iPoliticians

I wonder if Premier Alex Scott chatted with Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist about this during his trip to Washington last week:

Veteran politicians more familiar with turntables and typewriters are enlisting twentysomething computer whiz kids to help them brave the digital world of blogs, podcasts and the Web as they look to connect directly with voters.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., responds on a weekly basis to questions on his blog. He also is among several politicians who have recorded podcasts, self-made audio or video broadcasts that can be downloaded from the Internet to a computer or portable gadget.

Frist, 54, said the technology allows him to "break through the gaggle of reporters" and "touch people who are sitting in Smyrna, Tennessee."

Yes, you read that right. Every week, one of the most powerful men in the United States puts out a podcast that responds to questions that members of the public have left as comments on his blog.

Now, the podcasts don't exactly make for gripping listening. In the one I heard, Senator Frist answered mostly sympathetic questions or merely used them as a jumping off point to make a political statement. His deep, droning voice doesn't help to keep your attention either.

However, what's remarkable is that he's doing this at all.

Here, no politician has yet seen the need to have his own blog. The idea that any of them would take the time to produce a weekly podcast responding to residents' questions is laughable. Although some UBP MPs have occasionally joined the discussions on this site, their participation has generally been restrained (the exception being when UBP spokesman Jamahl Simmons agreed to do a live Q&A session last year). PLP politicians haven't participated at all (at least, not under their own names) - on this site or on any other.

In a healthy democracy there should be constant dialogue between the people and their politicians. Technology can help. All it requires is politicians brave enough to use it.

Comments

[SmokingGun on 22.05.06 at 20:30]

Good grief Limey - do we really want a "Burch's Blog n' Podcast" or maybe a "Brown's Half-Asked Blog" or even an "Ask Scott what you can do for him blog."?

Besides I thought this was already a UBP blog! ;)

[Phil on 22.05.06 at 20:33]

I think it would be great it Hott made a podcast available of Burch's show. I'd never be short of something to write about.

[SmokingGun on 22.05.06 at 20:43]

Lol - too funny. Could you imagine? If any of these guys had an ounce of self-deprecation they'd get you in and have you help set up a blog and at least get them started. I know I would.

[D'Olivier on 22.05.06 at 20:54]

Limey,

Can't you just record the broadcast and post it on your blog instead of waiting (forever) for the radio station to post the podcast themselves?

I probably already know the answer why it may not be possible, but it would be an interesting stunt to pull off....

[bermy on 23.05.06 at 07:47]

Please Limey! DO NOT encourage Alex Scott to be like Bill Frist in any way. Maybe he was the only US politician to use as an example in this case. But if Alex used him as a role model, our children would be learning "intelligent design" in science class and all gay people would be rounded up and exiled to nonsuch island. I know, slightly off topic, but I got scared for a second and had to get it out!

[Darkside on 23.05.06 at 09:38]

Bermuda is a small island with small constituencies it shouldn't be too hard for our local politicians to stay in touch with their constituents without resorting to blogging ... however, having said that neither party has ever so much as knocked on my door.

[observor on 23.05.06 at 10:50]

D'Olivier

HOTT 107.5 is available 24 hours a day via a
streaming service provided by bermynet.com. Perhaps Limey could record and post it ... ?

[John Steele on 23.05.06 at 12:51]

"In a healthy democracy there should be constant dialogue between the people and their politicians. Technology can help. All it requires is politicians brave enough to use it."

Well, you're half right. A healthy democracy also requires a constituency which cares about what its politicans are doing. Frist is making podcasts because it advances his agenda in a very competitive political environment. I doubt the same can be said of Bermudian politics - blogs such as your's are a step in the right direction, but unless they sway the constituency they won't change politican's behavior. Why should it? Votes are the only currency they deal in.

[D'Olivier on 23.05.06 at 13:06]

observor,

That's exactly it.

[Phil on 24.05.06 at 20:25]

Darkside

Bermuda is a small island with small constituencies it shouldn't be too hard for our local politicians to stay in touch with their constituents without resorting to blogging ... however, having said that neither party has ever so much as knocked on my door.

Bermuda does have small constituencies, but it's still easier to keep even a couple of hundred voters up-to-date with what you're doing with a website.

In the three years that I've been living in Bermuda, no PLP or UBP politician has visited our house either.

[JJ on 25.05.06 at 07:30]

Limey, that's because you haven't been here for an election!

ELACKSHUN:
"A time when people that you haven't seen in four years or so come to your door and ask if everything is okay."

Bermudian Vurds