The Internet and the phenomenon of social networking platforms like Facebook, MySpace, plus the rich media tools like YouTube, have given the average political proselytizer new powers of persuasion that are resetting the political roadmap for not only the candidates and their parties, but also for the main stream media which is trying to cover and report on them.

Just like we are seeing technology reshape the music and entertainment industries, information technologies are empowering people to use the massive networks that are being spawned to fundamentally change politics and soon governance itself.

Political opinion in our society is formed mostly through people talking to each other. These conversations happen in all kinds of typical places, like dining tables, water coolers, playgrounds, VFW halls, bars and coffee shop counters, and even over the back fence. Like the have for generations, those conversations are happening In the 2008 election cycle too. However, this year we are seeing a new powerful force emerge that is taking many of those conversations and putting them on steroids.