I started using twitter about a week before I was hired for a job where I’d be in charge of social media. Coincidentally, I made my profile about an hour after the interview was scheduled. I wasn’t too worried, after all I’d had a facebook since the days where .edu mattered, and a MySpace before that. What was it that twitter had to offer that these other sites did not provide?

Well, let me name a few:

This was all easy to pick up on after I managed to follow about five friends and twenty of my favorite nonprofits, comedians, brands, and then another twenty news-outlets.

The only thing that left me confuddled was their method of searching. You can search for anything. Say you search for “Lynda Foster,” you will get results from anyone who wrote that in any post, and on the side bar people with the name, or tag name, Lynda Foster (me!). But if you searched for #lyndafoster, you would only see comments that specifically used the exact phrase #lyndafoster. Indeed, useing the hash tag (hash tag = #) makes those words pop out in searches, and allows you to create something that is “trending.”

When you make a hash tag on twitter, it turns blue and people can click on it to be taken to a page that shows all the latest posts with that hash tag. If your post is on that thread then people with similar interests browsing the thread will have a chance to see it (possibly giving you publicity or increasing your followers).

Hashtags are used to describe a theme in a very short way (remember, 160 characters to work with). Some of them start up and last a few weeks, some of them are used by one person once and are never picked up by others, and some of them become universally understood and, by declaration of mass use, official.

I feel compelled to point out the risks using hashtags. When something is “trending” it is used by so many people it is amongst the most popular topics in the world, and gets listed on the twitter main page. Often this is for a reason. When #notguilty was trending, the business that tweeted: “Who’s #notguilty about eating all the tasty treats they want?!” took a lot of PR heat. The hashtag #notguilty was trending because of that whole Casey Anthony “not guilty” verdict controversy, and it was considered offensive that a company would try to profit off of it.

So, in order to help your understanding of political hash tags, and to help any of your political tweets make it onto threads, below are some a list of hash tags, mostly “official,” used within Washington state and national politics. If I’m missing some (especially funny topics that I did not research in detail) post them in the comment section! I may add it to the list.

General WA state political terms:
#WAleg: Washington Legislature (heavily used when session is in)
#WAGov: Washington Government (often interchangeable with WAleg)
#WABudget: Washington Budget (I don’t see this that often, but during budget negotiations it’s a topic to follow)
#WAdem: Washington democrats
#wcot: Washington conservatives
#WAgop: Washington Republicans, or “Grand Old Party”

National Political Hash tags:
#tcot: Generally, top conservatives on twitter. But there are a few “fun” definitions if you follow the link.
#GOP: Republican, or “Grand Old” party
#HCR: Health Care Reform
#P2: (As defined on tagdef.com) A resource for progressives using social media who prioritize diversity and empowerment, the “progressive batchannel”, and an umbrella tag for information for progressives on Twitter. There is now simple directory of progressives associated with the #p2 tag.

This last election:
#waelex – Washington election (used during this last primary)
#99tunnel – Things related to the referendum in Seattle on whether or not to dig the tunnel in Seattle.
#SaveMetro – The Seattle metro campaign (it’ll do better then Prop 1 in Pierce County did)
#Tacoma school board – The only word to get linked is “Tacoma” but it’s what Dextor Gordon’s campaign was using.
#Tacoma city council – Sure, it was only used once according to my search results, but you get the picture.

Serious topical hash tags:
#FAA: (national) Related to the FFA budget issue that was going on a few weeks back.
#StopGregoire: References that the Freedom Foundation is suing Washington Governor Christine Gregoire for her (allegedly) illegal use of “executive privilege” to hide public information from Washington citizens.
#Compromise: (national) Encouraged by President Obama during the debt ceiling debate to urge republican law makers to compromise.
#supercommittee: (national, and hey, Patty Murray!) The committee of 12 congressmen and senators who will have to negotiate a plan to reduce the deficit, as decided in the debt limit compromise.
#Amesdebate – (national) Referencing the recent Ames debate in Iowa.
#debtceiling – (national) You have probably heard of this.

Less serious topical hash tags (I didn’t look too hard for these, there are definitely many more):
#AccordingtoPalin: Created by the Daily Show after Sarah Palin’s Paul Revere gaff.
#ChangeUCanStepN: As in: “Makes sense that Obama’s black BS bus looks like a hearse. It carries the death of America’s hopes, dreams, & future. #tcot #ChangeUCanStepN”

Painfully obvious things I won’t explain (but are still used so often they deserve a mention):
#teaparty
#jobs
#economy
#education
#debt

Recently the Tacoma Urban League hosted an education forum which, from an objective perspective, was flawed for a number of reasons, not the least of which included the fact that the moderator had already publically endorsed one particular candidate on stage, who just so happened to be positioned in a seasaw rotation that always gave him the benefit of hearing what three other school board candidates had to say about a particular issue before delivering his own well-crafted answer. But such gimmicks are routine to modern political theatre and hardly worthy of the first Melon article to be published by this writer in more than a year.

