The ’04 presidential election cycle saw the Internet playing an important role in politics, news, and media.
No one knows what will happen in the years leading up to 2008, but it’s a sure bet that the Internet, online fundraising and, significantly, blogs will play an increasingly central role in the communication of politics and the politics of communication.
Already, in mid-2005, there is a 2008 Presidential Wire in place to keep track of up-to-the-second ’08 developments.
From ABC’s Note:
Patrick Ruffini, President Bush's former campaign webmaster, current political blogger and all-around 2008 fanatic, has created an engine that scours the web for 2008-related stories and blog posts and puts them together on one page.
The execution is iffy; we'd like fewer PR News Releases and would prefer that the most interesting posts be highlighted in some way.
Still — props to Patrick for creating his second must-read site.
How often is Hillary Clinton traveling to Iowa and New Hampshire? What organizations are hearing speeches delivered by Bill Frist? Is John McCain setting himself up for general election victory but GOP primary failure?
Now we’re going to be able to watch the show unfold online, every step of the way.
There’s a nifty statistics bar on the right-hand side of the page that tracks and ranks who is hot in the world of political coverage online. Democrats are listed in the obligatory blue while Republicans are in red. As of the moment I’m writing these words, John Edwards is at the top of the charts, with 24 stories (a rise of 50%, a green arrow helps to show us). Newt Gingrich is holding his own in second place with 19 stories. Hillary Clinton tops the list of “Most Clicked” with a 6.27 “average clicks per story” rating. A bit surprisingly, Bill Frist is in last place (22nd) for “Most Clicked” with a 1.12 rating.
For political junkies like me, it’s both a time to weep and rejoice.
Oh, and to hit the refresh button every seven seconds.
For more on this and every other topic under the sun, check out:
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Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - badgervan
Ruffini is way too pro-Republican/anti-Democrat. I tried to get into his site for the info, but it was blatantly slanted to the conservative viewpoint/candidates.
2 - Eric Berlin
He's a Republican consultant so, yeah, his blog is going to be conservative.
But the Presidential Wire seems to be non-partisan in the sense that it covers 2008-related news. For example, the top "hot" story is about Hillary Clinton's large campaign contributions matching her high poll numbers.
3 - Mat Brewster
Dude, it's only 2005. Go watch a movie, or read a book. I'll be having political burnout from the last election at least until 2006. :)
4 - Eric Berlin
I'm here to obsess so that you don't have to, Mat!
And besides, it's already time to gear up for the '06 elections, man.
The new tradition in my household that sprung up during the '04 primaries: waffles and politics.
5 - Nancy
I can't imagine what 2008 - or 2006 for that matter - is going to be like. People are still crowing and/or festering from last year...and the Media! Cripes! I don't think I can take the endless blathering of the Media....
6 - Mark Saleski
isn't jeb gonna run and win?
can't we just switch to a monarchy and avoid the ugly campaign stuff?
please?
7 - Eric Berlin
A Jeb v. Hillary campaign would be slightly creepy, wouldn't it?
Anyway, I know everyone's political biorhythms are low at the moment... but just give it a little time. All of y'all will be back to spitting piss and vinegar in no time.
8 - Nancy
We have GOT to get some kind of alternative parties going besides D & R. We need a Ross Perot who doesn't cop out due to his daughter's wedding. Interesting that here in the US of A we don't have a strong communist or socialist party, like in Europe. Guess Joe McCarthy took care of that. I still think we need to have the ballots amended to include "Neither of the above", which would kick in an automatic re-match. AND we need to pass a law so that the Media can't report which candidate has won, before the western-most polls have closed.
9 - Eric Berlin
Socialists and communists, Nancy? The Dems are having a hard enough time as it is.
I think a strong third candidate would be fun and would certainly shake things up. I'm not sure if it will materialize for '08 as it will be another Epic Struggle / Most Important Election etc. etc. kind of affair.
10 - Silas Kain
I'm with you Nancy. We need alternative parties. The problem is that success in American politics is measured by the amount of money a candidate can raise.
I think we need an overhaul of the national election system beginning with Congress. Members of the House should be elected every 4 years, on a staggered basis. Half in one cycle, the other in the next. Congresspeople should be limited to two consecutive terms or a total of 10 years.
The system in place for the Senate could remain with the exception of term limits. Senators should be limited to two consecutive terms or a total of 15 years service.
And finally the office of the President. Everything should stay the same except for the electoral process itself. The campaign season should be no more than 6 weeks. Campaign advertising should be strictly monitored and regulated so that it is fair and balanced (thanks, Fox News). The Electoral College system should remain except that electors in each state are allocated by the ratio of votes received.
11 - Eric Berlin
Unfortunately, I think most of your proposals are unrealistic.
I think term limits are a terrible idea (with the possible exception of the presidency). Don't we want qualified and experienced people doing the nation's business. The problem remains with campaign finances -- they need a great deal of further reform... equal access time on television (LOTS of it) is my proposal there, for starters.
I like the idea of percentages of states being allocated for electoral college votes.
12 - Temple Stark
Fairness doctrine.
If someone proposes it that I can vote for (IE president or state office) I'm voting for them.
