Party Down

[elleng]

Twitter, Facebook and Google empower them to raise money, attract followers, grab attention and influence the course of political events. Unlike parties, which often recruit candidates who would appeal to the average voter in a general election, these activists care only about nominating the person who accurately represents their own views and frustrations.

That’s not all: true outsider candidates can use those same technologies and strategies to keep their coffers full, become known to voters and generate their own opportunities (and good luck). Not getting the nod from party power brokers can become the foundation on which to build an entire campaign. In turn, political parties, with their promises of millions of dollars and high-priced consulting support from Alexandria, Va., come off as imperious, cautious and out of touch.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/29/opinion/29ambinder.html?hp

[blue sky at night]

1. heard it said yesterday......

this is exactly what the evil queen Sarah is doing...and it doesn't cost her anywhere near what a "traditional" campaign does. Let us hope that we can do better than her in the long run.

[bemildred]

2. Good point.

The internet is a substantial threat to the two-party system (which has nothing to do with Constitutional order), and to other existing power structures. But it is not something that serves any particular point of view, and I'm pretty sure progressives can hold their own, we have the numbers on our side.