I noted with interest this article about the efforts of the GOP to, yes, harvest email addresses, but also to provide an "open" forum to not only discuss the GOP party platform for 2008, but supposedly provide some input. It can be found here.
It is, as would be expected from the party that is aware of all internet traditions, a disappointment.
Just to get it out of the way, the interface kinda sucks. I guess it's pretty enough in a glossy mailer sort of way, but the GOP is definitely better with graphic design than actual dynamic interfaces - the mechanics are awkward, the button to add a comment is not on the same page as the comments themselves, they inexplicably limit number of comments displayed on each page to 4 or 5 (forcing you to page over 5 or 6 times to see a measly 30 comments in the entire thread) and (at least for me) if you click on the wrong page it makes you log back in again. Peeeyewy.
At least one comment suggests the natives are onto them:
Education: Elementary/secondary education
(Lewis - Denver, CO) July 11 - 1:12 PM
First of all, these questions to be voted on are ridiculously one-sided which can only mean you're not really interested in our input. It makes it appear as though you already have an agenda in mind and you're just looking for people to agree with it.
Does not stop some from jumping in with both feet, though:
Education: Other
(Chris - Knoxville, TN) July 11 - 12:32 PM
The most dangerous thing our country ever did was to form the Department of Education. It has become nothing but a tool used by the federal government to mandate what is being taught to our children. Our education system is in shambles now and we are still continuing the practice of teaching half truths and outright lies in our public schools. I think it's time we start teaching our children the TRUTH about the American Civil War (that is wasn't fought over slavery), how about we teach the truth about the Bay of Pigs Invasion, Pearl Harbor, and the events of 9/11 as well?
I would be interested in hearing what the threads that connect the Civil War, the Bay of Pigs, Pearl Harbor and 911 are - I bet it would totally blow your mind, man.
Sadly, though, they are already being overrun with Ron Paulies and DFH's throwing in their collective two cents, so much so that at the time of this writing some threads have the barbarian heathen to loyal wingnut ratio at 3:1.
I expect one big post by a big name blog (like, say, us) to drive enough DFH traffic over there for them to reconsider this whole crazy "two way conversation" thing, kinda like Lieberman in 2006 with his pathetic, short lived blog.
Check it out, maybe even lend a hand yourself, while it lasts...