Hello Rock the Vote! Welcome to the Party!
Posted by Maman Poulet on 15 May 2008 at 12:48 am | Tagged as: More Money than sense, Rock the Vote
When one is organising a campaign there’s polite lateness and then there’s Rock the Vote downright tardiness. Yup less than a month to Lisbon Treaty D-Day and John tell’s us that Rock the Vote are relaunching for the referendum. And yes Cian was right, there was some rejoicing tonight, Lisbon was looking a little barren on the blogging the referendum front – but rejoice is right as you might remember RtV got it’s own category on Maman Poulet last year.
Cue more celebs not entitled to vote here making daft youtubes explaining absolutely nothing about the issues and treating the electorate like morons. While doing the customary ‘we’re on our way, just buttoning up our jeans’ holding post it might help lads if you took down the youtube of Katie French from last years campaign. But RtV and tact were never good company.
PS. The holding page says ‘Rock the Vote is back by popular demand and we want you to get up and vote in the The Lisbon Treaty Referendum.’ Did I miss the facebook group or bebo page calling for their reformation?
However now more than ever we’ll need to know where the money is coming from – this is a referendum and a bit of clarity, openness and transparency will be needed. Maybe the Referendum Commission were duped into thinking there was a popular demand for this sort of thing or is this a front for a section of the No campaign who also seemed to have more money than sense?
I’ve sat trying to think of something witty to write here, the best I could think of was some tacky joke about how if it was lisbon girl on girl action, there might be more interest – which is a bit lame! Maybe instead of sending out more useless information brochures (like the one about how to prepare for nuclear emergencies,etc.) they could just send us nice blankets, we could all snooze through it all.Does anyone know/ care what this is about? Gee… Couldn’t we have had a referendum on gay marriage on the same day … just stirring!
My sensible criticism of all this referendum stuff is that – rather than it being a locus of political discourse – referenda have become a political mire, in which completely mystical policies are voted on. There’s an abdication of politics at play here, and that makes me suspicious about what is going on. OK I will read the bookey-wook when it comes, but I’d like Biffo to actually do the same, and then tell us something interesting about Lisbon other than how it has a lovely harbour!
Their involvement should be welcomed if only because they’re sure to produce content that makes those YFG posters like insightful, relevant and classy. And what is the betting we’ll see Des Bishop in a clip, ag Rockal an Votail or some such.
Sean, what makes you think the full bookie-wook is coming? I’ve gotten the stuff from the referendum commission and it’s 16 pages. I know I’m purely banging one of my own drums here but we could have had a referendum to allow for Seanad reform while we were at it. I mean it would have made Lisbon seem exciting by comparison – the treaty not the city; the city is great fun. Especially when lost at 4am while intoxicated.
They could also amend the constitution to permit same-sex marriage (assuming that reform is actually required) … we can all dream!
Got the booky-wook today, rather like “Janet & John book 1″, see voter, look, vote, voter vote or the sky will fall in. Seriously bad promo strategy.
did you see daire hickeys article about the demise of bertie its was toally inconsistent.
to repeat my post from p.ie about it
Daire Hicky doesn’t like mixing politics and celebrity!
from the man who gave you this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2dSTTOafwk
writes
This leader inspired only apathy in Bebo generation
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/the-ahern-years/this-leader-inspired-only-apathy-in-bebo-generation-1368454.html
note the ironies
Instead, Ahern gave us Dail na nOg — an expensive photocall and the Government’s attempt to show the under-18s that they’re listening. !
To me, he was a figurehead — he was a celebrity, rather than a statesman. !
Niceties, endearing qualities and celebrity status are lovely, really, they are, but how about giving young people a voice and really listening to what they have to say? !
Sean, I’m of a Peter and Jane vintage myself, and Spot the dog. The thing about RtV is that it shows it is better in Ireland to hijack a brand from elsewhere than build one yourself. It be fair to them, Ogra FF, YFG, Labour Youth and the rest do a joint (now wouldn’t that be a blast if the first part of this sentence was a stand alone) get out the youth vote effort each time there is any kind of election. And do the media pay a blind bit of notice? No. But a group funded from who knows where come along stealing without endorsement a brand from the US and suddenly they’re media darlings. The Media (capital letters time) aren’t passive when it comes to promoting global homogeneity or indigenous practices when it comes to culture and this is just one more sign.
[...] myself marking the Return of Rock the Vote, something which has not met with great rejoicing from Mamam Poulet It will be interesting to see what impact the group makes, given that they are arriving so late in [...]
Hey,
I have a post on youth engagement. Personally, I think RTV is a good idea. And while I understand some of your problems with the last couple of campaigns, just ask, is there any harm in something which gets more young people interested in politics, and the political process?
Late they may be, but they’ll still, hopefully, have an impact in getting people informed, in a referendum campaign which up to now has been mostly stuck in the realm of misunderstand and misrepresentation.
This does smack a little of damned if you do and damned if you dont also, of there wasn’t a youth movement trying to get something done, people would be asking why are they so apathetic….
So in it’s bid toe entice young people to vote Rock The Vote are using Sophie Merry – Sophie who? – is she a young person involved in politics? is she someone who has done something important for Irish Society –
NO – she’s some girl who did silly dances on youtube and she has become famous for that – DO RTV really really think this is a good idea to engage young people in real politics? Maybe not – after all even RTV says it’s “not political”
http://rockthevote.ie/site/index.php?option=com_easyfaq&task=cat&catid=13&Itemid=30#faq5
Steven you asked “is there any harm in something which gets more young people interested in politics, and the political process?” and I would answer “No” there isn’t but there again there is nothing to suggest that RtV actually got more young people interested in politics, and the political process. Actually a high badly designed campaign can do more harm that good.
[...] myself marking the Return of Rock the Vote, something which has not met with great rejoicing from Mamam Poulet It will be interesting to see what impact the group makes, given that they are arriving so late in [...]
[...] – and why would you not want to? – take a gander at yesterdays Grand Launch of the uber-cool Rock the Vote and deliver your best caption [...]