News.com or Cnet
- Mark Glaser - OJR
Posted by Buzz Webster at 12:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
September 13, 2004
Bloggers Of The Quagmire
In the online reality of politics, it doesn’t really matter what the truth is in the CBS-Bush records *quagmire. What matters is that mainstream media is once again seeing the value of bloggers. Sure bloggers can be in your face rumor-mongering gossip slantmeisters, that’s why we love them. But bloggers dig deep, fact check, and make sure issues are debates instead of a one way broadcast on how you should think. They can also scoop Old Media.
While bloggers are pinging, other online politicos are also ramping up for 50 days of pure pain. Here’s a few to take a look at:
- MoveOn has a new web ad “Who Profits” that’s pretty good and should make a splash with young voters. They also have episode three of Jimmy the Cab Driver, which is not quite as funny as the first two.
- Texans For Truth seemed to pop up over night and is an online success story in the making.
- Progress For America is fighting back for the right with an ad of their own along with several new online features on the website.
*quagmire - that is the first time I’ve ever used quagmire and it felt pretty good.
Posted by Buzz Webster at 03:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
September 10, 2004
Internet Insurgent - Howard Dean, Er Uh No Wait, That’s Stern
Hey folks take a minute from your scrutinizing over questionable military service documents to ponder this.
Howard Stern May Become Bigger Than Howard Dean On the Internet.
From Frank Barnako at, CBS.MarketWatch.com:
Howard Stern wants to expand his Web site to maintain access to his fans after he gets fired.
Stern also said Movielink, an Internet movie-rental service, is offering four "uncensored" episodes of his E! television show. The downloads, costing $4.95 each, can be viewed for 24 hours. Stern earns $1 a show, the movie service gets $2, and Viacom will take in the balance, according to a report by radio industry newsletter Friday Morning Album Quarterback.
Stern said sales of his TV show will help finance his Web plans. "I want to take the home page and turn it into a daily magazine filled with graphics, audio, video," he said. "I have to hire a staff, a guy to run the company and I want to turn this into ... the crown jewel of the Internet."
Posted by Buzz Webster at 05:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
September 09, 2004
Political Vigil's?
Here’s what MoveOn had to say.
Over 1,000 US soldiers have now died in Iraq. Tomorrow night, we’re holding vigils with the Win Without War coalition to honor these soldiers and their families. Host a vigil, or find one in your area.
Tomorrow night at 8pm, we're joining with the Win Without War coalition to hold hundreds of candlelight vigils.
Here’s James Taranto of Best of the Web Today had to say:
MoveOn.org, along with an outfit called Win Without War, is sponsoring a series of "candlelight vigils" tonight to "honor" the servicemen who "have given their lives in service to our country." An e-mail announcing the event, from MoveOn's Peter Schuman, contained this statement: "Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld diminished their deaths by calling the toll 'relatively small.' " Here is what Rumsfeld actually said:
If you take all of those patrols, and look at the number of incidents, they're relatively small. If you look at them from our standpoint, a single loss of life is large, and it's a life that's not going to be lived. I don't know how to calculate it or calibrate it for you any better than that
Man, it seems everything is political in politics these days.
Posted by Buzz Webster at 05:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
September 08, 2004
Track This Bloggers
A very cool political blog tracking tool was unveiled today by Intelliseek. From the press release:
Intelliseek, a marketing analytics firm that helps companies and brands measure buzz and word-of-mouth, today launched Campaign Radar 2004 (http://politics.blogpulse.com or http://www.campaignradar.com), a free web service that analyzes and displays political issues and trends among the nation's blog writers through the upcoming election. The service draws from Intelliseek's BlogPulse, which tracks over two million blogs every day.
A similar feature at Blogpulse has been available for some time called the Trend Tool that allows you to search with your own keywords, but this new feature seems to be election specific.
Posted by Buzz Webster at 02:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
September 07, 2004
God Is Not A Republican
Conventions are over, but the election race has only just begun.
Check out "God is not a Republican. Or a Democrat." flash movie that one of our contributing editors, Bob Pyke, sent to us.
And also the article A Hidden Swing Vote: Evangelicals
And for all the Canadian readers out there, visit Taking It Global. It is a new site Steven Clift made note of in a recent newsletter. The new website is making its mark in interactivity.
Posted by Buzz Webster at 05:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
September 03, 2004
Swiftboat Humor
The Convention is over, Clinton is having heart surgery, real bummers for the right and left. We need some humor.
