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Sunday, February 13, 2005

Calling out the Illinois Democratic Party

Posted by Tim Tagaris

Yo. Anybody there in Springfield? Cause no one is responding. I hate to call you out in public, but many have tried in private. Now I gotta shame you. Your website is the worst mechansim for any sort of meaningful communication or information I have ever laid eyes on in my life.

I am not even trying to get all Internet evangelical on you; you gotta crawl before you can walk. But seiously, as a native, I am embarassed.

Where to even begin:

1.) At the very least, most candidates/parties make sure their contribution page is up to snuff. After all, they want the loot. But you can't even contribute on the website. You have to call or email to get instructions. What happens when you call? Do they get the information and a carrier pigeon comes to pick up the check?

2.) Maybe this is a simple oversight on your party, but do you know there is no way to even call on the front page? No telephone number, no email address to an info-at. The only HINT of contact information is an email address to the webmaster. Seriously, how can you not do better than that?

3.) The links page is funny. Someone got ambitious and attempted to link us to each state parties in the country. An ambitious goal for that crew, even if it doesn't really promote activism in Illinois. However, they apparently got lazy and stopped after twenty-some states.

Out of 102 counties in Illinois, there is contact information for seventeen of them. Sure, not every county has a Democratic Party, we are working to change that--especially if you won't. But I am quite sure that the number of existing counties with local parties is more than seventeen.

No one is asking for for an exhaustive list or user-friendly splash, heaven forbid. But let's make an effort.

4.) The candidates page says, in reference to 2005 races:

Visit this section again next election. Thank you!

That made me laugh. I really believe they were thinking, "yeah, visit it on election day and see who to vote for." Well what if people want to GET INVOLVED with some of those local candidates but don't know how to find them! Unbelievable. Does anyone else find that quote funny? Especially in light of the rest of the site?

5.) The Join the Team page still talks about building off the successes of 2002. Let's assume for a second they think 2002 was home to the last successes of the party. Whatever, fine. But you are missing the point. Give us some options to, umm, "join the team." I don't know, some form where I can check some boxes or type some text. We aren't asking for much here. . . We can even pretend that when I submit it, someone will read it.

6.) The press releases page is apparently under development. Unfortunately, it has been for a few months now. It is not too tough save a release, drop it on the server, and link it. No one is asking for beauty here.

Aaarrrgggghhhhh!

7.) The calendar page is the shining light of the website. Only, there is no calendar actually. It only provides information on fundraisers. Two of them to be exact. But beggars can't be choosers--thanks for updating that part.

People have tried. Many. I know because they email me or comment on it in other blogs. I know because I have tried myself. We want to help you here. Be pissed at me as you read this, fine. But myself, and many others want to help -- ttagaris@yahoo.com

Blow up their phone lines with this number: 217.546.7404
- email here: jgyure@ildems.com

Posted at 11:15 PM in Activism, Illinois | Technorati

Comments

Obama represents Illinois' 13th Senate District on Chicago's South Side. Recognized for his innovative, effective leadership, Obama is Chairman of the powerful Public Health and Welfare Committee. He also serves on the Judiciary and Revenue Committees. The Chicago Tribune has called him "one of the General Assembly's most impressive members."

Wah?? This is under U.S. Senate - IL. They copied and pasted the text from his IL Senate page and didn't even bother to update it!!

Posted by: knuckle50 at February 14, 2005 06:08 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

And yes, apparently Obama is U.S. Senator and IL State Senator at the same time.

http://ildems.org/Senators_illinois.htm#13

Posted by: knuckle50 at February 14, 2005 06:10 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

• Obama's contact information is STILL his campaign site, not his senate email addy.
• Would it kill the state committee reps to have email addresses or contact information?
• Who is jgyure@ildems.com? Where does this go? Contributions, website information and everything else seems to go to this email addy.
• The website of the company managing the website (Campaign Advisory Corporation) doesn't even work. Inspires confidence, since this company is supposedly in charge of a number of other Dem candidate and county websites.

ArchPundit has written about the site before (here, and here).

Posted by: raisin at February 14, 2005 07:51 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment