Flood the Zone Fridays, brought to you by Karl Rove
Posted by Ezra Klein
George W. Bush has a new website up, and upon seeing it, you have to admit -- this is a campaign that "gets" the web. Their website consolidates many of the tools that the Democratic challengers and their supporters have been experimenting with, and they are well implemented. Particularly impressive is their Action Center, which has one the the coolest, most useful tools I've ever seen:
If you scroll about halfway down the page, you'll see a field where you can input your zip code -- once you do, you'll be given a large list of newspapers and radio shows in your area, complete with contact information for each of them. It's mighty impressive.
Well, George Bush might have some good tools, but we have the online organization -- and tools mean nothing without good, motivated activists. However, we can do a lot with those tools, and we mean to.
Matt Singer and I originally conceived of this as a project for the DDF, but we quickly realized this wasn't candidate specific -- this is for every lefty in America. So here is what we propose. We want to get a coalition together -- every influential and non-influential lefty site with the ability to direct readers and members over to the Bush action tools. And every Friday, we want to use those tools to write letters and make calls highlighting a different part of the Bush disaster. This Friday will be fiscal irresponsibility day -- where we blanket the media with calls and letters about Bush's absurd fiscal policies. We're even going to get you the info, for instance, behold the Bush Record (if you're not a Dean supporter, just ignore the stuff about Dean).
But this week, we have to pull together the players. That's where you all come in. This needs to move through the blogosphere in much the same way that the "Fair and Balanced" day did. Matt and I can get to a lot of people, but we don't know everybody and we don't have the manpower to do it on our own. So E-mail this around, or simply E-mail your favorite blog-owners and ask them to be part of "Flood the Zone" Fridays, brought to you by Karl Rove and the good folks running the Bush Campaign.
Come Friday, Matt or I will post up some talking points and sample letters, and then watch the fun begin. Lets show Rove who owns the 'net.
P.S - I am so getting audited.
Update: Lies, damn lies and statistics is in. I'm going to try and keep a list, so if you want to be part of this, let me know. Pandagon's in.
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Comments
Have you seen their poll:
How many working families are benefiting from President Bush's Jobs and Growth Act?
12 million
23 million
34 million
18 million
How about none?
Posted by: Lavoisier1794 at August 19, 2003 07:49 PM
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Haha its not even a poll. It's a question can you get it right thing. But then again, the right answer, none isn't up there.
Posted by: Lavoisier1794 at August 19, 2003 07:50 PM
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Please stress to your readers that it is important not to cut and paste sample letters. Turning your website into another delivery system for astroturf would denigrate the goals you have in "Flood the Zone Friday."
Anyway, other than the possibility for misuse by overzealous supporters, this seems like a fantastic idea. I especially love the appropriation of Bush's website for the whole operation. You guys do a great job here, keep up the good work.
Posted by: big daddy k at August 19, 2003 07:55 PM
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I'm in.
Posted by: Dan at August 19, 2003 08:00 PM
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You stole my damn idea (I was just going to post on this exact thing)! I'm in, is what that means. Whippersnappers...
Posted by: jesse at August 19, 2003 08:11 PM
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BTW, DeanVolunteers.org has had a tool similar to what you describe on the Bush web-site for MONTHS now.
Posted by: Chris Andersen at August 19, 2003 09:28 PM
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I'm in. And my 90 hits a day. :)
Posted by: Morat at August 19, 2003 11:04 PM
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For what its worth, I am in.
Posted by: kevin at August 19, 2003 11:30 PM
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I am totally in ... but first bump in the road I think they have IP blocking or it doesn't work in safari ... I tried messing with it earlier today to send out some letters to see tyhe limits of the system ... then alas I couldn't send out nay letters (I am even on their update list so that doesn't make sense to me).
Anyhow, just a warning ... these guys aren't idiots.
Posted by: Kevin Thurman at August 19, 2003 11:35 PM
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You couldn't send out "nay" letters? What do you mean? They have people proof-reading these letters?
Posted by: Matt Singer at August 19, 2003 11:44 PM
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I'm in...
