And while many jibe the Dems for Hope and Change, the fact is that these two empty words were instrumental – they allowed followers to fill in the blanks and commit to the campaign, er, movement’s success. The other brilliant move was the \you\ basis of all the tech. Behind that was the intelligence furnished by those in the network, the subtle peer discipline to keep folks involved in this hip and cool movement.

All this is just personally fascinating – and somewhat frightening as I see party leaders (and wannabes) fixated on the tech end, missing the most important aspects of the lesson.

For example, look at 100 libs and conservatives in any given demographic category and what percentage:

* use text messaging
* use a social networking site
* use email
* read blogs or have an rss reader

My guess is the libs will score much higher on these marks, and that in turn suggests that it’s not enough to just connect the conservatives that are currently online; that some effort must go into getting one million conservatives to start using all the above (as an example goal). And this would be the start of a particular grassroots movement of its own, where one wired con can hold meetings in his or her own living room and educate five others on how to use new technologies.

I guess this is some variation of a 50 state strategy. You want to fuel the online movement? Bring more conservatives online.

The blessedness of simple really is just that… a blessing.

The Conservative movement has lost its conceptual anchor into the essence of America’s greatness and is now consumed with merely conserving the Conservative movement. The future has historically been unkind to reactionaries; hence Conservatives’ recent fall from relevance should come as no surprise.

Vague platitudes of a Conservative golden era are ludicrous. There was never such a thing as a glorious way of life Americans ought to have preserved like an insect captured in the amber of history. Allusions to morally airbrushed “good old days” founded in sound “Judeo-Christian” values, are nothing but blurred second-hand collective hallucinations of a generation disastrously failing to grasp modern-day ideological challenges. Before ever being entitled to a dominant voice in this country’s future, Conservatives must sever their romantic attachment to this idealized fabricated past.

That’s exactly what I meant. Sorry, I didn’t say it well. I meant (me, for example) using Facebook & Twitter while (my wife) is better at Blogging only.

So I think we actually agree. I wasn’t saying our “GOP movement” should be limited to certain mediums. We should blow the roof off of all of them. Suzie on the other hand, doesn’t have to sign up for every new social medium to help the cause (unless she wants to.) She just needs to be encourage to use the 1 or 2 she’s good at.

Right? I think we’re united on it. ) Let me know. Glad to know you by the way. It’s an honor.

I, for example, love Twitter and use it more than anything else. But Joe Somebody may not like Twitter at all. In fact, he might like to be active only at MySpace. So focusing all of our efforts on Twitter would not bring Joe into the scene because it isn’t fitting for him.

So, with this in mind, I think we need to find leaders in each social realm/community/sphere and have these leaders collaborate with leaders in other areas. That way we’re utilizing every social network/media/tool as possible, but keeping people only active in the areas they want to be.

Thoughts?

Great post to think about and I do think we are on the “Verge of a Right-roots Movement”

I also think it could be overwhelming for some trying to grasp all the new social mediums at one time (or at least I am.)

Maybe you would agree that people should pick the “best-fit” social tools for them to use like Digg, Blogtalkradio, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Kyte etc.(could be 1 or 2) and drive the conservative GOP conversation in a focused effort. One Cause, One Moment, One Direction with each of us individually using our giftedness, resources & social networks to get the collective message out.

Everyone using what they’re good at to share with others what the GOP is good at: providing opportunities for a better life, liberty and pursuit of happiness outside of governments help or uncalled for intervention. Just something to consider as things move forward at the speed of 2012.

I think we still have a collaboration hurdle to understand and get over, but we’re getting there.