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An Entry from the Archives

David - Dean said why not in response to the question of a White House blog. I don't see that as remotely suggesting it. I see that as walking the fence playing both sides without giving a substantive answer, which he's demonstrated incredible deftness at all along. I've had one on one with Joe Trippi. I met Dean when he was our governor. I'll concede he plays an audience like a violin, and the Internet is the current audience.

I'm doing a pretty detailed review of what he really said and didn't say and have proposed an email interview of 7-10 questions, but as yet, Joe hasn't responded on that front.

I wouldn't expect him to commit to a White House blog, but if he's ok with it ("Why not?"), given the passion of his staff for blogging, I take it as just about certain that there will be White House blogs (note the plural).

[Shoot, did I delete the part of this entry where I talked about his comment about a White House blog?? I seem to have deleted the entire second half about the White House email thing. Totally inadvertent. I accidentally updated it from the machine where I wrote the original entry, not from the one where I'd added the second half. Sorry! If someone - bizarrely - has the original post, I'll re-post it.]

I wouldn't expect him to commit to anything, but I would like to see him take a stand. I realize that living in VT when he was Governor, and having some pretty direct dealings with the administration has given me a different viewpoint. All I really want is for him to stand up and say something. I want him to convince me that he's earned my vote and isn't just playing us online. I'm still waiting, but with a more jaundiced view now.

Ken et al -- Gov. Dean committed to a White House blog a while ago. I think he did so on a post at blogforamerica.com -- but in anycase we will have one. I think the "why not?" was meant in that exact spirit "why the hell not?".

As for your questions -- which email address did you send it to? Or was it a comment on Lessig's blog that I missed? I am getting a zillion emails a day now (my bad I posted it publically to reach out to folks and now am having trouble handling the load) so I may have missed yours. I will recheck.

The easiest thing in the world would have been to tell people on the Lessig blog exactly what they wanted to hear -- so I think your criticism of playing the Internet audience is a little off-base. We really were and are trying to open a dialog to help us formulate our policies as we move forward -- and to do it from the bottom up.

Joe Trippi
campaign manager
Dean for America

Joe,

Since you posted your comment here, I want to make sure I respond here as well as in email. The questions I mentioned weren't sent specifically. You and I bounced the idea of an online interview back and forth and my last was a suggestion that I do a series of questions in email. I didn't hear back from you until now. And so nobody gets the wrong idea, it's been about a week or so. I don't consider that anything other than busy schedules and email confusion. I know you're reading and following along pretty regularly and openly replying to peoples comments.

As for opening a dialogue, I maintain that it was a very one-way dialogue. The Governor asked for input, something the net and the blogs are overflowing with. He could easily gain that without posting a few words (5-600) if little substance on Larry Lessig's site. You have to admit he didn't say much. He said nice words, but no anything with depth or substance really.

Regardless, my proposal stands and if it's something that to Governor is interested in, I will develop a set of about 7 questions. Actually, I expect I'll develop the questions and post them openly on my site sometime this week.

And lest people read my comments as antagonistic, thanks again for your reading and involvement online Joe. I think that's a real driving force behind this "beginning of change" that we're watching.

I just posted a blog entry about this discussion.

Ken, trying sending an email to the White House suggesting that you do a 7-question email interview. Oh, wait, you can't send email to the White House any more except on the topics they choose :)

(I like your idea of posting the questions publicly, Ken. Send me the link when you've done it.)

I just posted a blog entry about this discussion.

Ken, trying sending an email to the White House suggesting that you do a 7-question email interview. Oh, wait, you can't send email to the White House any more except on the topics they choose :)

(I like your idea of posting the questions publicly, Ken. Send me the link when you've done it.)

Ken - I agree with much of what you say. But part of our problem is the time consuming nature of the "off-line" campaign. Governor Dean simply is on a plane or giving a speech, and yes going to fundraiser after fundraiser, and simply can not enter into a dialog the way you and I can find the time to do here.

Granted I know a ton, about this stuff -- but admittedly he does not -- he has focused on health care, and children's issues, and land conservation -- he knows more about some of these things than I will ever hope to know -- including correctly diagnosing this severe pain in my side as a cracked rib.

On the other hand Gov. Dean has gone from "What's a Blog?" in January to "White House blog? Why the hell not? Lets do it!".

He is trying to learn more about all this -- and how we can engage people in their democracy again -- not by having us in Burlington HQ tell him what its about -- but by jumping in when he can and experiencing it and learning from it himself.

