All About McCain

[Alex]

I simply disagree with you. In fact, I'd turn it around and argue that you're overestimating the importance of the internet in the average American's life.

Not using it may make him disconnected from your reality (and mine) but I don't think it is a huge disconnect from the average person's. And among elderly professional types it really isn't a disconnect.

For a huge amount of people the internet remains essentially nothing but a new channel of entertainment. So I think a closer equivalent (for the average American reality) would be saying "I don't really watch TV" which wouldn't be regarded as all that shocking.


Now, that is not to say that he is well connected to the life experience of an average American. I just don't think the internet is a vital part of such a connection.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I'm not necessarily saying that using the internet is part of the average American's life. All I'm saying is that the internet, and particularly the affect on how information is disseminated globally, has a marked impact on on the average American's life. And, more importantly, it's having a major impact on world culture at a level that the President should be aware. Whether or not a President or the average American is using the internet, the result of any action taken by the President is shaped in part by how it is received, distributed, and perceived on the internet. The course of world-changing events has already been altered by how it's gotten exposed online. For a President to be completely cut off from that speaks to a level of ignorance of the world, in my eyes.

[Alex]

And what has McCain said about the internet? That he doesn't use it or that he doesn't know anything about it? I'm not familiar with the specifics of this particular comment.

But still, in regard to the responsibilities of the presidency I just don't much care beyond the level of his proxies.

[Strangler Lewis]

I don't especially believe him when he says he's never used the internet. (Where does he get his porn?) I think he's reaching out to my mother and striking a pose in opposition to Obama's pose of hipness.

If it is true, I suppose I find it somewhat troubling that McCain has never used the internet. On the other hand, I own no video game consoles, and I hope that doesn't detract from my political viability or perception of my surgical skills. Further, to my mind, the lamest thing in this arena was Obama's big decision to announce his VP choice by text message, as if that somehow showed he was ahead of the curve in any meaningful way.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Strangler Lewis

If it is true, I suppose I find it somewhat troubling that McCain has never used the internet. On the other hand, I own no video game consoles, and I hope that doesn't detract from my political viability or perception of my surgical skills.

Last I checked, video games have not become a vital communication channel in matters international.

Further, to my mind, the lamest thing in this arena was Obama's big decision to announce his VP choice by text message, as if that somehow showed he was ahead of the curve in any meaningful way.

That use of the internet was particularly uninspired but made for a flashy headline. His campaign has been far more net savvy than that from the start, he's done an excellent job of using it to address that audience, not just the gimicky things that get coverage.

[BDBopper]

Assuming that nothing in the next 48 hours changes I have made my decision this November. I will not be throwing my support behind or giving my vote to Senator John McCain. I am sure a lot of you around here will be happy to hear that. You can thank me later.

I have sat here and watched Hillary Clinton, who finished in 2nd place be catered to almost every whim, except be named running mate by Barack Obama. I have also watched as Governor Mike Huckabee, who also in finished 2nd place, be almost completely ignored. There would be no problem if the same treatment was being given to other candidates who ran against McCain but that is simply not the case (Romney and Rudy have gotten way more attention and much more catering to). The only small scrap being thrown Mike's way is a speaking slot at the convention which may not even be during Prime Time. It is a complete insult to me, to the thousands of people who worked long hours supporting him, and to the 4 million people who voted for him.

John McCain, my friend (sarcasm) you are making a huge mistake sir.

[3894]

Originally Posted by BDBopper

You can thank me later.

Even though I'm a yellow-dog Dem, on the level, you have to do what you know is best. It has to be so frustrating, BDBopper. Here's to happier days for you.

[BDBopper]

Originally Posted by 3894

Even though I'm a yellow-dog Dem, on the level, you have to do what you know is best. It has to be so frustrating, BDBopper. Here's to happier days for you.

Thanks. It is very frustrating. However we have only just begun our fight to reform the Republican Party. The GOP establishment wants to kick us off the island. Our will is stronger than theirs is I can tell you that right now.

We may not agree on the issues very much, 3894, but I have a great respect for you because you are doing what you feel is right and are involved in the political process. Too many Americans just sit on the sidelines and just watch it all happen and don't care.

[Alex]

While the Obama campaign (I don't necessarily credit this to Obama himself) has made amazing use of the internet as a tool, I think there's a reason the text message thing garnered so much attention despite its boringness:

It garnered attention because it touched on an area the press cares most about and therefore they talked about it the most: preferred access. The idea that a vital piece of campaign news would be distributed to the public without using the press as the intermediary is threatening to them. So it was presented with a sense of outsized importance.

[Strangler Lewis]

It seems like a big false alarm. What if half the television airwaves were like a do it yourself car wash--except it cost $2 million instead of $2 to use the tools? We might get our broadcast of raw facts over such a medium, but we'd still turn to the media owned channels for the analysis that most of us are often too busy to do ourselves. To my mind, it's not a story until it's wrapped in at least the illusion of context and criticism. It's just a press release.