More Change Than You Can Believe?

Veteran Democratic Party campaign strategist Joe Trippi has calculated that YouTube videos posted by the Obama campaign, which have amassed 14.5 million hours viewed, are the equivalent of $46-$47 million worth of paid advertising. Add the large volume of citizen-produced videos to that total and you can see why Trippi maintains that, regardless of the election outcome, Barack Obama marks the end of the television presidency.

Joe Trippi speculates that, if Obama wins, he might transfer the net support of my.barackobama.com to the White House. A social network numbering in the millions could be quickly mobilized to pressure special-interest allied Congress members who oppose popular legislative initiatives.

In comparison, Trippi says that the Republican Party's internet strategy is the equivalent of rubbing 2 sticks together.

Visionary ideas are often met with skepticism, but timing favors Joe Trippi. A financial crisis has Americans paying closer attention to Washington, D.C. The potential exists for a democratization of the federal government that citizens of all political parties might embrace. Key elements for such a shift would be wired access for the populace, and a newly-elected President Barack Obama's leadership ability. Will it happen? I don't know, but I do know that The Internet Changes Everything.

Joe Trippi's remarks are from a discussion today, hosted by Simon Rosenberg of NDN. It was broadcast on C-Span.

The Mercurial McCain

"You're putting out stuff that is unbelievable George, and it's got to stop … and your ads have got to stop."
Sen. John McCain addressing Gov. George W. Bush at a Republican Presidential Primary Debate in 2000.

Senator McCain was so stung by accusations attributed to the Bush campaign that he admonished the Texas governor: "I don't know if you can understand this, George, but that really hurts. You should be ashamed. You should be ashamed."

During the primary campaign for the 2004 election, there was a rumor that John McCain might become John Kerry's running mate. The possibility of a unity ticket was appealing to some Democrats. They respected Sen. McCain and were anxious to end President Bush's partisan reign. Reportedly, McCain was not interested.

Four years later, Sen. John McCain is waging a campaign that should give pause to Americans of every political party.


Thanks to TPMtv

Defining Citizenship

"Are we so lost we have to be sold our own democratic right?"
Craig Ferguson

John McCain's campaign manager, former lobbyist Rick Davis, insists that "this election is not about issues."

Davis forgot to tell Craig Ferguson, who became a naturalized U.S. citizen a few months ago. In this video, Ferguson riffs about lipstick on a pig, show-business style campaign coverage, and your duty to be informed and vote.


Thanks to Fred F.

If you believe that the media (formerly called the news media), is often derelict in their coverage of the presidential race, you'll appreciate Glenn Greenwald's dissection of the vacuous lipstick on a pig story.

McCain Campaign Runs Huge Deficit

Less than 60 days before the Presidential election, the campaign of John McCain and Sarah Palin is running a huge integrity deficit. Reprising the swift-boating tactics Republican proxies used against John Kerry four years ago, McCain and Palin are repeatedly using lies in an attempt to discredit Senator Barack Obama.

Washington observers are wondering why McCain isn't more careful spending his credibility, particularly since his ally, President George W. Bush lost his passbook years ago.

Update: Conservative Andrew Sullivan has a more stern take on McCain's integrity deficit.