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The advantage of our model (5.00 / 2)

The left-wing blogosphere is more powerful, but Democratic leaders aren't using it correctly.  The left-wing blogosphere's comments and especially diaries produce a copious amount of data/stories and strategy.  This does tend to decrease the capabilities of the leftwing blogosphere amplifying a small story and pushing it into the mainstream (although this did happen with Trent Lott).  However, it does create a large "collective" mind that produces a lot of information, some junk, some gems.  However, most campaigns and leaders feel that if an idea didn't come from a high priced consultant, it isn't a good idea.  This problem extends beyond just blogs: grassroots leadeers and low-level county party officials like myself spend a lot of time banging out heads against the wall, trying to get others to just listen to our ideas.  Democratic Party leaders and candidates need to see that blogs do not equal just money, but ideas.  The Dean campaign got this better than any other campaign did; unfortunately, they didn't the traditional experts around to "sort" through suggestions and much of what DFA did was limited to taking low level ideas (e.g. "Democrats Abroad for Dean" downloadable signs).

What needs to happen is for some people to in authority to start "mining" blogs for good ideas, not just cash.

by Lavoisier1794 on Mon Sep 13, 2004 at 05:34:37 PM EST

Re: The advantage of our model (5.00 / 2)

This is exactly right, and exactly what the DNC needs to do to remain relevant.

The right-wing model is a Microsoft model.  Be the big player on the block, pick your message, and pound it mercilessly until everyone caves and believes that it must be right.

The counter to that is an open-source model.  Many eyes debugging whatever issue or problem is out there.  I've seen many great suggestions here, on dKos, etc., that just need someone to pick them up and run with them.  But the DNC isn't doing that.  (Winning Argument and the Center for American Progress have made some steps in the right direction.)

MoveOn had the right idea with the "Bush in 30 Seconds" contest.  Why pay expensive consultants to put together the same old political ads?  Why not have a contest with thousands of entries and use the best ones as decided by the people?  You've got built-in focus grouping.

Democrats need more of this thinking, not less.

by kenfair on Mon Sep 13, 2004 at 07:21:29 PM EST
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