Tag: Republican National Convention

Eastwooding: Here’s Google+’s Take On The New Meme

As you may know, actor/director Clint Eastwood spoke at the Republican National Convention, and spoke to President Obama in front of a cheerful crowd. Obama, in Eastwood’s speech, took on the form of an empty chair next to the podium. For full context, here’s video from the convention:

It’s been all over the Internet today. There’s already an “Invisible Obama” Twitter account, a “Clint Eastwood Talking To A Chair” song, and even a comeback from Obama himself.

Now, “Eastwooding,” like planking, Tebowing, and owling before it, is a meme, and photos are surfacing all over social media. Google+, being the photo-heavy social network that it is, seems like a good place to start, though you’d probably have just as much luck on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, etc.

Here’s some of the latest entries to the Eastwooding craze from Google+:

John Spade56 minutes ago

Conference style #eastwooding at +MT Global Media

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Scott Reiboldt41 minutes ago

#EASTWOODING
#clinteastwood

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Jenny Oh Hatfield1 hour ago

Yo, Clint!

#eastwooding #cycling

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Matt Bellows1 hour ago

#eastwooding lolz

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Scott Bowen36 minutes ago

#eastwooding at Zoe's!

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Fernando Gutierrez1 hour ago

#eastwooding

Bad Empty Chair!!!!

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Chris Cho13 hours ago

Ladies and gentleman. Introducing Eastwooding.

more here: http://www.buzzfeed.com/scott/eastwooding
#rncconvention2012 #eastwood #Eastwooding

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Star Padilla3 hours ago

#Eastwooding is going to be the next planking lol I can just feel it!

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Louie S.3 hours ago

"Shit or get off the pot!!"

#Eastwooding

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Lee Bagley5 hours ago

My #eastwooding at work photo 🙂

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Shannon Shoffner12 hours ago

#eastwooding

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Glenn Burgess1 hour ago

We don't all have the time Clint Eastwood does. I, for instance, need to multitask my imaginary debates. #Eastwooding

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August 31, 2012
GOP Platform Touches on Protecting Internet Freedom

The 2012 Republican platform may have continued to demonstrate that party’s slide to the far right, but the GOP seems to be taking a mostly hands-off policy when it comes to the internet. The platform, which was finalized at the 2012 Republican National Convention this week, takes a very idealistic approach to internet freedom and the competition it brings. It also gives a nod toward stringent privacy protections for those online.

The first mention of the internet in the platform is to state that there should be no regulation of political speech on the internet. Next, an entire section is devoted to the topic titled “Protecting Internet Freedom.” The GOP has chosen to go with its free market sensibilities in regard to the topic, and states that it generally wants things to stay as they are. From the relevant section:

The Internet has unleashed innovation, enabled growth, and inspired freedom more rapidly and extensively than any other technological advance inhuman history. Its independence is its power. The Internet offers a communications system uniquely free from government intervention. We will remove regulatory barriers that protect outdated technologies and business plans from innovation and competition,while preventing legacy regulation from interfering with new and disruptive technologies such as mobile delivery of voice video data [sic] as they become crucial components of the Internet ecosystem. We will resist any effort to shift control away from the successful multi-stakeholder approach of Internet governance and toward governance by international or other intergovernmental organizations. We will ensure that personal data receives full constitutional protection from government overreach and that individuals retain the right to control the use of their data by third parties; the only way to safeguard or improve these systems is through the private sector.

The platform mentions in several other places that the GOP opposes any diplomatic measures that would put the internet under some sort of international regulatory control, such as the UN. It also states that Republicans want to auction off any surplus spectrum to help spread broadband access and dismisses the FCC’s net neutrality stance as government micromanagement.

The Republican platform, however, is not wholly libertarian with regard to the internet. There is another section in the document titled “Making the Internet Family-Friendly.” It details the GOP position that internet gambling should be illegal and pays lip-service to having “service providers” protect children from internet predators.

The full text of the 2012 Republican Platform can be seen on the GOP website.

August 29, 2012
GOP Convention Begins With a “Debt Clock”

An abbreviated 2012 Republican National Convention will begin today with the activation of a “debt clock.” Repbulican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus will call the convention to order at 2 p.m. this afternoon. He will then promptly activate the “debt clock,” which will show a representation of the total U.S. National debt and count up towards $16 Trillion during the convention.

“This clock reminds every delegate and every American why we are here in Tampa – because America can and must do better,” said Priebus. “Every American’s share of the national debt has increased by approximately $16,000 during the current administration.”

Priebus added that Mitt Romney would be able to “turn this fiscal mess around.”

The activation of the debt clock will be the only official event of the Republican National Convention on Monday. A full speaking lineup was originally scheduled, but worries about Tropical Storm Isaac caused convention organizers to rearrange the schedule. Nearly the entire convention will now take place in three days instead of four.

A full current schedule for the convention can be found on the Republican National Convention’s website. Some of the speakers to be featured during the convention include Speaker of the House John Boehner, former senator Rick Santorum, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (who recently became the first woman to join Augusta National), and, of course, Mitt Romney.

