We're Coming to You Tube!
January 15, 2009 5:27 AM Subscribe
Welcome to Congress, YouTube. Check out House Hub and Senate Hub for a state by state directory of YouTube videos created by House Representatives and Senators for the purpose of, among other things, "increasing transparency."
Don't miss House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's Capital Cat Cam!
Don't miss House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's Capital Cat Cam!
This is the appearance of transparency rather than actual transparency. Just because the politicians' spin is now on youtube doesn't make it better. I'd much rather politicians open themselves to investigative journalists or make their records public and easily accessible or give straight, actual answers to questions at press conferences than watch them learn how to post a video to a website. One thing this does accomplish, however, is make some cherry-picked congressional floor speech videos more easily accessible than they were before on CSPAN's website, which is a small good step. I haven't visited CSPAN's website in a long time, though, so the improvement might not be large.
posted by msbrauer at 6:03 AM on January 15, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by msbrauer at 6:03 AM on January 15, 2009 [2 favorites]
My favorite part was "I hope you'll also take some time to share videos and comments with us."
They have no idea what they're getting themselves into.
posted by lunit at 6:11 AM on January 15, 2009 [3 favorites]
They have no idea what they're getting themselves into.
posted by lunit at 6:11 AM on January 15, 2009 [3 favorites]
I'd much rather politicians open themselves to investigative journalists or make their records public...
I'd much rather that they didn't have to open themselves or make their records public. It shouldn't even be optional, in other words. In other other words, I don't want a window on the process--I want the process to just be outside in the first place.
posted by DU at 6:12 AM on January 15, 2009 [2 favorites]
I'd much rather that they didn't have to open themselves or make their records public. It shouldn't even be optional, in other words. In other other words, I don't want a window on the process--I want the process to just be outside in the first place.
posted by DU at 6:12 AM on January 15, 2009 [2 favorites]
While we're scrutinizing the legislative branch's participation in social media, check out SenateFloor and HouseFloor on Twitter. They're actually pretty useful for people who need to watch proceedings from a distance.
posted by brownpau at 6:33 AM on January 15, 2009 [3 favorites]
posted by brownpau at 6:33 AM on January 15, 2009 [3 favorites]
I'd much rather that they didn't have to open themselves or make their records public.
Agreed. But that's a pie in the sky.
posted by msbrauer at 6:41 AM on January 15, 2009
Agreed. But that's a pie in the sky.
posted by msbrauer at 6:41 AM on January 15, 2009
Needs a little work, I may have missed some, but only 28 Senators are up. (Slightly more Ds than Rs, but whatever). On the House side, I only checked my rep and she hasn't "signed in" in 4 months. Only 5 states have both Senators up (TX IA TN FL VT unless I missed some). Seems mean to include DC on the Senate map, as DC does not have any senators.
Getting this going needs to be part of the stimulus package. Think of all the unemployed web geeks we could get on the payroll, just from MeFi.
But that's a quibble, all in all a step in the right direction.
posted by nax at 8:15 AM on January 15, 2009
Getting this going needs to be part of the stimulus package. Think of all the unemployed web geeks we could get on the payroll, just from MeFi.
But that's a quibble, all in all a step in the right direction.
posted by nax at 8:15 AM on January 15, 2009
Rep. Robert Aderholt's YouTube page crashed my browser. Twice.
*shakes fist impotently in direction of Alabama's 4th Congressional District*
posted by BitterOldPunk at 8:51 AM on January 15, 2009
*shakes fist impotently in direction of Alabama's 4th Congressional District*
posted by BitterOldPunk at 8:51 AM on January 15, 2009
If only YouTube had been around when Huey Long was doing his thing on the Senate floor.
posted by Spatch at 9:40 AM on January 15, 2009
posted by Spatch at 9:40 AM on January 15, 2009
Since CatCam appears to be down: Time Magazine (SPOILER?) reveals what we're missing.
Just started poking around in these and currently am very amused that the video "Senator Webb Hosts Criminal Justice Symposium" has had its title shortened to "Senator Webb Hosts Criminal," which creates a slightly different impression.
posted by naoko at 10:04 AM on January 15, 2009
Just started poking around in these and currently am very amused that the video "Senator Webb Hosts Criminal Justice Symposium" has had its title shortened to "Senator Webb Hosts Criminal," which creates a slightly different impression.
posted by naoko at 10:04 AM on January 15, 2009
Also, I could listen to Sherrod Brown (D-OH) (whose name is spelled wrong on the map, incidentally) talk for hours. A coworker of mine used to say, "Have you ever seen him and Tom Waits together? Think about that."
posted by naoko at 9:16 AM on January 17, 2009
posted by naoko at 9:16 AM on January 17, 2009
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posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 6:01 AM on January 15, 2009 [2 favorites]