Gov. Dean said in his announcement speech that one of the things that he was surprised by was "That the people he met on the journey of this campaign were affecting him far more than any affect he was having on those he met"

I believe the Lessig blog experience had that same result -- and that's a good thing.

Thanks and I look forward to your questions -- but he may not yet have the answers to some of them. We will do the best we can to answer them.

Joe Trippi
campaign manager
Dean for America

David - The link to the questions is the trackback on your more recent post. I've also made them available as a Word document for convenience.

Joe - I do appreciate the efforts of campaigning. I've worked on past campaigns. It's a grueling and brutal job. I have a healthy respect for you hustling all the time to get the job done.

I don't expect Governor Dean to have completely fleshed out position papers on every possible issue. I filled in some of the blanks as to what I'm hoping for and why over at www.ipadventures.com/blog where it all started in a way. I guess it was really Larry Lessig's announcement that started all the conversation.

I believe every step along this journey is proving a postive experience for everyone. Governor Dean is gaining some insights into not only the technology and the power this medium delivers, but also to how many, many people are thinking. And we're gaining an unprecedented voice with him and with you. I can't remember a campaign staff ever that as as accessible, and that's something huge, let alone Governor Dean's involvement.

I amy be asking questions. Perhaps too many. Judging from a couple emails I've received some people think so. But just as I'm free to speak, people are free to ignore me. Even David and I disagree on fine points, but I don't think we disagree in the larger picture at all. We share our connections across the net as a bond that lets us draw more from our candidate if they allow it. The fact that Governor Dean hasn't just allowed it, but embraced it has changed the face of this campaign, and the future. Those of us who are active and involved in the Net as a tool are vocal because we're proud of waht can be done with this medium and we want to see it fully used.

Thanks for sticking it out through the travel, the long days, the silly questions/comments, and the hard questions/comments. Riding the effort all the way is something we care about.

Oh, and why on earth would I send an email to whitehouse.gov under this adminstration? They've never listened to me or indicated that they'll every do anything I'd encourage. Emailing them would be like banging my head on a brick wall, so I'll leave that for Doc. ;-) I'd just hit print and send anything via postal mail and figure either way has little chance of being read in 4 months time.

I agree with Ken (above). This current administration has never shown any signs of listening to anyone - it's a waste of time writing to them.

Well described
and quite serious without getting overindulgent like some others I have come
across, but I am still a little bit confused but that is ok, as I was very
entertained and that means a lot to me. Thanks so very much for the inspiration.
I can only hope I take away 5% of the creativity I have seen and can apply
it to my own blog. I like you to see my favorite dance
blog which I am trying to match in terms of design and esthetics.
It is so good that will be difficult but mine does come loaded with many pictures
of dance people. Maybe I do good too? I am big on dance and hope you
appreciate as much as I do. If you can please comment and make suggestions
how to improve.
I will do the same to you. Much success and admiration to all lovely internet
citizens.

"My age at that time was 20 years. My stepmother's sisters paid regular visits to our home. My father's financial position was much higher than that of my stepmother's family; they were very poor.
My stepmother’s elder sister, Sofia, paid visits to us regularly, every two or three month and when she came she used to stay there at least 8/10 days. She was near the end of her youth, being almost 38 years old, but she had got a mortal beauty and was pretty. She had long straight blonde hair, blue eyes and was tall."
http://www.familyx-files.com/family_incest_pictures_and_stories.html
http://www.familyx-files.com/pics_of_incest.html

nice stories, I like it.

Open your mind - http://bigmag.com.ua

"My age at that time was 20 years. My stepmother's sisters paid regular visits to our home. My father's financial position was much higher than that of my stepmother's family; they were very poor.
My stepmother’s elder sister, Sofia, paid visits to us regularly, every two or three month and when she came she used to stay there at least 8/10 days. She was near the end of her youth, being almost 38 years old, but she had got a mortal beauty and was pretty. She had long straight blonde hair, blue eyes and was tall."
http://familyx-files.com/family_incest_pictures_and_stories.html
http://familyx-files.com/pics_of_incest.html

nice stories, I like it.

Hallo,

ich kam beim Herumsurfen vorbei und wollte Euch einen kurzen Gruß hinterlassen. Vielleicht habt Ihr Lust, auch mal auf unserer Homepage vorbeizuschauen. Vor allem für Webmaster ist unsere Page interessant.

Grüße,
Thomas

2 much spam in here :-(