Presidential Records Act in the digital age

National Archives begins transfering presidential data

A monumental data transfer mission now faces The National Archives and Records Administration.

Coptering away from Washington, D.C. today, President Bush left behind 100 terabytes of electronic data in a variety of proprietary formats. To put that in perspective, all the books, manuscripts, publications and recordings of various kinds stored in the Library of Congress over the past 208 years adds up to 82.6 terabytes.

Clearly all the records management laws and practices will have to be revisited to acommodate online communications in all of its forms.

Obama's cyber security iniative

Gautham Nagesh has a good summary. Much of it has to do with working with industry to develop secure standards. The federal government, and by extension, the Potomac area, has always played a leadership role in the development of IT standards. It is one of the most poorly understood aspects of Potomac technology culture, in spite of the fact that I have been blogging about it for five years.

What particularly caught my eye was the emphasis on corporate espionage:

Prevent Corporate Cyber-Espionage: Work with industry to develop the systems necessary to protect our nation's trade secrets and our research and development. Innovations in software, engineering, pharmaceuticals and other fields are being stolen online from U.S. businesses at an alarming rate.

It never ceases to amaze me that giant corporations think that they can trash the law and yet appeal to the law's protection when it suits them. If left unchecked, such a mentality swiftly degenerates into Russian style gangsterism. It is just pure hubris.

Note - White House Homeland Security Agenda

JJ Green's take on Obama's inaugural speech

TERRORISM: The Next Four Years

"To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West, know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy."

President Barack Obama said those words in his inaugural address on January 20th.

He delivered an olive branch and warning shot in the same breath.

Iran and Pakistan were two of the recipients.

Which one got which gift?

Well, being the clever politician that he is, Mr. Obama seemed to leave it up to them to decide which interpretation they embrace.

In the two months since he won the Presidential election, there've been an attack in Mumbai and a flare-up between Israel and Gaza. Pakistani militants figured prominently in the attack in India and Iran is the principle weapons supplier to Hamas.

From time to time, you may hear both positive and negative rhetoric toward the U.S. from both countries. However, Iran has done very little to establish good relations with the U.S., so I would imagine they get the warning shot. Given the cold shoulder they got from the Bush administration, it wasn't all Iran's fault.

Given Pakistan's cooperation in the war on terror, they certainly get an olive branch, but some of their political and military leaders have bristled at the U.S. lately over the missile attacks on al Qaida figures in the tribal territories.

Simply put, Mr Obama's message to the muslim world seemed to suggest that if they want to work with his administration to solve some of the world's problems, the door is open, but if any are looking for a fight, they'll have to answer to their citizens.

In short, he made a brilliant move, which he will no doubt remind the world that he's made during his administration --especially the world's bullies get out of line.

I think that is about right.

Change.gov: the people's briefing book

Users create a briefing book for Obama

The government should expand broadband access to every American so the country can stay at the forefront of technological advancements, a person who goes by Jesse E. has recommended to President-elect Barack Obama on Change.gov.

The suggestion is part of an program to get ideas from the public on priorities for the coming years. Jesse E.'s recommendation of Jan. 12 could be included among numerous others in a "Citizen’s Briefing Book" to be delivered to Obama on Jan. 20 when he officially takes office, according to Change.gov.

Clearly Obama is going to continue to plow new ground in the use of social media for building support and collecting feedback. At last night's meeting of NetSquared DC Nathaniel James of the Media and Democracy Coalition talked about their meetings with the transition team, and it was clear that Obama has big plans for expanding broadband access, especially to under served populations. This can only be a good thing for the rest of us.

Barack Obama owns Greater Washington DC

Gabe has noticed, so has Geoff Livingston, this is an inauguration like no other. The other night at the local grocery store I saw Obama cookies, and they were playing patriotic songs over the sound system.

Barack Obama is Princess Di, Elvis, and Tiger Woods all rolled into one. Even the Financial Times has noticed it:
Brands jostle to jump on US inaugural wagon

Pepsi, which once styled itself the choice of a new generation and used celebrities such as Britney Spears for Super Bowl commercials, is using the inauguration to unleash its “Pepsi optimism project” campaign.

Obama-esque slogans such as “hope” and “yes you can”, and a redesigned red, white and blue logo that bears a strong resemblance to the Obama campaign image will be plastered across buses and train stations in Washington DC. Pepsi, which is sponsoring a symposium featuring film director Spike Lee, was tapping into “a cultural movement”, said Mr Cooper.

Ikea has erected an Oval Office in Washington’s Union Station featuring “fiscally responsible furnishings” under the message that “change begins at home”.

I think everyone in DC will be watching, either on TV or online. I will be joining the flickr party. It is going to be quite a day.

Obama's love letter to the civil service

Obama Wrote Federal Staffers About His Goals

In wooing federal employee votes on the eve of the election, Barack Obama wrote a series of letters to workers that offer detailed descriptions of how he intends to add muscle to specific government programs, give new power to bureaucrats and roll back some Bush administration policies.

The letters, sent to employees at seven agencies, describe Obama's intention to scale back on contracts to private firms doing government work, to remove censorship from scientific research, and to champion tougher industry regulation to protect workers and the environment.

It is tremendously significant that Obama sent out these letters via the American Federation of Government Employees, the union for the civil service. Ever since Jimmy Carter, American Presidents have used the civil service as a political punching bag. This has not been good for morale. Obama appears to be going in a better direction.

My strong advice for federal contractors is to make change your friend, not your enemy.

A remarkable victory

The challenges Obama faced in his campaign included TV hairdos who accidentally-on-purpose confused his name with that of a notorious terrorist who organized the biggest attack on the US mainland since the War of 1812.

Obama and his wife were alleged to have made a terrorist fist jab. Viewers were constantly asked to believe that Obama was somehow different. He didn’t just beat all of that, he won by a landslide.

This Presidential race teaches us many lessons. It teaches us that message matters. It teaches us that facts matter. It teaches us to maintain our focus when we are publicly slimed and always keep an eye to the main chance.

Great moments in government relations PR

Amazon.com listing had Barack Obama Halloween mask under 'terrorist'

I have a question for Jeff Bezos, what does a stunt like this do to the image of Amazon? There is a real possibility that not only will Obama win; but that he will win big. So how do you think his supporters feel about Amazon? Can Amazon afford a fight with Obama's supporters? And why would you pick such a fight? What is the upside?

In the event of an Obama victory, what is this going to do to your relations with the new administration?

One more question, are you proud of this stunt?

The cardinal rule of rumor-debunking

When you're fighting a lie, don't repeat it.

Case study in combatting online smears

US elections: Barack Obama recruits team to tackle web smears

Barack Obama is recruiting senior staff to a new unit which will combat virulent rumour campaigns on the internet that threaten to cost him votes in the presidential election against John McCain.

The unit is part of a huge expansion of Obama's campaign team as he shifts from the Democratic nomination race to the campaign for November's election.

I think we will all be watching this very carefully. Sooner or later, we will all have to respond to this sort of thing.

Edit -
Fight the Smears
Fighting lies and rumors on the Web: Obama provides a clinic for PR pros

Scandal! Obama will only speak on the record!

Team Obama Is Courting Everybody But the Press

Some reporters say Obama seems disdainful toward journalists, having submitted to precisely one off-the-record chat over beer several months ago in Iowa.

If Obama cleans all the anonymice out of the White House and federal government it will be a very good thing.

Edit -

Jim Horton takes a different view. For my part I think our industry cannot take too hard a line against the use of anonymous sources.