digiculturetravelexpatasia

Back in November 2003 I was pulling for and blogging about Howard Dean. As an American living overseas, I found it exhilarating that I could participate in the US political process from my computer sitting in Malaysia. I had the idea for the Dean blimp while reading about how an HMO used a blimp for advertising at college football games. I posted on the Dean blog forums and a few people agreed it was a cool idea. An hour later I’d photoshopped a Dean blimp from the Blockbuster blimp and then put up a crude page to give the idea a home. I contacted a blimp company, got quotes and put the pricing info out there for Dean folks to respond. A few weeks later an email arrived from Dean supporter, Ken Leach.

I was with Howard Dean last Tuesday in Houston. He had no idea there is an idea about a DEAN BLIMP and recoiled at the mention of 2.5 million. I told him it would be the best 2.5 million he could spend and it would pay out more attention for the campaign than any other money he could spend. As he was leaving, I said, “Think about it - A Dean Blimp!” He smiled and gave me the thumbs up. The seed has been planted.

Alas, Dean never went for the blimp idea. Still though, how cool is it that a supporter all the way in Malaysia can have an idea, post it on the web and a few weeks later it is pitched to the man himself ?

Although I’m for Obama - I really admire Ron Paul and the guts he has. When he stood there at one of the early GOP primary debates talking about “blowback” to a crowd filled with Rudy Giuliani suck ups - that took hutzpah and Paul didn’t even flinch. He’s kooky, but I’ll take kooky over Evil any day. I admire people that tell you what you need to hear even if it’s not going to be popular.

The Ron Paul movement reminded me allot of the Dean movement. Paul’s campaign was also bringing new people into the fold of politics and they were using the internet to organize. Much of what was happening was not being directed by the Paul campaign, it was just happening organically. Millions of dollars were getting raised daily and most of it was being raised and organized off site and by volunteers. I had almost forgotten about the Dean blimp and then one day to my surprise, Paul folks launched a Blimp. Still halfway around the World, I smiled.

The Dean blimp never flew and the Paul blimp did not get him the nomination. Some mock the idea of course, but what did happen is a powerful demonstration of internet enabled democracy in modern political campaigns. The power of communication and internet publishing can make your ideas literally take flight.

Howard Dean said, “You have the power!” And we did, and still do have the power. As head of the DNC and architect of the 50 State Strategy - Dean wields a bit of power himself these days.

Obama blimp in 2012?

Popularity: 57% [?]