@Mark 2000: I hope so. That'd be sweet as hell. I'd like him to bring on special guests too. -And panelists (possibly even ones that disagree with him?).

Maybe Ralph Nader? That'd rock. I'd tune in.

CYST!

Look what time-shifting has done for TV - people actually catch things that they wouldn't have otherwise seen. These YouTube addresses will increase viewership. Maybe more people will be aware of what's up in our democracy.

Zlevee

I for one hope for "lightsaber" duels between him and Joe Biden.

Thats Dr Bear to You

yeah def a great idea. being able to watch the president speak at my lesiure is much better than having to listen to the radio constantly (or for that matter watching tv). not only that, but with an acct on youtube it's easy to get updates on new videos.

RedBeard

Pls To Change Letturhed To Mah Name B4 You Leev, Mr Bush.

K THX Bai

OMG! Ponies!

I disagree with the "spin" idea. Spin is for when your in trouble and you need to make things look better. This, I think, will be a situation where Obama tells us the straight shit about what is wrong and the convinces us to help him do what is necessary. The hard stuff like conservation, public service, and opening up to new ideas about regulation and health care. He's going to sell his solutions, and his solutions are why we elected him.

Mark 2000

One way it may be different.

Imagery of the the fireside chats or even television addresses always emphasize a non-distracted, focused attention to the message.

No idea how true that image is, but that certainly ain't how things are anymore, particularly with web videos.

More likely than watching until we get bored and switch to South Park or YouPorn? Listening while watching (for the 600th time) South Park or YouPorn. And IM'ing. And texting. And gaming. And eating....and...and...and...

92BuickLeSabre

Has U Seen Mah Mandayt?

OMG! Ponies!

I Won U A Mandayt But I Eated It

OMG! Ponies!

Akkowntability. I has it.

OMG! Ponies!

At least he understand the internet is not a series of tubes.

[www.google.com]

Sorry I just couldn't resist.

PCLoadLetter

I think this is AWESOME.

I often talk to voters and people younger than me (I'm 25) regarding media literacy and about FDR's fireside chats as virtually the only medium people had (at that time) to hear from their President.

WIN.

shorty63136

If he starts talking about his Dad, complaining about homework and wants to be BFF's forever, we should all realize it's made up.

DaveTyranham

I think this is fantastic. It's yet another way that Obama's presidency will be different from everything that has come before.

There's a reason he's the first politician I've ever been really fired up about, and it has nothing to do with the "Messiah-mania" that everybody seems to ascribe to Obama supporters. He talked about change, and with him at the helm, we will change things for the better.

HeartBurnKid, creepy morbid freak

I'm interested - as the second half of the commentary says - what this will do to young voters. Will they tune in to the Youtube broadcasts? Will he also have a podcast of the chat? Where will he stop!!

Out of curiosity, does anyone know the percentage of voters from each age group that turned out in the election?

iamnotafish

This should be interesting...a President that is actually in touch with current technology and networking? Definitely makes me more interested in whats going on in the country.

mattjanz

This man is brilliant :)

Can you believe we almost elected sarah pailin as vice president. i would have shot myself lol

iAirmanshirk69

@Rabid Penguin: haha, nice

Nickolai_the_Russian_guy

@Rabid Penguin: I would be surprised if he didn't know how many states there are, considering he's a senate member....

Sometimes people will say things offhand and it really doesn't mean anything, like this clip of Mccain saying Putin is pres of Germany

+ Watch video

I see no need to hammer him on that because I'm sure he knows what country Putin is president of and the conference was in germany, so a slip of the tongue is totally understandable.

Who knows, maybe Palin just had a slip of the tongue as well, but I think it's hard to slip something like that and there's no reason for her to know if Africa's a continent or a country, she's in Alaska. You feel me?

Nickolai_the_Russian_guy

I think weekly is just too much... I can hardly keep up with the weekly episodes I actually enjoy... I'd say bi-weekly is more like it. Otherwise, he could quickly run out of material and start making stuff up... Unless these are 5 minute chats...

RayLast

@Rabid Penguin:

haha he meant to say regions...so.. your wrong (:

iAirmanshirk69

Oh Geez, I hope he has his content filter on, or every second comment will be "BAAWLZ!" or "QOCKUE!".

Klappstuhl

@Nickolai_the_Russian_guy: It may help to read the news sometimes. The fake pundit took a rumor and made it his own.

ABCNews

Nick_M

@92BuickLeSabre:

Oh pish posh. Pornhub is much better.

