The advent of Weblogs — or "blogs" to the net savvy — has brought a new breed of commentator into the political arena, one that pulls no punches and answers to nobody but the readers. But just what role this peculiar animal will play in the coming Virginia elections remains to be seen. According to a 2004 Pew Research Center Survey about 8.8 million Americans write Weblogs and about 32 million read them. As the race for governor and for the house is heating up across the Commonwealth so is the political talk online.
"The one major race in the country is here, in Virginia," said Lowell Feld, author of RaisingKaine.com, a Democratic Weblog upholding Tim Kaine's bid for governor.
Written in Arlington, RaisingKaine.com is the cyberspace port for Kaine's supporters. It serves as a news and information hub for Democrats and a means of fostering grassroots support. Feld, a 42-year-old federal employee, also does his fair share of ripping on Kaine's Republican opposition, Jerry Kilgore, and other Republicans.
A former volunteer with Gen. Wesley Clark's 2004 campaign for president, he had written on political Web sites for the coalitions "Hispanics for Clarke" and "Environmentalists for Clarke." But in the aftermath of President George Bush's re-election, Feld wanted to continue with online activism.
"The idea here is to be completely independent from the actual Kaine campaign," Feld said. "That way, if we want to push things in a snarky direction, we can. We can be as nasty as we want to be."
Writing a Weblog on Virginia politics, he said, was a learning experience.
"Arlington is extremely different, and you see that when you blog," Feld said. "There are a lot of differences between here and the rest of the state. It's a lot different from where Kilgore comes from, in Gate City. It's red America versus blue America."
Feld found himself at the center of a political squabble last month after handing the Augusta Free Press a researched story involving Kilgore's mother and a case of suspected ballot tampering during a Scott County election.
THE RACE FOR Del. Marian Van Landingham's seat in the 45th is among the top issues on www.goodbyejim.com, a Weblog for anyone who loves to hate Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA). The creation of computer programmer John Mark, 51, goodbyejim.com began as a forum for voters dissatisfied with the congressman and grew into an indictment of the area's most established political figures.
"I'm trying to bring a rock and roll sensibility to this," said Mark. "I try to spice it up with a little style."
Mark said he began the site for one reason. He dislikes Moran.
"I voted for him five times," he said.
But during President Bill Clinton's impeachment hearings, Mark said, is when his distaste developed. After hearing Moran state he wanted to punch Clinton in the nose, Mark was furious. Mark described a long list of what he considered other transgressions, like Moran's alleged acceptance of campaign contributions from a jailed terrorist or his reported public outbursts and violent temper.
"Even if he reformed himself, he must leave office," Mark said.
Along with the race in the 45th District, the proposed widening of Interstate 66 is one of the sites most popular topics, Mark said. He added that Moran has dodged questions about the $7 million in federal money secured for it.
"We have a lot of two-facedness in our politicians here," Mark said. "I want to know if there's a deal being made behind the public's back. Why are none of your officials talking about that $7 million earmark?"
For Mark, goodbyejim.com is also a platform that has the potential for larger political action.
"I think we have to move out at some point to action," Mark said. "The world isn't so virtual that you can be only on the Web."
BLOG READERS LOOKING for political balance in the ever polarized partisan landscape can turn to www.staunchmoderate.com, an "equal opportunity" thrasher of both the right and the left written by an anonymous journalist in Arlington. Meanwhile, Arlington residents looking for insight into county spending and taxes can visit GROWLS, the Weblog of the Arlington County Taxpayers Association, www.acta.us. But those with a mind for progress should take a look at www.virginiaprogressive.org, the Democratic musings of 22-year-old James Walkinshaw.
"I was born in Virginia, grew up in Virginia, and hope to grow old in Virginia," Walkinshaw said. "But I recently became very concerned with the regressive extremism of some in the General Assembly."
Walkinshaw, also a campaign manager for Bruce Roemmelt's campaign for delegate in the 13th District against Republican Bob Marshall, said the blog was started to make contact with other Democrats.
"People my age use technology to create and foster community," said Walkinshaw. "We use cell phones, e-mail, text messaging, instant messaging, Friendster, facebook, to build relationships. A blog is an opportunity to build relationships among like-minded people. When people share a common bond and are fully vested in each other,they can do amazing things, like elect Democrats in Virginia."
Readers, Walkinshaw said, bring an array of state issues to the table.
"There is always interest and outrage over the antics of extremists like Marshall, Black and the rest," he said. "The proposed ban on gay adoption that would have left hundreds or thousands of children languishing in foster care was big. Droopy drawers is a perennial favorite. But there is a lot of interest in transportation. Specifically, people want to see concrete and realistic proposals from candidates. I don't think we've seen too many."