The Web's Growing Muscle

The Web's Growing Muscle

By AMY SCHATZ, GEOFFREY A. FOWLER and ERICA ORDEN

"Last year, though, Google spent $9.68 million on lobbying, up from $1.52 million four years earlier. Facebook, which had a one-man operation in Washington as recently as 2007, set a new lobbying record for itself, spending $1.35 million. "

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When I started this blog project way back in 2000 the question

of Internet Power into the 21st century was central to its thesis.

Would the web evolve to a potent tool of grassroots political activism?

Well last week with the SOPA protests online the Internet came of age.

Technopolitically speaking.

"A Chinese court on Saturday sentenced a Tibetan environmentalist..."

"BEIJING, July 3 (Reuters) - A Chinese court on Saturday sentenced a Tibetan environmentalist who organized villagers to pick up litter and plant trees to five years in jail for inciting to split the nation, his lawyer said."

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/04/world/asia/04tibet.html?hpw

www.nytimes.com

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Remember China ,

TechnoPolitical is WATCHING you !

"Conspiracy theories are generally the province of people who are high on I.Q. and "low on common sense",

SO TRUE :

"Conspiracy theories are generally the province of people who are high on I.Q. and "low on common sense",

http://douthat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/29/birthers-polls-and-public-ignorance/?nl=opinion& emc=tyb1

A Database for Everything

I think this a good , even great thing. OK , as pointed out below it may create a sea of data so large it will be hard to navigate,, but as also pointed out , there are tech firms already looking to solve that issue-- which is a little economic boost right there. ~~ technopolitical

A Database For Everything
By Erika Lovley |

6/24/09 @ 5:06 AM EST

http://mobile.politico.com/story.cfm?id=24118&cat=topnews

The government has answers. Lots of answers. Wondering which airline is the most stingy with passenger snacks? No problem. Want to know how many people were injured by vending machines last year? Got that, too.

Agencies and departments already boast countless registries and databases of seemingly bizarre, seemingly useless information, but lawmakers continue to call by the day for the creation of new databases.

Since January, Congress has introduced bills that call for the creation of nearly 40 new databases and registries, by POLITICO’s count.


http://mobile.politico.com/story.cfm?id=24118&cat=topnews

Mobile.POLITICO:The A-list: The best email lists in politics

~Email has really taken off as a fund raising tool, I believe beyond anybody's realistic expectations. The stratospheric amounts that Obama 2008 raised using the internet will go down as a historic watershed.

And as we see below even though Hillary Clinton lost, her email list still lives and prospers~~


~~posted from blackberry by TechnoPolitical~~.


http://mobile.politico.com/story.cfm?id=22915&cat=topnews

Clinton’s online mint isn’t even considered the best in its class. There are a handful of other lists, in both parties, that are thought to be either equal or even more potent.Using the criteria used by political pros to assess the value of these emails lists—size, freshness, comprehensiveness (does it include addresses, land lines, cell phone numbers or donation data?), open rates (what percentage of emails in a given send get opened), click-throughs (how many links are activated), actions and donations (how many emails result in a contribution or a letter to member of Congress) as well as intangibles like buzz and list managers’ skills—here is POLITICO’s ranking of the top five most potent email lists in politics
==

Joseph Lieberman Beats the Internet Activists. Senator more powerful than ever!

~~` Back after the Connecticut Democratic primary this year , the world -- or at least the press -- proclaimed "Internet, activists help topple prominent US Democrat".

Well at the time , I was not impressed . And now we have , once "Democratic" Sen. Joseph Lieberman,

as now INDEPENDENT Sen. Joseph Lieberman.

With just a one vote Majority in the senate the Democrats will have to quake every time Lieberman speaks his mind. Lieberman is now more powerful then ever, thanks to the Internet !?!?

If Internet "activist" are going to proclaim victories, they are also going to have to accept the lessons of this big defeat.

The lesson is , while the Internet is a great "tool" for political organizing, it is still only one "tool" among many, and alone it cannot win for you.

Math Professor Wins a Coveted Religion Award - New York Times

Math Professor Wins a Coveted Religion Award - New York Times: "Dr. Barrow said that in contrast with the so-called culture wars in America, science and religion had long coexisted peaceably in England. 'The concept of a lawful universe with order that can be understood and relied upon emerged largely out of religious beliefs about the nature of God,' he said."

ABC News: Was Bush Authorized to Spy on American Citizens?

ABC News: Was Bush Authorized to Spy on American Citizens?: "Speed Necessary?

The president said he needed the power to eavesdrop without a court order to streamline the process of wiretapping suspected terrorists.

'We've got to be fast on our feet, quick to detect and prevent,' Bush said.

But the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act allows investigators to wiretap before getting a warrant, as long as they request permission from a special intelligence court within 72 hours.

'Doesn't hold water,' said Saltzburg. 'As long as you can act in emergencies before you get a court order, then speed is irrelevant here.'

The secret court has overwhelmingly done the bidding of recent administrations. Since 1979, the Justice Department has gone before the secret court 18,742 times and has only been turned down in four instances.

But for the Bush administration, court approval, at times, was not fast enough.

ABC News' Pierre Thomas filed this report for 'World News Tonight.'"

Internet redefining politics: new survey

~~ I disagree with the findings here. While the Internet is becoming "part" of politics in the USA, there has not been , nor will there be soon any major shift in political power.

The Republicans have used the internet to help
solidify their base better than the Democrats have.

This is because there is still a major Digital Divide in the USA,
with the wealthier Republicans having more broadband to use politically . ~~ ` `TP
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Internet redefining politics: new survey: "Online campaigning is transforming US politics and empowering individual voters dwarfed by the might of the print and broadcast media, the author of a major new Internet use survey said."

http://www.physorg.com/news8706.html

Questions on the Legality of Campaign Fund-Raising - New York Times

Questions on the Legality of Campaign Fund-Raising - New York Times: "'Contributions can only take you so far,' said former Senator John B. Breaux, a Louisiana Democrat who has relocated to a K Street law firm and is now advising clients on lobbying strategy. 'I tell them, 'Look, you can give to an elected official and take them to lunch, dinner and breakfast. "But if you are asking them to vote yes on an issue and they have 2,000 letters from home telling them to vote no, then you have a problem."

~~ The most powerful tool in any political lobby , is the handwritten letter from the home district . Even in this technopolitical world in which we now exist , the simple old ways of local storefront politics still prevails. ~~ TP

National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation

National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation: "NCDD brings together those who actively practice, promote and study inclusive, high quality conversations. We believe that elevating the quality of thinking and communication in organizations and among citizens is key to solving humanity's most pressing problems."

Young Voters Led Surge in 2004 Election - AP Wire

~~ For the record ~~~ TP

Young Voters Led Surge in 2004 Election - Yahoo! News:

"The 18-24 set made up 9 percent of the electorate last year, up very slightly from 8 percent the previous election. It's unclear what that might mean for the young vote in the future.

'Will it work for kids who were 14 years old in 2004? No idea. That work still remains to be done,' King said. 'But the 2004 campaign itself was an immense mobilizing event, bringing out the largest percent of young voters in 32 years.'

Democrats found hope in the statistics because, according to exit polls, Kerry won 56 percent of votes cast by people aged 18-24. Bush earned 43 percent of their votes."

"Blogs and text messages spread call to violence - Europe - International Herald Tribune"

~~~ The Internet seems to be perfect place for Anarchists to organize. { Yes, I know if they are "organized", then they can't truely be anarchists. But try to tell them that. }

The Republicans in the USA also use the internet much better than the Democrats in elections , with the GOP having larger email lists , , and more donations via the net.

This led to
a Republican base turn-out in the 2004 Presidental race that trumped the Democrats -- whose urban base failed to turn out .

Maybe the Democrats could hire the guys now running the tech-side of the Paris Ghetto Riots of 2005 .....

..... and put them in the voter-turnout "war-room" for next year's 2006 mid-term Congresional elections.

~~ `~~ TechnoPolitical ~~

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"PARIS The banners and bullhorns of protest are being replaced in volatile French neighborhoods by mobile phone messages and Skyblog, a Web site hosting messages inflammatory enough ..........."

from :
Blogs and text messages spread call to violence
- Europe - International Herald Tribune:
By Thomas Crampton International Herald Tribune

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2005

Social funds warn Web firms on human rights - Yahoo! News

~~~` A story like this gives me some hope that the world , in general , is moving in a better direction, with more democracy and less tourture. ~~ ` TP
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"By Eric Auchard
Social funds warn Web firms on human rights - Yahoo! News:

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A group of social investment funds from Western countries called on Monday for Internet companies to refrain from supporting repressive human rights practices in China and other nations."