Posted by: Jo Fish at August 20, 2003 12:27 AM
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I had come to the same conclusion -- the email form is quite effective if you just happen to use it to correct the Bush record. I wonder if their site will be monitoring the types of email sent from it. I just recommended to my readers to use it to comment about Bush's environmental record since he is trying certainly touting his credentials right now.
Posted by: Mary at August 20, 2003 12:50 AM
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Is there anything on the Bush site that disallows us from using his form to contact media outlets for our own purposes? I mean, why can't we write pro-Dean letters using his tool?
Posted by: Kevin Collins at August 20, 2003 01:12 AM
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Count me in.
Posted by: Alex at August 20, 2003 02:24 AM
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I'm in as well.
Posted by: Bob Kopp at August 20, 2003 02:31 AM
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Some good stuff here
http://www.counterpunch.org/bush08052003.html
Posted by: Nabakov at August 20, 2003 02:39 AM
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First, this is a beautiful site guys (I just found you through the dean2004 blog).
Next, I am posting about this on my blog: The Likely Story. So, count us in ;)
Thanks Ezra, Joe and Matt.
Posted by: Adam in MA at August 20, 2003 02:41 AM
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I can't use the tools myself, as postal codes are kind of an issue for me, but I have linked here and will encourage readers to participate.
If nothing else, this site should prompt the Dem candidates to follow suit, or at the very least contact the newspapers specified and tell them "these phrases are astroturf".
Posted by: Demosthenes at August 20, 2003 03:23 AM
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Don't worry, you probably won't get audited. That was a Clinton game.
Posted by: Sebastian Holsclaw at August 20, 2003 04:21 AM
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Matt,
Nope the problem is Safari you can't use safari to "flood the zone" just an FYI for future use. But otherwise it is good and I am ready to go.
Kevin
Posted by: Kevin Thurman at August 20, 2003 04:27 AM
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Hey, all-
Great idea -- I don't have a blog, but count me in!
If this is successful, we might have a go at spending as much of Bush's campaign dollars for our own candidates as possible: I personally volunteer to re-engineer his campaign "lawn posters" once they're out.
Though I guess they're doing all the phone-banking, etc. from India now -- good laughs, that one. Maybe we could get on their fundraiser lists, then leave the phone off the hook to run up the bills?
Surely there's a point at which it's not really funny anymore, but...
Posted by: Matt W. at August 20, 2003 05:35 AM
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I'll spread the word on my little site.
Posted by: amyc at August 20, 2003 07:45 AM
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I'm in, and I'm dragging my dozen or so readers with me.
Posted by: Simon at August 20, 2003 08:48 AM
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A day late but in all the same.
Posted by: Seb at August 20, 2003 08:59 AM
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Yeah, let's do this.
Posted by: Prometheus 6 at August 20, 2003 09:19 AM
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Brilliant. Count me in.
Posted by: Mike T at August 20, 2003 09:30 AM
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I love this idea. I'm in.
Posted by: Jeanne at August 20, 2003 09:46 AM
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Give me five minutes to write up the post, and I'm in.
Posted by: Lady Sisyphus at August 20, 2003 10:15 AM
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Schweeeeeeeeeeeeet...
Sounds like a naughty bit of business. I'm in!
Posted by: (: Tom :) at August 20, 2003 10:25 AM
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In the spirit of Democratic unity, Gephardt Grassroots is in on this truly inspired idea. Excellent work, NGs.
Posted by: Trapper John at August 20, 2003 10:46 AM
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Great idea, but I would change one word in your intro. This isn't for every lefty in America, this is for every rational, thinking person in America who's sick of being ruled by right-wing extremists.
Posted by: Meg at August 20, 2003 10:51 AM
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The tool is neat, but in regards to talk radio it's missing an essential element: air-time schedules. Those could be retrieved with some leg work...
Friday is a little late to be posting talking points. If you want the blogosphere to be coordinated you should give them more than 15-20 minutes to prepare their letters, email, phone call outlines, etc...
Here in Atlanta I imagine most of the talk radio hosts would hang up on me. The media is very consolidated here between Cox and Charter Communications...I haven't found a liberal viewpoint on the dial aside from NPR.
