When I used to manage campaigns and advise candidates, I would say if you don't want to defend it and see it in print, then don't say it. Check out Bill Maher's last New Rule from this past week, which is the high tech version of that advice:
New Rule: Before running for office, politicians must be informed of their rights: that "Everything you say can and will be used against you in a Google search." Now, of course, we all embellish our resumes a little. In college, I described my job of pot dealer as "regional sales associate for a large multi-national firm." But we just had the fifth anniversary of YouTube and the twelfth of Google, and between them, they're killing off a great institution: lying. You just can't lie anymore -- facts are too easy to check, everything is on video, and your wife put a GPS in your glove compartment. Our privacy is gone, our Internet conversations are forever. I even have reason to believe I'm being recorded right now...
Here's the full segment, it's the last new rule:Someone should have told Assemblyman DiCicco about this concept before his last town hall meeting, so he could have avoided embarrassing videos like this and this.
Going back to my time as a Long Branch City Councilman, I've always believed it was important to give my constituents a direct line to communicate their questions, concerns, and thoughts. Technology is revolutionizing how we interact, and as the Congressman for New Jersey's 6th District, I want to use these new tools to hear directly from you.
The internet opens up new opportunities to solicit input, debate policy proposals, and raise new ideas. My Twitter Town Hall on Health Care was born out of that sentiment. Now I want to take things one step further by introducing a new way for me to interact with my constituents, Blue Jersey readers, and progressive activists. Using the Google Moderator application and YouTube, I want to hear directly from you, and at the end of each month I'll make a web video directly answering your questions.
Google Moderator allows me to get input directly from you so that everyone's voice can be heard. If you happen to like a particular question or suggestion, you can vote for it so it rises to the top and ensure that I address the issue. YouTube offers a different medium than Facebook or Twitter. It allows me to speak directly to you and inform you on the issues facing the 6th Congressional District, New Jersey, and our nation.
The issues will change from month-to-month. I might be seeking input on questions you want asked to a witness testifying in front of my Health Subcommittee. You could want updates on the financial regulation reform and what it will mean to consumers, or what I know about the progress being made in Afghanistan. Some months I'll ask specifically about your thoughts or questions on a certain topic; other months it will be open-ended.
The end game to this new idea for interaction is to create a more open, transparent dialogue. As a Congressman I serve the people, and want to hear your input. My fight against the special interests and lobbyists is an everyday battle and I want to make sure my most ardent supporters - progressives - have a vehicle to give me their opinions and thoughts. I hope I can count on your participation, and as always, you can follow my tweets @FrankPallone and my updates on Facebook.
Court users can sign up for breaking news alerts via short message service (SMS) text alerts on their cell phones. Users sign up for the service through a link on the Judiciary home page, njcourts.com. The text messages will announce unscheduled court closings and other high priority information so that users who are not in the office or at home in front of their computers will receive the information in real time on their cell phones. The Judiciary also has begun using Twitter to send short "tweets" about breaking court news. To sign up for either of these options, users can click on the SMS or Twitter links on the Judiciary home page. Those links will take them to the appropriate Web sites to sign up for those services.
Facebook users can join the group "New Jersey Courts" to see press releases, court information and photos of court events. The Judiciary's Facebook page is updated daily and the links can be shared with others who are not currently members of the group.
Finally, the Judiciary has begun posting videos on YouTube for court users to learn more about the courts. Topics covered by the videos include the Judiciary's mortgage foreclosure mediation program and the Veteran's Assistance Project. Future videos will address help available for self-represented litigants and volunteer opportunities. To find video clips about the New Jersey courts, go to youtube.com/njcourts.
Ok, I found this entertaining and thought they made some interesting observations. Over at the Ledger Live, Brian Donahue and the SL Cartoonist Drew Sheneman take a look at the GOP primary as seen on Youtube.
First they have a good laugh at one of Chris Christie's kitchen table talks saying he's like a human ambien and wondering if they'd let him come in if he came to their house.
Next they move onto a Camden County business town hall for Chris Christie that has a terrible backdrop of boxes that they say looks like he's being held in the back storage room of a warehouse. They point to the frenzy of the crowd with his "A" material and endless references to Trenton.
Then we get a Steve Lonegan speech at a teabagging party in piscataway. They talked about how much more passion Lonegan had enjoying some of Lonegan's best lines and making sure to point out the anger along with great signs in the crowd.
They do make an interesting observation about how Lonegan's web video's have twice as many views as Christie's and how Lonegan voters are more motiavted.
Finally, we get to see Steve Lonegan arrested and they talk about how he's using it as a promotional video because the image they want is that Lonegan is a "maverick". They say it's as good as watching a cat play piano. Make sure you catch the twisted sister reference at the end too. Enjoy.
The Assembly Democrats use video, Facebook and direct email through their website.
The Assembly GOP has video, email signups and rss feeds to keep people informed.
The Senate GOP lists Twitter, Youtube, Digg and Facebook as platforms they use to communicate and also provide for RSS feed sign ups.
The Senate Democrats allow for email updates, but they seem to have the furthest distance to go toward embracing new media efforts.
This recap says nothing about the efforts of individual members to embrace new media platforms. Now the debate about the effectiveness of the medium can ensue.