LindsayJoy's MBP is into S+M (it takes after its mistress)

@Nickolai_the_Russian_guy: That's kind of a silly thing to hammer someone on anyways... Obama doesn't know how many states there are and no one seems to care.

Rabid Penguin

@mikieed: ok, just take your zoloft and put your tin hat back on, please.

lostarchitect

@Nickolai_the_Russian_guy: How is it unfortunate that we're a constitutional republic and not a mobocracy... I mean democracy.

Rabid Penguin

They should rename it to "Ambient WoW-side Noise."

I kid, I think this is a great idea. This is what America needed, somebody who doesn't reject the internet and uses it as a medium for communicating with people. Just look at www.change.gov as well.

P3nnst8r

@iAirmanshirk69:
Wait and see, Obama is not brilliant and will bring Communism to the United States of America. China will welcome us in open arms.

I think that people should be required to take a test on the candidates before their vote actually counts. Since 90% of people just followed the HYPE of Obama and did not know his past voting records it shows what America voted on. This country is going down hill and FAST!!!!!

mikieed

@natenovs: OK so I didn't know that bit, but honestly, ruin her career? This is America, how many people do you think know/care that Africa is a continent?

And of course Palin says that's ridiculous. After she looked at map she was like "look at all those countries! That's ridiculous! Which one's the capital?"

LOL, couldn't resist

Nickolai_the_Russian_guy

@Zlevee: *Republic. America is a republic, not a democracy, unfortunately. Electing Obama show's it's come a long way from the BS in 2000, but there's no telling whether or not it will happen again.

Nickolai_the_Russian_guy

These could be really cool if used right.

On the Russian side: Our president (Medvedev) has a video blog, and what I find really cool about it is that he looks directly at the camera when he speaks, which lets you 'connect' with him in a very different way. I mean, he's looking right at you and talking to you!

Please, keep the Russia-hating comments classy :-)

Nickolai_the_Russian_guy

@Nickolai_the_Russian_guy: in all fairness, the aid who said that she didnt know africa still has not id him/herself, and the accuation hasnt been verified by anyone. also, palin herself says that that is a ridiculous claim.

its not a stretch to think someone in the mccain campaign was pissed that she was picked as vp and is just saying things to ruin her career.

natenovs

if this holds true and he does do it for every week for his entire 4 year term i will be completely surprised. Could get him a few votes for his next run.

Monkiee

@iAirmanshirk69: From your comment, you probably don't live in "Real America," so if she was elected she would have probably done the deed for you! (/mumble)you pinko commie terrorist-friending socialist muslim(/mumble)

Seriously tho, I can't believe she didn't know Africa was a continent.
That bears repeating: SHE DIDN'T KNOW AFRICA WAS A CONTINENT!!!

Honestly, when was the last time she looked at a map for more than five seconds (I mean a map other than the ones on kids playmats at Red Lobster)

Nickolai_the_Russian_guy

I'm sure this will be a lot more popular than the current weekly radio addresses.

ThaiGrocer

thank god your not racist.@OMG! Ponies!:

burnt2acrisp

well said.@Mark 2000:

burnt2acrisp

@iamnotafish: They'll tune in for the 4chan-ers' remixes.

CYST!

@shorty63136: +1

CYST!

@OMG! Ponies!: Are you aping George W.? I think he was the prez with an aversion towards grammar. But I don't really see the link to this post...

William_III_of_Dastardshire

Goddammit! STOP PUTTING UP PICTURES OF YOUTUBE VIDS I KEEP TRYING TO CLICK!!!!

Chroma

@Ricorich196: I love you Big Brother!!!

Thats Dr Bear to You

@Rabid Penguin: Nice, good citation.

I was just saying that sometimes you'll f up and say something you don't mean, like Putin is pres of Germany or 60 states in America (clearly he meant 47, I think)

It just seemed to me, looking at Palin's performance in the campaign, that she would honestly not know Africa was a continent. But clearly it was a hoax, as has been pointed out, so I apologize.

Nickolai_the_Russian_guy

@Nick_M: O wow, didn't see that. Thanks for informing me.

Still, I wouldn't find it that hard to believe if it were true, and that I get from watching her epic fail with couric and others.

Still, this all shows a lot about how we get our information today, it's pathetic, myself included.

Nickolai_the_Russian_guy

@Rabid Penguin: "...supposedly made..."

Rabid Penguin

@Nickolai_the_Russian_guy: The comment Palin supposedly main is unsubstantiated. The comments that Obama made, he really made.

