February 27, 2007
Vilsack - Vlog In, Vlog Out
Tom Vilsack ended his 2008 Presidential campaign the same way he began it: with a vlog.
The casual video shows Vilsack in front of a backdrop touting his 2008 presidential campaign. The camera is shaky and there is a considerable amount of background noise.
Vilsack was the first Democratic candidate to enter the race for the White House and now is the first to bow out.
Highlighting the importance of fundraising, Vilsack admits that his campaign was not able to raise the resources to sustain his candidacy. He uses his vlog as an opportunity to thank his staff and his supporters. He also touches on issues such as the war in Iraq and his campaign's energy plan.
"This is a very expensive process," Vilsack told reporters last week. "We did our best and the people we talked to were supportive. We just didn't have enough time to talk to enough people to be able to raise the resources."
One of Vilsack's consultants, Matt Paul, put it differently.
"At this point in the 2004 cycle, we were running a minivan campaign," he said. "Now we're running with 18-wheelers."
Maybe it was the money, maybe is was the message, but one thing is clear: the 2008 presidential campaign is picking up speed and Vilsack is only the first to be left behind.
Vilsack Becomes First to Drop From Presidential Race
Posted by Buzz Webster at 05:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
February 23, 2007
Aussie Candidate Gets Sacked Over SMS
An Australian Liberal Party candidate was disendorsed for sending an inappropriate text message.
Brenton Pavier, a New South Wales Liberal Party candidate for the NSW Central Coast seat of Wyong, was disendorsed after party leader Peter Debnam became aware of a hoax SMS that Pavier forwarded. Pavier could not recall the exact wording of the message, but recalled it involved a "video store."
According to the Sydney Morning Herald it apparently said: "The video you have ordered about how to have sex with men with small penises is ready for collection and the DVD titled Anal Sex with Goats is overdue."
Pavier told the Herald he had sent the message to "three or four friends" and had been "stitched up" by his political rivals.
Mr. Debnam said although the text was intended to be humorous, he believed it was inappropriate behavior for a Liberal candidate.
Councillor Pavier said he accepted Mr Debnam's decision. "Obviously I'm saddened by the action, but I stand by what Peter's had to do. He's got high standards and he expects high standards from his candidate and his shadow ministry and I stand by the party."
Mr. Pavier has been replaced as Liberal candidate for Wyong by Ben Morton.
Candidate Sacked for Dodgy SMS
Goat-Sex Text Message Sinks Would-Be MP
Sex Text Sinks the Loveless Lib
Posted by Buzz Webster at 05:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
February 20, 2007
Estonia to e-Vote
When Estonians go to the Polls on February 26th they will take e-Voting to a new level.
According to Arne Koitma of the Estonian electoral commission this will be the first ever parliamentary elections where everyone nationwide can vote online.
Introduced for municipal elections in 2005, any Estonian voter with a computer-readable voter ID card can exercise their democratic rights online. Almost all of the country's registered voters - over 940,000 people - now hold such cards. To cast ballots voters access the electoral Web site in an three day advance-voting period, swipe their chip-card through a card reader and punch in a pin number.
The card readers are available in public libraries and internet access points. They are also available to the public for as little as 100 kroons (8.39 USD).
Experts believe Estonia's forthcoming election will be the world's most comprehensive experiment yet in Internet-based democracy.
Estonians Look Forward To World-Beating Cyber-Ballot
Posted by Buzz Webster at 05:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
February 16, 2007
Senator Wants to Block Tubes
Senator Ted Steven has recently introduced legislation that may ban interactive Web sites from public libraries and schools.
This bill, introduced by Ted Stevens - famous for his definition of the internet as a "series of tubes" is similar to the Deleting Online Predators Act (DOPA) that failed in the Senate last legislative session.
Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act, called "Son of DOPA" by some, was introduced in early January. It has language so vague that the ban could include the popular online encyclopedia Wikipedia and will definitely include the 150 million strong social networking site MySpace.
The act defines social networking as: Any site that "permits registered users to create an online profile that includes detailed personal information" or "enables communication among users." By those standards, wiki sites and even blogs could be in danger.
Bill Would Ban Wikipedia From Public Schools and Libraries
Text of Legislation
Posted by Buzz Webster at 06:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
February 14, 2007
Philippines: Kick off on the Internet
Two opposition candidates for the Philippines Senate have kicked off their campaign using Internet technology.
On the first day of the 90-day campaign period, opposition senatorial contender Francis Escudero launched his official Web site and had a live online chat with journalists in Manila and Filipinos in the US, Middle East and Hong Kong.
Escudero is the first Filipino senatorial candidate to use the Internet to explain his platform of government.
"Through his technology, I hope to hear what is on their minds. I am ready to answer questions they raise and explain my stand on issues relevant to my candidacy," he explained.
Lieutenant Antonio Trillanes IV, also running for a seat in the Senate under the United Opposition banner, posted his “eight-point vision" in his Friendster account. His supporters also maintain a blog at www.friendsoftrillanes.blogspot.com.
Trillanes filed his certificate of candidacy on February 6 and remains upbeat about his chances to secure a Senate seat despite his incarceration for his role in the July 2003 Oakwood mutiny. Officials have said Trillanes will not be allowed to get out of his detention cell to campaign as this would be in violation of the existing rules on the confinement of officers and men.
"I have many supporters, we will launch a proxy campaign all over the country," Trillanes said.
“We will maximize technology – TV, radio, print, text (SMS) and the Internet."
Using the Internet to campaign from incarceration, a political first?