Television stations are also absent from the database. Although personal statements aren't likely to air, letters to the editors of television stations can influence the slant of local news.
Posted by: theperegrine at August 20, 2003 10:59 AM
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I'm moved. And in.
Posted by: peggy at August 20, 2003 11:21 AM
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For the record, the "blog" function of the website that the WaPo featured in an article enabling "bloggers" to get "real time updates" is actually just a crappy news ticker fed from the Bush website. It takes 3 random links to even get to the damn page (it isn't highlighted on top) and since it doesn't use RSS or RDF, it's not extensible. So as far as "advanced" goes, sure the radio zipcode thing is cool, but we're still capable. If it bleeds...
Posted by: Azrael at August 20, 2003 11:26 AM
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Why not? I'm in.
Posted by: Beerzie Boy at August 20, 2003 11:37 AM
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Fun idea. I've posted a link.
Posted by: Matthew Cheney at August 20, 2003 12:07 PM
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Kevin, I am using Konqueror (Safari is based on it) and the site works OK for me. Perhaps you'll just have to update to a later version when it's available.
Posted by: Adam in MA at August 20, 2003 12:17 PM
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Sheeesh....are the left-minded liberals really resorting to tactics like this? Shows how desparate all you Bush-Bashers must be.
Here's an idea.....quit blaming everyone for your miserys, and actually start to improve your life. Oooops...you can't do that. God forbid you take care of yourselves.
Bush 04
Posted by: Excalibur at August 20, 2003 12:39 PM
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Grow up. Get an education. Pay your taxes and let other people live off your toil. You guys are idiots if you think that you are going to be audited. You have to have a job first and pay taxes, not be on welfare. You idiot~~
Posted by: Kathy at August 20, 2003 12:51 PM
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Alison's Place is in.
http://www.bankofknowledge.net
Posted by: Alison at August 20, 2003 12:58 PM
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I'm in. Great idea, Ezra!
Posted by: Charles Kuffner at August 20, 2003 01:04 PM
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Adding this to my sins against El Presidente.
Posted by: PG at August 20, 2003 01:15 PM
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In for what it's worth!
Posted by: bushwhacker at August 20, 2003 01:21 PM
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Kathy,
Ezra and I are both welfare queens of a scale not seen since the Reagan era. I have 7 different identities that I collect payments under.
Thanks for paying my "wages" with your hard work. I do appreciate it.
Your host,
Matt
Posted by: Matt Singer at August 20, 2003 01:28 PM
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Love the idea. You can definitely count me in.
Posted by: greg at August 20, 2003 01:32 PM
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Appalachia Alumni Association is in, despite an almost nonexistent readership.
Also, I'm with the commenter who noted that putting out talking points on Friday is too late. Alot of folks, given the topic, can develop their own but for those who want guidelines, it would be good to have them by mid-Thursday at the latest.
Posted by: hope at August 20, 2003 02:23 PM
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Brilliant idea. I can't wait to send letters.
Posted by: Gary Tucker at August 20, 2003 02:35 PM
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Not to suggest anything *illegal*, but the Bush campaign has left its doors wide open to being listed as a spammer. Their form doesn't enforce any content restrictions, and they don't do the smart thing like Yahoo Mail and require human intervention before email access is allowed. It strikes me that any halfway decent Perl programmer with a Unix account somewhere could have a ball sending newspaper editors all over the country uplifting messages from exiled Nigerian diplomats offering discount yellowcake (with a side of Viagra and followed by nuclear powered penis enlargers) for $10 million.
Posted by: agnosticus at August 20, 2003 02:48 PM
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We're not doing anything illegal, Nor are we condoning anything illegal or even immoral. Bush wants participation, he wants his record in the media's hands -- we're simply going to help him out.
Posted by: Ezra at August 20, 2003 02:53 PM
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In.
Posted by: Terry at August 20, 2003 03:48 PM
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Rove, you magnificent bastard, we used your site!
Posted by: Terry at August 20, 2003 03:54 PM
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I'm in, and I'll see if I can get my fellow bloggers at Ishbadiddle to join.
