Solid article on Joe Trippi, Howard Dean’s campaign manager and now (effectively) John Edwards’ campaign manager. Political consultants are a fascinating breed. Edward, one of my best friends from growing up in Atlanta (who used to have his own radio show on computers) has launched a political consulting firm with Emil, who I got to know on a campaign and is one of my closest friends in the world. I love these guys and could talk with them for hours (and often do). They are not as weird as Joe Trippi seems in this article. But many political consultants I have met are. Strangeness aside, I have never met a political consultant who is not fascinating.

For Love of the Game

Marc, my Oxford friend who worked for Howard Dean, suggests that this is an entirely apt portrayal of Joe Trippi. He says that as innovative as Trippi was, though, the most impressive member of Dean’s staff was a woman named Zephyr Teachout, who know teaches at Duke Law. She ran the campaign’s internet strategy, and now teaches on election law and a bit of e-government.

I found an article by Ms. Teachout that discusses how governments, not campaigns, can use the internet to effectively govern the elections that the internet may well have helped them win. Definitely worth a read:

The article, called “How politicians can use distributive networks,” has several recommendations.

“I’d like to challenge every successful candidate with an interactive website (of any kind – “donate now!” counts as interactive) to translate what they learned in campaigning to what they can do in governing.

1)Hold weekly online chats for any interested constituents. You can use free chat software, and set a weekly time where you will be available for input and ideas. Much as the Washington Post now regularly holds chats with authors, politicians should make a habit of being open with constituents. The habit of openness alone, knowing that you must regularly respond to unanticipated questions, will change how you govern.

3) Wherever you post information online, provide an opportunity for people to connect laterally over these issues. If one of the issues on your website is “Energy” include a section that asks for solutions, and another that asks for help on legislative research. Again, even if you have a static html site, you can link to a forum that is already set up to discuss these issues. Instead of having politicians’ policies in one place, and discussions elsewhere, bridge the gap between lively sites like this and static sites like this.

7) Follow the lead of Estonia, and create a forum where people can track, suggest and review legislation – and commit to having your staff review any that gets at least (x number) of people supporting it. American politicians should be chastened — Estonia started that website five years ago.

ERB