Voice in the Wilderness

Ralph Benko: "We're at the inflection point of a revolution."

NTU YouTube vids



Elizabeth Terrell on web 2.0 tools to learn



Tax Freedom Day song and vid: Uncle Sam eating my paycheck...nice visual
The song is funny, entertaining and makes the point in less than 3 minutes.

UStream.tv
Digital video stream
Includes a built in chat feature and archiving

Qik.com
Computer or phone vid streaming: great for streaming city council meetings on the phone

Seesmic = Twitter + YouTube. Post vids, get quick feedback.


Ralph Benko remarks
How to use these tools to win political battles? Don't use only for communicating a message. Must use to build community, make them simple direct, and action-oriented. See moveon.org example where a lot of people can do a little bit.

• Post a Tsunami story, then have a "Contribute" button
• Post a story on a bill, then show a link to contact your Congressman

Build partnerships, not just an audience.

See AFourP YouTube channel for Al Gore gas-guzzling entourage. Find and capture the daily hypocrisies of elites. Also, see TheNextRight.com.

Q. Libs are more agile with technology, how can we make a better use of web 2.0 technologies
A. We haven't had to be ahead online before. Should avoid duplication, but try to innovate for independent conservative thinkers.

See "How to Use the Web to Help the World" By Ralph Benko
Benko's Laws include:

1. Joseph Pulitzers Law: Put it before them briefly, clearly, picturesquely, accurately


2. Thomas Nast's Law and Boss Tweed's Complaint: Tweed - stop those d--- pictures! Use pix, vids


3. Arthur C. Clarke's 2nd Law: The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to venture slightly past those limits into the impossible


4. Limon Beecher's Law: No great advance has ever been made in science, politics, religion without controversy


5. Emma Lazarus' Law: Web can be the means to unleash the "imprisioned lightening" of the American people


6. Metcalfe's Law: The value of a telecom is proportional to the square of the number of users


7. Beinchini's Law of Viral Loops: If you create something people naturally enjoy, they will sell it for you. Then you become a public utility.

So, get the style clear, compelling, sexy. Make it hip to be conservative!

C/C Obama vs. McCain website: Lots of social network features on Obama site, like Twitters, Meetups. Sam Adams people have researched Obama, McCain sites. On top of that, many voters seem to be wrapping themselves up in his identify. Obama's site seems to make it sound like he cares about other's message, and let me tell you how it fits in with mine. It makes connections locally and socially.

A similar dynamic occurs in churches: newer churches focus on building community, small groups, etc.

Ron Paul supporter: Felt excluded, though agree on 90% of issues.

BTW: "Focusing on the 90% we agree on" has been a common theme in all the sessions I've attended so far....perhaps a pre-emptive maneuver to prevent a mini-Ron Paul Revolution at the conference.

Benko: Check out thedemocracyproject.ning.com. 3 classes of people

• Spectators
• Commentators
• Players

The real battles played out in the nominating process, not necessarily elections. So, volunteer on the county committee.