August 27, 2012
Tropical Storm Isaac Grows Stronger as it Nears Haiti

Tropical Storm Isaac isn’t yet a hurricane, but it is growing in strength as it nears Haiti. The U.S. National Hurricane Center currently forecasts that the storm will hit the U.S. somewhere on the Gulf Coast. Isaac could land anywhere from Eastern Louisiana to the Southern Tip of Florida.

While Haiti braces for Issac’s 60 mile per hour (mph) winds, The Bahamas and Cuba have both declared tropical storm warnings for at least some of their provinces. The storm is now moving Northwest at 14 mph.

Issac’s recent Northwestern turn could be the worst case scenario for Republican National Convention Planners, who are holding this year’s convention in Tampa Bay, Florida. Tampa Bay is well within the probable path of the storm that the NHC has predicted. The worry is that the storm will disrupt travel plans or accommodations for delegates, speakers, and the media attending the convention. Convention planners yesterday issued a statement suggesting that they are in touch with the U.S. National Weather Service and are prepared to respond if Isaac hits Tampa Bay.

“The Republican National Convention and the Republican National Committee, working in consultation with the Romney/Ryan campaign, are in regular contact with the National Weather Service, Governor Scott and local emergency officials in an effort to track and understand the potential impact of the storm,” said William Harris, president and CEO or the Republican National Convention. “Governor Scott and local emergency officials have assured us that they have the resources in place to respond to this storm should it make landfall, as our primary concern is with those in the potential path of the storm. We will continue to work closely with them and federal officials to monitor the storm and discuss any impact it might have on the Tampa area and the state of Florida. We continue to move forward with our planning and look forward to a successful convention.”

(Picture courtesy the U.S. National Hurricane Center)

August 24, 2012
Republican National Convention Launches Mobile App

Gear up, GOP’ers, the Republican National Convention is only ten days away, and the organizers of the event want to give attendees as well as those following it across the country a leg up.

With that in mind, the RNC has paired with the Tampa Hosting Committee to release the official Republican National Convention mobile app, “Tampa 2012.”

For everyone watching the Convention events from afar, The Tampa 2012 app will feature live convention coverage, as well as the ability for users to participate via social media. The app also contains weather & transit information and maps for those who will be attending.

And everyone who downloads the app will be among the first group of people to see the official convention schedule when it comes out. You’ll get the schedule for August 27th a week in advance, the schedule for August 28th the next day, and so on and so forth.

“We are excited to provide an integrated mobile application for this year’s 2012 Republican National Convention,” said Host Committee President and CEO Ken Jones. “Four years ago, at the last convention, iPhones and other smart phones were just making their debut and mobile apps were in their infancy. Now, these devices are everywhere and we have the fantastic opportunity to provide our guests and the public who are interested in the convention with a mobile application that is cutting-edge, easy-to-use and fun. More importantly, it provides users the chance to learn about the Tampa Bay region and all it has to offer.”

The app is available for free on iOS and Android, as well as on Facebook.

August 17, 2012
Google “Official Social Platform” for Republican National Convention

Google has been selected to provide the technological know-how for the Republican National Convention later this year when the GOP convenes in Tampa, Fla., to officially coronate the party’s presumed presidential candidate, Mitt Romney. Google, along with its online video site, YouTube, have been given the lofty title of “Official Social Platform and Live Stream Provider” of the party’s convention.

As Google has done with previous events that it has played a large role in, everything from CES to SXSW, don’t be surprised if you see some customized features begin to roll out ahead of August’s convention such as indoor maps of the arena, several Google+ Hangouts, and a livestream of several events via YouTube.

Susan Molinari, Google’s Vice President of Public Policy, said in a statement, “By incorporating our tools and technology, we are offering a behind-the-scenes look at the convention process and allowing voters, delegates and viewers to shape the conversation.” Molinari was a notable addition to Google’s lobbying efforts in Washington, D.C., earlier this year as she became the latest former Republican politician to assume a high-profile position in the company’s policy wing.

Google’s been keeping itself busy with thus far with the primary stages of the presidential election. Earlier this year, the company created a Election & Politics section within its general news aggregator, and has also put together several election tools for people to use in order to more closely follow the results of the Republican primary contests. Back in 2010 for the midterm elections, interested parties were able to tune into YouTube in order to livestream the election results.

Convention CEO William Harris said, “Having Google as a partner ensures the most engaging convention experience in history. Our goal is to bring the convention to you, no matter where you are or which device you use.”

Interestingly, on the GOP’s website for the 2012 convention visitors are given the option of signing in with their Facebook account but not with their Google+ account. Whoops. Guess even the GOP can’t deny Facebook’s overwhelming popularity advantage over Google’s social networking service.

Since Google has become the adoptive technology resource for the RNC, it will be interesting if the Democrats try to tap Facebook in order to be their official social media platform for the party’s convention in Charlotte, N.C., in September. There really is nothing quite like taking sides in very public and very superficial rivalries.

April 16, 2012