Pacific Views

Thanks for the link and the thoughts. Since I've been blogging, I've ruminated on the nature of blogs as well. They're something more than just news blowback, something less than journalism. Add parts community dialogue and activism, and I think that the blogosphere--as a whole--is emerging as a distinct medium.

Ain't it cool to be a part of it?

I've enjoyed my visit to your Blog.
I started a Blog simply as an experimental replacement for e-mail as my mode-of-choice for venting my spleen (I was prompted by some of the folks on my personal e-mail distribution list, when I discovered they were from the political dark-side). Initially, I really didn't care if anyone visited or read. I just wanted to keep typing the stuff I had been typing coz it made me feel better to do so. Now 3 month in, I believe that this bloggin', to clear the noggin' has legs ... and feet, and other parts too. My gut instinct is that Blogs are actually having some impact upon the current momentum of things political. Then, again, maybe I've just been sitting at this keyboard WAY TOO long now, lol!--D.A. http://bloggerradio.typepad.com/politics04/

Well, I was cruising the blogs the Thursday night before the California recall election, and saw the ABC story about Arnold's Nazi past light up the blogosphere. I was certain his political career was over - after all, look what happened to Pat Robertson's presidential campaign. But, in talking to people after the vote, I found that most Californians hadn't heard about the story. They had heard about Arnold's sexual abuse of women, and they still voted for him.
I made a point of forwarding some blog material about Arnold's Nazi past to a child of a Holocaust survivor. She STILL voted for Arnold. The only consolation is that Arnold would not have survived a Republican primary in California, because he is too liberal, even though he is a Nazi (albeit not anti-Semitic, just a brute, especially around women).
I'm afraid Jay Leno has more impact upon the public than the blogs do. Maybe when everyone has broadband internet access and they discover that US television really is BORING will this change. Until then, I don't have much hope in blogs affecting democracy. Sorry.
On my own blog, I devote a paragraph and some links indicating that voter participation reversed its trend and started declining in the US once televisions had saturated US households. The UK and Canada do not show this same effect, and I suspect it is because US television is "commercial" television, and the message of commercial television is "buy our stuff to be happy" rather than "complain to your government if you are unhappy." And I think that goes a long way to explaining life in these United States.

The blogs will never approach the importance of most (other) media, mainly because of the "preaching to the choir" effect. Because it's reading, instead of radio/TV, it takes effort and time.
I do believe blogs played a big part in bringing down Lott, and I hope blogs keep the yellowcakeMateGate alive!
As a total layman outsider who surfs 2 hours a day, I want to blog. But what would I have? I have no sources; I would be a distillation of the current situation, heavily flavored "my way." Now, ... I happen to think that has merit, but then, I can surf'N'comment. But then, I want a record, not just a bunch of WORD files. I think the singular action of maintaining a fairly current blog is admirable enough - a wonder if content has universal - you know - beyond the emitter's value - if it reached out and got someone. That alone is enough.

Interesting...

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