By that logic...they should choose Charlie Brown as the new RNC chair. He has more than 24,000 Facebook fans.

Definite articles before proper names are a superb example of cluelessness.

These Republicans are hip in the sense of "I fell and broke my hip."

I don't do Facebook, but can someone explain to me why people declare themselves to be "friends" there?

I watched a bit of the RNC debate last night and was really amazed how poorly they performed, at least from my admittedly biased liberal viewpoint. But I'm not just talking about their substantive positions and plans, though that was pathetic too. But just basic public speaking skills. They often seemed uncomfortable on stage, unprepared for obvious questions and lacking any compelling rhetoric. Is this really the best the party has to offer? I assume not, and that the extremist positions required to have any chance of winning culled out everyone competent.

And as an aside, I'm amazed on pleased at how the "underwear gnomes" analogy has persisted. It was such a stroke of comedic genius by the south park guys that can be used in so many situations.

You need to be a 'friend' to get full access to a Facebook user's information.

So few people understand how to Twitter well and compellingly, but so few realize that. And that refers to the people who actually have something interesting to say. I have to say I'm really looking forward to the RNC's efforts in this direction. Quality entertainment usually costs something.

And Heidi Fleisch would say to Blackwell, "Only 4,000; new to the game, eh?"

On a somewhat unrelated note, does anyone else think there's an immature sort of "neener, neener, neener" quality to the interplay between Anuzis and Blackwell? Maybe it's good-natured ribbing in context, but this hardly strikes me as the kind of back-and-forth one would expect from people at the head of a major political party.

And, along the same lines as the other problems mentioned in the above post, any party that thinks a failed politician like Ken Blackwell will lead them to victory is seriously in the weeds.

And if there's one thing kids today want on their intertubes, it's more Ronald Reagan!

>It's a bit like listening to an inept advertising agency promising a business that they'll have a strong "online presence" because it'll have a blog and its commercials will be on YouTube.

I do believe that's supposed to be "THE" YouTube, Steve.

Get with the cool cats, Daddio.

It seems like it is second nature for Republicans to be painfully unhip and uncool. This bring back memories of Nixon trying to increase his hipness quotient by saying "Sock it to me" on Laugh In. (He gets points for being willing to give it a try, but that scaled new heights of Not Working.)

It's my understanding that Al Qaeda is successfully using Internet tools to recruit weak-minded, ignorant dupes into their virulent and criminal campaign to subjugate humanity under the brutal totalitarian rule of a tiny cabal of demented reactionaries. I see no reason it can't work for the Republicans too.

It seems like it is second nature for Republicans to be painfully unhip and uncool.

But wouldn't it be fun to see John Boehner with a Mohawk. OK, a bit out of style, but fun, nonetheless.

Dan wrote: "... any party that thinks a failed politician like Ken Blackwell will lead them to victory is seriously in the weeds."

Failed? Hardly. Blackwell has demonstrated success at blatantly stealing elections with voter disenfranchisement and fraud, and getting away with it. Since that has been the Republican strategy for winning national elections since at least 2000, Blackwell is well qualified to be the RNC chair.

Not Step 2: (awkward silence)
but Step 2: (Here a miracle must occur)

It sounds like a real 'carnival of stupidity'

No, maybe it's a 'festival of inanity'

No, No a 'Celebration of ignorance'

Did you know that Bill O'Reilly is gay ??

Fair enough, SecularAnimist. But "failed politician in the mold of a democratic ideal whereby people succeed by winning elections fair and square" was a bit wordy.

FWIW, my thoughts on the GOP and the Facebook are here:
http://bleakonomy.blogspot.com/2009/01/first-facebook-then-world.html

The people wanting to be chairman, RNC all sound like Karl Rove wannabes who believe that internet gimmicks and targeted campaigns can make up bad leadership, poor planning, and weak governance. I wonder how many times Karl Rove told President Bush not to worry about the consequences of his decisions because some slick campaign theme could make up for any failures.

The cult-like worship of Reagan will continue to become more meaningless with each passing day and the electorate grows younger.
Do they have to sign some sort of loyalty oath to Reagan's ghost or what?

I just looked up Blackwell on facebook. It's actually 3962 friends, which (in recent mathematical studies) has been proven to be less than four thousand. Additionally the very first one is "FairTax.org", which is cool and all, but let's face it, doesn't count.

FairTax.Org and I have been friends since middle school, and I resent the implication that our deep and abiding affection is anything other than 100% legitimate, Jareth.

First, let me say that I agree with the subject of this post: the efforts of the Republican leadership are pitiable - if one is feeling charitable.

However, I remember a time when the situation was reversed. Less than five years ago, posters at the Corner (at National Review) were posting theories about why the blogosphere was dominated by the right, and mocking the Democratic efforts to rebuild.

That complacency and arrogance (at their time of dominance) wasn't healthy in the long term, and it wasn't healthy in the short term.

I guess my point is that their efforts deserve watchfulness and respect, lest the Democrats become complacent themselves.

Ha! Since Jareth posted 2 hours ago that Blackwell has 3,962 facebook friends the number has gone down. It's currently 3,868. Blackwell's facebook friends list

John Boehner with a Mohawk

Dear Lord. Think of the tan(ning bed) lines with that one.

I guess my point is that their efforts deserve watchfulness and respect, lest the Democrats become complacent themselves.

Okay. But our lack of complacency isn't going to make the average Republican younger or more technology-oriented.

So which one of these losers do we want to get the job. I'm ready to become his facebook friend if it will help.

Um... can I be the first to say it?

Twitter is a fad.
Not one of the better ones either.

Spacebook/MyFace are OLD technology.

Not to say I can give them clues what WOULD be "hip" and "with it" , but those two aren't it.