Cyrus Krohn & GOP.com

I think the main difference between the Democrat’s online platform and the Republican’s online platform is that the Dems have done it, well, better.  They started earlier with their online endeavors.  Their constituents embraced the technological involvement of the 2008 Presidential race.  Certain Republicans did too – Ron Paul’s backers rallied tremendously online – but overall, their efforts were far less commendable.

Cyrus Krohn has a huge responsibility with GOP.com.  Where do the Republicans go technologically if McCain doesn’t win in November?  GOP.com is definitely a step in the right direction for the Republicans, one that, win or lose, needs to be continually advanced. 

But a few criticisms, if I might…

First, the site takes forever to load (as do other links when I clicked on them), which is an unnecessary frustration.  Those valuable few seconds give me the opportunity to type a different address into my browser and be on my way.  If I want to join the GOP, make a donation to the cause or read some dish about an opponent, don’t give me an excuse not to by taking too long to load the page.

At any given time, visitors might think this is an Obama Web site at first glance: 

null

Give opponents their due, but chances are that people who visit this site are voting for McCain to begin with.  Obama information is absolutely necessary, but it doesn’t have to be front and center. 

Finding the donation application widget took me two days, four phone calls and an email.  Turns out that the widget isn’t even part of GOP.com – it’s part of meetbarackobama.com, one of the RNC’s other sites that’s linked-to from the GOP.com homepage.  Confused yet?  I would suggest making this much easier to find or simply posting it on the homepage.  It’s a great tool, but why is it buried?

 

The staggering amount of data about voters that is collected, cross-referenced and analyzed is overwhelming but impressive.  I assume that both parties have equally detailed databases.  People tend to feel as if their privacy has been invaded, but it should be no surprise that the bottom line of this technology is money, power and influence – on both sides. 

Of course it’s easier to point out the negatives.  Overall, the site looks great.  It’s networks – Facebook, del.icio.us and digg to name a few – are readily available. The RNC’s YouTube page is richly designed and opens with this video:

But again, all pages seem to take forever to load, which only perpetuates the impression that Republicans are old, stodgy and behind the times. 

Krohn had a right to be proud of the “Republican Platform Committee” page. 

For once in the tech realm, the Republicans had something great and they had it first.  The site is very interactive, allowing for both text and video entries.  It also was a wise call to allow (almost) everything to post.  Nothing should be hidden, especially when internet viewers are lurking in the shadows, ready at a moments notice to jump on an inaccuracy or inconsistency.  Also, the Valentines were funny and unique in their simplicity.  I’d definitely send one out!

Just a few criticisms, but overall, well-done, Republicans.

“Blue Balled” the Video

Edgy, hip and cool are words that describe the latest attempt of Democrats to gain more votes come November.  “Blue Balled” is a four-minute video circulating the Web and is gaining popularity every day.  Here is the run-down:  Hot girl comes on to cute but clumsy guy at a bar.  They go back to his place to have sex, but hot girl discovers that cute, clumsy guy is a <gasp!> Republican and bolts.  Visibly upset, hot girl drops her purse outside cute, clumsy guy’s apartment, but is rescued by edgy, cool, hip Democrat man <hooray!>. 

 

 

 

The lesson here, kids?  Democrats are good at everything.  Or is it that Democrats are slutty? 

 

Whatever the case, this video is probably getting more hits than its female character did in her promiscuous life.  I’m not being a hater.  While hooking up in the cab on the way to his place, hot girl calls cute, clumsy guy the wrong name.  Nice.  And after discovering the horrifying Republican news, as she’s hi-tailing out the door, hot girl actually says, “Just like the last one.”  Maybe the lesson is that if you want to get laid, break out your ‘I heart Obama’ lapel pin. 

 

According to ABC News, this video and the people behind it further affirmed that the internet is a “central character” in the election.  And the folks at truththrouthaction.org are planning more entertainment on topics like Iraq, the economy, taxes and healthcare.  The group brilliantly uses the internet to get its message out.  News shows are debating the video, young voters think it’s funny and are forwarding it to their friends, and even those who find it ridiculous are discussing it (ahem, moi). 

 

Young Republicans are reaching out to young voters via the internet as well, but apparently in less edgy, hip and cool ways.  Sex definitely sells. I just didn’t think it could buy votes.  Maybe this won’t convince people to vote for Obama, but it’s another feather in the cap of trendy politics, and the internet is once again the conveyor of the message.  And it has people talking about Obama.  That’s the point, isn’t it?  He personally had nothing to do with the video, so he’s not promoting one-night-stands, but it sure is clever. 

 

I’ve never had a one-night-stand, but I do agree with slutty girl on one point:  It’s better to sleep with people who belong to the same political party you do.  No one wants to go to bed angry at their partner every night.  So kudos to slutty girl for holding on to what may be the very last of her principles.  And kudos to the Democrats for an edgy, cool and hip video.  I’m sure those traits will come in handy when the next president is dealing with terrorist threats and open borders. 

Red Blogs & Blue Blogs – Day 2

Tonight I thought I’d check out some of the reader comments/discussions on the blogs.  On Daily Kos, one word sums up a sizable majority of the responses:  angry.  Angry at Bush.  Angry at the Republican party.  Angry at Republican pundits.  Words like smug, smarmy, sexist, loathsome and extremist, to name a few.  A thread about the price of gas garnered the following responses about President Bush:  “What a dumbass,” “He can’t be gone soon enough,” “He’s such a schmuck,” “He doesn’t care because his buddies will insulate him from reality,” and on and on.  Angry?  Yes. 

 

The folks at townhall.com focused more on the upcoming election and not at all on a presidency that’s in its twilight.  The reader responses were equally one-sided, but not nearly as angry.  Two articles discussing how McCain and Obama differ on economics were answered with one post that was incredibly detailed – a breakdown of Obama campaign quotes detailing how he has flip-flopped on the issue.  Overall, the responses weren’t as angry or in-your-face at those at Daily Kos, but, dishearteningly, there were enough about the “black guy” to make me squirm in my seat.

 

But it seems the angrier the audience, the more responses a post receives.  In blogging, does silence mean consent?  I always find it more helpful to leave emotion at the door, and people will take you (and your message) more seriously.