Chiz Escudero Kicks Off Senate Bid Via Internet
Escudero, Trillanes Campaign on the Internet
Posted by Buzz Webster at 04:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
February 12, 2007
US Soldiers Attacked - On YouTube
It is now possible to watch videos of bombings and sniper attacks against U.S. forces in Iraq.
These clips are shot and edited by Islamic militants and broadcast on YouTube, the world's largest video-sharing Web site. Videos shot by terrorist groups were previously posted on specialist Internet forums, where only those who were looking could find. But like all things political Youtube has changed that.
Jeremy Curtin, a U.S. State Department official responsible for monitoring Internet propaganda, said authorities were aware of the footage on sites like YouTube but had not made any real headway in tackling the problem.
Like most video-sharing sites, YouTube's policy is to take down video only after receiving a complaint. The video can easily be posted and reposted before it is removed completely.
Experts believe advances in Internet technology will lead to a surge in well produced, homemade extremist videos. "It's practically impossible to stop these videos," said the State Department's Curtin. "You can close one channel and another one will open up."
Mark Rasch, a former Justice Department computer crimes prosecutor, said the videos at YouTube and other sites are evidence of "a new front in the propaganda battle."
"It's here to stay," Rasch said. "It's going to get worse - we are going to see real-time executions with higher production values."
Militant Islamic Groups Turn to YouTube
Posted by Buzz Webster at 05:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
February 09, 2007
Edwards Under Fire
The John Edwards campaign felt the fire in the blogosphere this week after some controversy arose regarding the Web history of a new campaign blogger.
Amanda Marcotte, recent addition to Edwards blogging campaign staff, was outed by Phil Donahue of the Catholic League for posting vulgar rhetoric about the Catholic Church. Donahue has called for the dismissal of both Marcotte and Mellissa McEwan, for expressing anti-catholic opinions.
Many commentators in the blogosphere saw this as a make or break moment for Edwards’s relationship with the Netroots. One the one hand, if he fired the bloggers for their words, which were written prior to their hire date, he could loose the support of the liberal blogosphere. On the other hand, Edwards could alienate a fourth of the voting population - the Catholics.
After sitting on it for a few days Edwards ultimately ended up scolding the bloggers for their past writings. A promise that it wouldn't happen again ensure these bloggers kept their jobs.
Edwards’s Bloggers Cross the Line, Critic Says
The Trouble With Authenticity: Edwards Blogger Trouble
Posted by Buzz Webster at 05:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
February 07, 2007
Obama's Campaign Driving Youth
Barak Obama recently addressed an event attended by of thousands of supporters who were mobilized online via Facebook.
The event at George Mason University highlighted the potential impact of online communities in the 2008 race. Young people are highly motivated by Barak Obama's potential candidacy and they are turning out in high numbers on the Web.
Facebook, the social networking site which Obama is a member of, has several groups dedicated to supporting the senator who recently announced the launch of his presidential exploratory committee. "Barak Obama for President in 2008" now has more than 50,000 members and its founders have also created an offline organization called Students for Barak Obama. Another group in support of the Illinois Senator is "One Million Strong for Barak Obama" and has gained over 200,000 members since it was created a little over two weeks ago.
In his 25 minute speech Obama promised a better kind of politics, one run by young people.
"You guys don't have much of a memory of the possibility of a politics that transcends and brings people together," he said. "[At] each and every juncture of our history, somebody has been audacious enough to say, 'We could do better.' . . . And more often than not, it's young people who've done it."
Mobilized Online, Thousands Gather to Hear Obama
Posted by Buzz Webster at 06:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
February 05, 2007
Korean Web Users Support Oppostion
Korean presidential hopefuls of the Grand National Party are maximizing the power of Internet in politics by using it to distribute popular homemade video clips.
The governing Uri Party, which won the 2002 presidential election with the help of its successful online campaign and is now facing a possible breakup, in part because it has failed to attract net-savvy young voters.
Election watchers say that given the rising influence of the Internet on young voters, the results of online campaigns could play a huge role in the election as happened in the 2002 presidential race. In 2002, Roh, on the now-defunct Millennium Democratic Party ticket, turned the tide of the election due largely to his "netroots", called "Nosamo."
Last Thursday, the National Election Commission (NEC) asked portal sites to remove 14 video clips about the GNP politicians in a pre-election crackdown.
The law allows only 23 days of campaigning before election day. The presidential election is slated for Dec. 19.
KOREA: Web Users Back Opposition Party
Posted by Buzz Webster at 06:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
February 02, 2007
No SMSing While in Session!
Maine, among other states, has taken steps to ban text messages and e-mails between lobbyists and lawmakers.
Maine's proposed House of Representatives rule seeks to prevent abuse of "secret, instant communications" by lobbyists who closely monitor actions by legislators in session. The sponsor, Democratic state Rep. Herbert Adams says, "It's an effort to deal with a serious problem that will only get worse if it's not dealt with now."
More than 30 states have in some fashion restricted the use of electronic devices, such as pagers, cell phones and desktop printers in legislatures, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
A Republican lawmaker, Rep. Sawin Millett, said he could support the rule against electronic messages. "I am of the old school. I believe legislators are sent here to think on their own," he said.
Rep. Janet Mills said the proposal impedes free speech, but she also opposes the measure for practical reasons. "I have to admit I have asked for information from lobbyists," said the Democratic lawmaker. "I want to be able to continue that. I really do."
Lobbyist Ed Pineau, a former Maine legislator, said the proposed rule causes him little concern because he has no reason to send messages to the House Chamber.
"The decision's made before it hits the floor if you've done your work," he said.
Maine Considers Restrictions on Text Messaging Between Lawmakers and Lobbyists
Posted by Buzz Webster at 06:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
