Let the games begin!
16 Jun
Hmm… Tim Pawlenty sets up a PAC in a not-at-all-significant midwestern state. Just 873 days day to e-day.
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Former Director Julie Germany recently hosted a panel at SXSW on why techies should get involved in elected politics. Here’s a clip of her describing it and speaking about online politics.
Matthew Zablud, a very talented former colleague who went on to work for Adfero after graduation for a number of years, recently started his own advocacy/public affairs firm. It’s called Beekeeper Group (still waiting on a reason why it’s called that, Matthew – were you sneaking out on weekends to tend a bee hive all those years?). If your organization needs a grassroots campaign in the states, I am sure these guys will be great.
As mentioned on this blog before Chris Brooks (who shared the nickname ‘workstudy’ while I was there … shows how long ago that was!) came up with (and actually implemented) a great idea for decentralized mobile video reporting system for use in disaster zones. They entered and became finalists in the We Media contest. As an updated – while they didn’t win – it was still the best idea!
The Voter Anger Monster doesnt pick off incumbents randomly
14 May
Had to chuckle when I read Mike Madden’s bit on the “voter anger monster“. He makes it sound as if the GOP incumbents (even in Utah!) are running scared from a vengeful Frankenstein who has turned on its master. But that’s not true at all.
The Voter Anger Monster is not exactly going after the Mike Pences and the Jim Demints of the world, now is it? Its going after the Crists, McCains, and too-liberal-for-Utah Bennetts. And it’s not entirely unwelcome among conservatives.
It is an unhealthy party that lets people [the ones who aren't always leading with fresh ideas] linger around for too long. Case in point: no less than 13 GOP members (a dozen of whom you’ve never head of) have been kicking around DC since the big wave of ‘94.
But try as one might to imply it was a GOP “monster” that turned on poor ol’ Sen. Bennett, it’s actually the ruling incumbents Democrats who are much more at risk. For every RINO “targeted by the Club for Growth” there is an Arlen Specter and a Harry Reid and a Barbara Boxer playing defence, too. Make no mistake – this “monster” has an ideology.
IPDI alumni making news and doing great things
25 Mar
Some of my former IPDI colleagues have been doing some great things lately in Washington and outside the beltway, and I wanted to take a moment to share their good news.
IPDI is a research institute affiliated with The George Washington University’s GSPM school. It specializes in researching where the Internet meets Politics and/or governance. IPDI runs the fantastic Politics Online Conference (POLC) every year which is just getting better and cooler all the time. This year’s POLC looks wonderful – kudos to the organizers so far.
Republican language on Health Care reform yesterday
23 Mar
My inbox was flooded yesterday by mass emails from various 501s, 527s, and GOP leadership on the subject of Sunday’s health vote.
Overall the language was so direct and consistent that I decided to run the text through TextSTAT and make a word cloud with the results. Removing the usual small words and also “health” “insurance” and “reform” (too obvious), here’s what it looked like:
Pretty strong stuff. I particularly found it interesting how often “machine” and “government” (often in conjunction with “big”) was used. To get a feel for the tone, Newt’s column was particularly sharp-edged, and (as always) worth a read.
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