Slashdot Mirror


State of the Union Address Goes Web 2.0

CWmike writes "The White House will be tapping Web 2.0 technology to reach out to Americans during and after the president's State of the Union address tonight. While President Barack Obama makes his annual address starting at 9 p.m. ET, the official White House Web site will have a live stream of the speech, along with charts and statistics to provide context and emphasize key points. 'We're putting the finishing touches on a new feature for WhiteHouse.gov that will offer an enhanced viewer experience for President Obama's State of the Union address,' wrote Macon Phillips, the White House director of new media, in a blog post. Immediately after the State of the Union address, the White House will host an Open for Questions event on Twitter. Several senior administration officials will be fielding questions submitted on the White House Facebook page, the White House Webform, or via Twitter using the #sotu hashtag and responding to @whitehouse. And on Wednesday, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs will take citizens' questions via Twitter before his post-State of the Union briefing. Anyone interested can follow @PressSec on Twitter to find out when Gibbs will take questions and post video responses. To submit a question for him, respond to @PressSec using the hashtag #1Q. At 2:30 p.m. Eastern on Thursday, Obama will take questions live on YouTube."

13 of 239 comments (clear)

  1. feh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    I won't be watching, The Real Housewives of New Jersey is on.

    More honest likable people.

  2. "Web 2.0"? Really? by karmac0ma · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Since when is video streaming a "Web 2.0" thing? That term seems to be tacked into everything web-related nowadays.

    1. Re:"Web 2.0"? Really? by eepok · · Score: 4, Funny

      I think the 2.0 comes with taking comments and questions from Twitter and Youtube-- the bastions of reasonable discourse on the web.

    2. Re:"Web 2.0"? Really? by VGPowerlord · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I think the 2.0 comes with taking comments and questions from Twitter and Youtube-- the bastions of reasonable discourse on the web.

      I'd question whether those are really "Web 2.0" either. They're just web pages with comments on them. Basically a public forum that got really popular. :)

      Which summarizes Web 2.0 extremely well.

      --
      GLaDOS for President 2016! "Well here we are again. It's always such a pleasure." -- GLaDOS, 2011
  3. For a more titillating experience... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    watch it on www.WhiteHouse.com.

  4. nothing here to see...move along by slick7 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Actions speak louder than words. The actions taken by government for the last twenty years show the American people are not of interest.

    --
    The mind conceives, the body achieves, the spirit manifests.
  5. BFD by h00manist · · Score: 3, Interesting

    We want to WRITE the state of the union in a wiki, not read about it on the web and make "comments" that are filtered, censored and nobody can read. It's a two-way free access medium, not a TV with a phone next to it.

    --
    Build your own energy sources from scratch. http://otherpower.com/
  6. Wait until it's in 3D by trollertron3000 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Wait until it's in 3D, which they are working on using the same technology Cameron used for Avatar. You'll be able to see how you're being fucked in 3D. Imagine that!

    --
    Tiger Blooded Bi-Winning Machine
  7. Re:Early Copy by spun · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This is what our political reporting has been reduced too. If you do not toe the line, you do not get access. Ask too many uncomfortable questions, and you will only be asking questions of local school board candidates. You can argue, within the bounds set by the Washington elite, but you must stick to the narrative. Argue whichever "side" you like, as the sides have been pre-chosen and approved by the powers that be. Just don't question the narrative itself, or again, you won't be reporting in Washington.

    --
    - None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
  8. Re:Web 2.0? PFFFT!!! by BuckaBooBob · · Score: 4, Interesting

    On a separate note the whitehouse did the streaming content distribution with Level 3 and Comcast users were unable to see it since Comcast is holding Level 3 up for ransom due to the lack of net neutrality laws.

    --
    Who needs WiFi when we can have Packet Over Sheep! http://datacomm.org/PoS-InternetDraft.txt
  9. Slides, context by MobyDisk · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I am glad to see this happening, but saddened that it is such a big deal. In the corporate world, no CFO gives a presentation without slides showing the information and references to back it up. In every board room, you have a projector, a conference call system, and attendees with laptops. Every statement is cited with specific numbers and backed-up with links and references.

    But in politics, someone can hold a speech or a debate and there are no slides, no links, and no references. Two candidates in a debate can quote entirely different numbers for the same thing, and even change their numbers from speech to speech. It it is up to the listeners to find sources after the fact. It is really quite silly. If businessmen operated like political candidates they would be ousted after the first board meeting.

    I always imagined that if I was up there I would say "The US imports XXX barrels of oil, according to Gartner research" and a slide would appear showing the number within context of other nations, and a link to the research report. I know that only .01% of people would actually look that up, but much like open source, not everyone has to do that. It's just all a part of promoting transparency and accuracy. If the other side wants to quote a different number, that's fine, then they can post their links as well.

  10. Re:Early Copy by 99BottlesOfBeerInMyF · · Score: 3, Informative

    You have to be joking. Given the way the Democrats have been attacking Republican Paul Ryan the last day or so? They are not civil, it's once again do as I say, not as I do.

    Attacking someone's position is not the same as attacking a person.

    They have been saying he wants to get rid of Medicare and destroy Social Security and wants to see all the old people die on the streets.

    Citation please. I've seen numerous comments that he wants to privative SS, which many people think will destroy it and result in old people suffering and dying needlessly. I haven't seen anyone say he wants old people to suffer and die.

    No one has ever talked about getting rid of Medicare or Social Security.

    In 2010 Ryan did propose a "Roadmap for America" that included replacing Medicare and Medicaid with private vouchers with values that would slowly decrease as a way of weaning America off of what he called "the entitlement programs". I think maybe you need to do some research before you make assertions.

    So much for being civil, and so much for no violent rhetoric.

    Please do cite this "violent rhetoric" and "attacks" of which you speak, attacks on him, not his proposed plans.

    That is the real face of the Democratic party.

    I'm no supporter of the Democratic party, but I do watch the real news and I haven't seen what you're talking about. It takes about 30 seconds with Google to find evidence that Ryan did propose privatizing SS and eliminating Medicare/Medicaid. Maybe you should stop watching Fox news and try any other channel, or better yet look at a variety of sources.

  11. Re:Early Copy by spun · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I give you every opportunity to actually debate. I will not accord anyone respect they haven't earned. You do not get to act like a child, but get treated like an adult. If you have a position, put it out there and I will debate without name calling or rancor. Just don't think that you can act like an evil, spoiled child and then whine about it when others don't treat you with respect.

    You want a debate? Bring it. State your position.

    --
    - None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton