I took POSC423 last semester, a political science class called "Congress & Public Policy." In the class, we discussed how Congressmen have to many events and such, that they usually need to prioritize (usually fundraising wins over committee hearings). Now, it seems that more and more elected Congressmen are actually blogging. I'm not talking about 'BLOG' sections on Congressional webpages that are really just press releases organized chronoligically, but actual words by the elected officials (or possibly ghostwriting staffers, kind of hard to tell). I find Dennis Hastert's an exception, as his posts sound like him, and appear infequently enough to seem legit.

"When I reach out to the blog community, it gives me an opportunity to begin a dialogue with an extremely politically sophisticated and active community that I otherwise might not be able to reach," Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., wrote in an e-mail to CNET News.com. "Another benefit of blogging is that, as opposed to delivering a speech, you get immediate and unlimited feedback, both positive and negative."

This seems a bit dumb actually. I think I had a hit from Obama's office a couple months ago, and every now and again I get one from federal departments. I assume them to be staffers/bored bureacrats, but you never know. What strikes me about this is the irony that bloggers are talking. Porkbusters, anyone? They just don't seem to listen. So much for the people we choose to be our voices, shouting so loud that they can no longer hear us. On that note, I give you the now infamous John Kerry Kos post.

It actually isn't too bad, but bloggers and blog readers, for now, are a small constituency. One thing they want? More transparent government, if only for dissection purposes. Those in power, like Abramoff players, and the Democratic Party of Labor Interests, don't want that. Future headline: President Clinton Trapped in Argument With Blogger, 12548 Commentors Slam Healthcare Plan?

Posted by Ryan S. on Thursday, January 26, 2006 at 2:08 PM | Permalink |