Interesting comparison, but I don't think quite right. The main difference I see is that the Republican field, for the most part, does not yet see value in the right wing blogosphere like Democratic candidates do for their side. If they did you'd see things like Rudy Giuliani or Mitt Romney or John McCain heading over to places like Redstate to live-blog and talk with constituents.

I don't follow those blogs extremely closely but I'm pretty sure I've never heard of that happening, even with a lower level congress person. On the left it happens all the time, people like that stop into places like DailyKos and FireDogLake frequently. You've got everyone from people like Rep Louise Slaughter to John Kerry to Gen. Wes Clark to candidates like John Edwards (and his wife) stopping in fairly regularly.

So the comparison to YearlyKos doesn't quite fit for CPAC because it is just conservative bloggers reporting on the events, the politicians are not there because of them. But we'll take the comparisons and free press :D

Full disclosure: I am the director of operations and brand management for the YearlyKos Convention

Read this.

And Republican Members of Congress DO blog at Redstate. In fact, I worked for Congressman Jack Kingston of Georgia (who was the first).

Now, important difference to note: there are about a dozen or so talk radio hosts here at "radio row." Romney just made a round. Talk radio will always be central to our communication platform.

________________________________________
David All
The David All Group
http://davidallgroup.com
________________________________________

That's cool that Romney came over but personally I'd look at that as the same as talking to a pack of journalists. That isn't the same as something like this...

John Edwards showed up on 3 occasions, he was actually the one writing the blog (not a staffer which is common) and then stuck around and fielded comments. Furthermore he came back later and responded to additional comments with a new blog entry. That's very conversational and interactive, not top-down.

Radio is IMHO very top-down as well the host controls it, asks some questions which are generally not intended to put the person in a bad light and then you might get a few callers. But nothing on the same level as the interactive factor of a blog.

PS. Kudos to those reps that are ahead of the curve there. I also heard DeLay did some blogging there after he left office.

Raven-

You're kidding, right? I had actually never read his journal, but this is perhaps the most contrived BS that I've ever read.

Trust me. I've been writing for politicians for the past five years, and this is not even the work of a diligent staffer, let alone a successful, articulate, and bright trial attorney that John Edwards should be.

In fact, the voice in each post is completely different and sporadic at best.

For example, "John Edwards" has shown up - as you say - three times at DailyKos! (or is it Daily Kos?), and well over a month in between each visit.

The length of time and the lack of content and/or meat in his post's lead me to believe that this was more of a reaction to an outlook calendar reminder and less a real grasp on the importance of the netroots.

You've actually cracked the can of worms as to whether or not John Edwards has actually written a single post (or comment) on Kos. I'd argue that he hasn't.

I await proof that these entries were written by someone other than Elizabeth Edwards.

And a huge comment thread is not that.

________________________________________
David All
The David All Group
http://davidallgroup.com
________________________________________

There are a lot more examples of this, and I personally wouldn't say that Edwards is the best example here, but like many others he is wading into the water. You have:

General Wesley Clark

Senator John Kerry

Senator Russ Feingold

Rep Louise Slaughter

Senator Harry Reid

Rep Brad Miller

I could go on but I think the point is clear, there is an effort at a lot of levels on the Democratic side to reach out and work with the netroots and nothing really drives that home more than our recent announcement at YearlyKos. I think I can fairly comfortably predict that the folks in this story simply couldn't pull that off and won't be in a position to for years.

Of the folks listed above they participate at different levels. People like Brad Miller actually write diaries and are very into the netroots, General Clark is pretty good about responding to comments while one of his stories is out and of course Harry Reid of all people created a YouTube video thanking us. And yes, some of it is very press release-ish stuff too.

You said it yourself in another comment, the folks that are managing communications and press for Republican campaigns just don't get it yet, they are still working the way things have been done for decades.

I agree that Democrats are much more aggressively and actively embracing technology as a communications medium. I say that early and often as I try and push-and-pull the GOP to the revolution.

I was just noting that the Edwards example is not a very good one. Especially when Elizabeth is a known activist.

The Reed YouTube video is very questionable with regard to Senate rules and the use of what looks to be his Senate office (those fireplaces only exist in places like the US Capitol). I also have questions about this video where he uses his official office and phone to make accusations that Republicans were suppressing votes. This is a sticky issue, but one which we'll be dealing with more over the next few years as Senators and Members of Congress embrace the Internet.

I feel like we're agreeing here more than disagreeing, which is a good thing. I'm sure that you would agree with me that both Republicans and Democrats need to more seriously embrace the 'roots.

________________________________________
David All
The David All Group
http://davidallgroup.com
________________________________________

"I'm sure that you would agree with me that both Republicans and Democrats need to more seriously embrace the 'roots."

Absolutely, it'll only benefit voters and strengthen the political process.