Bipolar Nation

While browsing the web I found a site that college kids are blogging on--a site where the writers are informed and unafraid to speak out on important political issues.

Bipolarnation.com is dedicated to bringing hot political topics into the spotlight and offering insightful comments on the current political arena. All the bloggers are college-aged.

While the layout of the site has something to be desired, certain elements really did impress me. Beyond the content and style of writing which I gave two thumbs up, the site also features political cartoons, useful links and discussion boards.

I give the site's creators a lot of credit because it's extremely difficult to be a college student, stay informed on the latest topics and keep a website running all at the same time. Kudos to them, because the site has an ambitious mission and is doing a great job of informing the public.

Divided We Fail

Another political inspiration hit me when I was watching television--a commercial for a website called DividedWeFail.org.

I truly believe the message that the site conveys is one of the most hopeful and heart-warming political communications yet. It shouldn't matter what our political leanings are, because we are all Americans and despite what we may think, we all have the same problems looming over us.

The website's overall mission is to unite every American and move them to action. We are tired of talking and in need of solutions and results to America's major problems--health care and financial security.

HOW THE SITE COMMUNICATES

What I loved most was the television commercial the organization has on the left banner advertising the site. It features extremely well-known celebrities like Dakota Fanning, Morgan Freeman, Reese Witherspoon and Joaquin Phoenix telling Americans to step up to the political plate. I highly encourage you to check it out.

This site is fantastic because it's sponsored by the AARP (attracting an older and retired American demographic) but it has youth-focused features like videos, news feeds, and links to myspace, facebook and youtube.

For Every 2 Steps Back, There's 1 Step Forward

You may be shocked by what I'm about to say. Democrats--beware, Republicans--listen up.

I'm actually IMPRESSED with the White House.

Browsing through Bush's hokey home page and the rest of the White House website is something that I always wanted to do, but never had the chance. To the White House web designer's credit, the site looks fabulous. The graphics are amazing, the content is well chosen, and all the news bites support Bush 100% (no easy feats).

But the thing that truly surprised me the most is that the White House has a page solely dedicated to podcasts. The audio clips are mostly speeches made by the president, or snippets of interviews, but props to the web technicians who had the ingenuity to include such a forward-thinking element on such a conservative website.

As I've said before, America's youth are drawn to web innovations. They're naturally attracted to websites that cater to their needs as the first Net-generation. New web tools like podcasts, video clips and flash animation are just some of the many innovations that America's youth looks for in a site.

Podcasting will open up many new avenues for the White House to communicate by. Whether this will have a positive or negative impact on the Net-generation is still to be seen...

Helping America's Youth--Fraud or For Real?

With all the controversy surrounding the current presidential administration and the upcoming elections next year, it's easy to forget about the first lady.

To be honest, I haven't heard nearly as much about Laura Bush as I did when Hillary was in the White House. Perhaps this is due to the fact that George Bush's time as president has been heavily laden with dramatic world events, or it could be because I just have not paid much attention to the first lady.

After perusing her website I fell upon a noteworthy cause she has been championing--Helping America's Youth. The cause is dedicated to advancing America's youth in the areas of education, community service and responsible citizenship.

The site is fantastically designed, and really draws the attention of the reader. It is definitely an organization that knows how to use web communication to its fullest potential. Exciting features of the site include webcasts, e-newsletters and a community guide so you can aid the foundation in your own area.

The mission and meaning behind Helping America's Youth sends a message of hope and caring. I would very much like to believe that Laura Bush has her priorities straight when it comes to this nation.

However, becoming disillusioned with the current administration has certainly made me skeptical of all things attached to George Bush...and unfortunately, this includes Laura's seemingly noble cause. We must ask ourselves, is this site just another example of the "perfect time for a photo op," or is the political figure behind the operation truly genuine?

Indecision 2008

THE DAILY SHOW
For any normal, semi-informed, politically inclined person aged 18-24, The Daily Show is the place where you get your humorous political news.

