BlogwarsPolitical blogs have grown astronomically in the last half-decade. In just one month in 2005, for example, popular blog DailyKos received more unique visitors than the population of Iowa and New Hampshire combined. But how much political impact do bloggers really have? In Blogwars, David D. Perlmutter examines this rapidly burgeoning phenomenon, exploring the degree to which blogs influence--or fail to influence--American political life. Challenging the hype, Perlmutter points out that blogs are not that powerful by traditional political measures: while bloggers can offer cogent and convincing arguments and bring before their readers information not readily available elsewhere, they have no financial, moral, social, or cultural leverage to compel readers to engage in any particular political behavior. Indeed, blogs have scored mixed results in their past political crusades. But in the end, Perlmutter argues that blogs, in their wide dissemination of information and opinions, actually serve to improve democracy and enrich political culture. He highlights a number of the particularly noteworthy blogs from the specialty to the superblog-including popular sites such as Daily Kos, The Huffington Post, Powerlineblog, Instapundit, and Talking Points Memo--and shows how blogs are becoming part of the tool kit of political professionals, from presidential candidates to advertising consultants. While the political future may be uncertain, it will not be unblogged. For many Internet users, blogs are the news and editorial sites of record, replacing traditional newspapers, magazines, and television news programs. Blogwars offers the first full examination of this new and controversial force on America's political landscape. |
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Page xiv
... via video link to rally support for his war in Iraq. Blogging also registered as the “early warning system” of the political world when, for several weeks in spring 2007, bloggers chatted about a possible run by retired xiv Preface.
... via video link to rally support for his war in Iraq. Blogging also registered as the “early warning system” of the political world when, for several weeks in spring 2007, bloggers chatted about a possible run by retired xiv Preface.
Page xv
... Iraq, and to restore respect for America around the world.” The Clinton campaign posted the announcement on the Web before the senator spoke to reporters, and surely it read like a blogpost rather than a presidential address. Hillary ...
... Iraq, and to restore respect for America around the world.” The Clinton campaign posted the announcement on the Web before the senator spoke to reporters, and surely it read like a blogpost rather than a presidential address. Hillary ...
Page xix
... Iraq, bombings in London, or filling a supreme court vacancy, my thoughts ran: I must keep up with all the news, I must say my piece, must . . . M. . . U. . . S. . . T. . . BLOG! You don't have to be a political junkie to grasp that ...
... Iraq, bombings in London, or filling a supreme court vacancy, my thoughts ran: I must keep up with all the news, I must say my piece, must . . . M. . . U. . . S. . . T. . . BLOG! You don't have to be a political junkie to grasp that ...
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Contents
3 | |
2 From Cybercommunity to Blogland | 49 |
3 The Ascent of Blogs | 61 |
External Political Roles of Bloggers | 109 |
Internal Political Roles of Bloggers | 149 |
Continue the Conversation | 205 |
Notes | 213 |
Index | 237 |
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Common terms and phrases
activist American antiwar asked attack audience Audio Clips Audio/Video Clips Barack Obama big media bloglands Blogosphere blogposts Blogwars Bush candidate commilito conservative created DailyKos David Dean campaign Dean’s democracy Democratic Durbin e-mail editor Edwards election elites example exit poll fund-raising Hillary Clinton Howard Dean Hugh Hewitt hyperlinks interactive Internet interview Iowa Iraq Isocrates issues Jerome Armstrong Joe Trippi John John Kerry journalism journalists Kerry leaked left bloggers left blogs liberal look mainstream media major medium Memogate million MyDD National newspaper offer party Perlmutter Podcast political bloggers political blogging political campaign political consultants politicians poll numbers president presidential primary race radio read blogs readers reported Republican response right bloggers Senator speech staffers story Taliban talk television tion today’s Trippi vlog voluntary associations vote voters Washington weblog Wonkette writing York YouTube