…or the quite simply the discussion of politics within communities.
One thing my wife always reminds me of before attending a dinner party or an event, is not to discuss politics or religion. The problem is that I have a tendency of unintentionally offending people because of my conservative beliefs; and I am not afraid to kick knowledge when required to do so; and if it hurts people’s feelings, well…um, sorry.
The community I am referring here is not necessarily about having dinner with friends or neighbors; or attending a community event. It’s about the discussion of political events within online communities, or sometimes referred to as social media. Similar to this blog, there is a ton of chatter online about anything and everything from Hillary’s academy award winning crying act to the pessimism of the democratic party. The conversations are happening everywhere; heck, even the major online publications are beginning to open their web sites to allow comments from users.
Back in November 2007, I attended a conference in Las Vegas called BlogWorld. I met several great people there, including the founders of Primetime Politics; a site that I would compare to DrudgeReport but with comments. The site is focused on politics and world events; and of course there is functionality to allow comments – a great way to build a community.
From what I have been told, the community features will continue to grow. One such feature they are launching soon is called a Watchlist. It will allow community members to put their favorite authors on their own Watchlist, so they never miss a piece posted on the site by that particular author.
Ever heard of user generated content? I surely hope so if you have ever left a comment here at Urban or any other blog or social network.
Basically, anyone in the community can participate in determining the content of the site. Try telling Matt Drudge what to post on his site. Good luck! On the homepage (if you scroll down a little), you will see “PRIMETIME: Best of the Web” section. Those articles are posted by the Primetime staff. However, if you click on the “COMMUNITY: Spotlights and Originals” tab, those are articles posted by registered community members. The links posted by community members are called Spotlights, which is what you see right under “RECENT SPOTLIGHTS” just below the video carousel on the left hand side.
I recently created a profile; and yes, I plan on submitting my own articles to the site! Congrats on a job well done. The site is quite awesome!
Technorati Tags: Primetime Politics, user generated content, community, political discussion
sweet man. the site is pretty cool.
Great. All we need is another right wing web site!
@ Ron
*yawn* ... it's not a right wing site. Anyone can submit content, even you.
With all due respect Reverend, what does your definition of “conservatism and liberalism” and citing these famous quotes have to do with the topic at hand?
Yah know, I really don’t mind you trying to promote your web site on my site; but please stick to the topic and come with something relevant.
…and I am not really sure of the point of your comment. Okay, you are a liberal, you are probably a Christian…that’s great, congratulations. And?
Oh and here is a quote for you. Taken from a hip hop group in the late 80’s – Geto Boys – where they rap:
Action Speaks Louder Than Words
The point is this. Liberals talk a good game. They want to help this group and that group; and want to spend our tax dollars on this program and that program; yet, if you do some research, you will find that most liberals support “pro choice” laws, take God completely out of society, etc. Is this behavior in line with your Christian principles, Reverend?
Urban...good call.
well, I am a conservative and I believe in "family values". So what is your analysis of me?
Regarding abortion, it boils down to this --- and all the analysis of defining “life”, “persons”, “when life begins” is moot ; if you are indeed a Christian, you should believe that God is the only true giver of life; and taking that life at any stage during the pregnancy is wrong. You can justify it all you want but it’s not a political or governmental or “first amendment” issue. It’s much bigger than that. Hopefully you can see past all the mainstream media BS and open your eyes to the truth. It will set you free; but you should know that already.
ENLIGHTENED Christian? What does that actually mean? Is that some type of new cultic movement similar to Heavens Gate - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heaven's_Gate_(cult)?
“billionaires don't subsidize LIBERAL preachers the way they do CONSERVATIVES”
You seem to have all the answers! And, I am sure 9/11 was an inside job too! Right (no pun)?
Rev. Ray Dubuque - what does abortion have to do with this topic? It seems to me like you are just trying to spread your garbage to us normal people. Stop trying to shape Christianity to fit your own political views. Your website is focusing on justifying why liberals are good people and conservatives are bad people. If you are Reverend, why don't you just share God's love with the world, instead of attacking people who disagree with you.
Hi Reverend. I've heard that Beethoven's mother considered aborting him because they knew he was going to be born deaf. If you like classical music at all, you're probably glad that didn't happen. And aren't you thrilled that Mary and Joseph didn't decide to abort Jesus? I am!! It would have been a very common thing to do in those days. Being pregnant out of wedlock wasn't as accepted as it it today. For some reason, I can't see Jesus recommending abortion to any expecting mother. But I can see Him crying with them, and comforting them. He "believed" the scriptures that say that "God knew us before we were even born"! Yes, God allows us the freedom to make many choices in this life, one of which is whether we even want to believe Him and accept Hima s our Lord and Saviour. But there are right and godly choices, and wrong and immoral choices that we make from time to time. I'm so glad that He doesn't give me what I deserve Reverend! His grace and mercy is something I can't even comprehend. But I am sooooo thankful for it!! Bless the children Reverend before they are even born! God will smile upon you, and bless you for it!!