Featuring the hilarious Democratic host, John Stewart, the Daily Show pushes the limits of what's appropriate, politically correct and reasonable. Simply put, this wacky news show is genius. America's youth watches it, loves it, and may even learn something useful from it in the process.

ELECTION 2008
It has become tradition on the Daily Show to host a newscast on the evening of presidential elections. The upcoming presidential election has aptly been named Indecision 2008 after coverage in '04 began this trend with Indecision 2004.

The website is addictive because of it's witty humor, satirical outlook and it's ability to appeal to a younger audience who's tired of the boring ho-hum election coverage.

The site and the Daily Show in general are guaranteed to generate interest on a massive scale for the '08 elections. I'm a huge fan of the Daily Show and after witnessing Indecision 2004 live, I know that I will be glued to Comedy Central when the elections roll around.

John McCain for President?

REPUBLICAN WHO?
After an exhaustive search for Republican candidates running in the 2008 presidential election, I finally discovered one of the only noteworthy conservative hopefuls...Senator John McCain.

*I would just like to note that I found it interesting how difficult it is to find the Republican candidates for this election on the Web--I'm not sure if it's due to the fact that the Democratic candidates have been receiving more coverage, or they have more prominent websites, but something is definitely wrong. If I don't even know who is running on the Republican side, how am I supposed to be informed for the 2008 election?

SHOCKED AND DISAPPOINTED
My Google search for John McCain yielded two websites. Upon viewing both, I was shocked and appalled...but for different reasons. See if you can guess which website is the real deal, just by looking at the name.

1. http://www.electjohnmccain2008.com/

2. http://www.johnmccain.com/

Now check the websites out...one is the real John McCain website and the other is a phony site making fun of his campaign.

Looking at the names, you might never have guessed what sort of politically opinionated cesspool you were stumbling upon. It's important to note that site #1 actually popped up first in a Google search for John McCain and his presidential election.

LOSING VOTERS
If site #1 sounds more credible just by looking at the name, AND it is showing up first in a search engine's list of sites for John McCain, it's not farfetched to believe that McCain may be losing voters.

The phony site has gory Iraqi war pictures, photos of McCain with Bush and a sarcastically written blurb on the sidebar containing messages that bash McCain's Republican attitudes.

I know that if I was on the fence regarding the 2008 presidential election, this site would certainly steer me away from McCain. I wouldn't even bother to try and find his real website.

Even voters that do see the senator's campaign site will be gravely disappointed to note that the first thing visible at the top of the page is a smear campaign against Hillary.

Maybe I don't feel so bad about McCain losing voters after all...

FINALLY--A Website Catering to America's Voting Youth

CHOOSE OR LOSE
Choose or Lose is a web campaign being run by MTV to encourage young people to vote and vote smart.

I found the website after it was advertised during a commerical break on MTV. I browsed through the site looking for candidates, issues and other interesting features that would attract the youthful audience. I was completely blown away by my findings.

REASONS FOR RECOGNITION
1. The site is so easy to navigate, I found everything I was looking for within moments. This is crucial for the target demographic of 18-24 because of short attention spans and the "I need information NOW" attitude.

2. I found hundreds of blogs, forums and group discussions detailing every topic you could possibly imagine related to the election. This is also an important element for a group of people who have grown skeptical of the government and want to hear the opinions of their fellow Americans.

3. There were so many features that would hook an 18-24 year old group: dozens of video and audio files, forums to actually commicate with candidates, opinion coloumns, a search engine on popular political issues, and even rewards for being politically active.


MTV ROCKS
Not too bad for a network that's been criticized for trashing youthful minds.

Now at least MTV can say they're not just enforcing teenaged celebrity lusts, or encouraging deranged people to have a reality show detailing their ridiculous lives. They're doing something for posterity--for America's well-being. And for that, they have my vote.