Suggestion: put together an (optional) email list, so you can send reminders on Thursdays.
Posted by: ME-L at August 20, 2003 04:42 PM
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"Let's use a website to get our message out!"
"YOU'RE ON WELFARE!"
It's non-sequitur day at NG...
Posted by: jesse at August 20, 2003 04:43 PM
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I might suggest using Congress.org's site instead of the Bush campaign:
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/dbq/media
Just enter your zip code, select five media outlets, write your message, and send.
It doesn't carry any of the BACKFIRE that Dean will catch for our using Bush's site, and it's also a LOT more user-friendly than what Bush has.
Pass it on.
Posted by: maxomai at August 20, 2003 05:26 PM
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Kathy:
Please do not post on blogs while smoking crack.
Thank you.
Posted by: maxomai at August 20, 2003 05:30 PM
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Dean won't catch any backfire because this has nothing to do with him. You can write what you wat, but the only thing Matt and I are proposing is highlighting Bush's record.
Posted by: Ezra at August 20, 2003 06:13 PM
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Sounds like Nixon 1972.
Posted by: me at August 20, 2003 08:31 PM
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Wondering whether anti-W emails get blocked?
Someone should find a leftish newspaper on the list and team up with one of its reporters. Send some anti-W emails and see if they actually get through.
I checked the list for my area and I found two papers that I'm sure would be happy to participate in this experiment.
Posted by: snorfbat at August 20, 2003 09:05 PM
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I'm in. This'll be fun.
Posted by: editor at August 20, 2003 10:16 PM
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This is a great idea! Spam is so effective. I mean I frequently buy the penis enhancing pills and put money into Nigerian warlord bank accounts just like the spam says. There's no way you won't get taken seriously now!
Posted by: Kashei at August 20, 2003 10:51 PM
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Kashei - so, this means you won't take pro-Bush letters seriously in the future? I mean, they are *organizing* the spam effort to begin with...
Posted by: jesse at August 20, 2003 11:18 PM
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Cool! If a site that gets 15-20 hits a day will help to spread the word about this idea, then consider it spread.
How long do you think it will take before they pull the Action Center tool?
Posted by: N in Seattle at August 20, 2003 11:43 PM
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I'm in, fwiw.
Posted by: James at August 21, 2003 12:38 AM
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Bush rules!
Posted by: Brent at August 21, 2003 12:49 AM
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And Dean drools!
Posted by: Ezra at August 21, 2003 01:08 AM
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It cracks me up that there are people who think it's still possible to "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" in America. I remember when I lived in California and the papers were running articles about janitor strikes in Silicon Valley... these were families where both parents worked two jobs and their rallying cry was "a bedroom for our kids" because they could barely afford a one-bedroom apartment on what they made. Don't you just hate those welfare queens? Well, tax cuts for millionaires ought to solve the problem... that'll create plenty of jobs... sub-minimum-wage jobs in China, that is.
Posted by: taxpayer at August 21, 2003 09:41 AM
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Oh and Kathy... how do you propose that poor people in this country "get an education" when college costs are up by as much as 20% this year and public school districts are struggling to stay open the entire year?
Posted by: taxpayer at August 21, 2003 09:46 AM
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Jesse, that's exactly what I mean. No spam works. Not Republican spam and not Democrat spam. The problem is the 'delete' button, see. If I open my email and there are a hundred, a thousand emails on the same subject, I'm going to assume that people with nothing better to do were organized by people smarter than them to send these emails. I will delete.
Here is a spam story from Best of the Web. Move On organized one of their retarded mass emailings against the column. Here is what James Taranto writes about it:
We're a bit mystified as to who's orchestrating this campaign; we can't find any reference to it on MoveOn's Web site or in yesterday's MoveOn e-mail (yes, we're on the list). But to whoever is behind this, here's a word of advice: This sort of tactic just is not persuasive. Normally we read all our e-mails, including those from readers who take vigorous exception to our opinions. Sometimes we write back to our critics, and on occasion they'll even persuade us that they have a point, or vice versa.
