Tech Daily Dose

Tweeting Senators Have Many Friends

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 09:19:10 -0500

There are seven geniuses in the Senate, and conservative Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., has almost as much "digital velocity" as Lady Gaga, says a new study by business professors at The George Washington University and New York University.

The unique analysis by Doug Guthrie, dean of the GW School of Business, and Scott Galloway, a marketing professor at NYU's Stern School of Business, assessed the digital IQ of all 100 senators, and found that Republicans are savvier on social networks like Twitter and Facebook than their Democratic colleagues.

The study found that seven out of 100 senators were rated as "genius," the highest level of digital competence. Four of the seven were Republicans, who overall had an average digital IQ that was 5.5 points higher than the average for Democrats. DeMint, with many fans among the tea party movement, "has the greatest digital velocity (acquiring likes and followers) of any senator," the professors said.

Not too surprisingly, senators who are up for re-election this fall are reaching out the most on social media platforms in an effort to boost their Web profiles. "It appears that U.S. senators are making their comprehension of the social media realm a priority and are using it as a way to engage prospective voters and mobilize grassroots efforts," Guthrie said.

"As a forward-looking indicator, social media following may be a crystal ball for what will happen in the voting booth this November, and it's looking very red," Galloway said.

Four House Committees Join Twitter

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 22:02:44 -0500

The House Committees on Science and Technology; Education and Labor; Transportation and Infrastructure; and the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming have become the first four congressional committees to join the micro-blogging community Twitter, according to a Monday press release. The committees, like a growing number of individual members' offices, plan to use Twitter as a new tool to reach their audience and ensure transparency between the government and the public.

"I believe government works best when it is transparent and information is accessible to all. I want to ensure that the public can easily keep tabs on what the committee is working on," House Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon said. House Education and Labor Chairman George Miller added that like President Barack Obamaand House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, he believes greater government transparency is critical and will continue to use new media to open up his panel's work.

Some useful links:
http://twitter.com/SciTechCmte
http://twitter.com/edlabordems
http://twitter.com/HouseTransInf
http://twitter.com/MarkeyMemo

HillTweet Blues: Sen. Christopher Dodd

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 17:24:54 -0500

Here's the latest in an occasional look at what members of Congress are telling their constituents via Twitter. Today we see what Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., is up to. He's a former presidential candidate and current chairman of the Senate Banking Committee. His last post was nine months ago, so maybe he decided tweeting isn't for him.

Not-so-recent Twitter posts:

STAFF: Today is Caucus Day - Caucus for Chris Dodd! 09:26 AM January 03, 2008 from web
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STAFF: Chris Dodd's Caucus for Results tour will stop in Ames, Indianola, Ottumwa, and Burlington Iowa today. 06:36 AM January 02, 2008 from web
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THE DODD CAMPAIGN: Happy New Year! 09:40 PM December 31, 2007
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Martha: Now, THAT is leadership! Thank you for taking the time off from the campaign trail to fight for what is right. 07:15 PM December 17, 2007
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Deborah: I am so grateful to you for your excellent effort and success - for the present. I won't forget how wonderful you were today. 07:15 PM December 17, 2007 from web

Read earlier HillTweet Blues entries here.

HillTweet Blues: Rep. Dan Burton

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 16:34:01 -0500

Here's the latest in an occasional look at what members of Congress are telling their constituents via Twitter. Today we see what Rep. Dan Burton, R-Ind.., is up to. He's a twelve-term congressman and member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which he chaired in the late 1990s.

Recent Twitter posts:

Dan Burton on Heading Right Radio: Listen to Dan Burton on Media Lizzy's show on Heading Right Radio! C.. http://tinyurl.com/6myfba 1 day ago from twitterfeed
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Burton interviewed about GOP Oil Protest #dontgo: http://tinyurl.com/69436z 03:06 AM August 29, 2008 from twitterfeed
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Editorial by Democrat Rep. Jim Costa: This op-ed was in the Fresno Bee and was written by Rep. Jim Cost.. http://tinyurl.com/6rmdkm 03:05 AM August 28, 2008 from twitterfeed
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Burton Energy Compromise covered in California: Congressman Burton's energy compromise bill is getting .. http://tinyurl.com/5m82qf 03:05 AM August 27, 2008 from twitterfeed
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Scam Alert: Public Beware: As the Democrats gather in Denver this week they are preparing to deceive th.. http://tinyurl.com/6eqtdm 03:05 AM August 26, 2008 from twitterfeed

Read earlier HillTweet Blues entries here.

St. Paul Scoop: Top Tweets At GOP Convention

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 11:08:09 -0500

C-SPAN's Convention Hub is tallying the number of Web/mobile users employing micro-blogging tool Twitter to post thoughts about the Republican National Convention this week. As of Tuesday at 10 a.m., 5,131 posts from 563 Twitter accounts had posted using the #RNC08 tag.

