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    Who are the NERD fund donors Mr Snyder?

    Raise the curtain.

    Where's Snyder? Who knows. He isn't online.


    By thegipper, Section News
    Posted on Wed Oct 06, 2010 at 10:18:13 PM EST
    Tags: rick snyder, new media (all tags)

    So our next governor, and dare I say Nerd-in-Chief, Rick Snyder is all but guaranteed victory -- there's just one problem: his new media operation stinks big time.

    Seriously. I know some of us here in the blogosphere supported other candidates in the GOP primary, but we're united behind the Snyder-Calley ticket and committed to reinventing Michigan.

    Whether it's here at RightMichigan or at many of the other fine conservative blogs, Snyder is M.I.A. To my knowledge, he's done no blogger -- or as I prefer citizen pontificator -- conference calls even though his communications director, Bill Nowling, is no stranger to the Michigan conservative blogosphere.

    more below

    Sure I might expect this from a regular old politician. But Rick's a nerd -- and quite honestly, he's spent a bundle of money to boot. It's logical to ask: Where's his money going? Because it certainly isn't being spent on new media operations.

    And yeah, he's on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and YouTube. But who isn't these days? Being on there isn't good enough. It's about how you these tools.

    For a nerd, his use is almost non-existent. I know some -- if not many politicians -- have staff who pretend to be them on Facebook or Twitter, but there's no sign that Snyder even does that. His new media presence is basically limited to a handful of generic campaign accounts on social-networking websites like Facebook and Twitter. (For the record, there was a Twitter user claiming to be Snyder, called "onetoughnerd," but the account hasn't been updated since September 18.)

    Even his campaign website is average -- it isn't what you might expect someone with his budget and tech credentials.

    And that's too bad, especially in this age of the internet.

    Even the traditional mainstream media here in Michigan is being overrun by new media, which means Snyder is missing a tremendous opportunity. When several of the state's largest newspapers publish more original content online than in print, it's clear there's a market for new media -- making it a must in any statewide political campaign. Heck, even Snyder's hometown newspaper is now AnnArbor.com after the print edition lost so much money that it closed shop.

    There's just no excuse for Snyder's rather pathetic new media operations.

    And a strong presence makes up for the lack of mainstream political reporting. While MIRS and Gongwer corner the inside Lansing market, most Michiganders only have access to stories by the Associated Press or the couple political reporters the Detroit newspapers have left on the political beat. Sadly, the once strong Capitol News Corps has basically ceased to exist. (A sitting governor -- whether it's Snyder or Granholm -- is lucky to have three or four reporters at a press conference.)

    This leaves an enormous vacuum for new media, especially this close to the election when people are hungry for news on what's happening.

    That's where new media comes in handy. It allows a campaign to avoid what's left of the gatekeeper at the mainstream media.

    Take today's endorsement of Snyder by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.

    How many knew about it? I didn't until late last night. There was very little media coverage on it -- at least here in the outlying areas of Michigan.

    As of me writing this rant, there's no mention of the Christie endorsement on Snyder's Facebook, Flickr, YouTube or Twitter pages. Not to mention, there was no apparent outreach from Snyder's folks to us citizen pontificators even though Christie is a mega rock-star amongst many conservatives right now for his screw-you approach in New Jersey.

    The only mention I could find was a few photos uploaded by would-be Michigan Republican Party chairman Bobby Shostak. (By the way, he's already openly campaigning for the job and the election hasn't even happened. We conservatives must stop him. He's a RINO, who has donated to Democrats and will be another M.I.A. chairman in the mold of His Excellency Ron Weiser.)

    So with four weeks left to the election -- which reminds me, I must promote this amazing video from the Republican Governors Association that was released today -- Snyder probably won't change his new media operation.

    After all, his campaign is working.

    But I truly hope that a Governor/Nerd-in-Chief Snyder will listen up and not repeat these basic new media 101 mistakes in his administration.

    And if you're reading this Rick, you may want to ask your consultants where the money has went because your new media operation is one of the worst I've seen -- even the `06 campaign of Dick DeVos had a better operation and the internet has changed a lot since then.

    < Four Weeks | Sold Down The River >


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    Great unease (none / 0) (#1)
    by RushLake on Thu Oct 07, 2010 at 06:07:58 AM EST
    This posting adds much to the unease that I feel as I prepare to vote in this election. We have these very good points in this post, but we also have this candidate going to a meeting in Chelsea last month and getting all wishy washy on the unions. He's not going to take them on either over education funding or right to work--something about the 3rd rail of Michigan politics.

