Wednesday, April 06, 2005
The importance of blogging.
The importance of blogging!
Our politicians are becoming accustomed to technology and new communication methods, the last Presidential Election in the USA admirably illustrated the power of blogging as a force to disseminate information, and as a way to influence the target voting markets.
In recent months many of our MPs have taken to blogging or developed their own personal websites.
Today I have added a link in the sidebar to the much heralded blog of Alastair Campbell, that "archminister" of "spin", like many others I was sorely tempted to pass this blog off as an elaborate spoof, but a number of journalists appear to put faith in it's authenticity. The jury is still out, however, it might still provide some useful snippets of fun during the election campaign. I've already added some acerbic comments to one of the posts, just to see what the response is following his recent talking shop at the Customs House. That should help to ascertain how genuine it is, any way if you like a good laugh there is always Bill Clinton's Daily Diary in the side bar!
BBC's report on the suspect blog - clickhere
The Sun is No. 1 for Politits - click here
That rather down to earth rag The Sun ran with the following headline this morning, "They're Off", to illustrate the start of the election campaign, as is usual with The Sun they promise to keep us all "abreast of the news" :)
South Shields
David Miliband's campaign for Labour in South Shields has certainly got off to a bright and breezy start, first leaflet arrived on doormats yesterday, and by this morning his HQ in Ede House, Westoe Road was brightly decorated and festooned with posters etc.
The Tories, for many years, also had their HQ further up the hill in Westoe Road, and when one saw the competing displays you knew that an election campaign was up and running. However, they ran into financial difficulties about twenty years ago and decided to sell the property. Since then they have had to meet in members homes or have larger meetings at places like the Ship Inn on Sunderland Road (the Old Ship). It must be difficult to attract new members if they cannot find a party building or office to enquire at.
Similarly I cannot think that the Liberal Democrats have a permanent base in the town.
Party buildings are expensive to buy and maintain, and the local associations would need to recruit many members in order to finance them. The Labour Party in past years benefited from large donations from the coffers of the Trade Unions (even if the members were less than happy about where their subscriptions were going.)
The voting system
One advantage of our current voting regulations is the ability to make a large "stuff the lot of you" protest by spoling the ballot paper. This can be done in a number of ways
a) scratch through the names of all the candidates (with venomous intent)
b) write comments against the candidates
c) sign the ballot paper with your name
d) vote for all of them
e) doodle all over the ballot paper
f) write a draft of your blog entry for the day on the ballot paper
The great thing is that spoilt papers are counted, although none of the candidates gets any votes, which is much different to being totally apathetic and staying at home, your ballot paper never gets counted in this way!
A great many people fought for our democracy and the rights to be enfranchised, so it is important that, one way or another, you use your ballot. There is nothing worse than listening to some bore moaning and whinging about the government of the day, only for them to tell you later that they never bothered voting last time!
_________________________________________________________________
Our politicians are becoming accustomed to technology and new communication methods, the last Presidential Election in the USA admirably illustrated the power of blogging as a force to disseminate information, and as a way to influence the target voting markets.
In recent months many of our MPs have taken to blogging or developed their own personal websites.
Today I have added a link in the sidebar to the much heralded blog of Alastair Campbell, that "archminister" of "spin", like many others I was sorely tempted to pass this blog off as an elaborate spoof, but a number of journalists appear to put faith in it's authenticity. The jury is still out, however, it might still provide some useful snippets of fun during the election campaign. I've already added some acerbic comments to one of the posts, just to see what the response is following his recent talking shop at the Customs House. That should help to ascertain how genuine it is, any way if you like a good laugh there is always Bill Clinton's Daily Diary in the side bar!
BBC's report on the suspect blog - clickhere
The Sun is No. 1 for Politits - click here
That rather down to earth rag The Sun ran with the following headline this morning, "They're Off", to illustrate the start of the election campaign, as is usual with The Sun they promise to keep us all "abreast of the news" :)
South Shields
David Miliband's campaign for Labour in South Shields has certainly got off to a bright and breezy start, first leaflet arrived on doormats yesterday, and by this morning his HQ in Ede House, Westoe Road was brightly decorated and festooned with posters etc.
The Tories, for many years, also had their HQ further up the hill in Westoe Road, and when one saw the competing displays you knew that an election campaign was up and running. However, they ran into financial difficulties about twenty years ago and decided to sell the property. Since then they have had to meet in members homes or have larger meetings at places like the Ship Inn on Sunderland Road (the Old Ship). It must be difficult to attract new members if they cannot find a party building or office to enquire at.
Similarly I cannot think that the Liberal Democrats have a permanent base in the town.
Party buildings are expensive to buy and maintain, and the local associations would need to recruit many members in order to finance them. The Labour Party in past years benefited from large donations from the coffers of the Trade Unions (even if the members were less than happy about where their subscriptions were going.)
The voting system
One advantage of our current voting regulations is the ability to make a large "stuff the lot of you" protest by spoling the ballot paper. This can be done in a number of ways
a) scratch through the names of all the candidates (with venomous intent)
b) write comments against the candidates
c) sign the ballot paper with your name
d) vote for all of them
e) doodle all over the ballot paper
f) write a draft of your blog entry for the day on the ballot paper
The great thing is that spoilt papers are counted, although none of the candidates gets any votes, which is much different to being totally apathetic and staying at home, your ballot paper never gets counted in this way!
A great many people fought for our democracy and the rights to be enfranchised, so it is important that, one way or another, you use your ballot. There is nothing worse than listening to some bore moaning and whinging about the government of the day, only for them to tell you later that they never bothered voting last time!
About Me
Curly Born in 1956
Sanddancer
Sunderland fan
Male
Retailer
Former Borough Councillor
View my Profile
Contact
Email Curly
south-shields AT
blueyonder DOT co DOT uk
Got a story?
Got a tip off?
Got some scandal?
Let me know!
07941386870
Search
Search this site
Comments
How do I make a comment on this blog?
Links
Curly's Corner Shop website
Curly's Photoshop
My Message Board
Shields photo gallery
RTG Message Board
Sunderland AFC Blog
Site Feed
Blogroll Me!
Past
December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007