Shimkus, GOP using Twitter in protest
U.S. Rep. John Shimkus, R-Collinsville, has been helping out in the ongoing GOP House protest. Republicans are accusing Democrats of taking a break instead of doing the people’s business. GOPers, including Shimkus, want a number of things passed — including offshore drilling.
So they’ve been holding session anyway — though the session is technically in recess — to give their viewpoint. But with the lights practically off, the GOP has taken a new approach to get the world out: Twitter, a micro-blogging service that allows people to post quick 140-character updates on what they’re doing.
Shimkus is one of several congressmen who are using the service — through their mobile phones or laptops — to end-around the mainstream media.
Now I’m not the first person to comment on this nor is Twitter exactly new. But in the mainstream Twitter is pretty unheard of. The representatives are also apparently using Qik.com, an even more unheralded technology that allows live broadcasts.
Here’s a link to Shimkus’ Twitter feed.
Also, you can following the Post-Dispatch’s political twitter feed here and our Qik feed here. We’ll be using both at the political conventions later this month and next.
Enjoy.
The session ended, in “protest” some stayed, yet there is legislation to pass? Maybe some of the Republicans that have been voted out of office since the 2006 elections should have “protested” two years ago?
Yeah, the GOP led Congress took off more time than any other in history before they got the boot in 2006, and now the yappers are whining?
http://dangerousintersection.org/2008/08/04/15-reasons-john-mccain-is-too-ignorant-to-be-president/
That’s right Tim.
Republicans are the root of everything wrong.
So how come Nancy’s approval rating is 9?
Got a link for that, Scott?
Congressional approval ratings are much better for Democrats than Republicans. See: http://www.pollingreport.com/cong_dem.htm and http://www.pollingreport.com/cong_rep.htm
To the topic at hand, congressional Republicans are a joke. Their “solution” is to pass more tax breaks for Big Oil and open up offshore drilling. Nevermind that oil companies are making record profits and aren’t even drilling on all the land they currently hold leases on. And nevermind that opening up offshore drilling will do little to decrease the price of gas even at its projected peak production a decade from now.
my thoughts on Twitter
is that the technological demographic
of Twitter
is catching up to the schoolhouse level of commentary…
I wonder how many actually put on the old parochial uniform
before posting these barbs without wire?
did too
did not
did too
did not
sez you
yeah…..so’s your mother….
(holding a sneer, and half a grapefruit in the palm of my hand)
I am glad to see a local Congressman embrace technology in such a manner. However, reading some of his recent posts are humorous. He stated something in one about “no vocal dissent”. Well–yeah–I guess so if its only one party participating.
This isn’t Congress, it’s a caucas.