People-Powered Media Sunday

Very smooth, Maura! (4.00 / 1)

You're a pro on old and new media.

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by: mikect @ Mon Oct 01, 2007 at 01:34:38 AM UTC

Thanks! (0.00 / 0)

I tell ya, I sure didn't feel like a pro.  But I could definitely have fun with a stint in part-time political punditry.  :-)

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by: Maura @ Mon Oct 01, 2007 at 02:06:37 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

You're awesome to get this up so quickly (0.00 / 0)

Hey, it's on CT-N right now, too.

Christine is great in front of the camera!  I'm much more comfortable behind the keyboard, but it means a lot that you think I came off all right.

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by: Maura @ Mon Oct 01, 2007 at 01:43:07 AM UTC

Thanks for the name drop (0.00 / 0)

Love Tommy.

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by: ctblogger @ Mon Oct 01, 2007 at 04:02:09 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Tommy P's quoteables (0.00 / 0)

This coulda been written by a blogger in this day and age...Paine said this about his King George in The American Crisis:

"Let them call me rebel and welcome, I feel no concern from it; but I should suffer the misery of devils, were I to make a whore of my soul by swearing allegiance to one whose character is that of a sottish, stupid, stubborn, worthless, brutish man. I conceive likewise a horrid idea in receiving mercy from a being, who at the last day shall be shrieking to the rocks and mountains to cover him, and fleeing with terror from the orphan, the widow, and the slain of America."

And this gem from American Crisis X:

That the man whose ignorance and obstinacy first involved and still continues the nation in the most hopeless and expensive of all wars, should now meanly flatter them with the name of a free people, and make a merit of his crime, under the disguise of their essential rights and permanent interests, is something which disgraces even the character of perverseness.

And this one from American Crisis X again sounds just like he's talking about where we are now with Iraq, doesn't it?

It is strange that a nation must run through such a labyrinth of trouble, and expend such a mass of wealth to gain the wisdom which an hour's reflection might have taught.

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by: Maura @ Mon Oct 01, 2007 at 04:17:38 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Thomas Paine, I like that (4.00 / 1)

Of course, then there are the people who think bloggers are a royal "Paine" in the ass! LOL

Connecticut Bob

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by: Bob Adams @ Mon Oct 01, 2007 at 01:56:31 AM UTC

On Paine and bloggers (4.00 / 3)

Chris Daly, a professor from my alma mater, wrote: (emphasis mine)

The greatest pamphleteer of the age was certainly Thomas Paine. He arrived in Philadelphia late in 1774. Already 37, Paine was not a terribly impressive figure (you might even call him a "slacker"). Born in England, he had failed in the family's corset-making business and later got fired as a tax-collector. His first wife had died, and he was separated from his second one. Jobless and nearly penniless, he set sail for a new life in America. On the way, he fell ill and nearly died.

Then his life began to turn. He began writing essays for The Pennsylvania Magazine. He met and became friends with several advocates of independence, including the prominent doctor Benjamin Rush and the visiting Massachusetts lawyer John Adams. After a few months, Paine left the magazine but continued writing. Soon, he wrote a pamphlet of his own.

Titled Common Sense, it appeared on Jan. 10, 1776, and it shook the world. The impact of that pamphlet, out of the hundreds then circulating, was unprecedented. Paine later estimated that some 150,000 copies were sold, so it was probably read by about half a million people -- at a time when the entire colonial population was about 2 million.

Like most other pamphleteers, Paine wrote Common Sense anonymously, but his central idea was unmistakable.  [...]

In language that sounds a lot like ranting, Paine said the English crown could be traced to William the Conqueror, whom he dismissed as "a French bastard landing with an armed banditti."

He went on to call for "an open and determined declaration for independence," and he promised his readers that "the sun never shined on a cause of greater worth." These were radical ideas, and Paine became a wanted man.

Common Sense and other pamphlets like it were precisely the kind of political journalism that Jefferson had in mind when he insisted on a constitutional amendment in 1790 to protect press freedom -- anonymous, highly opinionated writing from diverse, independent sources. In historical terms, today's bloggers are much closer in spirit to the Revolutionary-era pamphleteers than today's giant, conglomerate mainstream media. On those grounds, blogs deserve the full constitutional blessings that the First Amendment guarantees.

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by: Maura @ Mon Oct 01, 2007 at 02:14:24 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Gawd! (4.00 / 1)

What have we come to when a "journalist" looks the First Amednment straight in the face and is inspired to ask, "And none of this is regulated?"

Way to set him straight, Maura.

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by: BranfordBoy @ Mon Oct 01, 2007 at 02:11:58 AM UTC

Regulated! (4.00 / 1)

Yeah, like by the Ministry of Truth!

Dennis House was really decent, though.  He gave me plenty of room to be positive, and plenty of room to hang myself.  :-)

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by: Maura @ Mon Oct 01, 2007 at 02:16:48 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

on House's comment... (4.00 / 1)

I took it more as a benefit for the audience, rather than something upsetting him. 

But about Maura... great job!  One tip I'd offer you on the ideas you didn't mention... bring notes with you.  No one watching TV will be able to see them... and who cares if they do?  When you have the bully pulpit... you want to maximize the benefit.  Again though... great job.

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by: Tim White @ Mon Oct 01, 2007 at 03:25:27 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Great advice (0.00 / 0)

I could easily have had notes there on the table in front of me.  In fact, Scott Slifka and the guy who was talking about bank robberies both had little note-papers with them, too. 