Also anyone who can get through legislation tat simply says companies cannot donate political money. Period. Companies don't have rights like people. There is no freedom of speech inherent in their existence.
Those are my two top issues. Everything else either party will do about the same things - until those two issues of campaign finance are addressed.
I'm a pol. junkie as well, but it is much too early for me to think too deeply about the next race. I'm exhausted from the last sling-shit fest.
13 - Silas Kain
I think term limits are a terrible idea (with the possible exception of the presidency). Don't we want qualified and experienced people doing the nation's business. The problem remains with campaign finances -- they need a great deal of further reform... equal access time on television (LOTS of it) is my proposal there, for starters.
Good points, Eric. But look at the "experience" we have frolicking through the hallowed halls of Congress. We need qualified people doing the nation's business, I totally agree. Unfortunately, under the current system we're not getting the cream of the crop. There's been a leadership vaccuum in Washington for over a generation with no improvement in sight.
14 - Eric Berlin
Perhaps, but I don't see term limits as the way to usher in a new era of better leadership.
In the end, it's up to citizens to stand up to demand better and more accountable government.
15 - Temple Stark
Hard to do when the "citzens" with deeper pockets - lobbying groups, etc. get there first and more often. And they have money.
See my suggestions above.
16 - Eric Berlin
Yes, that's why I think major and substantive campaign finance reform alongside some rules reform would be much more constructive than installing term limits.
17 - Temple Stark
Oh, I'm not for term limits. The idea is swell but in practice you kick out a lot of good guys along with the "icky scum" at the top.
18 - Mickey
I fail to understand how a woman a tolerated for years her husband's fornicating is seen to be a candidate for the office of the Presidet of the US of A. I know for sure my mom would've slapped the divorce notice on my dad had he strayed even once. And she is just an ordinary hardworking simple woman who has never been to college.
I know its high time we had a woman as our President ..but certainly not Hillary !! America deserves better.
19 - Eric Berlin
So you're basically faulting a politician for not getting a divorce? She dealt with her personal/marital issues in her own way and appears to be the stronger for it.
I don't see this as a reason to discount her qualifications to hold public office in any way.
20 - Mickey
Eric...Lets put it this way.Suppose it was the other way aroud. Suppose Clinton was running for the job of President and his wife was famous as a serial adulterer , sleeping around with full knowledge of her husband. Do you think you would want a cuckolded fool as your President ?
I want a woman or a black man to be America's next President , but hopefully that person will be one with strong character , mental fortitude and values.
21 - Mickey
The word I was looking for is 'SELF-RESPECT'. If Mrs.Clinton had the slightest self-respect in her , she would have sent her philandering hubby packing long time back. But no...the perks of being the 'First Lady' were too attractive to give up. Do we really want a selfish woman with no self-respect to be our President ?
I bet the GOP is salivating at the idea of Hillary getting the Democratic nomination...
22 - Blu-Trube
This whole " I want a woman or a black for our next president", Isn't that kind of degrading to the woman or black running for office. No matter your qualifications just stand up there and smile and wave... I was having a political discussion with a female co-worker and she stated that she wants Hilary to win. She went on to say she really doesn't like her but women have been held under glass ceilings for so long that it would just be right. I agreed that women have not goten thier fair shake in the workforce and other aspects of life but questioned the logic of wanting someone in office you don't neccasarily like because of gender or race... I told her that is a dangerous mentality. One other thing I don't really think much of Hilary but if shes elected it wont be by my vote but she will still be my president who will receive respect from me and not the horrible namecalling and bashing that the left and liberals gave and still are giving Bush.. Do they realize the word is laughing at us..
23 - Blu-Trube
Make that the world is laughing not the word... HeHe...
24 - Dave Nalle
I'm all for a new party, but it's not going to be on the extreme left, the Democrats have that territory fully covered now that moveon.org is in charge.
The 'gang of 14' as they're called might become the nucleus of a nice, moderate third party if they get persecuted enough and have to take a moderate stand over and over.
If that doens't happen, then the best hope is for the Republican party to split in two, with the moderates dumping the Neocons who form their own extreme right party. This is most likely to happen if the Republican convention comes up with a candidate who's totally unacceptable to one of the two factions. For example, there's no way that the Neocons could stay on board if Giuliani got the nomination.
Dave
25 - Silas Kain
Here's the problem. Of course the GOP salivates at the thought of a Hillary candidacy. It would totally take away from the real problems confronting this country. Face it, the GOP, bolstered by the fundie war machine, succeeds through a cobination of smoke and mirrors tactics and the failure of the opposition to offer a viable alternative. HOWEVER, that does not void all of the positive things they have tried to do. I believe that the fundamental GOP libertarian philosophy toward government is right on the money. What's happened is that those with deep pockets are dictating the remainder of the GOP platform and that's where the trouble begins.
I am beginning to agree with Former Labor Secretary Reich (sp?) in his assertion that the Democrat Party is on the verge of total collapse. Howard Dean came in too late. The last two election cycles were a disaster. The Democrat leadership cower in the presence of the GOP. It's not that the GOP wins elections, it's that the Democrats have nothing to offer and the GOP money machine can spend the money to prove it.