But when a commentator or a publication gets hundreds or thousands of e-mails on the same subject making essentially the same point, they aren't going to get read. No one has that kind of time. By orchestrating a mass e-mail campaign like this, you do not advance your argument. All you do is prove that you're capable of commanding an angry mob.
Look, I'm just a Republican who loves politics and hates stupidity. If it will make you feel like you're doing something to anti-Bush spam, go right ahead. My hopes of the next election being a competitive one will fade. Outrage and hysteria do not elections win.
Posted by: Kashei at August 21, 2003 11:46 AM
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The get donkey! internet fun-time gang (me) is in.
Posted by: Rob Humenik at August 21, 2003 11:53 AM
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Matt, you've hit the big time. Freeper trash incoming!
Posted by: Jeanne at August 21, 2003 12:03 PM
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Just to let you know, I prewarned all the publications here in my home state about your silly plan.
Funny how you can afford to spend all day on the internet, yet, not go out and improve yourself and your life.
Bush 2004
Posted by: excalibur at August 21, 2003 12:42 PM
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I'm in -- good idea!
Posted by: Michael Finley at August 21, 2003 12:49 PM
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I'm at barkingmoose -- sign me up! I love it!
Posted by: Mike at August 21, 2003 01:47 PM
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Sign us up!
www.sinisterswing.com
Posted by: Sinister Swing at August 21, 2003 02:13 PM
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In
Posted by: roger at August 21, 2003 02:20 PM
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Funny how you can afford to spend all day on the internet, yet, not go out and improve yourself and your life.
Translation: Why don't you do what I tell you to do?
Posted by: ST at August 21, 2003 04:14 PM
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Just to let you know, I prewarned all the publications here in my home state about your silly plan.
Funny how you can afford to spend all day on the internet, yet, not go out and improve yourself and your life.
Bush 2004--
You mean, you told them that people are going to be sending letters to them? Did they wait until you were done to hang up?
And somebody else is on the internet, too. I wonder who it is...oh, it's you! I love how you lambast others for, god forbid, spending their free time doing what they want, and not like so many of your heroes, getting money from rich benefactors to not find oil in the Middle East, or being on welfare, or traveling around and getting drunk all the time.
Posted by: jesse at August 21, 2003 04:32 PM
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There is no point in bashing Bush 2004--. We all know Bush people do not listen to anyone, incliuding Bush. If they did they wouldn't be Bush people.
Posted by: FreedomFan at August 21, 2003 05:26 PM
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Another idea, which I just acted on, is to use the webgpage tool to send a letter to all the papers, WARNING THE EDITORS about the use of Astroturf. They don't weant to be just conduits for campaign literature, and need to be vigilant to avoid this pre-packaged astroturf. I just e-mailed all the local papers;maybe everyone should.
I also used the similar tool on the GOP Team Leader webpage. I made up a bunch of phoney hotmail addresses and names, sent a bunch of letters telling everyone what a disaster the Bush pResidency is, and --get this-- got a pair of windbreakers to boot. (It wasn't hard to take off the GOP logo).
Posted by: sharkman at August 21, 2003 05:36 PM
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I'm in.
Posted by: kherr at August 21, 2003 05:50 PM
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Kashei said, "Here is a spam story from Best of the Web. Move On organized one of their retarded mass emailings against the column. Here is what James Taranto writes about it[...]" And goes on to quote from an article written in response to a mass e-mailing about how mass e-mails never work and will just be ignored.
No, no, I suppose that that's not ironic at all...
Posted by: PinkDreamPoppies at August 21, 2003 06:02 PM
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let's do this...
Posted by: Dr. Ziggles at August 21, 2003 06:39 PM
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Lovely, gents! Can we have a "Depleted" Uranium Friday? I want answers. How many tons of radioactive dust have been dispersed in Gulf War II from DUMs ("Depleted" Uranium Munitions). I want estimates on just how many deformed babies will be born to U.S. soldiers and Iraqis due to willfull Uranium 238 poisoning. And the CANCERS, don't even get me started...
xo
sb
Posted by: Sharron Bower at August 21, 2003 06:52 PM
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I'm definately in, especially since the Chimp has chosen to spread his cooties around Central Oregon today. It's bad enough being on the same planet as that SOB, but I have to share a county with him today and tomorrow.......
http://highdesertskeptic.blogspot.com
Posted by: logjam at August 21, 2003 06:53 PM
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Do what you wish, but I'm not sure advanced rhetoric like "chimp", "cooties" or "SOB" will influence many media folk to become sympathetic to your cause.
