Local pols need web presence
I've raised the issue of local politicians not having a web site several times in the past, and it's been met with scorn and derision by some who seemed to think the very idea of a state senator or rep having a web site was stupid and useless.
I spelled out the reasons it was not only useful, but absolutely necessary, such as the fact that it is a perfect opportunity for a candidate to present himself, his bio, his views and positions, and for communicating their message to thousands of people, and all at very little cost.
It's also an easy and convenient way for people to donate to campaigns, so it can be a source of revenue as well.
These arguments would seem to be self apparent, but not for the local yokels apparently. Either that or they were too anxious to condemn the idea simply because I suggested it.
Rep. Pat Verschoore, ironically the politician with the lowest media profile in the area, was the first to have an actual website, though it was static and a simple home page. I haven't checked on it lately and don't know what, if anything, they've done with it.
Rep. Boland doesn't have a website that I'm aware of beyond the standard site provided to all legislators on the Illinois General Assembly website.
Sen. Jacobs has never had a website of his own and I recommend he get one soon.
He seems to have a lot to say and often, and a website would be a good platform. He's got tons of ready cash with which to hire people to write and produce the page, and it will give them an outlet to write their PR other than local blogs.
I hope all three of our local legislators come up with web sites as the election nears, and that those that have dismissed the idea finally have to admit that they were a bit behind the curve.
posted by The Inside Dope @ 10/09/2006
17 comments
17 Comments:
TID, I don't get it. You say that a website is vital, praise Vershoore for having one, and then admit you haven't looked at it lately. Are you admitting yourself out of your own logic?
Dope, gotta agree with you on this. Besides giving biographic info, presentation of views and positions and a possible way to donate to a campaign, it could also allow us "little folks" to give feedback on what we really feel the district, etc. needs.
Carrying the idea on to after an election, the winner should keep the website up and viable for, again, contacting them with concerns about legislation, votes, stand on the issues, and other subjects that normally would be covered by writing a letter.
Yes, there would be crank and "flaming" emails, but obviously some staff member would be culling the emails and the candidate or elected official would only see the appropriate ones.
I can't believe more of the candidates and elected officials haven't already done this, as it really lets the people come to them. In the age of the Internet, one would think these people would be a little more savvy.
Beals had to hire someone to do his website. Why not make it on his own????
Why does anyone need a website. Rep Boland and Sen Jacobs already have sites. WHy do they need another one?
TID get real!
Arthur Alexander Deco said...
"Modern" campaigns aren't run by the candidates themselves, they are funded and run by party leadership."
That is what makes Mike Jacobs such a great politition. He runs his own campaign because he brings in his own money. If you can raise money then you have more freedomn from the party leadership. This is one reason that Our Sen. Jacobs was able to buck party lines to help his area on medical malpractice reform. It is true that most do rely on the party however.
How did "Our" Sen. Jacobs help us with medical malpractic reform?
Vote to make it impossible for ordinary people to sue? Put artifical caps on damage awards so that if your infant dies due to malpractice you can only get a couple hundred grand in order to protect insurance companies that give Jacobs wads of cash?
I really hope Jacobs takes the Dope's advise and pays people to build a website for him so we can be spared the misspelled hype they've posted here for so long.
Then if people want to read stuff making Jacobs out to be God, and going on and on about how a rookie Senator is supposedly the greatest thing since Lincoln, or better than Lincoln, they can go there and gag on the excess.
Maybe when someone else is in charge of writing the hype and the candidate isn't allowed to post stuff himself, the hired guns will tone it down a little. We can only hope. Then it might actually be readable without insulting everyone's intelligence by constantly trying to make ordinary achievements seem like heroic deeds.
I take exception to this smear on Jacobs. He is not me and I am not him. To accuse him of writting this stuff when it was me is pathetic and should be taken off these pages.
The fact of the matter is that he can raise his own money and that keeps him from being a hired gun for the Chicago party boss's.
This seems to be what the tone of this post was.
This legislation is what kept Doctors in Illinois. If it would not have taken place we would be sueing all the time because we would have substandard care in Illinois.
That's what the insurance lobby tries to tell us. Too bad it's a load of crap. Good doggie.
anon 13:13
I think you doth protest too much. The way I read it, no one accused you of being Jacobs or Jacobs of being you.
Your accussations against the good Senator have gotten repetitious and rather boring. Do you have a ascond act, or is this all you got?
Dog Boy,
Didn't realize I was attacking anyone, let alone any "good" senators.
But have you noticed that 99.999% of the blog is NOT about Jacobs?
Or are you so obsessed that that fact's escaped you?
Or "jumbo shrimp", or "compassionate conservative" maybe?
Now you resort to name calling of Senator Jacobs. What a class act you are turning out to be.
Anon 10:00
I have no idea who you're trying to insult, but it doesn't matter. I dont' see anyone calling Sen. Jacobs names.
Isn't calling Jacob's "the Good Senator" kinda like the term - "Military Intelligence" . . . A classic example of an oxymoron?
13/10/06 18:51
The Inside Dope said...
Or "jumbo shrimp", or "compassionate conservative" maybe?
This is what I am talking about.
It is no wonder that someone is thretening you with this attitude. It is a good thing that people don't know who you are.
OK. I'm not sure if you're in the United States, but in this country, people are actually ALLOWED to comment on the people they elect to represent them.
It's call freedom of speech and we're kind of proud of it.
If you think Rope's comment is just horrible and that I deserve to be peronally attacked because I came up with two more examples of oxymorons, then ....
I think you're nuts.
Do you even know what "oxymoron" means?
Maybe you think that's the insult. All it means is a word whose meaning is different than how it sounds. Look it up.
And get used to America, where you can actually joke that saying "good" sentator is an oxymoron without fearing threats of retribution and attack.
Seriously, in this country, it's not that big a deal. And besides, I have no idea why you think mentioning a couple more oxymorons on my part makes me guilty of something horrible.
Are you sure you're not straining too hard to find something to be critical about?
I've created a small blog - http://mikeboland.blogspot.com/ is the web address. I call the blog, "Serving the 71st with Mike Boland."
It's certainly not an official web presence for Rep Boland, but I hope it can serve as a point of reference for folks wanting to know a little bit more about Representative Boland, and the kind of things we do to serve the public from his district office.
As I've already said in my opening comments on that blog - "I welcome constructive comments and suggestions, and even constructive criticism, however I will not allow this blog to become an overtly politicized place where discussions are about personal feuds or even political feuds. The 71st District of Illinois is a wonderfully diverse place full of interesting and inspiring individuals, so I believe there's plenty of positives to discuss."
Hopefully folks can learn and benefit from what I share on that new blog, I certainly look forward to learning some myself.
Please bear with me as I am fairly new to the blog medium, and HTML formating and such is pretty foreign to me. I'm happy to say I'm already making myself at home there. I've even added a link to The Inside Dope over on my site! ;)
Post a Comment
<< Home