NY-Sen: NRSC Still Learning How To Use The Internets

by: robert.harding

Wed Jul 22, 2009 at 16:13:48 PM EDT

But in their attempt at an attack on Gillibrand, they showed just how inept the Republicans are (and have been) at utilizing the Internet as a political tool.

If you go to the post titled, "Paterson Appointee Puts Politics Before Principles", you will see the press release from the NRSC. But the starting text is not part of the press release.

This is how the start of the press release reads:

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}

Not only is that bad, but because of their apparent coding failure, the title is mashed together. You can still make it out, but it overlaps and looks rather beginner-like.

I should also note that this was brought to my attention earlier today. As of 4:00 p.m., it still wasn't fixed. So apparently the NRSC is going for substance over style, even though there isn't much substance and not a whole lot of style either.

UPDATE: As Dan indicates in the comments, if you go to the press release that I mentioned in this story, it no longer exists. How embarrassing it must be for the individual (or individuals) who left that up all day. Do they not read the material once it is posted? It was just a foolish mistake and yet, it was there for the whole day.

L & P Media President A Past Republican Donor

by: robert.harding

Thu Feb 19, 2009 at 09:57:20 AM EST

The web vendor is L & P Media. We know that they have been the provider of services for the Republicans over the years. But it looks like the head of L & P Media also gave something back.

According to this report from Albany-based The Business Review, the President of L & P Media is a man named John Daniels. According to campaign finance reports, Daniels gave $755 to Republicans from 2003 to 2005.

This is how it breaks down:

- On Sept. 11, 2003, Daniels gave $250 to the New York State Republican Committee. Almost two months prior to that, Daniels' company, Light and Power Media, was paid $6,336 by the New York State Senate Republican Campaign Committee.

- On August 19, 2004, Daniels gave $500 to the New York State Republican Committee.

- In 2005, Daniels gave a small donation of $5 to the New York State Senate Republican Campaign Committee.

It wasn't until 2006 that big money started flowing L & P Media's way. According to the total expenditures paid to L & P Media, they were paid $108,378.72 for their services, which included work for the Senate Republicans and work for individual Republican senators, including Sen. Charles Fuschillo and newly-elected Sen. Roy McDonald, who is serving the same district that Joe Bruno previously represented.

In fairness to Daniels, he did give $1,000 to Eliot Spitzer's gubernatorial campaign. But that isn't what has gotten him in the news recently. Sure, the contributions he made weren't during the time he was making big money from the Senate Republicans, but this just raises more questions about the practices of the Senate Republicans and using a company to do work in a government capacity and in a political capacity.

Buffalo News Targets Illuzzi's Website, Services He Offers

by: robert.harding

Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 14:06:25 PM EST

Today, Bob McCarthy of The News authored an interesting piece on Illuzzi's website and the impact is has on local politics. Here's an excerpt:

Whenever the seamy underside of Western New York politics has been revealed in recent months, it seems that Joseph J. Illuzzi and his Web site are there.

And it is all brought to you by the politicians who willingly - and sometimes not so willingly - send hundreds of thousands of dollars his way.

...

Despite accusations that Illuzzi runs a "pay-to-play" operation that praises those who pony up and trashes those who don't, Western New York's politicians continue to pour money into his coffers. About 25 politicians advertise on his site.

"They use it to get a message out or spread their rumors," said Kevin R. Hardwick, a Canisius College political science professor and an occasional Illuzzi target. "In return, he makes a living off it. And he will continue until a high-profile campaign makes it an issue."

Board of Elections records show politicians paid Illuzzi at least $150,000 over the past few years. In 2005, he told The Buffalo News he took in $1 million in revenue and expected to double that figure in 2006, though there is no independent way to verify his claims.

I really don't like to give Illuzzi press because, well, he thrives off of the attention. But this is an issue around here. Many politicians on both sides of the aisle feel the need to advertise on his site. Their reasoning for advertising on his site appears to be fear for being attacked by Illuzzi. Obviously, that's not how things should be.

As I have told others, Illuzzi's website isn't meant to be a great source of journalism. It's sole purpose is to make money for Illuzzi. That is another reason why I don't understand all of the politicians who advertise on his site. He could care less about them if they didn't pay up. So why would these candidates and elected officials put themselves in such a position?

I do find it intriguing that the Buffalo News felt the need to dedicate space to this. What they should do is a real investigative piece on Illuzzi's site and the money he has made. That would be worth a read.  

Is A Placeholder Too Much To Ask For?

by: robert.harding

Wed Jul 09, 2008 at 13:51:38 PM EDT

So I punch in "www.responsiblenewyork.com" and this is what I encountered:

Phillip has remarked in the past about some of our state senate candidates that are lacking a website. I guess a website address is better than no website at all, but why not put some sort of placeholder up there to tell people that they have landed at the right place?

A few tips for the candidates and other important people of New York as it relates to the Internet.

(1) One of the first things you should (or have your staff do) as a candidate is create a website. Don't wait until it gets closer to election season to do it. As a blogger, I can do my job better if I have a website to give people. That way, we can get to know the candidate better whether we live in the district or not.

(2) If you have a web address reserved, don't just leave the Go Daddy "This page is parked" up there for public consumption. At the very least, put up a placeholder indicating that, in the near future, you will have fully operational website and that this is indeed your official website.

(3) If you have a website, use it. Don't just have a very general website where you don't update anything and just use it to say that you have an online presence. Anyone can have a website, but using it is another story.

Those are my tips. I am accepting donations should you utilize these tips.