I'll definitely know better if there is ever a next time!  :-)

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by: Maura @ Mon Oct 01, 2007 at 04:00:17 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

no doubt (0.00 / 0)

there will be a next time...  did you see CBS' graphics?  I bet the decision makers on CBS (and other CT TV outlets) regularly read MLN and CTLP.

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by: Tim White @ Mon Oct 01, 2007 at 13:21:21 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Good job Christine and Maura! (0.00 / 0)

Nothing to add beyond that you were both great!

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by: CGG @ Mon Oct 01, 2007 at 02:12:22 AM UTC

Great job Maura (4.00 / 1)

The first thought that came to my mind when you were talking about video was Bob Adams video of Keith and Connecticut's sweetheart Jim Amann, but of course the time constraints of old media get in the way of a great story again.

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by: snorwich @ Mon Oct 01, 2007 at 02:14:58 AM UTC

I had lots of great examples in my head... (0.00 / 0)

...but honestly they all flew out the window when the camera was on me, in Cindy Brady fashion.  It would have been much  more interesting if I had had some examples.

Thanks for the praise.  :-)  Visual media are not my strength, so I really appreciate the kind words!

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by: Maura @ Mon Oct 01, 2007 at 02:19:39 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

The lack of umm made it smooth (0.00 / 0)

I remember a piece on NPR a few years back in which they did a study on public speaking.  They took speeches by public figures and removed all the words so all you could hear was either breathing or ummm, and I remember Arianna Huffington's speech was nothing but breathing.  Ever since that piece, I pay attention to that and I often imagine myself biffing people in the back of the head in order to assist them in spitting it out.  Your delivery was very smooth and easy to listen to.

Your better on video than you think, don't sell yourself short.

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by: snorwich @ Mon Oct 01, 2007 at 11:46:44 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Maura Rocks (4.00 / 2)

Way to go!  Excellent representation of us bloggers.  I hope you get many more opportunities like this.

|Spazeboy.net|Spazeboy's Guide to Political Videoblogging|

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by: spazeboy @ Mon Oct 01, 2007 at 02:44:33 AM UTC

good job Maura! (0.00 / 0)

Especially the point about naming resources and providing links. That is key.

And I am so glad I decided to use a pseudonym when I first registered here...that way I can exercise my right to free speech and nobody knows who I am!

"I am not a Blogger...But I play one on the internet."

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by: tessa @ Mon Oct 01, 2007 at 03:49:34 AM UTC

OMG (4.00 / 1)

Tessa is Scarce!!1!

–7.25 / –7.28 | http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/tw...

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by: mattw @ Mon Oct 01, 2007 at 13:24:05 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Fox Sucks (0.00 / 0)

Why go on a show where the interviewer doesn't ask a real question or allow the guest to speak? I say girlcott these creeps.

They were lucky to get you, Christine.

"I am not a Blogger...But I play one on the internet."

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by: tessa @ Mon Oct 01, 2007 at 04:03:27 AM UTC

That seems common (0.00 / 0)

Shelly Sindland is well-prepared, but always seems to hog up the time that her guests should get.  I lucked out with having Dennis House, a host who actually seemed interested in my answers! 

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by: Maura @ Mon Oct 01, 2007 at 04:21:00 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Maura! (4.00 / 1)

That was a GREAT segment Maura. One of the best explanations of political blogging and blogging in general that I've seen. And kudos to Dennis House who asked good questions and let you answer them in a complete and informed way and seemed genuinely interested in your answers.

It was good TV too.

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by: joejoejoe @ Mon Oct 01, 2007 at 04:08:18 AM UTC

Outstanding! (0.00 / 0)

Great job, Maura! I don't think I've ever heard anyone explain the blogging phenomenon any better. The Thomas Paine reference, the reply to Dennis's "any negative things?" question, and all the rest ... very well done. MLN couldn't have had a finer representative.

Nice to see Christine up there too as an official "pundit". The hostess did most of the talking, but I'm thinking the punditocracy just got a little smarter.

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by: CaptCT @ Mon Oct 01, 2007 at 12:10:17 PM UTC

Fantastic job, Maura! (4.00 / 1)

You're a natural.

And ditto everyone on the Thomas Paine references. Woo hoo!

Ps - what is your alma mater, in case I need to know for another pub quiz?

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by: saramerica @ Mon Oct 01, 2007 at 16:53:41 PM UTC

Great job Maura! (4.00 / 2)

I compared bloggers to Thomas Paine and the 18th century pamphleteers last year.  Glad you said it on TV so the MSM can get a clue.

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by: Larkspur @ Mon Oct 01, 2007 at 19:31:46 PM UTC

You go Maura! (0.00 / 0)

EXCELLENT! A natural talent! I wish it was longer as I enjoyed it very much.

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by: Missy's Brother @ Mon Oct 01, 2007 at 20:31:16 PM UTC

Maura, just hours ago we were grading papers together - (0.00 / 0)

don't forget your ol' buddies! Great job!

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by: Sue @ Mon Oct 01, 2007 at 21:53:16 PM UTC

I was thinking of you when... (0.00 / 0)

...I said that MLNers have diverse backgrounds including education, etc.!

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by: Maura @ Mon Oct 01, 2007 at 22:33:21 PM UTC

[ Parent ]