Are there third party stereotypes?

Republicans, as stated in our readings, launched an aggressive grassroots effort called the 72 Hour plan or task force. Democrats have traditionally beaten the GOPs in grassroots, so this was their counter attack.

The results are obvious, it was successful. The democratic version, known as Project 51-04 (51% in 2004), dwindled in comparison to the GOP version. It seems as though some of the traditional roles of the parties are changing.

The same is true of fundraising. It is easy to tell by the campaign newsletters that GOPs focused less on fundraising online then the Dems, whereas traditionally the GOPs have been known to focus more on fundraising.

It seems as though the stereotypical roles of the parties are changing. I only wish we had more then just two stereotypes to have more effect on the future.

NOTES TO PONDER: Are the any third party roles that the major parties are taking on? Are the third parties changing as much as the two main parties? In utilizing the internet more than the two main parties, could a third party climb to power?

Opposing Forces

The internet has had two primary focuses in politics thus far: 1)Fundraising and 2)Grassroots Organizing. Both vital parts of a successful campaign, fundraising and grassroots have become more advanced, especially with the internet.

However, both of these focuses are centralizing in a campaign, whereas the internet is decentralizing. The forces between the internet and fundraising/grassroots are opposed to one another. But yet, it seems as though we have seen more progress the detriment in the two working together. I say that either the theory of the decentralizing power of the internet does not fully consider the centralizing power necessary in effective grassroots and fundraising.

NOTES TO PONDER: Do opposites attract, especially in this instance? Is there too much emphasis put on the decentralizing power of the internet? Do grassroots and fundraising have to be centralizing to be successful?

Content of e.Newsletters

In a few of our readings we have discussed e.newsletters and what works, doesn't work, etc...I feel as though our discussions have left out one key issue: the actual content of the e.newsletters.

Unlike newspapers and other traditional sources of information, e.newsletters tend to be more about selling a product or an idea or a candidate, then actually passing along NEWS. It seems like advertisements and requests for money, which make up the bulk of e.newsletter, are simply appeals to consumerism in the form of a new medium. Far too often, e.newsletters contain little, if any, news at all.

Unfortunately, the name, newsletter, is misleading. Though I understand that some causes and organizations use e.newsletters to communicate their message to their base, that medium for passing on information becomes less effective when other companies and organizations use the misleading name of "newsletter" to simply pass on advertisements.

NOTES TO PONDER: Is there any way to create a demarcation between real e.newsletters and advertisements that pose as newsletters? When one company or campaign misuses e.newsletters, how does it effect all the other companies and campaigns that use e.newsletters?

RSS Feeds Beat SPAM

In our latest reading on RSS feeds, the author makes a great point about how RSS feeds surpass e.newsletters in usability and user friendliness. The main difference being the fact that RSS feeds do not require putting an email address down and hence, do not put users on SPAM lists.

My office ran a campaign in which we sent out daily e-mail newsletters to our growing database of e-mail addresses. My job was to go through the returns and look for unsubscribers and remove them from our database. I was surprised with how many vulgar, rude, and overall angry replies we would get from people about removing their names. After having to read through all of that, I am a huge supporter of RSS feeds. More people should use them to avoid SPAM.

NOTES TO PONDER: How far is too far in the SPAM world? What can be done to promote RSS feeds instead of e.newletters?