A 24 hour media cycle later, flaming poop still stinks

by Bob Brigham, Tue Jan 04, 2005 at 08:30:40 AM EST

Twenty-four hours ago, DNC Chair candidate Donnie Fowler came and posted a diary on MyDD and then fled without answering any of the dozens of questions that people asked.

Over on Kos, ttagaris referred to this as A Flaming Bag of Dog Poop, noting:

Remember when you were teenager and you used to play ding-dong-ditch with your friends?  Maybe some of us took it to the next level and would leave a flaming bag of poop on a doorstep?
[...]
Would a candidate, when going door to door, ring the doorbell, drop a piece of literature on the front step, and then run away to the next house? The same should be asked about on-line outreach.
He continues:

You see, the Internet is the ONLY medium of two-way mass communication available.  One of the things I dread is that the Democratic Party will see this wonderful blogosphere and think in terms of pre-modern campaign communications.

I don't want to see them stuck in the mindset of television, radio, and print advertising.  Just talking at you in a 30 second spot, or a full-page advertisment.  NO! NO! NO!  If that is the way you want to use the net in 2005/2006 -- then you will get left behind in the netroots.  For many, that will be just fine.  To you, I wish the best of luck -- but I am uninterested in your campaign.

To the candidates who recongize the value of this two-way dialogue, the spoils shall go.  And I am not just talking about fundraising. Cause if fundraising dollars are the only reason your are willing to "put up" with us, then you are not welcome in the netroots vision for the future of the Democratic Party.

In the comments, wanderindiana notes, "I salute you for your connection of two-way communication with reform."

Which I think is a very important concept. Reform requires responsiveness and accountability, not flaming bags of dog poop. We don't need leaders who use the internet like an ad, we need leaders who use the internet to interact.

Absent interaction, Fowler's post is nothing more than an ad "talking at" us by another politician who doesn't get it. To paraphrase Plato, Fowler has come out of the cave and realized there is more to see than the shadows on the wall. But he hasn't realized that he can interact with this new world.

An entire 24 hour media-cycle later, the questions people posted appear to have been in vain. This was a major missed opportunity. I don't want our Chair to miss opportunities...we've done enough of that.

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12 Comments

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Especially Since
they were good questions.
by Paul Goodman 2005-01-04 08:37AM | 0 recs
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Re: Especially Since
Very good questions. I noticed on another diary that mysteve wrote a comment supporting Fowler...that he then had to qualify because Fowler didn't answer the questions.
by Bob Brigham 2005-01-04 08:54AM | 0 recs
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Re: Especially Since
Well put. I don't know where he got off not answering any of the questions. that just isn't nice.
by Chris Bowers 2005-01-04 09:00AM | 0 recs
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Re: Especially Since
You gave him a great opportunity by promoting it to the front page. Daou Report picked it up and it had a chance to be an inspiring moment in political communication history. But Fowler blew it.
by Bob Brigham 2005-01-04 09:03AM | 0 recs
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Re: Especially Since
Yup. Woulda shown guts, risk taking ability, true recognition of what bloggig is, and would have been a great opportunity to show us his depth.

I do think bashing him through only 24 hours is a bit quick though. I'd have given him 48. Who knows what his schedule looked like. I know sometimes I post something, check responses the next day and, if the subject matter is in-depth enough, take another day to respond in-depth. Now however, if he responds it'll go down as only being in response to being hammered for not responding.

by Andrew C White 2005-01-04 10:23AM | 0 recs
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good point but
Now however, if he responds it'll go down as only being in response to being hammered for not responding.

True, but remember I think it is important to remember what ttgararis said:

Would a candidate, when going door to door, ring the doorbell, drop a piece of literature on the front step, and then run away to the next house? The same should be asked about on-line outreach.

Candidates need to schedule time for netroots retail politics. If Fowler had scheduled as much time for interaction as he spent writing his post then there could have been a great little discussion. More importantly, when he was finished and said he had to go people would be understanding, but appreciative and he would have left them wanting more.

by Bob Brigham 2005-01-04 10:32AM | 0 recs
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Re: good point but
Agreed... if he understood the nature of the thing then he would have known to post and stick around an hour and come back again later in the evening to review and respond to the night shift. I just wouldn't have jumped on him until the second day. Rosenberg made a brief appearance over dKos and I don't think he's been back either. Shame really but frankly Dean doesn't do much of that over the BFA either.
by Andrew C White 2005-01-04 10:39AM | 0 recs
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I think there is a large issue at stake
I don't think it is just about Fowler missing an opportunity, I think the larger issue at stake is for the blogosphere to communicate how candidates should communicate online.

I don't feel bad about drawing attention after 24 hours because in politics, 24 hours is an entire media cycle. And I think TTagaris was justified in his post because Fowler's blunder occured TWO WEEKS after he laid it out as clear as can be.

You are right that 48 hours is an important milestone. Maybe I'll do another post about it tomorrow.

by Bob Brigham 2005-01-04 10:48AM | 0 recs
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Well, on the other hand
Donnie does have his own website up now:
Change the party

I didn't have time to check it out, I just had a minute. I don't know if he's responding, but you can post comments.

by Gary Boatwright 2005-01-04 12:19PM | 0 recs
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No good deed goes unpunished
Gee whiz. Donnie Fowler posts a message on Sunday and people are blowing a gasket because he doesn't post again until Tuesday. I realize this is a two way medium, but it's blog, not a chat room.

Frankly, Donnie Fowler seems to be the only DNC candidate with guts and the savvy to post his stuff on blogs.

So let's get off the 24 vs. 48 hour response time and focus on the substance of Donnie Fowler's message and his responses to the questions.

by hawker 2005-01-04 07:01PM | 0 recs
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a wise man once said
speed kills
by Bob Brigham 2005-01-04 09:48PM | 0 recs
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Seriously guys
some people have things to do away from their computers.  I know he isn't Dean, but let's be a little open-minded.
by mattgabe 2005-01-06 12:49PM | 0 recs

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