Dixie Chicks Deal Out Political Controversy

DIXIE CHICKS GO DOWN
Over four years ago, the all-female country singing group, the Dixie Chicks, sparked a political controversy with their anti-Bush comments. The trio suffered tremendously when radio stations ceased playing their music, people boo'ed at their concerts, and the Southern community scolded them unrelentlessly. Fortunately, the group bounced back.

In 2006, the Dixie Chicks released a single in response to the whole experience called "Not Ready to Make Nice." In addition to this extremely popular song, they also had a documentary created named "Shut Up and Sing" following the group throughout their fallout and comeback periods.

The singing trio also had an interview with Barbara Walters discussing the experience through their eyes.


THE AMAZING PART
I find it amazing that their song "Not Ready To Make Nice" is readily accessible via iTunes. It's fascinating that the trailer for their documentary can also be found online. Furthermore, the Dixie Chicks exclusive interview with celebrity journalist Barbara Walters can be found in full length on the Web. There have also been many forums created to discuss the controversy, and hundreds of bloggers have posted their opinions on the matter.


HOW THE INTERNET PLAYS A ROLE
The Internet has made all of the above possible for the Dixie Chicks. Their personal hardships are now forever documented online. Their amazing, real-life story of fame and misfortune can be communicated to countless Americans simply by surfing the Web.

The Web has made it possible for groups with political leanings (even country singing sensations) to freely and openly express their ideas. Now that's nothing to be ashamed of, is it Natalie Maines?

Air America

Air America is a liberal radio show that is aired online. The radio hosts usually choose controversial topics and generally aren't afraid to speak what's on their minds regarding politics. Some subjects push the boundaries of what is valid or appropriate, but nonetheless, Air America is attracting listeners.

You can actually access Air America any time of the day or night through iTunes. Simply click on "Radio" on the left hand side bar, go to "Talk/Spoken Word" at the bottom and choose "Air America" to start listening immediately.

I think that Air America is innovative. It's a shame that those with more conservative leanings don't have a comparable online radio show. I think it would be very interesting to hear the hosts of Air America duel it out with live, Republican guests.

I hope that in the future, politicians choose to utilize this facet of the Web to communicate with voters. Online radio is an effective way to reach all demographics and educate them about your campaign. With the ability to access the interviews and commentary at any point in time, voters would be able to take the elections more into their own hands and be more proactive about their choices.

Barack Obama--Insane or Smart?

IN SUMMARY
In a recent article on the web concerning the political talk show, Tucker, the host stated that Barack Obama was "creepy."

What prompted Tucker Carlson to say such a thing?

Simple. Barack Obama recently began targeting young voters in Iowa. Some oddity in the state law apparently allows 17 year olds to caucus in January because they will be eligible to vote in the November 2008 presidential elections.

Carlson said that Obama's tactics had a Khmer Rouge quality to them, and it disturbed him that the senator was able to target such a young group.

MY TAKE ON THINGS
I applaud the guest on that show, Bill Press, for his ideas on the matter. I think he sums up my general attitude when he retorts, "This is, I think, one of the best things that Barack Obama has done. It's very smart. They're 17 today, they're going to be 18 next year. Volunteer this year, vote next year."

It's so important nowadays to capture that elusive demographic--the 18-24 year old group. I really admire Barack Obama for attempting to inspire young adults and move them to action.

ARTICLE'S IMPORTANCE FOR POLITICAL WEB COMMUNICATION
The web is a great communicative tool becuase now it is being used to summarize and analyze stories from other media outlets such as television and newspaper.

This particlar article showcases an interesting bite from Tucker's television show. For people that may have never seen the actual episode, it gives the dialogue from both Tucker Carlson and Bill Press. People can turn to the Web for information they may have missed or forgotten from other media centers.

It may not seem like a big deal--BUT IT IS! The web really is taking over in terms of being the place people go for information. Especially America's youth. If the youth of today are the voters of tomorrow, politicians would do well to respect and utilize the Internet for what it's really worth.