"Because, you know, it is just wonderful to be back in Oregon, and over the last 15 months we've traveled to every corner of the United States. I've now been in 57 states, I think, one left to go. One left to go, Alaska and Hawaii I was not allowed to go to even though I really wanted to visit, but my staff would not justify it." (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks At A Campaign Event, Beaverton, OR, 5/9/08)

If Obama can get away with that "slip of the tongue" than It's definitely not fair to hammer Palin for something you don't even know if she really said.

Rabid Penguin

@Nickolai_the_Russian_guy: He probably is watching you as you're watching him. lol

Ricorich196

@iamnotafish: We do. I will post the link as soon as i can fish it, and i do not remember all the numbers correctly, but the 'Young Voters(TM) Turnout' was 18% ... up from 17% last time.

Lucifer_Cat

Obama's uploading YouTube videos?!!! I hope his new puppy is doing something funny and adorable in them all!

RacecarBoobTat

@mattjanz: It reminds me of the Nixon/Kennedy television debates. Many people theorize that Nixon did such a poor job during the debates, and that's why he lost.

Flash forward to this year. On one side you had a contender with a vast online following, calling for an increase in technological advancement. On the other, you had a guy who doesn't bother with them there fancy emails and whoTubes. Psst. McCain. Wikipedia explains the difference between a Sunni and a Shite, just in case you forgot already.

blackmage439

@92BuickLeSabre:

pornhub IS better.

But all things considered... My family has NEVER owned a TV... After Obama won, my 60 year old mother started wanting a TV, just to watch Obama. A lot of ladies have a crush on him I'll bet. I think his youtube channel will drive enough traffic.

ltethe

@Nickolai_the_Russian_guy: For the love of God, she misspoke. Nothing like spinning things far out of context. I'm sure you would never accidentally mince words when speaking in front of millions of people whose votes you're trying to secure despite the fact that a large number of those millions seem to hate you from their very core.

I'm sure you would NEVER misspeak in that situation.

EVER.

Anyway, to get on topic I think this is going to be interesting, providing it's on things of actual national importance and not how their dog's adjusting to life in the White House or something.

TalKeaton

I'm looking forward to these chats. This is where he's going to start weaseling out of what he's committed. Once he's in office and being briefed and put 'in the know', he'll realize he bit off more than he could chew.

nomayo

@Rabid Penguin:
YOU'RE WELCOME

+ Watch video

TerryinSt.Paul

Finally an administration who doesn't try to talk down to us and act like we are morons.

Sollus

@iAirmanshirk69:

Just gotta ask: how is Obama/Biden's 364 electoral votes to McCain/Palin's 163 "almost electing her?"

SpeakerToThirdGraders

@mattjanz: Then why no podcast?!?

Douch3er

@Nickolai_the_Russian_guy: "clearly he meant 47, I think"

haha, you think.

Blinklink11

@mikieed: Because clearly the Repblican party has brought done so much good. And clearly there is a hill for us to go down right now.

Oh wait. There isn't. Even if he did suck as president (he won't.), the only place we can go is up, thanks to the disaster of so-called leaders we have now.

Blinklink11

@William_III_of_Dastardshire: hez not aping around.. hes being lolcatty.

Lucifer_Cat

What are the chances that he leaves comments turned on? Pretty slim I'm guessing.

f3rg

In terms of technology and trying to involve the younger gens, Obama is setting the new standard.

DW

@beyondthetech: I imagine they'll have comments disabled.

Contact your local congressman for comments.

Oirectine

Of course, we'll also be inundated with appropriate YouTube video responses from PhillyD, iJustine, TheYoungTurks, WhatTheBuckShow, and HotForWords, LisaNova, and HappySlip.

Bring it on!

beyondthetech

@Rabid Penguin:
I think it is pretty clear that it was a slip of the tongue. He meant to say 47 with 1 more to go, and he couldn't visit Alaska or Hawaii. Duh... that equals 50!

mpjohnst

@OMG! Ponies!: Goin to sumbit sennit rezzignashun nao, brb

dingus

If the comments are gonna be disabled, then it will just be the weekly presidential speech on youtube instead of radio. I disliked dubya just as much as the next guy (not the guy after him though), but not enough to listen to political PR on a weekly basis. Not after the elections anyway. My guess is this will be popular for the first year maybe.

kahri

@nomayo: Ditto. I would have paid a hefty sum to be in the room when he received his first national intelligence briefing. I wouldn't even need to listen. Just seeing the look on his face would be great.