When Cleaner Air Is a Biblical Obligation - New York Times

When Cleaner Air Is a Biblical Obligation - New York Times: "When Cleaner Air Is a Biblical Obligation"

Advertising in the Age of the Empowered Voter - A View from Washington

~ I Got this by e-mail.
This event wil explore lobbying and activisim from a TechnPolitical view.

~~~ enjoy ~` TP ~~ `

=================

"Advertising in the Age of the Empowered Voter - A View from Washington"
When:Wednesday, September 21, 2005 1:00 PM - 7:00 PM

How do mobile, blogs, and podcasts change political and advocacy communications?

E-Voter Institute is hosting bipartisan events to delve into the ways in which these and other new technologies are changing the political landscape.

Join campaign strategists, online pioneers, researchers, journalists, and media experts for the first of three lively discussions about the role of Internet and wireless technology for politics and advocacy.

Wednesday, September 21, 2005 1:00 PM - 7:00 PM

BBC NEWS | Technology | Vloggers get political in Norway

BBC NEWS | Technology | Vloggers get political in Norway: "A video-blogger from Bergen in Norway is turning his camcorder on politicians, ahead of Norwegian parliamentary elections on Monday."

Nice !!

BBC NEWS | Technology | UK digital rights group sets up

BBC NEWS | Technology | UK digital rights group sets up: "A UK-based organisation to preserve digital rights and freedoms has been set up thanks to pledges of money by those passionate about such rights."

Also Nice !!

"The Council for Excellence in Government works to improve the performance of government at all levels; and government's place in the lives and esteem

http://www.excelgov.org/

--To promote e-government as a revolutionary tool for improving performance and better connecting people to government; and

--To improve the connection between citizens and government and encourage their participation in governance.

The Council is supported by members (called Principals)---

private sector and nonprofit leaders who have served in

government and are united by a strong, sustaining

commitment to Council objectives-

--and by project grants and

other funding from government agencies, corporations and

foundations. [ Zzzzzzzzz, worst sentance ever. ~` tp}

Former Presidents Carter, Ford, Bush and

Clinton are honorary chairs of the Council.
===============================

~~~ Sound like a bunch of young idealiastic kids to me . They'll learn. ~` ` ` ` t p

"The Rise of Open-Source Politics"; By Micah L. Sifry, The Nation.

~~~ Really great article here below by Micah L. Sifry from 'The Nation" .
The interenet as a Political Tool is still evolving, and right now the Repulicans have a slight Cyber-Political edge. The Republican rank and file , the religious right & Big Biz , are all simply more lkely to give money or take other direct cyber -inspired -action, mostly because wealthier folks are more likely to have broadband internet , whithout which , one is quite cyber-limited in expresing political power.

However as broadband & wireless internet trickles down into the the many urban & rural areas with lower incomes , and now little broadband , a shift may still come , to where the 'political power' of cyberspace may tilt back towards the left ~~TP

The Rise of Open-Source Politics
By Micah L. Sifry, The Nation
Posted on January 20, 2005, Printed on January 21, 2005
http://www.alternet.org/story/21032/
Whether you're a Democrat in mourning or a Republican in glee, the results from election day should not obscure an important shift in America's civic life.

New tools and practices born on the internet have reached critical mass, enabling ordinary people to participate in processes that used to be closed to them. It may seem like cold comfort for Kerry supporters now, but the truth is that voters don't have to rely on elected or self-appointed leaders to chart the way forward anymore.

The era of top-down politics – where campaigns, institutions and journalism were cloistered communities powered by hard-to-amass capital – is over. Something wilder, more engaging and infinitely more satisfying to individual participants is arising alongside the old order.

View this story online at: http://www.alternet.org/story/21032/