Twitter User List Favors Dems in Calif. Gov Race

When people sign up for Twitter, the popular social-networking site presents a list of suggested users to follow, driving significant traffic to sports figures, celebrities, politicians and other prominent posters.

In California, the list has attracted the attention of political watchdogs because it apparently favors Democrats over Republicans in next year's race for governor. That raises questions about whether Twitter should change its policy at a time when the site is catching on as a popular recruiting tool for candidates.

In Industry First, Voting Machine Company to Publish Source Code

Sequoia Voting Systems plans to publicly release the source code for its new optical scan voting system, the company announced Tuesday — a remarkable reversal for a voting machine maker long criticized for resisting public examination of its proprietary systems.

The company’s new public source optical-scan voting system, called Frontier Election System, will be submitted for federal certification and testing in the first quarter of next year. The code will be released for public review in November, the company said, on its web site. Sequoia’s proprietary, closed systems are currently used in 16 states and the District of Columbia.

Late to the game, but I just noticed this new Twitter feature & perhaps you missed it too -

Soon to Launch: Lists

My name is Nick Kallen (@nk) and I'm the project lead on Lists, a new feature we're testing with a small subset of users. The idea is to allow people to curate lists of Twitter accounts. For example, you could create a list of the funniest Twitter accounts of all time, athletes, local businesses, friends, or any compilation that makes sense.

Invent for Success: 15 Steps to Effective Social Media Marketing and Better Blogging

Recently I had the pleasure of attending the two-day MarketingProfs Digital Marketing Mixer in Chicago. Not only did I walk away with some new friends, I took with me a plethora of new ideas and actionable items from the best of the best in the world of blogging and Social Media.

The common theme? Your blog and Social Media presence is an INVESTMENT – An investment that takes patience and perseverance to see real success. It’s also an investment with goals and benchmarks that will continually adapt and change.

GOP candidates for the 2010 gubernatorial slot in California are taking a very modern step forward tomorrow.

On Wednesday, October 28th at 7:00pm (Pacific), Steve Poizner will be participating in what we believe to be the first ever candidate Twitter debate.

This is a great step in the right direction for Republicans at a time when we are seeking to expand our message and make inroads into the world of modern media.

Here's what Steve Poizner had to say about tomorrow's Twitter debate and what it means for modern Republican communication:

There is no doubt that we need to grow the Republican Party and engaging new and young voters through social media outlets like Twitter is an excellent start.  I’m honored to join Tom Campbell tomorrow night for what may be the first ever candidate 'Twitter Debate,' where we will respond to questions submitted via Twitter as well as questions from Dan Walters and other panelists.  I want to encourage all California voters to watch the debate live on television or online and share your thoughts throughout the night on Twitter.  We need to make California the innovation capital of the world again, and Brandman University’s unique debate is a step in the right direction with an innovative way to connect voters with California's gubernatorial candidates.

A portion of the questions that will be posed to both candidates on “Solutions to the California Financial Crisis” have been submitted through Twitter using the hashtag #cadebate.

The debate can be viewed online tomorrow at: www.brandman.edu/cadebate/webcast

You can also follow @StevePoizner and @TeamPoizner for live updates throughout the debate including tweets, pictures and video. 

The White House responds...

Reality Check: The Presidential Records Act of 1978 meets web-based social media of 2009

Recently, we have seen a few stories questioning how the Presidential Records Act (PRA) intersects with Americans’ use of modern social media, like Facebook and Twitter, to communicate with the White House.  Before I address some specific issues raised in these stories, let me give you a little background...

And over in California...

Schwarzenegger Co-Opts Twitter for Budget Ideas

A few months ago, Governor Schwarzenegger used his Twitter account to  request radical ideas for solving California's budget crisis.

This request must have gotten a good response, because the tweet has spawned its own Web site for citizens' policy ideas, with a full set of hash tag standards.

Social Media Policies from 80+ Organizations

...If you’re looking to define your own social media guidelines, however, one worthwhile task is to read the policies of other organizations. Chris Boudreaux, author of the upcoming book “Social Media Governance”, has assembled 82 such policies on the book’s website. From companies to charities to military organizations, it’s a treasure trove for those struggling with social media guidelines...