PC4Media

A New Presidential Debate Platform: On the Web[log]

I did a quick perusal of the presidential candidate's blogs today. I realized:

1) It is random supporters and campaign people that are doing the posting and some guy named "georgewbush.com" that posts for the Bush blog sometimes.

2) Bush's bloggers post as much about the campaign progress (e g where the campaign is campaigning, poll numbers) as they do about stuff that actually matters to the country.

3) Kerry's bloggers posts as much about Bush (e g bad fiscal responsibility by Bush, Bush's Medicare Bill Sucks) as they do about stuff that actually matters to the country.

4) Of course, this was a limited perusal. But, I could come up with more criticism. But since this post is about a POSSIBILITY, I'll stop.

Anyways, I had a point here. oh yeah: THIS IS LAME. The only thing they are using blogs for is to publish news. There is no interactivity. The candidates don't even actually write anything. They only link to people that agree with them. blah blah blah.

So, I am proposing A New Presidential Debate Platform: On the Web[log]

We all know that the televised debates are about as exciting as watching snails race and as staged as a sitcom. And we could blame that on any number of people/players: the tv stations/media companies, the candidates, the political parties, etc.

But, who cares. Right? We don't need the freaking tv. We can deliver words, sound and video through the web. So, maybe BUSH and KERRY should do a group weblog together (in the fashion of boing boing or many-to-many) and use it as a debate platform. They both would have the opportunity to address whatever issues they wanted by posting on new subjects. And they would both be forced to address each other mano y mano, like presidential debates and campaigns used to be.

Think about it. The newspapers used to facilitate elections back in the day. And newspapers were an awesome format because they printed things that mattered, then, and people read them. Radio & TV are bastard children of newspapers. They have so much promise (ie sound and video), but they've been bastardized by "the sound bite in a minute, gotta get the ads on the air" media company modus operandi.

The web doesn't have these constraints. The web is direct to your living room office computer. No middle man media company to foul things up. No time constraints and no arbitrary 'this guy gets the last word', unless it is earned!

So, get on it people. Demand this from our so-called "PRESIDENTIAL" candidates:

TALK TO US ONLINE.
TALK TO EACH OTHER ONLINE.
MOVE THE DEBATE TO THE WEB[LOG]

Anti-Bush Game

If this isn't WOM Marketing, I don't know what is.

Anti-Bush Game...driving traffic to...American Fear Clothing. Will all clothing lines have in-house WOM video game developers in the future? The rhetoric is a bit extreme. I am not linking to it, because I support it. It is definitely interesting from a political as well as marketing perspective, though.

TypePad is Washing My Mouth Out With Soap

I tried to respond to someone's comment on this post about Rene Gonzales.

When I hit submit, I received this error message:

An error occurred... Your comment has not been posted because it appears to contain questionable content. If you believe you have received this message in error, please contact the author of this weblog. Please correct the error in the form below, then press Post to post your comment.

What is this? Does TypePad censor me from commenting on my own weblog? (I know it doesn't know it is me.) Still, it is a bit strange. I am not big on censorship. So, this is a bit of a shock and disappointment to me. Especially, since the post had no profanity. It had some colorful words, like idiot and moron, but If someone wants to use those words on my weblog, so be it. I'd rather someone call me that to my face, then behind my back. And there are certainly worse words that could be used. I am not the censorship police and I don't want my weblog to be, either.

Anyone know about this? Is this new? Can I turn this off and on? Has anyone else seen this?

Republican's Version of Participative Democracy Enabled by the Internet...

Spreading Rumors and Television Commercials Online.

More Info

Wesley Clark for Secretary of Defense

I know that it is a bit presumptuous of me to advocate General Clark for a Cabinet position. But, I like him so much. I'd advocate him for Kerry's running mate, but I am holding out for Senator McCain.

Wesley Clark has written an excellent piece about Bush's War on Terrorism/Iraq:

But if the events of the last year tell us anything, it is that democracy in the Middle East is unlikely to come at the point of our gun.

If you want to know how the administration really works and why with some historical context, read it.

(Found via Fred Wilson)

Mr. President, Keep on Presuming...

If Bush is as presumptuous about independent voters supporting him as he was that the Iraqi people would embrace us as liberators, we can be assured that Kerry will win.

Here is a positive sign, that he is that presumptuous:

A family member who is registered as an independent, received that snapshot in the mail from Bush's campaign. The caption reads:

Thank you for your early commitment and dedication as a Charter Member of the campaign in Connecticut. Grassroots leaders like you are the key to building a winning team.

Anyone know how you become a Charter Member? We sure don't.

Senator Kennedy's Resignation?

Alabama newspaper editorial calls for Senator Ted Kennedy to resign from the U.S. Senate.

Does anyone else think this is ridiculous?

I won't even bother refuting the claims. They are ridiculous: This person is confusing free speech with hate speech.

Instead, I am leading a movement to call for the secession of Alabama from the Union from my home in MA.

U.S. bans coercion of Iraqi prisoners.

How About: Too Little, Too Late.

My opinion: I imagine these 12(ish) low level military personell in Abu Ghraib that abused Iraqi Prisoners, were not acting of their own volition. Donald Rumsfeld has led the charge in ignoring the international rights of prisoners. Desperate to find information and proof to support the WMD claims used as the main reason for invading Iraq, I can imagine that the rank and file were not exactly instructed to treat the prisoners with the respect that every human being should be treated.

My personal opinion of Donald Rumsfeld is that he is a smug arrogant fuck. He is ruled by his ideological quest to build A New American Empire through force. An ignoble, arrogant and righteous quest.

I wouldn't mind if he took the fall for this. Better though, would be that Bush Administration took the fall in '04. As I mentioned before, I support this guy.

Do you think Donald Rumsfeld should go? Read what Derek and Dave have to say.

Berg Beheading on VideoTape

I heard a senator on a talk show recently say something to the effect:

I don't think people should see the video, but I wouldn't be the one to deny you the right to see the video. (This is paraphrased.)

Personally, I do not want to see it. However, I agree with this politician. I believe it should be available and that each person should make their own choice. It is the public's right to know everything that their government does on behalf of its citizens, in my opinion. It is the only way to keep the people that are in power, in check.

Since the television networks are the government's puppets these days, and most government officials don't think this is appropriate to broadcast, the chances of seeing it are minimal. So, some enterprising asshole is selling the Berg Beheading VideoTape. (found via John Battelle, via Gary Price) I have not purchased it, so I don't know if this guy is legitimate. If anyone knows where to download it for free, let me know and I'll update this post.

If you aren't interested in seeing this either, here is a pretty picture.

UPDATE 6/7/04: I removed the link because the page is no longer there and it redirects to uncontrollable pop-ups of porn sites. Sorry if you endured that b4. I guess if you are looking for a videotape of a beheading, then you can handle some porn pop-ups, though.

Help Matt Welty Rally Support for Michael Moore vs Disney

Michael Moore is definitely a controversial guy. According to this entry on Matt's blog paraphrasing an article in the NYT, Disney is blocking distribution of his new movie.

I am not saying I agree with everything Michael Moore has to say or trust it is all the un-exaggerated truth, but I am all for free speech.

So, I am equally appalled as Matt that Disney is blocking the distribution of his latest film, Fahrenheit 911.

If you agree as I know some of you do, that Freedom of Speech is more important than the risk of offending someone, link to Matt's Piece.