Random notes on the upcoming mid-term elections 

First off, I think it's really important for the Democrats to take back at least one of the houses of Congress.

We're 12 weeks out, and with terrorism in the news it looks like that's going to be the big issue, but I don't think it should be for Congress. I'd love to see more of a focus on the widening gap between the haves and have-nots.

I think the mainstream media and Democrat strategists could do more to question the Republican spin. Bloggers can't do this directly because we don't have the clout to get interviews with politicians and ask them the hard questions, but we might be able to needle the MSM into doing its job. And we might be able to suggest to Democrat message meisters that they are letting some misleading impressions stand unchallenged.

Here's an example: last week Bush interrupted his vacation to travel to Wisconsin for a photo opp at a small factory. On the telecast I saw, Bush was seen with a gaggle of shopfloor workers talking about how his tax cuts were helping small businesses and working people. And that was it. No balancing truth about who the cuts benefit most.

Every time conservatives mention small business, it's a red flag that subterfuge is being practiced. Think back on the last time you heard a Republican talk about office ergonomics. Bet you anything something was said about how expensive it would be for small businesses if they had to conform to any kind of standard. These pols don't get their campaigns funded by small business -- that's not where their loyalties are, and they need to be called on it.

Where are the in-depth media reports on how the minimum wage vote got scuttled? I want to see some reporting that quotes a Republican on why it's not a good idea for workers to earn more than $5.15 per hour. I'd like to see a good breakdown on 60 Minutes about who's really cleaning up from the tax cuts.

But, no matter what I want, a lot of the campaigns are going to be about foreign relations. One thing I think the Democrats might want to consider doing is taking the phrase "cut and run" out of the Republicans' language quiver. It's one of their emotional lingustic ploys, like the Patriot Act and partial birth abortion. Maybe the Dems could work out a way to steal "cut and run", give it a twist and wear it proudly when talking about getting out of Iraq.

Oh, one thing bloggers could do: stop talking about how stupid Bush is, and try to stem the vitriol, if the aim is to persuade. Indulging in smarmy personal smears puts a blogger in the same category with Ann Coulter or Rush Limbaugh. I think most political blogs -- written from the right or the left -- are probably useless in effecting change. Their readers already agree with the bloggers and no movement in thinking ever happens. Blogs that don't cover politics exclusively have a better chance at reaching readers who like the blogger for one reason or another, and might just listen to a reasoned argument.

Something video bloggers could do 

Go out and shoot campaign appearances before special interest groups and at fundraisers. That's where true colors come out. Remember the clip from Fahrenheit 9/11 of Bush telling the white-tie dinner crowd that it's his base?

(Not saying I approve of all Michael Moore's tactics. Even though I agree with his politics, I'd put him in that polarizing group with political bloggers who talk mostly to people who already agree with them.)

I still don't get the Rocketboom naysayers 

Check out today's off-the-wall Rocketboom. Then read through the comments. I'm still puzzled about the naysayers. Can they be chalked up to Amamda loyalists who will not like anything now, no matter what? That's gotta be part of it, but I keep thinking there's a segment of the old audience that's very unliberal in the limited possibilities sense of the word. A fair number of commenters seem almost hostile to the very idea of experimenting with the form -- even if it's only for a day to keep things mixed up and unpredictable. Imagine commenting on a vlog known for being out there that it would be better not to stray so far into left field.

I'm scratching my head. It's fascinating to me, just as an student of subcultures. I posted a stub page about audience on the Rocketboom wiki that I haven't followed up on. Maybe after I finish this project that's guilting me to death, I'll put a survey together and try to see if some of my hunches about the old crowd have any legs. I wonder if Andrew would allow it on the wiki.

Number 7 with a bullet on the QOD chart 

Perversion for Profit is a test of a short video show by Adam Curry. It feels like an entry in the Rocketboom genre, you think? How would you characterize that format, anyway?

- Under 5 minutes

- Daily

- Newsy but quirky

- Produced, semi-slick

- Pro talent

You think we'll start calling them formats soon, and naming them with radio format type labels like CHR and AOR?

Quirk-oriented daily. QOD.

Here's hoping internet media doesn't get slotted into formats 

I do have an opinion about this, of course. I wouldn't like to see QOD or any formal pigeonholes because it limits creativity. Think about what's happened in book publishing, movies and TV. You have these formats that a new idea has to fit into, or it can't sell. Short stories and short films are completely unbankable. A TV show has to be a drama if it lasts for 60 minutes. New media ought to be about breaking rules like that, and inventing new forms at the drop of a hat.