I should preface this by stating that I am not a political pundit. I am not a Republican or Democrat. I am the person at the polls who wishes I could vote for NOTA. This is probably the first time I have ever posted about politics. But that being said, I’d like to make a prediction.
The Idaho Republican Party will loose a record number of races this next election season.
Why? Because of John Foster. When John showed up at the IBR he turned the publication’s web site on its head. He took a closed site that required a subscription and not only ripped down the walls but added a blog to the front page. He then preceded to fill it with good relevant content that people wanted to read. Not just reporting on stories. Not repurposing old content. He blogged. He connected with his readers and he connected his readers together. He got it.
And the IBR benefited. A thousand fold increase in web traffic. He turned a (virtually) non-existent web presence in to a gathering point for Boise’s thought leaders. He may not have captured as much attention, or eyeballs, as some of the local competitors. But he captured more engagement. And what it more critical to politicians (or businesses) engagement or attention?
The Republican party is loosing a lot of respect among Idaho’s business leaders. Many of the people I talk to who are actively concerned with economic development (business owners) are struggling with many of the leadership decisions some of our political leaders are making. That little bit of room is all that John and the Dems need.
By opening up a dialogue with the people of Idaho (using new media tools of course) the Democrats can start engaging in a way that the Republicans won’t. Not that they couldn’t but looking at our current Republican leaders I doubt that many of them would be willing to start blogging. They are in a position of control (this is Idaho after all). It will still be considered too risky. The Democrats on the other hand should have no problem using tools that have been working well for their national counterparts.
I’ve said it many times before, new Media is about engagement. It’s about connecting with people. That’s what today’s consumers and voters want. Don’t make me shallow promises you have no intention of keeping. Don ‘t tell me who you’re not. Show me who you are. Show me that you understand who I am.
If John does with the Democrats what he did with the IBR Idaho will see a some major political shake-ups.
Whatever happens I only have one request:
John, Please start a blog of your own. Come back to the conversation.
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Wow, Tac. I don’t know whether to be honored or scared. Both, I guess. Thanks very much for the kind words — it means a lot. And I will say this: You’re right. I am not in this to lose.
I CAN’T WAIT!
I hope John can come in and create that Buzz…I know my husband & I will be more involved if we can do it through our computer voice (it’s difficult to be involved w/2 babies & a toddler)…but we want to make sure that there is change for their future! GO JOHN GO!!!
I would edit this slightly and say that Butch Otter is in trouble. He is the one that has made so many business people upset. I don’t think it is the Republican Party as a whole. The problem the Dem’s have is that they don’t have a business friendly platform. While I love and respect what John has done and continues to do - I don’t see him damaging the Republicans as much as the Republicans can do to themselves if they are not careful. Electing Bill Sali was not a good move and Otter has been a disappointment.
Having John lean toward the Dem’s is nothing to scare the Republicans. The Republicans are used to having the Major Newspapers lean Democratic (Statesman) and most of the national news leans that way as well.
As far as Republicans not being willing to step into New Media in the state - I think you will be mistaken on that as well. They aren’t so arrogant that they will sit on their rear-ends. The Conservatives have been the innovators in new media. Bloggers, talk radio, conservatives have been forced to head that direction to fight the liberal controlled “old media”.
I agree that the right has hurt themselves more then the left ever could, but I think you are misjudging the damage done. I have yet to see that anyone on the right can execute on new media as well as John did at the IBR.
Personally I hope both sides embrace it more than they have. What’s best for the people is conversation and engagement from both sides.
Wow … first Tac writes about politics (kind of), then the French elect a conservative - and a pig just flew by my window!
My short response is this … the solution for bad Republicans is to replace them with good conservatives, not more Democrats.
The use of new media to stimulate engagement and conversation is a great idea. However, like any conversation, it requires a central theme or cause. Idahoan’s are by in large liberatarian conservatives. Unless you are engaging them from this perspective, the conversation will likely be just a bunch of people agreeing with each other on how the other side sucks.
I think the NOTA/independent movement has a much more likely chance of using new media to fuel a conversation by rallying people around the cause of ineffective government. Now that’s a cause!
Politics aside, I still stand by my prediction:
“The Idaho Republican Party will loose a record number of races this next election season.”