I can not find the email address for Dr. James Dobson. I wanted to send him some of my views on John McCain. If anyone knows it please post it. All I can find is where I can buy something his store. Below is the letter I wanted to send him. Maybe he will read it here.
Dr. Dobson
I am an ordinary very conservative republican. Just like many conservative I have been disappointed that Senator John McCain will be the nominee for our party. He was not my first choice and not my second, in fact he was not on my list at all, and in fact I have told some people that if John McCain was the nominee I would just not vote for a president. I looked first at Senator Fred Thompson, but it soon became obvious that his heart was not in it. After that I began to look at Governor Mitt Romney. I became convinced he was the best conservative in the race and decided to support him. I voted for him here in South Carolina and hoped he would go all the way. Needless to say I was crushed when he dropped out of the race. I still believe he was the best choice, but Mitt Romney is a very honorable man and puts the country and party above his personal ambitions.
After the shock was over and I looked at the numbers and I decided that I would cast a vote not for McCain but against Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama. In other words hold my nose and vote for McCain. I think this is what many conservatives are thinking about doing. I have given much though to this and what my core values are and I have decided that holding my nose and voting for John McCain is a sure fire way to elect Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama. We will be facing the hardest race of my life time and I am 62 years old. The Democrats will go to the poles in record number this year. That means not only could they regain the White House but could increase there numbers in both the House and Senate. I have decided that it will take more than just voting for John McCain because although it might take me out to the poles I would not work to get others to go to the poles and that is what it will take. Unless we conservatives get fully behind McCain and work like we have never worked before we are sure to lose in November. We can not afford to give half hearted support. I go back to my deepest core values. Fighting the war on terror in Iran, Iraq, and all around the world. John McCain will do that, not even his conservative detractors will dispute that, He will name Conservative Judges to the Supreme Court, and again no one can dispute that. He will fight government waste and pork barrel spending. He has proven that time and time again. He will not sign a bill with new taxes in it and will fight to make the Bush tax cut permanent even though he voted against them (that was a bad move). He will build the border fence. I know he still support a path to citizenship for Illegal immigrants and would let them stay and work but as long as we keep electing 41 good conservative Senators we can stop that. It is starting to look like the State of Arizona is showing us the way to solve the Illegal immigrant problem. The states that are over run with them can pass laws that take away business permits to those who hire Illegal immigrants.
Each one of us must ask ourselves will Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama appoint Conservative Judges. No, they will appoint ACLU approved Judges. Will they lower taxes? No they will raise taxes. Will they fight Terrorist at home, in Iraq and around the world? No, they will cut and run and stick there heads in the sand until thousands more die here at home. Will they build a border fence? No, they will put up welcome signs and give them US citizenship without any restrictions. If we do not win in November this is what we can look for. My core values make my choice plain. I will fully support John McCain and overcome my foolish and dangerous pride. For the good of my family and country.
As for Ann Coulter well she is not a conservative talk show host she is just another radio shock jock. I don’t think I need to say anymore about her. I remember our first President Bush when he raised taxes. Another conservative talk show host started a relentless attack on President Bush without looking to see if there was a reason he had to go along with a tax hike like the repercussions of the Bank failures. He was not the only reason Bush lost but he was one of the reasons and we got 8 years of Bill Clinton.
Does he want 8 years of Hillary? Of course that would be great for his radio show. Countdown 8 years of America Held Hostage. He can just keep on going and we will have High Taxes, ACLU Judges to the Supreme Court, and we will cut and run from Iraq and lose the War on Terror.
I still have some problems with John McCain and if I were setting in front of him I would tell him about them but that would never happen because regular republicans never get that chance. There so many of us not John McCain or anyone could have the time to do that. Would I rather have Mitt Romney that John McCain, I would be telling a lie if I said no but my problems with John McCain pale in comparison to a Democratic House, Senate, and White House. It would be an attack on all my core beliefs.
Mr. Dobson I do not under stand your position. You have said that it is a matter of conscience that you will not vote for John McCain, but that you are speaking for yourself and not your organization. When you express something you know darn well many will follow your lead. I have looked at my core values and made my decision I ask that you do the same. We have spent 25 years of hard work and three republican presidents to get the Supreme Court to point to where it is a 4 and 4 with one swing justice. We are so close and it is almost for sure the next president will appoint 2 Supreme Court Judges and will change the court for many years to come. I do not want Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama appoint those judges, John McCain will appoint the kind of judges we must have to prevent 25 more years of The Slater of the Innocent. We can tell ourselves that 4 years of Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama will cause this country to rise up and through them and the Dem. congress out and that could be correct, but what they do in that 4 years will remain with us for many years. Millions of the unborn will die because we did not prevent the election of Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama. Can your core values allow this to happen? You will play a large part in what happens in November but if you hold off to long it may be that things can not be reversed. I leave it to your own core values; you have read what my values are.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
William T. Mitchell (Terry)
North Augusta SC