The First Campaign: Globalization, the Web, and the Race for the White House

Since the advent of the division of labor it's not often you have somebody on so many sides of a debate who seems to not only articulate, but rationalize, educate and otherwise tell a compelling story about how and why the American political landscape will never look the same once the first campaign lifts off. Mr. Graff not only lays out a very realistic outlook of our nations politics and campaigns, but more importantly he spells out some very fundamental shifts that have and continue to take shape. Every page is either filled with a history lesson and/or takes a good look into the future and how it might appear with many changes such as online donations to campaigns i.e. look at what Senator Obama has done vs. McCain in 2008. Blogging is another and the author looks at it's influence for those who simply have a web connection: they can perhaps for the first time since television get some news that's not so filtered, spoon fed and dispensed like a Pez candy toy. If those in power cannot be bothered with a 2 way discussion or some transparency than they ought not to apply. As the author points out the Democrats get this newly un-wired world far more than do the Republicans, but as the author rightly states (Warner) shouldn't be about left or right, but forward vs. backword looking candidates and our shared vision of the U.S.A. remaining competitive. The one area I would have liked the author to expand on is the 2007 study where he cites there are only 30% of Americans under age 30 without a land line (telephone) and why we aren't further ahead with wireless technology than we are and other issues that he touches on like excellent healthcare for every American or even more advocacy around voters who like his ideas. For example he mentions 'the Sunlight Foundation' and the excellent work they seem to be doing, but doesn't expand on how ordinary people can get involved to demand that those we send to Congress must be completely held accountable or lobbyists an other insiders will surely steer the ship towards their treasure chest. Moreover, as much as I like the idea of simply voting for a 'great candidate' who will not only give hope a new meaning, I also feel that those who help put a candidate in office must constantly keep in communications so that what a politician says and how they govern remain trustworthy, relevant and authentic - not mere watered down rhetoric. Overall this book if taken with the seriousness it deserves has the ability to tranform not only this election cycle, but to help Americans from all walks realize the tools at their disposal as well as to perhaps wake up some of the establishment. I found Garrett Graff well capable of telling a narrative spanning several Centuries all the while weaving a common thread of duty for country, mechanisms for our changing world and rightly stating time is of the essence.

This is a book that really has not been written before - while it is very high density, it is extremely readable. I enjoyed it!! All young (and older) people should read this and think about it.