Parsippany, October 29--Even though Frelinghuysen has raised far more money than Wyka in this election cycle, Wyka has by far the stronger presence on the video-hosting Web sites such as www.YouTube.com, largely because of videos produced by volunteers and by members of the public with no connection to his campaign.
Wyka says, "Frelinghuysen's campaign is money-powered, mine is people-powered. His supporters tend to be corporate interests who cut big checks. My supporters are middle-class people who make smaller donations but roll up their sleeves and work for the campaign. They've been making phone calls and knocking on doors. Some of them have made videos."
Some of the videos on YouTube were produced for the 2006 campaign but are still timely. Others were produced for this election. Still others are clips from public forums and debates.
An independent journalist with no connection to the Wyka campaign made a videorecording of the entire October 26 debate and made it available via the Internet (http://blip.tv/file/1400777). A videorecording of part of a debate from 2006 is also available via the Internet (http://blip.tv/file/9321).
In the videos, Wyka speaks about issues such as campaign finance reform, healthcare reform, support for U.S. troops and veterans, and support for the middle class. Other videos cover Frelinghuysen's record on veterans and the environment, among other issues.
Wyka says, "I have always believed in what Thomas Jefferson said, that an informed democracy will behave responsibly. So it's good that private citizens are videotaping public debates and making them available to everyone with Internet access. It's what the First Amendment is all about."
It's a relatively slow news weekend, so I figured now is a good time to ask the Blue Jersey community to head over to John Adler's YouTube page. It's a good place to keep track of one of the country's hottest Congressional races, plus it's a chance to show off some Jersey pride.
Flipping seats in cool, but doing it in New Jersey is long overdue, eh?
You can actually help the progressives dominate the new media platforms this November by subscribing to Adler's YouTube page. The more support we can give our Garden State candidates the better. This applies to boots-on-the-gound stuff and virtual support as well. If you have a YouTube account already (hello, 2008) it's as simple as hitting the SUBSCRIBE button on a user's page. (see below)
Boom. One and done.
As Adler's blogger-in-chief, let me personally say thanks in advance.
No YouTube account yet? It's really easy to join. And then subscribe.
I'm a big fan of campaigns embracing new technologies to help perform traditional campaign functions. In today's campaign world, it's about more than just putting up a website. A contest for an ad is nothing new, but getting notified of a blogad contest by email through the Adler campaign's facebook group is certainly a concept that can be successfully replicated...
Do you ever see ads on websites, and think that you would do a better job at designing them? If so, enter the contest to design the first BlogAd for the Adler for Congress team!
To me, this is a great idea. As a campaign, you engage your supporters, support the netroots and encourage people to focus on how they can better elect the candidate to office without making the reader suffer through a press release to do it. It doesn't just have to be this idea with this platform. Campaigns can capitalize on other social networking platforms to reinforce the general campaign message in front of a different potential audience.
It's important to note that while technology will not replace traditional campaign tactics such as door knocking and phone calls, it certainly can assist and enhance those efforts. Technology can amplify the campaigns message across many mediums before numerous audiences. It's another tool at your disposal to help get the job done.
In the recent diaries, you can see a video blog diary by candidate Tom Wyka utilizing the youtube platform so that people who are lazy like me and don't want to read a complete message all of the time can click play to watch a video of him giving a clear explanation of money in politics.
The Andrews for senate campaign has capitalized on the skills of Jay Lassiter and a handy dandy youtube account to incorporate videoblogging giving us a behind the scenes look at a campaign for Senate along with having a facebook group. I've gotten emails about their latest videos and last week I got a message through the facebook group inviting supporters to the filming of a TV commercial. The Lautenberg re-election campaign also utilizes a facebook page allowing people to join and show their support.
Many candidates have attempted to engage the netroots through posts here on BlueJersey and other national blogs. We thank them for that and encourage them to come back frequently to continue the conversation. BlueJersey is also engaging people with technology, so feel free to follow us on Twittter and join our myspace or facebook groups.
I hope more campaigns will follow the lead of these candidates and Blue Jersey by continuing to engage technology as a tool to help enhance the great work they are already doing.
Today's Sunbeam notes that the a group of farmers called Salem is Smart is posting videos to youtube:
In the beginning of June, Salem is Smart contracted a professional videographer to record various meetings of the Carneys Point Township Committee, Oldmans Township Committee, Board of Chosen Freeholders and even the state Planning Commission in Trenton, which have since been uploaded on YouTube.
The action to videotape meetings and post them on the YouTube Web site was prompted by the ongoing cross-acceptance debate with the State of New Jersey.
The taping is by GGM Productions so if you click on user ggm1977 you get the videos. (You also get some unrelated concert stuff.) As for the name, it presumably means that Salem's Smart Growth plan is better than the state's, but I've written about that dispute before.
Politics
Republican Paul Langley resigned from the Woodstown Borough Council. Oddly enough, this is the third resignation this year.
Democrats complained that independent State Senate candidate William Mead collected many signatures in Salem City from Democrats by misrepresenting his plans to run against Steve Sweeney. A judge advised them to withdraw their complaint, and they did.
There are various other minor disputes between the Republicans and the Democrats, but it's hard to get excited about them.
Environment
We have about 44 bald eagles in Salem County. The Today's Sunbeam article has to be quoted on the success of the Bald Eagles:
Able to pull off a comeback more spectacular than anything the Philadelphia Eagles have accomplished in their history,
It's all in fun, the Jets haven't won in my lifetime either.
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