The internet and politics – a short first take
Author: Hoger
Tomorrow, Kate and I venture off into the vast unknown that is the northern hemisphere. The bags are packed (well, mine is) the iPod is charged and the books are selected.
There’s a lot to look forward to on this trip – the World Fantasy Convention in Calgary, catching up with buddies at the bar in Calgary, visiting San Franciso and Washington. But I’m most excited by the fact we arrive in New York the night before the presidential election. I love elections (and not just because it’s part of my job to help win them) but there’s such a vibrancy to them. In Brisbane we’ve got a polling booth across the road from us and it’s a great feeling to be able to simply walk out the door and vote.
Come the night of November 4 I’m looking forward to finding the right kind of bar in New York, sitting down and watching the results roll in. It could be interesting if it’s a close result because we’re booked in to have breakfast with a publisher the next morning, and I’m kinda figuring that pulling an all-nighter probably isn’t the done thing. But I’m getting the feeling it won’t be a close thing.
It’s been an interesting campaign. From a political sense it was interesting to watch McCain throw the dice again and again (choosing Palin, halting his campaign to deal with the economic crisis, and raisng the stakes by going super-negative) and lose but I’m just as interested to see the wash-up of the internet and the effect it had on the election.
Lots of people are rushing to say us inter-webbed masses have already won the election for Obama but I’m not sure whether they are confusing cause and effect. I genuinely don’t know. I think the impact is wide but I’m not sure how deep. And I think it could also be a result of Republican ineptitude. Anyway, I’m looking forward to talking about it in the US.
In the meantime, let me leave you with two intersting pieces of information pertinent to the changing face of elections The first is the information people googled during the VP debate. Read some analysis of it here.
The second is the fact You Tube wasn’t even around during the 2004 presidential election, which is a shame because it it was we may have seen more gems like this:
Here’s betting the number of views on YouTube increase tenfold in the next 24 hours.
UPDATE: YouTube received a takedown notice for the video. You can see it here instead.
October 24th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Rob, you are the only person I know who would be excited by having a polling booth across the road.
See you at the bar, mate!
October 25th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Rob, I’m pleased to see that Palin seems to be the poison to McCain’s campaign that I always thought she would be. It gives me faith in the American people.
Incidentally, the video wasn’t working just now when I tried it. Can you post the URL?
October 25th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
Bother, it’s no longer available! Never mind, I’m sure there are plenty ore where that one came from and we can expect to see more and more in the coming weeks.
Have a great trip, guys, and good luck with the web site, too.
October 26th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Graham, YouTube was given a takedown notice. Check it out here: http://www.funnyordie.com/