These were the most active users:

St. Paul Pioneer Press - 297 posts - http://twitter.com/PiPress
Michigan GOP Chairman Saul Anuzis - 143 posts - http://twitter.com/sanuzis
The Huffington Post - 125 posts - http://twitter.com/huffpost
Jason Barnett, TheUptake.org - 94 posts - http://twitter.com/JasonBarnett
FishbowlDC - 93 posts - http://twitter.com/FishbowlDC
Ali Akbar, GOP Web rebel rouser - 87 posts - http://twitter.com/AliAkbar
Gregory "Flap" Cole - 74 posts - http://twitter.com/Flap

Dispatch From Denver: Twittering Hillary Clinton

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:13:20 -0500

Here's the latest in an occasional look at what members of Congress are telling their constituents via Twitter. Today we see what Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., is up to at the Democratic National Convention.

Recent Twitter posts:

After a great night in the Pepsi Center, I am exited to start my day at the Families USA/SEIU Health Care Forum. about 1 hour ago from web
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Just spoke to a great crowd at the Emily's List Gala! about 17 hours ago from web
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If you didn't catch my video update from Day 1 of the convention - watch here: http://blog.hillaryclinton.... about 18 hours ago from web
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It was great to meet with so many fellow New Yorkers and also my friends at the Hispanic Caucus as well. 02:38 PM August 25, 2008 from web
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I am excited to have arrived in Denver! My first stop is the New York delgation breakfast. Check back to www.hillaryclinton.com for updates! 10:22 AM August 25, 2008 from web

Read earlier HillTweet Blues entries here.

HillTweet Blues: Rep. John Yarmuth

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 11:57:38 -0500

Here's the latest in an occasional look at what members of Congress are telling their constituents via Twitter. Today we see what Rep. John Yarmuth, D-Ky., is up to during the August recess. He's a former independent newspaper publisher who serves on the House Education and Labor and Oversight and Government Reform committees.

Recent Twitter posts:

is working in Louisville. about 2 hours ago from web
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is on the francene show (84 WHAS radio) now! about 3 hours ago from txt
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wants everyone to celebrate the anniversary of the "Voting Rights Act" by registering a friend to vote--yarmuthforcongress.com/registration! 08:27 AM August 06, 2008 from web
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is in the District. 09:31 AM August 05, 2008 from web
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will stop by the Russ Parr Morning Show bus in the morning. 09:28 PM August 04, 2008 from txt
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has a Congress on Your Corner at 6:30pm at Louisville Slugger Field; come let the Congressman hear what you think! 04:46 PM August 04, 2008

Introducing "HillTweet Blues" On Tech Daily Dose

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:12:53 -0500

Tech Daily Dose is proud to introduce "HillTweet Blues" -- an occasional look at what members of Congress are telling their constituents via Twitter. Our first snapshot: Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Va., who is reportedly being vetted as a potential running mate for Republican presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. He's a four-term congressman who sits on the House Ways and Means Committee and is chairman of the Congressional Task Force on Terrorism and Unconventional Warfare.

Recent Twitter posts:

#dontgo 11,000 Have Signed the Petition. www.CallCongressBack.com
9 minutes ago from web
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Read Rep. Cantor's post at Power Line Blog on how the Democrats are playing games with energy. http://tinyurl.com/5vj9z8 08:36 AM July 31, 2008 from web
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'Increased Energy Exploration: It’s Common Sense' Read Eric Cantor's Op/Ed http://tinyurl.com/62u5yg 02:21 PM June 25, 2008 from web

Twittering Congressmen, Revealed

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:43:59 -0500

Finally, someone did the legwork and we're so, so grateful. Writer Ari Herzog has compiled an up-to-date list of all the members of Congress and/or their staffs who are using Twitter to correspond with constituents and the world at large. Twitter, he points out on his wiki, was created for Web users to exchange short blasts of information (no more than 140 characters) to answer the age-old question: "What are you doing?"

See his full list (after the jump). I'm sure Herzog will be updating it regularly given recent interest in the platform by those on Capitol Hill...

Look Who's New On Twitter: Rep. Hoekstra

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 14:13:11 -0500

House Intelligence Committee ranking member Pete Hoekstra is the most recent member of Congress to start using Twitter, a service that lets users post short messages on a Web site from their cellular phones or computers. On Friday, the Michigan Republican posted live updates from the House floor as members protested the Democratic majority's decision to adjourn for five weeks without considering energy legislation. Click here for Hoekstra's feed.

Handful Of Lawmakers Give Twitter A Try

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:08:00 -0500

Reps. John Culberson, R-Texas, and Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, might be the most prominent Twitter users on Capitol Hill, but they aren't the only lawmakers utilizing the innovative social media platform to communicate with constituents. We uncovered a few other famous political faces who have posted short missives online -- some more recently and regularly than others (more screenshots after the jump.)

According to the Sunlight Foundation, other lawmakers appear to have Twitter accounts but it was unclear whether they actually update themselves -- like Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., and Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C. The foundation's Let Our Congress Tweet campaign has received over 600 petitions since its launch a few weeks ago.