Want to laugh over the Swift Boat Vets. Check out these humorous sites the Seattle-PI uncovered.
Cheerleaders for Truth
Dekes for Truth
Moe's Tavern's Patrons for Truth
National Guard Pilots For Truth
Pleasure Boat Captains for Truth This is a must view!
Revolutionary War Veterans for Truth
Rugby Players for Truth
Swift Yacht Veterans for Truth
Posted by Buzz Webster at 02:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
September 02, 2004
Live Interview With Mike Connell
We just did a great interview with Mike Connell, President of New Media Communications (A.K.A. Head Internet Guru for the Bush-Cheney'04 campaign and the RNC convention), at our website PoliticsOnline.
Mike talked about what’s new and innovative at the convention; and what’s left to do online leading up to Election Day. The audio is there now and the full transcript should be up in a few hours.
Posted by Buzz Webster at 02:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Convention Quirks
Kerry Terry - From the Enquirer
Believe it or not, Terry McAuliffe, the Democratic National Committee chairman, was given credentials to attend the GOP convention. He's been making the rounds - and doing his best to make the case for the Democratic ticket - with the bloggers at Madison Square Garden, at one point acting as a "guest blogger" for RedState .
Other bloggers got an apparent news "scoop" Wednesday when McAuliffe was caught on tape saying John Kerry went to Cambodia twice during the Vietnam war, further muddying the waters over the Democratic nominee's military service.
Fox Hunters - From Campaign Desk
Outside the Fox building at 48th Street and 6th Avenue yesterday, hundreds of protesters gathered. Apparently in sync with Fox commentator Bill O'Reilly's rhetorical tactics, if not his philosophy, they seemed to have a single purpose: the endless chanting of "Shut Up, Fox!"
A group of counter-demonstrators from the conservative website FreeRepublic.com materialized. Their message was equally straightforward, equally declarative and equally rote: "Fox is Fair and Balanced!" or "I Support Our President, George W. Bush." One Free Republican asserted that Code Pink, one of the groups at the protest, was a "Marxist front group" that "works hard to undermine the morale of our troops" and that one of its organizers "supports Fidel Castro."
Tchotchke Watch - from the National Journal’s Convention Daily E-mail Alert
Buy One For The Gipper
Proof that the Cold War still looms large in the GOP consciousness: One of the biggest applause lines in Wednesday night's Ronald Reagan tribute video was the "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall" clip from Reagan's historic 1987 speech in Berlin.
Proof that capitalism looms larger: Right after the video, a California delegate was put on camera and pitched a longer version of the video, available on DVD for $19.95 at reaganlibrary.com.
Posted by Buzz Webster at 01:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
September 01, 2004
Reports From The Underground
Controversy At The Convention -- This just in from the National Journal:
Air America, the nascent liberal radio network, is promising an "astounding tape" on its 6-9 a.m. "Morning Sedition" radio show tomorrow. Senior Producer Jonathan Larsen says the program got one of its staffers directly beneath the stage at Madison Square Garden last night, just moments after First Lady Laura Bush finished her speech. According to an e-mail from Larsen -- and a posting on the show's Web site -- the stagehand who offered the unauthorized tour even pointed out which wires would need to be pulled in order to disrupt a speech. Probably not the kind of hospitality the New York Host Committee has in mind.
Posted by Buzz Webster at 07:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Fed Hunts Delegate Data
Wired has the latest on the delegate data that was posted online:
The Department of Justice has backed down from its demand that the internet access provider for several Indymedia websites give grand jury testimony on who posted the names, addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses and New York City hotel locations of Republican National Convention delegates on the NYC Indymedia Open Newswire.
While some of the delegate information posted on the NYC Independent Media Center site was publicly available on Republican websites, the Secret Service opened a criminal investigation into the posting, alleging that it could be used to intimidate voters.
Posted by Buzz Webster at 07:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Hey Bloggers, Where’s The Beef?
So far the RNC bloggers are coming up short by mainstream media standards. The reason: they’re too inexperienced with live coverage. These conventions are overwhelming with all the fanfare. On one hand, media set them up to fail by expecting too much, knowing what conventions can be like. On the other hand, the bloggers failed themselves because they made promises not knowing what they were getting into. See Salon Article.
Who are the RNC bloggers? Click here.
That said, I’m enjoying the blogs and really don’t expect them to perform mainstream media’s role.
Posted by Buzz Webster at 11:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