    While he gets a lot of credit for campaigning amongst the democrats in Detroit, what is he really committing to Detroit? If he can peel off a chunk of normally democrat Detroit votes, what is the price that the dwindling pool of taxpayers will have to pay for this relative handful of votes?

    Why would he run away from Chris Cristie like this if not because he doesn't want to be tied to someone the unions loath?

    My wife and I will definitely be there down ticket for the Republican slate, the Supreme Court, and the propositions, but the third term of Clueless Jenny in either form.............not so much.  

    As far as the money goes... (none / 0) (#2)
    by JGillman on Thu Oct 07, 2010 at 06:55:29 AM EST
    At least what money is left..

    I have a suspicion it is paying back some personal loans to the campaign.  Not really a bad thing, given the lead over Bernero.

    But you're spot on about the communications.  No Press releases.  They have my email.

    I will say this however..  If you need pictures they have given some when requested..

    Sadly (none / 0) (#3)
    by LookingforReagan on Thu Oct 07, 2010 at 11:09:46 AM EST
    I fear that Snyder won't be much different then Job Killer Jenny. He is a Liberal Progressive RINO and that isn't what I am looking for or what Michigan needs. I am sure the party elders are tickled pink(o) to have this pretender as their candidate. But as a Conservative I am not thrilled with the chosen nominee. I held my nose and voted for the Golden Boy of the Rockefeller Republicans in John McAmnesty and we know how well that went. I fully believe had McCain been elected the country would be in about the same mess as with Dear Leader at the helm. To be honest Obama and McCain agreed about many things when it comes to policy.
    Now we Conservatives are being told once again to get on board no matter how distasteful the candidate we were handed is. Sorry folks but I cannot go any further with this sham. I have had my fill of being promised one thing and given another by Lansing and the District of Corruption. When will we be allowed to stand on princilple? Or should be all just get on board and follow the rest of the sheeple off the cliff. No thanks. Snyder won't get my vote now or ever. Nor will any other RINO pretender. I will cast a vote but for the most Conservative candidate on the ballot. We need to send a message that Conservatives will not support any candidate who does not believe in the Conservative principles we hold dear.
    While I have no doubt that Snyder will win, what kind of victory that ends up being remains to be seen. I for one am not all the hopefull that it will be for the better. The two biggest obstacles that we face in Michigan are getting a massive overhaul of the tax system and giving Michigan citizens freedom in the work place to make up their own mind about joining a union. It should not be a condition of employment that you be shaken down once each month in order to work. Can Snyder deliver? I have my doubts. He may win the election but in the end he will lose the larger battle for the salvation of Michigan. He just doesn't have the backbone for the fight.

    Snyder will get MY vote, but (none / 0) (#8)
    by JGillman on Thu Oct 07, 2010 at 03:07:21 PM EST
    I will watch, and my exceptions will be noted for future debate.

    I expect him to perform well. He MUST.  

    Pressure on things like the MEDC must continue as well.  The raw data says its a waste of money, yet there is an uneasy feeling it will be allowed to continue.  That is not acceptable.

    But at some point we must give our nominee that chance.  He has no political history to judge.

    If he turns out to be a disaster, we turn him out in an ugly primary.  We also fight any GOP hack who might be chair that could lead us into the "accept any crap" way of doing things.  I would still like to see Hoogendyk take over the state party.

    • Jack by thegipper, 10/07/2010 03:38:21 PM EST (none / 0)
      • Yeah by maidintheus, 10/07/2010 03:58:39 PM EST (none / 0)
    • No political history? Whaaaaaa? by Corinthian Scales, 10/07/2010 04:56:33 PM EST (none / 0)
      • You know what I meant... by JGillman, 10/07/2010 05:16:00 PM EST (none / 0)
        • LOL by Corinthian Scales, 10/07/2010 05:20:34 PM EST (none / 0)
    Campaign publicity (none / 0) (#18)
    by Petoskeyvotes on Thu Oct 07, 2010 at 05:29:33 PM EST
    Hello all- Where's Snyder...Where's Waldo...Where's Sherry? If you are looking for a candidate to get on the net....my mayoral campaign could sure the assistance! I have found it next to impossible to hirer computer expertise.

    If Snyder wins (none / 0) (#20)
    by LookingforReagan on Thu Oct 07, 2010 at 08:53:53 PM EST
    Gonna have to come up with some new nicknames for him. It might be hard but I doubt it. Granholm was easy. She must have at least twenty. Just think only three more months to get the digs in on the Czarina. Yes, little Jenny No Jobs will have to run back to Canada to avoid prosecution. But I am sure that Sister Jennifer Granholm of the Holy Sisters of Money Laundering will hire a slick lawyer (which she isn't) and wiggle that Mole through the cracks in the judicial system.

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