Michael Moore

Talk about one of the most controversial political pundits of all time. He's made dozens of films and published numerous books, now he's taking over the web as well.

You may love him, you may hate him, but it's important to respect this man for his ability to communicate political messages effectively via the web.

Moore's website is genius--it pulls readers in and provokes a p0litical dialogue. To achieve this, he uses graphics, plays on words, controversial comments and YouTube videos. Moore is without a doubt, reaching out to a younger and more liberal demographic with these tactics.

While his website is a valuable tool for political news and information, it's also a place for readers to be actively engaged in American politics. As Moore states in his letter in the right hand banner, Americans are taking political matters into their own hands.

Moore's website is just a catalyst to allow the continuation of this movement to action.

So, like him or not, at least Moore is taking a step even beyond communication--he's bringing people together by providing a forum to discuss politics and decide on appropriate actions.

If that's not what democracy is all about, then I don't know what is.

Political Cartoonists

The Importance of Political Cartoons

Cartoonists are an integral part of the political world. They communicate ideas and concepts in creative and enlightening ways. Political cartoonists give dimension to our perceptions on political issues.

With political groups shifting their communication to the World Wide Web, certainly political cartoonists have found a new avenue to express their thoughts. There are dozens of web pages now dedicated solely to graphics that are political in nature and thought-provoking.

My Findings

In search of such websites I came upon several interesting finds. The most prominent in my mind was a political cartoon featured just today (10/11/07) in the Detroit News.

It caught my attention because of it's wit and simplicity. It's amazing to me that the popularity of political cartooning in the print media can translate to an arguably stronger image on the web.

Why Political Groups Should Use Cartoons

Political groups should strongly consider using graphics like these in their online communication in order to hook target demographics. In a world where web graphics are often overlooked, the political cartoon still reigns as a supreme way to attract readers.

Personally, I believe that political cartoons say much more than any campaign website ever could. A political cartoon is worth a thousand words--even online.

Political Wikis

In my search for a political wiki, I found myself drawn to several different sites featuring blogs, forums and other open discussions about the political world.

However, this particular story caught my eye. Labeled, "An open letter to the political blogosphere," the post talks about how vital blogs and wikis have become to political campaigners.

The author is attempting to motivate voters to take political matters into their own hands. It urges politicians to realize what a valuable tool the internet really is, and how it could completely change our conventional ideas about campaigning.

Even more interesting, the man who wrote this blog FOUNDED WIKIPEDIA. Talk about a successful guy--he's created the largest and most effective online wiki ever. He is a credible person and politicans should take his initiative. They should allow the public to take politics into their own hands and make the big decisions.

As Jimmy Wales explains, we should move into an "era of net-driven participatory politics."

Political News At Your Fingertips

The Question

Finding reliable political news on the internet is tough. Finding the specific, reliable political news that you want on the internet is even tougher. Finding the specific, reliable political news that you want on the internet that's CURRENT is the toughest of all.

So, where does that leave us? How can we be informed citizens without the ability or resources to find the things we're looking for? These are big questions that require big answers.

Luckily, while browsing on the internet, I found a big answer.

The Answer

In my search for information on the upcoming political election in 2008, I discovered Electapres.com. This website gives you specific, current and reliable political news about the many candidates for president. The site aggregates all of the daily news stories surrounding candidates and displays them for the public to see.

Electapres.com is a great site because you get news on a variety of presidential hopefuls, as well as information on the biggest issues of the 2008 election.

Certainly, having current political news all in one place makes Electapres.com a top choice for America's voters. The site is also advantageous because it gathers information from many different newspapers, allowing citizens to be exposed to a wide range of perspectives.

One Book--One Million Possibilities

In a web browse titled, "political web communication," I discovered a gold mine. The treasure trove came in the form of a newly published book called "Web Campaigning."

This book details the web use of political groups for campaign purposes. Yeah I know. Big whoop, right?

