Kerry Beats Bush in Heuristical College!
I don't really expect anyone to respond to this post, but ...
TheRadicalModerate says ...
I am a professional software engineer. As such, I easily get annoyed at crappy websites (though, as you can see, I'm too lazy to build my own so I use blogger.com's)
If the election were based solely on each candidates websites, then John Kerry wins hands down. In computer science we call this an heuristical evaluation. While I haven't done a full evaluation I will point out my professional opinion on errors in the sites.
John Kerry: You may not post on the blog unless you provide a valid email address. This does not allow anonymous posting. One of the first rules of website design is "Do not require registration until the user is ready to buy." While posting could be considered 'buying', I will not register because it makes it likely I will get spam out of it. Plus, my name will likely be placed on the rolls of 'Democrats'. Kerry has a 'leader' page; a page that you have to go through before you get to the meat of the site. This is intended to get you to register. Some professionals say you should have a leader page, others say not.
George Bush: Bush does not have a leader page and hits you right off with information. However, Bush's blog can not truly be called a blog because it is just a bunch of press clippings without any opportunity (that I can find) to comment. The big problem with the Bush site (and the real reason I'm posting this) is with their search engine. Most experienced surfers ignore provided links and search the site. This is a mistake on the Bush site because every time I've tried to search it gives you the default page (usually the home page). Last time though it opened up their latest attack ad on Kerry without my permission. Since it is very easy to crash if you try to stop it, it is what we call a "catastrophic failure"; a design error which causes system malfunctions and makes the website unaccessible. (I had to shut down my modem connection.)
So, IMNSHO, Kerry beats Bush.
If you do want to search the site, DO NOT do a keyword search of the home page. Instead, click on "Advanced Search" and go from there.
'Nuff said.
posted by TheRadicalModerate @ 8/24/2004 12:08:00 AM
11 Comments:
Don't have an opinion one way or another, however I can say that I have been to both sites on numerous occasions and have had no problems with searches. It may be that I have some cookie or the fact that I have registered for e-mail from both. Talk about something to laugh at! I have about umpteen e-mails from the Kerry camp calling for Bushes condemnation of the SVFT ads and today I got a message from the Bush sisters. Apparently they think I'm a college student! I responded to one of the Kerry e-mails because I thought they went to far in blaming Bush. No response back yet, two days later...
In terms of searching sites:
If I know a site has a bad search feature, then I drop their main URL into Google along with my keyword I am looking for. Google gets it's info about the net by scanning through sites (I think they are called bots.) Anyway, that frequently works better than using the site's search features.
In terms of political campaign sites replying to their spam, I would have been more shocked if you had said you had received a reply.
I think the spam thing is why RadMOd created this site.
Hey, gecko, maybe the sisters are looking for a date ...
KT
As a test I attempted to e-mail both campaigns asking for a definition of "Middle Class".
On the Bush site, they had a direct e-mail link. No response since last night.
Kerry's site had one of those e-mail forms. You had to pick the subject form a drop-down box. I chose "Economy, Jobs & Deficit", then asked my question in the message block. I did get a quick response about what Kerry says he'll do about the chosen subjects. Some of it is way out there. Let me know if you want the text.
So, I still have to guess (from what I have gleened from the net and posts to my blog (thanks RadMod:)) that I am in the Middle Class.
PEZ says ...
The Census Bureau (something like census.gov) has all that information, including middle class in your area.
PEZ - Personally Expecting Surprises
Thanks, Pez. Although I'm dizzy from looking at and finding the right one out of all those tables, I can now declare that I am "Middle Class".
Kerry has some very unrealistic views on how much tax he'll have me pay and still do all the things he say he will...
My feeling is that you never get through to campaigns through the front door. That means knowing who the key players are.
Here are some email addresses for people I found off Google:
Amy Dacey, National organization contact (adacey@johnkerry.com)
Crystal King (cking@johnkerry.com)
Luis Miranda (lmiranda@johnkerry.com)
Erin Hofteig, National Political Director (ehofteig@johnkerry.com)
Mary Beth Cahill, Campaign Manager (mcahill@johnkerry.com or marybeth-cahill@johnkerry.com or mbc@johnkerry.com)
Stephanie Cutter, Communications Director (stephanie-cutter@johnkerry.com)
Marcus Jadotte, Deputy Campaign Manager (mjadotte@johnkerry.com)
Steve Elmendorf, Deputy Campaign Manager (selmendorf@johnkerry.com)
Jonathan Adashek, Director of Ballot Access (jadashek@johnkerry.com)
Chris Jackson at (cjackson@johnkerry.com)
I also have found that you can sometimes get through by searching people's addresses on the Federal Elections Commission database.
Very interesting, though I notice they are all Kerry supporters. Are your colors showing, Sheryl?
Gecko said he'd already found a direct email address for Bush's campaign.
Now wait, what's my line? Oh yeah, "I was just trying to be helpful." [Sheryl bats her eyelashes and tries to look cute.]
I tired to do the ad on the bush site but it crashed Netscape twice. maybe cuz I was posting at the same time?
KT
KT, try using Internet Explorer. Sometimes when you play a movie/music using Microsoft stuff it wants Microsoft browsers. I think it's a way to kill Netscape.
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