Comments on: Bloggers as a Political Force http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/bloggers_as_a_political_force/ Online Journal of Politics and Foreign Affairs Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:12:43 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Mr. Snitch! http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/bloggers_as_a_political_force/comment-page-1/#comment-70915 Mr. Snitch! Sun, 15 Jan 2006 10:01:29 +0000 http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/?p=13284#comment-70915 Thanks for the interest in my post (even if you didn't agree with its conclusions). I did suggest fundraising and hiring someone at least part-time in order for Porkbusters to be effective, as everyone is too overwhelmed to take this much further AND blog, after all. As far as benevolent lobbyists, well, they do exist. There are (obviously) a lot of lobbyists representing various interests in DC. It's not a contradiction, in my opinion, to also have lobbyists representing those of us who simply want smaller, more efficient government, competing for time and attention with tobacco, oil, education, labor, etc. (They don't have to whisk Senators off to the Carribbean, OK?) Otherwise, it's out-of-sight, out-of-mindshare. Sure, bloggers should be effective by running worthwhile blogs and writing compelling posts. No doubt of that. My post concerned what do you do if you really want to take it further? It was a reaction to the frustration expressed in many PB posts, to the effect that these ideas weren't getting any traction. Phone calls weren't getting returned and so on. The posts were falling on deaf, um, eyes. I should add that I have no preferred timetable for extending PB into the "real world" of politics. Perhaps Glenn, Bear and whoever else is at the center of this should concentrate on video podcasts for now, distributing them free (via the net of course) to any media outlet that wants them. That would expand mindshare, without straying too far from 'pure' blogging. When (if) the time comes, I like to think that Glenn has enough credibility that some of his readers will be able to scare up some grant money and other resources to put together the beginnings of an honest lobbying effort. I don't think Glenn or Bear would need to quit their jobs. (Or that they want to.) Again, thank you for considering my ideas, and taking the (precious) time to comment on them. Thanks for the interest in my post (even if you didn't agree with its conclusions). I did suggest fundraising and hiring someone at least part-time in order for Porkbusters to be effective, as everyone is too overwhelmed to take this much further AND blog, after all. As far as benevolent lobbyists, well, they do exist. There are (obviously) a lot of lobbyists representing various interests in DC. It's not a contradiction, in my opinion, to also have lobbyists representing those of us who simply want smaller, more efficient government, competing for time and attention with tobacco, oil, education, labor, etc. (They don't have to whisk Senators off to the Carribbean, OK?) Otherwise, it's out-of-sight, out-of-mindshare.

Sure, bloggers should be effective by running worthwhile blogs and writing compelling posts. No doubt of that. My post concerned what do you do if you really want to take it further? It was a reaction to the frustration expressed in many PB posts, to the effect that these ideas weren't getting any traction. Phone calls weren't getting returned and so on. The posts were falling on deaf, um, eyes.

I should add that I have no preferred timetable for extending PB into the "real world" of politics. Perhaps Glenn, Bear and whoever else is at the center of this should concentrate on video podcasts for now, distributing them free (via the net of course) to any media outlet that wants them. That would expand mindshare, without straying too far from 'pure' blogging.

When (if) the time comes, I like to think that Glenn has enough credibility that some of his readers will be able to scare up some grant money and other resources to put together the beginnings of an honest lobbying effort. I don't think Glenn or Bear would need to quit their jobs. (Or that they want to.)

Again, thank you for considering my ideas, and taking the (precious) time to comment on them.

]]> By: James Joyner http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/bloggers_as_a_political_force/comment-page-1/#comment-70905 James Joyner Sat, 14 Jan 2006 21:57:08 +0000 http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/?p=13284#comment-70905 Probably not anytime soon. I'm a better writer than talker, I think, and it'd take quite a lot of practice to stop feeling silly talking to myself into a microphone. Plus, I'm not sure how to go about doing it and what the impact would be on bandwidth and so forth. Probably not anytime soon. I'm a better writer than talker, I think, and it'd take quite a lot of practice to stop feeling silly talking to myself into a microphone.

Plus, I'm not sure how to go about doing it and what the impact would be on bandwidth and so forth.

]]> By: Finf http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/bloggers_as_a_political_force/comment-page-1/#comment-70902 Finf Sat, 14 Jan 2006 20:38:08 +0000 http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/?p=13284#comment-70902 James, speaking of podcasts, when are we going to get an OTB podcast? James, speaking of podcasts, when are we going to get an OTB podcast?

]]>