Like many people, I am excited about the possibilities for change that the Obama presidency embodies. As in his campaign communication, Obama's transition communication has been cutting edge and fabulous at producing a consistent image. Take, for example, the excitingly accessible transition site his team has produced: change.gov.

Access. This site symbolizes democratic access and community.

First it is simple, a two column structure with nine tabs line the header:home, newsroom, blog, learn, agenda, America Moment, America Serves, Jobs, About. On the home/arrival page, you find yourself staring at and being stared at by Obama, who is poised to address you thanks to Youtube. The newsroom, or press releases from Obama, actually appears on the home page, below the video.

The blog encourages you to  "Watch Your Weekly Address now," and true to the participatory genre and thus expectations of blogs, it asks the visitor to "then send us your questions or ideas about how to fix the economy." It sounds right, except you can't post comments. And cynics who have tried to write legislators in the past, will be wary of the sincerity of the suggestion. It will probably be considered like focus group and survey information in order to craft more scientifically messages to mass and niche markets--I mean, uh, voters.

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Please view Video.  Click on link Defending Islam at a McCain rally

copyright © 2008 Betsy L. Angert.  BeThink.org

It was a cool Fall evening in South Florida.  The breeze was gentle; the sunset glorious.  As I approached the intersection where, each weekend I stand in support of peace and tranquility, I did as I do when at this crossroad.  I placed my arm out the window.  My digits were extended and formed the symbol associated with serenity.  When I am in a vehicle, at the locale commonly considered the Peace Corner I work to preserve the intent of my Saturday mission.  I strive to advance awareness for the notion, this nation remains at war.  Soldiers are slaughtered far from the shores of home sweet home.  Civilians, in their native country continue to lose their lives for a want of war.  I crave global harmony and will work to restore some sense of civility worldwide.  However, as I sat silently in contemplation cries of "Country First" startled me.

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"Flip-flopping" is yet another Republican phrase that Democrats have allowed into our communications. We need to stop using it ASAP. Call them liars, crooks, etc., but not "flip-floppers."

So many Democrats out there don't seem to understand that when we use Republicans' language, we lose. In fact, we love to use the same attack language they use. Here's a tip: it does not help our cause. A great example came during the DFL convention in Rochester. Howard Dean spoke against John McCain, and one of his biggest applause lines a list of policies which "he voted for, before he voted against it."Now why would the leader of our party want to remind people of one of John Kerry's biggest flubs of the campaign?

Democrats, in general, are amused with the irony of using Republicans' language. But the irony doesn't translate well. Instead, we just wind up as the party that can't come up with its own message.

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Our recent launch of DemocracyInteractive.com was in many ways a new beginning and a continuation.

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After I posted my review of Second Life as community building tool, a member of ACORN informed me that their organization has 70 Second Life members. So the idea that there could be hidden civic spaces was still on my mind this morning while I was sorting through diverging views on the Israel/Lebanon/Hezbollah hate triangle.

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