Win or lose, most candidates retire their campaign blogs and related online efforts soon after (and, surprisingly often, before) election day. But Sen. James Webb appears to be pushing on. To wit, the Facebook entry I commented on in late October is still being updated.
And while not so eyebrow-raising as before, it’s still more than a little amusing:
Well, I suppose it is nice to know he doesn’t regret becoming a member of the U.S. Senate. But has anyone broken the bad news to Wes Clark?
However, I do wonder what is the point of a politician (not seeking national office) devoting staff time to a gimmick like Facebook. It won’t raise money, it won’t get his message out, and even if it does, almost certainly not to his constituents (and certainly not those who actually vote). Perhaps this is his last update until 2012, or at least until the next recess. Meantime, he’d be much better advised to take his official blog off hiatus.
And while I again caution against reading too much of anything into anything that happens with a politician’s social networking page, this (not currently on Webb’s page, but visible on your own, if you’re one of his Facebook friends) still makes you wonder:
That doesn’t make him the first born-again atheist senator, does it?
“I do wonder what is the point of a politician (not seeking national office) devoting staff time to a gimmick like Facebook.”
Didn’t naysayers say that about blogs or the internet 2 years ago, 5 years ago?
More than half of facebook is over 18, and getting name recognition in that set will serve Webb well in the future. Oh, and he might have an election in 2012, in which case, a current 12 year-old will be able to vote.
A presence is required, but I would agree that repeated edits are ridiculous.