Who knew?

Many thanks to Matt Dunne, John Tracy, VPR, WPTZ, and the Burlington Free Press for giving some attention to this little experiment.

VDP and Matt Dunne’s shared HQ in White River Junction

The important thing to remember here is that this was not really about the technology or the format, but about the fact that a few unwashed peasants were able to get state-wide political candidates to agree to participate in something novel like this.

And we were actually able to get a little bit of press coverage out of it, too, drawing some attention to a down-ticket primary race that most people aren’t even aware of.

This kind of active participation and shaping of the public discourse is at the heart of the netroots movement…

A movement that is increasingly seen as a legitimate political force.

And believe me, it’s obvious that the medium was not ideal. And it may be the only completely chat-based debate I’ll ever be involved with. But, I think this paves the way for completely citizen-organized debates here in Vermont that could be broadcast in video the next time around.

Matt Dunne

[Ghostly images courtesy of the pitiful, yet endearing, Largan Chameleon Mega, the cheapest digital camera ever made]