Or, many voters.
Posted by: Ricky at August 21, 2003 07:57 PM
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I think this is a good idea, but if you really want people to take you seriously you need to knock off the sarcasm and name-calling...just make intelligent observations about Bush's unsatisfactory record and current state of affairs. ...Like the economy going down the toilet, high-rate of unemployment, loss of U.S. jobs to foreign counties, tax breaks to corporations, Enron and Enron-like debacles, U.S. military and Iraqis dying, alienating the world community, nonexistent weapons of mass destruction, lack of health care for many citizens, high prescription drug costs,...to mention just a few problems exacerbated or ignored by the Bush administration.
And just a note to "Kathy" and others who have the idea that all progressive-thinking people sit around all day collecting welfare...I have worked my entire life and continue to work while earning a graduate degree and raising three children. Unless we can get rid of our silly notions about "the opposition" we will never find a way to cooperatively work together to make things better.
Posted by: Colleen at August 21, 2003 08:57 PM
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Why are we directing NEW voters to Bush? Rather, let's pilfer their info and build our own tool. Can anyone build a web info capture program that could automate the task? If so, and if we build and action center, then we can CUT BUSH OUTTA THE PICTURE!
Posted by: plasmastate at August 21, 2003 10:07 PM
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sign me up.
Posted by: Patrick Levy at August 21, 2003 11:19 PM
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I'm in.
Posted by: Nancy at August 21, 2003 11:28 PM
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TheChristopherFactor.com and
BruinDesign.com are both definitely in.
Posted by: D. L. Bruin at August 22, 2003 02:31 AM
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I posted the link on my blog for Flood the Zone Fridays and directed my readers to get involved...
http://www.boonie.com/muse/
Posted by: Chaosofmind at August 22, 2003 03:14 AM
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>Just to let you know, I prewarned all the publications here in my home state about your silly plan.
Funny how you can afford to spend all day on the internet, yet, not go out and improve yourself and your life.
Posted by: Chaosofmind at August 22, 2003 03:32 AM
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Funny how you can deceive yourself that broad generalizations count for political discourse. Unfortunately, too many on the right (and the majority of Bush supporters) see things as either "black" or "white" with no room for complexity or nuance. Psychologists call that "poverty of thought".
Anyway, Excalibur's drive-by spams on this site are an indication of how desperate Bu$hCo supporters are ("I'm telling!") since it's obvious that a landslide is coming in 2004 and chimp boy will be buried.
http://www.boonie.com/muse/
Posted by: Chaosofmind at August 22, 2003 03:41 AM
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i've done my part. 10 emails and 10 paper copies. $3.70 to fight the power - whatta deal!
Posted by: ChrisL at August 22, 2003 12:12 PM
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I'm in. Of course, nobody reads my blog (yet, anyway) so I can't say I'm bringing any army with me. Just me.
These sons of bitches are going to pay for what they've done to us.
Posted by: sponge at August 22, 2003 12:15 PM
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im in mexico right now and the injustice is even more palpable down here!!! count me in for some international emailing.
Posted by: jooty booty at August 22, 2003 01:13 PM
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So this is it? Pin heads with nothing of thier own to say just announce they are in? How informative! How engaging! If this public masterbation isn't illegal, its sureley in bad taste. Oh well the page says Not Geniuses, which naturally includes circle jerkers. Party on dudes!
Posted by: John_Q_Public at August 22, 2003 03:17 PM
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These sons of bitches are going to pay for what they've done to us.
Gee Sponge Bob you sound so deprived... Internet access and a computer to do your time wasting ideas..
Posted by: Gilgamesh at September 10, 2003 05:08 PM
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