I voted for him, but I don't care who you are, as soon as you get the job reality sinks in fast. Just look at a picture of every president before they went in and what they look like coming out. No way in hell I'd want that job.

akiddo

I see sore losers...

johnnyabnormal

why is Obama moaning my name?

hihai411

@mpjohnst: I realize that's probably what it was. But that's my point, it's all stupid. I'm not an Obama supporter, but I disagree with him on more important issues. But the same goes for Palin, or McCain saying "the lower 40." Some of the things people focus on is just stupid.

Rabid Penguin

@Blinklink11:
But see that's where you might have been deceived, especially by the media. Bush was a good president, America has not being attached once since 9/11, Just wait till Obama gets in, He'll be tested, then we can carry on this discussion. The Demarcates are the reason we are in this Financial Crisis, please get more informed before posting.

mikieed

In soviet Russia, the blogs view you!

IsabelCordus

Yay Obama :D [still riding high from election night]

trendspotter

@johnnyabnormal: I'll admit... I'm a sore loser... I even voted third party and knew I was going to lose. It still stings though.

Rabid Penguin

@Mikestan: Yup.
Bomb this address. Bomb that address. Bail out this address. Bail out that address.

lol. I couldn't resist.

Rabid Penguin

@iAirmanshirk69: We vote for the president, not the vice president. The fact that Obama won is what scares me...

Rabid Penguin

Wait, so your saying Bush gives weekly addresses too?

Mikestan

@SpeakerToThirdGraders:

The fact that she got even one vote scares me...

iAirmanshirk69

@johnnyabnormal:
yo homie, howzit today?

while my party didn't win, i won't be indulging in the type of tactics that have been employed against our president over the last 8 years. you see, when the people spoke, obama became my president-elect as well. i was raised to respect the highest office in the land, whether i agreed with the policies or not. i will debate in the arena of ideas, and point out what i believe to be a wrong direction being taken. i will not however, do what has been done by those who believe that there is only one point of view, and if you disagree, you are a racist or homophobic.

the ability to engage without the name-calling, and hatred is the true measure of commitment to your ideals, and your country.

except when i am baiting you, of course!!!!

godwhacker

@Klappstuhl: not to mention some choice racial epithets and death threats. youtube commenters are clowns.

twistfunk

@burnt2acrisp: No, but I'm specist. I firmly and irrationally believe that cats do, in fact, speak and write in LOLspeek.

OMG! Ponies!

@Rabid Penguin: I think it is pretty clear from the text you so graciously provided that he meant 47, not 57. 47 with 1 left to go equals 48, plus Hawaii and Alaska equals 50.

I don't think I buy the whole Palin Africa comment either, but Obama's comments are certainly a non-issue. McCain made plenty of his own slip ups (see the video above), but nobody honestly thinks he's any less intelligent for doing so.

ACDlite

Hope it turns out better than Kevin PM.

+ Watch video

laiten

I'm waiting for Congress and Supreme Court twitter.

Blue387

@Xterm11: My goodness. That was my point.

From my previous post, to make it easier on you:

"I realize that's probably what it was. But that's my point, it's all stupid. I'm not an Obama supporter, but I disagree with him on more important issues. But the same goes for Palin, or McCain saying "the lower 40." Some of the things people focus on is just stupid."

I do think it was a mistake blown out of proportion by some... and I'm not even an Obama supporter.

Rabid Penguin

@Rabid Penguin: I'm pretty sure he meant Forty seven. Let's see you stand up in front of a crowd that large and not make a mistake here or there.

Xterm11

@RedBeard: yeah! cause nobody ever posts videos on youtube from tv or any other media.

aeroworks

Wow, this really makes me feel better. i mean, who cares about policy when they post youtube vids! f-in kids..

aeroworks

@iAirmanshirk69: By all means, don't let Obama's victory stop you...

...If you're going to make an obnoxious comment, expect an obnoxious response.

bilups

this is so cool, a prez that is truly awesome, the 21st century FDR

otis123

"If nothing else, maybe people under 40 might actually listen to the president's weekly addresses for a change." On the bright side, we will actually KNOW where to listen, as opposed to now. I don't think my NPR station carries the weekly address. I'm sure that the network affiliates do not. I seriously doubt that Top 40 commercial radio carries them. This is the beauty of politicions using the the new electronic media: we don't have to wait for the Washington Post, ABC, or NPR to tell us what we can and should hear. We can find it ourselves. It's really not classy to insult the public for not paying attention to addresses that the media doesn't publish.