But believe it or not, there are many exciting elements that the book brings up. Let me explain.

FACT #1
Fact #1: Campaign websites have become more and more popular in the past decade.
Why this should matter: Political groups are beginning to realize just how effective the Web really is for communicating information and reaching out to a potential group of voters. In the future, the Web may become the major medium for launching political candidates.

FACT #2
Fact #2: Political campaign sites have evolved to include blogs, podcasts, videos, public forums and links to myspace and facebook accounts.
Why this should matter: Politicians are reaching out to a younger generation of voters via the Web. Utilizing the Internet is the best way to reach and hook the most elusive demographic--voters aged 18-35 years.

FACT #3
Fact #3: Politicians are using the Web to inform, involve, connect to and mobilize voters.
Why this should matter: Instead of a 30-second television spot, or a billboard ad, politicians now have a medium with a virtually unlimited capacity in which to convey their message. They can now simultaneously inform, persuade and move voters to action. With other media this is almost impossible to do due to time and space constraints. THE WEB INTRODUCED A WORLD OF ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES.

Democrats v. Republicans: Geneseo Style

For this week's post, I thought it might be fun to critique SUNY Geneseo's political groups and see how their websites compare.

I was interested to find that both websites are currently "under construction" but neither one sets a definitive date of when they'll be up and running again. It's crucial to tell your audience when you will be online again. That way they won't become discouraged every time they visit.

Geneseo's Democrats
The College Democrats have an unimpressive website, to say the least. The text is boring, the background adds no value, and the content seems to have no clear direction. Their slogan, "Best Asses on Campus" is clever, but could be deemed offensive to some.

However, the site does have a few redeeming features. Their list of officers is very helpful and something that the College Republican website is lacking. I also thought the link at the bottom of the page that connects to the Democratic Party's website, was a valuable tool.

Geneseo's Republicans
The Geneseo Republicans have a slightly more interesting page. The American flag background makes it clear that they're a political group. I like the fact that they included the elephant logo too because its an easily identifiable symbol. Their slogan "The Best Party on Campus" is catchy and clever--sure to attract the attention of college students.

The quotes on the site add interest, but all the text is far too scrunched together. It needs to be spread out on the page. The content of the page also extends too far down. There is text that bumps up right against the bottom of the page--very frustrating for a reader.

Comparing Both Sites
The last thing I noticed is that both sites prominently displayed the times and places for their group meetings. I feel this was a necessary step. Even though both sites are "temporarily down" they are at least giving their audience another way to get in touch.

Project Vote Smart

Project Vote Smart (PVS) claims to be America's non-partisan, "premier research organization," yet after viewing their site briefly, I was rather disappointed.

The topics they offer such as "Current Candidates," "Interest Positions," and "Voting Records" initally sparked excitement on my part, but after actually viewing the pages, I became frustrated. Not only was information difficult to find,
but the pages were cluttered with data irrelevant to the search topic.

I went to the site in hopes of figuring out the prominent presidential candidates for the 2008 election, and PVS came back with a laundry list of politicians. They did not bookmark any of the candidates as being the "big competitors" but simply threw names around.

Even if the website's primary goal is to be objective, their main priority should be informing American voters. Right now, the ideas behind Project Vote Smart are fantastic, but the implementation of these ideas is anything but.

Hillary's Got Interactive IQ

Presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to the web.

Her campaign website is highly interactive, putting all the power into the hands of her supporters.

On the main page of her site she has a list called, “8 Things You Can Do.” While this may seem like a rather simple web element, it’s an effective tool for informing Americans while generating interest in her campaign at the same time.

Hillary also has a blog where people can post and comment on a variety of topics.

Although she hasn’t won the presidential election yet, Hillary sure has my vote.

Welcome to Political Parsnip!

This blog is dedicated to informed but passionate talk about political groups and their web communication. All viewpoints are welcome and encouraged. Thanks in advance for your input!