No, what made this forum truly upsetting for me was the response to a question offered by a 17 year old member of the audience, asking if any of the candidates would support lowering the voting age to allow students to participate in school board elections. The audience immediately erupted into laughter. The moderator, upon regaining his composure and wiping away a tear, turned to the candidates on stage and with a smile on his face and voice in his throat that somehow simultaneously seemed amused and nervous, said “do any of you wanna answer that?” An awkward pause followed, the candidates looked at each other, and again, the audience broke out into uncontrolled hysterics.

I could not believe what I was watching. Here was a sincere and valid argument for political enfranchisement from a politically aware American citizen, asked at a candidate forum sponsored by the Urban League (a national civil rights organization) and all but a few people in the room seemed to believe that this question even deserved an answer. Not even incumbent school director Kim Golding offered her opinion on this subject, despite the fact that for the past 6 years she has sat next to a dozen student representatives on the school board; representatives who, despite their age, inexperience, and lack of a vote, are nonetheless often able to contribute to board meetings by providing insight and perspective to a board whose youngest director is more than twice their age.

I have often lectured and lambasted people and policies that conflict with my belief that students should not be prevented from reaching their natural stages of maturity and, ultimately, adulthood. While America’s aging adolescents cheer that “40 is the new 20” America’s teenagers and now “tweenagers” continue to long for the day when they can stop studying (and paying for the privilege) and start proving themselves as capable adults. But there is one truth I cannot ignore.

While 16-year-olds have historically served as soldiers, bore children, and worked full-time jobs, there is no precedent (that I’m aware of at least) for them participating as enfranchised members of any democracy (though a few, like King Tut & Louis XIV who were absolute monarchs before hitting puberty). But then again, women’s sufferage was also unprecedented in the annals of democracy, and now we live in an age of serious female contenders for the White House.

This past year, Washington’s courageous young State Senator, the Honorable Scott White, heroically responded to constituents who work, pay taxes, largely drive national trends and styles and – in a select few cases – found multibillion dollar internet startups, but are then laughed at when they ask for a say in the administration of their schools. Senate Bill 5621 would lower the voting age in school board races to 14 for students currently enrolled in their school district. The bill quickly died in committee last year, and probably will not pass next year because the budget crisis will likely eclipse all other concerns.

However, given the economic woes of our school district, and past failures to pass bonds and even a levy back in 2007, it would seem to me that enfranchising those who are supposed to most directly benefit from this tax revenue would be a no-brainer for our school board members.

As to concerns that high schoolers cannot make mature, rational decision in the voting booth (if, in fact, we still had voting booths in Washington) the results from Tuesday’s Primary should prove, yet again, that neither maturity nor rationality has ever been a prerequisite to eligibility. In one school board race, 12.74% of the electorate voted for Betsy Elgar, a candidate who identified her priorities in the voter guide as “Saving the US Military Bases in our US Territories and Foss High School.” In another race, 20.36% voted for Kim Washington, even after she tried to get her name pulled from the ballot and did nothing as a candidate beyond submitting a picture and brief statement for the voter guide. Her numbers were enough to put her in second place, ahead of the competent incumbent and active candidate: Kim Golding. The fact that she was the only Black female in the race may explain her numbers, or perhaps the voters were confused by two “Kim”s on the ballot.  However, the fact that Kim Washington’s numbers require explanation prove that her victory was not rational.

As Chris Van Vechten’s article so candidly presented, it’s time for a change in Washington State and we need to start with our name. Washington State is the most uncreative State name in the country and by changing it to something far more interesting and representative we’d be the first State in history to do so.

Vote for the name which you believe suits Washington best and we will then draft a proposal to the state legislature asking our elected leadership to adopt legislation to formally change the name of our state.  In 2010, The Melon will endorse only those candidates who agree to change the name from Washington to our newly endorsed alternative.

An photo of the "Obama 4" taken by a Renton resident

This October 31st was more than just candy and costumes for neighborhood homes in Renton, WA. As children rang doorbells for treats, a gang of Halloween terrorists dressed in Barack Obama masks created utter mayhem by asking instead, for unity and promising socialized medicine.

“I couldn’t believe it,” says Ann Victor, a mother of three. “I opened the door expecting to find a bunch of cute princesses or zombies, and there were four Muslims promising me coverage on my dental. What a horror!”

