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The partisan conflict-oriented national left/right political blogosphere is deepening within the states. If you know of other states where the "virtual civil war" is going local, let me know: [EMAIL PROTECTED] This of course is natural political competition among partisans for power. It again raises the need for civic-minded investments that counter often negative aspects of the new media when "politics as usual" figures out how to use these tools like in Missouri. When the model of diatribe and sarcasm works its way down into local communities the lack of alternatives will be clear and politics will become even more acidic to regular citizens. Contrast http://Northfield.Org (the case study is here http://dowire.org/wiki/Community_Blogging )with the national and emerging state political blogging scene and you'll get a sense of the opportunity we have (or will miss) to do something different. Steven Clift http://dowire.org From: http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/12810149.htm Blog dogs governor, and Blunt bites back Pointedly partisan Web site inspires rivals to return fire By KIT WAGAR The Kansas City Star Matt Blunt is learning that being governor in the age of blogging makes you an even bigger target. Through the power of blogs interactive Internet sites that allow readers to add their comments to those of the sites publisher critics now have platforms to challenge and mock Missouris governor at every turn. One site in particular FiredUpMissouri.com has sparked the ire of the Republican Blunt and his staff. Blatantly partisan and bitingly sarcastic, the site is the brainchild of former U.S. Sen. Jean Carnahan, a Democrat, and her former chief of staff, Roy Temple, who has emerged as the Blunt administrations chief antagonist. Temples site has lampooned the governor for barring protesters in wheelchairs from Blunts speech to the Governors Council on Disability. It chided Blunt for giving multiple and changing reasons for remodeling his office during a budget crunch. And it mocked the governor for letting the insurance industry pick its state regulator and standing up for industry bad actors, then declaring September Life Insurance Awareness Month. After enduring months of criticism and sometimes unflattering revelations, Blunt and his staff last week lashed out at the site. Blunt spokesman Spence Jackson issued a statement calling FiredUpMissouri.com a left-wing blog site best known for posting scurrilous attacks on Gov. Blunt, his wife and infant son. FiredUpMissouri.com has spawned a conservative imitator, RightMissouri.com, whose biggest target so far has been state Auditor Claire McCaskill, a Democrat now seeking a seat in the U.S. Senate. ... More: http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/12810149.htm ^ ^ ^ ^ Steven L. Clift - - - W: http://publicus.net Minneapolis - - - - E: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Minnesota - - - - - - T: +1.612.822.8667 USA - - - - - MSN/Y!/AIM: netclift UK Office Hours - 1pm - 11pm - - T: 0870.340.1266 Join my Democracies Online Newswire: http://dowire.org *** Past Messages, to Subscribe: http://dowire.org *** *** To subscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** *** Message body: SUB DO-WIRE *** *** To UNSUBSCRIBE instead, write: UNSUB DO-WIRE *** *** Please send submissions to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** *** New RSS XML Feed Available: *** http://www.mail-archive.com/do-wire@lists.umn.edu/maillist.xml