IvoryPaetus

Cool

TF2Soldier914

@godwhacker: Well, you're obviously just racist or homophobic. Just kidding. :)

johnnyabnormal

@Mark 2000: You never have and never will get "the straight shit" from Obama. And he will be in trouble almost immediately.

Comrade GadgetPlay, Fellow Traveler

@shorty63136: It's ashamed Bush didn't give weekly addresses to the nation.

Comrade GadgetPlay, Fellow Traveler

@HeartBurnKid, creepy morbid freak: Where do you get the "for the better part." Can you state even one Obama policy? Didn't think so. Don't be late for Communion. They're having Kool-Aid and BS.

Comrade GadgetPlay, Fellow Traveler

@iamnotafish: We've been trying to tell you what Obama will do to young voters. Do you remember what Bill did to Monica?

Comrade GadgetPlay, Fellow Traveler

@iAirmanshirk69: Ooh, he uploaded a video? Yeah, that's brilliant.

@Nickolai_the_Russian_guy: That's a lie, and I can't believe you're stupid enough to believe it, or evil enough to tell it if you don't believe it, but it has to be one or the other.

@Nickolai_the_Russian_guy: "LOL, couldn't resist"

One of many things you can't do, apparently.

@P3nnst8r: Who resisted the internet? Tell the truth now.

@iAirmanshirk69: "haha he meant to say regions...so.. your wrong"

No he's not. Obama said it, and the Messiah can't be mistaken can he?

@Nickolai_the_Russian_guy: The Couric interview was a deliberate hit job, and she did fine, considering. Let's see, who was that that asked Obama a tough question? Oh yeah, NOBODY.

@Blinklink11: "the only place we can go is up"

You'll see. You won't learn, but you'll see.

@iAirmanshirk69: "The fact that she got even one vote scares me..."

Try 57 million.

@bilups: "expect an obnoxious response."

And You're just the child to do it. Is your homework all done, young man?

@otis123: "the 21st century FDR"

Christ, we haven't recovered from the last one yet.

Comrade GadgetPlay, Fellow Traveler

@Nickolai_the_Russian_guy: Of course, Medvedev and Putin are big Obama supporters. In fact all of our enemies are.

Comrade GadgetPlay, Fellow Traveler

@Monkiee: I don't think he'll get too many viewers that didn't vote for him this time. Maybe a few.

Comrade GadgetPlay, Fellow Traveler

@Nickolai_the_Russian_guy: Yeah, that moron Gore damn near screwed it ALL up in 2000. Some of his own staff said they were glad he wasn't in office for 9/11.

Comrade GadgetPlay, Fellow Traveler

@Klappstuhl: In that vein, how many people will be scrambling to "First!" presidential posts?

Killjoy

@Comrade GadgetPlay, Fellow Traveler: "Of course, Medvedev and Putin are big Obama supporters. In fact all of our enemies are."

That you think the world is our enemy explains much.

Killjoy

@mikieed: Zombies have not risen once during Bush's entire administration. This is irrefutable proof that A) Bush did everything he could to stop zombies (which in turn proves that he did a great job overall) and B) Once he leaves office it's only a matter of time before the zombies rise.

Or maybe you shouldn't bring me every little piece of trash you happen to pick up.

Killjoy

@mikieed: "Since 90% of people just followed the HYPE... and did not know his past voting records it shows what America voted on."

Boy, that sure does sound familiar. Guess it's good enough when it works out in your favor though, huh?

Killjoy

@Mikestan: You can podcast them from the whitehouse.gov site. [www.whitehouse.gov]

Ben Zvan

@Comrade GadgetPlay, Fellow Traveler: That comment is so incredibly stupid I don't even know where to start.

Ben Zvan

@Comrade GadgetPlay, Fellow Traveler: Just because someone didn't vote for Obama doesn't mean they shouldn't hear what's going on in their country. Bush kept complaining about the media "filter" but rarely mentioned his weekly radio addresses.

Ben Zvan

@Comrade GadgetPlay, Fellow Traveler: And clearly some of McCain's and Palin's staff have bad things to say about them too. What's your point?

Ben Zvan

@Comrade GadgetPlay, Fellow Traveler: Sounds like you.

Ben Zvan

@Comrade GadgetPlay, Fellow Traveler: Nobody listens to the radio any more. That's like the FDR of the 1930's

Ben Zvan

@Comrade GadgetPlay, Fellow Traveler: Isn't that what they always have for communion?

Ben Zvan

@Comrade GadgetPlay, Fellow Traveler: Your screen name is "Comrade" and you're picking on Obama? I can't wait to see how you accuse him of being a Communist.

Ben Zvan