The terrorists, or Obama 4, as has been coined by the Renton Police, are alleged to have trick or treated at over five-thousand homes, demanding treats or threatening candy-givers with lower taxes and pulling out of the Iraq war.

Thomas Putnam’s son Jerry, age 6, was answering the door with treats when the Obama 4 approached. “They spoke to him elegantly and talked about better education and caring for one another rather than catering to corporate interest,” says Thomas, “No child should have to grow up in a world where people bring goodwill onto others. That’s domestic terrorism!”

Obama mask used by the terrorists

The Renton police have been stumped as to who might be involved with the terrorist attack.  “We considered possibilities in the John McCain campaign,” says Police Chief Ken Sharp, “But universal healthcare coverage and ending futile wars is something the McCain campaign would never force onto others.”

John McCain issued a statement soon after the attacks, denouncing the actions of terrorists. “My condolences go to the families and victims of these brutal, distasteful and dishonorable attacks,” says McCain, “This gives further evidence, my friends, that an American under Barack Obama is an America filled with hate, terrorism, and decent family men.  I’m for tricks, not terrorism!”

The Obama campaign refused to comment, dismissing the acts as “just some silly kids playing around.”

A warrant for the arrest of the Obama 4 has been put out by the Renton Police Department, though none have been made.

Are you like me, part of Indecision 2008?  Do you struggle to read between the political bullshit of Norm Dicks v. Doug Cloud in the 6th Congressional District?  Are you tired of party politics and want to hear the real message that is not pulled out of the ass of the Washington State Republicans (click HERE) or the Washington State Democrats (click HERE)?

Still can’t find the real message of either candidate?

Not yet?

No?

Here is one possible solution, inspired by my great aunt who voted for Clinton in the 90s because he was sexy.

Read More >>

(AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

In a year when the Democrats stand poised to crush the Republican’s on the national level, normally left-leaning Washington State threatens to go right. The rematch between gubernatorial candidates Christine Gregoire and Dino Rossi is sliding Dino’s way. This slip is not accidental. It relies on a carefully crafted campaign of doublespeak, innuendo, and rhetorical constructs aimed at confusing voters more than a butterfly ballot in Florida.

For those of you who don’t remember (and memory and knowledge is key) four years ago, Gregoire defeated republican Rossi by 129 votes after three recounts to become Governor, and has kept up a proud tradition of Democratic Governors in Washington (generally pushing moderate to progressive politics, and definitely not leaders.)  Despite her narrow win, this year’s race should by all rights be Gregoire’s.  Gregoire claims her leadership has largely helped Washington avoid the economic downturn, and in looking at her generally pro-business stance her claims are most likely true. She has satisfied her base by helping push through some progressive laws, like the Permanent Partner Benefit Bill, that have been viewed favorably by the west side of the state. So why is she having such a hard time clinching this election?

The answer is that Rossi is running a shrewd campaign. Rossi and his supporters learned valuable lessons last election, and as a result have created a cloak of ignorance to exploit voters using the same Republican messages that have been successful on the national stage. The number one lesson that Rossi learned last time is Washington State is largely Democratic. As a result, this year’s Rossi has stayed away from almost all substantive policy discussion with two exceptions: transit and fiscal discipline. When asked about abortion rights, reproductive rights, and gay rights, Rossi’s stock answer is that he’s not running on those issues. This statement allows Rossi to duck out of his voting record. But rather than not having opinions on these issues, Rossi’s history shows him leaning very far to the right. The creation of vagaries is one reason why Rossi has the support of 37% of the states pro-choice voters according to an August Survey USA poll.

The second strategy that the Rossi Campaign has employed is changing the ballot annotation. The (R) normally associated with the republican candidate has been changed to a (Prefers GOP) label.  Despite a law suit that was widely covered in the papers over how Rossi will appear on the ballot this November, the change in how his party appears gives Rossi a three point boost according to a September Ellway Poll. The reason why Rossi can get away with exploiting this system is that his right flank is effectively protected by the Top Two Primary System. Before the Top Two system, the move away from the tarnished Republican brand and into the gray zone of “Prefers GOP” would have made the Rossi campaign vulnerable to a threat from an opportunistic right wing politician. Such a threat would chip at Rossi’s base by out righting him, and also would use the (R) label on the ballot to draw support out of the 25% of Washington State voters who doesn’t know what GOP means.  This protection allows Rossi to exploit and expand any ignorance about his candidacy using it to his advantage. This strategy really shows just how much of a typical Republican Rossi is.

Recently, the Rossi campaign and associated 527’s (today’s versions of the PAC’s that Swift Boated Kerry) have used this cloud of ignorance in an extremely interesting way. The video below demonstrates Rossi’s exploitation and, in some ways, fostering of ignorance. It marks a recent campaign strategy to run Rossi as a Democrat (of sorts), against the Republican brand (and to some measure projecting that brand on to the incumbent.)

The ad utilizes fears of the current economic crisis to boost his campaign. A key moment aiding Rossi’s obfuscation of the candidate’s platforms comes at the end when the ad claims that Gregoire has “done to Washington State, what they’ve done to the rest of the country.” At the same time a Wall Street sign is imposed on a national map with a red Washington State with Gergiore’s picture over it.  This particular set of images creates confusion and ignorance by tying Gregiore to the national economic system created by big deregulators like the Bush Administration and the pre-2006 Congress. The image of the red and Gergiore serves two purposes. The first is obvious: the state is in the red. But the second more subtle feature is to further connect her to the Republican brand by tying her image to the Republican color red.  When we see Rossi in this ad, he appears in a green nature background wearing a blue shirt, creating contrast in viewers mind from the same brand implications that Gregiore is subjected too.

Rossi’s ad uses the contrast and subtle branding to position his campaign to a place in the public consciousness where it can adopt the change brand that’s being used successfully by Democrats all over the country. It’s implied that Rossi will adopt the “safe” and sometimes even the anti-market positions (if we extend the full meaning of the change brand to Rossi.) The really sly part about such an ad is that it  functions best at a symbolic and emotional level. We have to break the ad down, and ask what messages it imposes and what we impose on it, before we can fully understand it, and what it means for this election. Most of us aren’t willing to partake in this level of analysis and introspection, which is one of the things that make this ad and the ads like it extremely effective. Yet, this is only a sample of what Rossi and associated 537’s are running this election season.

Unfortunately, Dino Rossi’s ads are hard to counter, making it easy for him to create the ignorance which will allow for victory in a state which is becoming more progressive every election cycle. Countering such a system isn’t easy.  It’s the apathy so present in our current system that will let Rossi succeed.

In Give Me Liberty, Washington State native and author Naomi Wolf pushes home the point that positive political change requires sacrifice. Easy solutions aren’t going to win this time, which means Democrats have to get off the couch now. Blogging is great, donations are better, but boots on the ground, voices on the phone, and neighbors talking to neighbors, are how Gregiore will win. If anything we should know that when Democrats sit around, they lose. Democrats are faced with a candidate who, like the Bush administration is willing to create and exploit ignorance, it behooves us all to get involved. Not tomorrow, not on the 4th of November, but today.

Few Democrats are so undeserving of their seat as Congressman Norm Dicks. Here are seven reasons why he should not be reelected.

1.  Elected to the United States House of Representative seventeen times (34 years) he has still yet to secure a chairmanship for himself.  If someone you knew had been working for a company for over thirty-four years and still wasn’t trusted with even a middle-management position, wouldn’t you be a little suspicious of his character, conduct or convictions?

2. In 2003 he voted to authorize the president to use U.S. forces to preemptively invade Iraq.  Although publicly he has subsequently changed his position on the subject - he has continued to vote in favor of bills related to funding the war, even at times by breaking rank with his Democratic colleagues.

3.  Despite a legal background marked by a JD from the University of Washington, Congressman Dicks Voted for the USA Patriot Act.  He also voted for the Military Commission Act that effectively rationalized the suspension of habeas corpus as a tool to fight terrorism (He was one of only 32 House Democrats to vote for this.  The remaining 162 Democratic members of Congress voted NAY on the bill).  It remains uncertain as to whether or not US citizens – in addition to alien combatants – are also subject to the laws outlined in this bill.

4.  Continues to support free-trade legislation, despite a worsening economy.

5.  Voted for the Bush Bailout, despite countless polls that suggested that the overwhelming majority of both Democrats and Republicans opposed the legislation.

6.  Voted for the FISA Amendment Act of 2008.

7.  Crapped out of his first Melon Interview midway through a radio recording because he suddenly remembered he had “a dentist appointment.” The subject of the interview was veterans suffering from PSTD – a topic which both Elliot Trotter and Peter Braun were shocked to discover that the congressman was unwilling to discuss or knew relatively little about.  This was very disturbing given that Congressman Dicks represents one of the largest military districts in the United States.

These are only a few highlights into the career of one congressman who went too far and was kept for too long. Therefore, I would encourage you all to either vote for the Republican candidate, Doug Cloud, who – if nothing else, is not Norm Dicks and would have opposed the bailout.  If you, as a Democrat, can’t move yourself to vote for a Republican, then write-in Paul Richmond, a fellow Democrat who would have been a vast improvement had he won the primary.  If neither of these options sound palpable to you, then you can write in Harvard West: The Lesser of Three Evils.