What Politicians Are Actually Saying, In Case You Care

Katherine Mangu-Ward | July 15, 2008

So much of political coverage is hearsay and paraphrase. But actually sitting and listening to politicians talk in order to find out what they think is a fate worse than death. What's a mildly interested political observer to do?

Now, thanks to a super-cool new Google gadget, you can cut to the chase. The Elections Video Search Google Gadget lets you search for keywords in transcribed YouTube videos from the Politicians channel. The gentlemen from Mountain View admit that accuracy is far from 100 percent at the moment—many of the transcriptions are terrible and the videos aren't well-sorted—but it's a start. You can even search just McCain or just Obama clips. And it sits right on your iGoogle homepage, so even the truly lazy can satisfy the smallest tremors of curiosity about what those guys are blathering about.

Via the Official Google Blog

Comments

NP|7.15.08 @ 1:38PM|#

Off topic: The new box for the permalinks & comments is, to put it charitably, freakin' ugly. Can't you guys hire a good Web designer for once?

Orange Line Special|7.15.08 @ 1:45PM|#

Writing this post is like walking through a SlotCanyon, with ominous-looking ads crowding in on either side. Look, am ambush!

The reason lib sites look better than non-lib sites isn't because non-libs have no style, but because webdesigners are all libs and sabotage them.

Anyway, I'd like to thank Xeni for the link to the super cool Google thing.

Elemenope|7.15.08 @ 1:51PM|#

The reason lib sites look better than non-lib sites isn't because non-libs have no style, but because webdesigners are all libs and sabotage them.

Wow. That...makes no sense. I'm utterly shocked.

Episiarch|7.15.08 @ 1:52PM|#

Trebuchet MS? By the way, your style sheet has way too many elements. Your web designers must be charging you by the class and span tags.

|7.15.08 @ 1:58PM|#

That's a cool feature. Soon I'll be making my own Daily Show.

|7.15.08 @ 2:22PM|#

Trebuchet MS?

Hey, Trebuchet is one of my favorite typefaces.

Although I wonder how much of that is due to being named after an awesome catapult.

Nigel Watt|7.15.08 @ 2:30PM|#

The removal of the box now makes it look very nice, though I don't see the point of the change.

Taktix®|7.15.08 @ 2:34PM|#

Writing this post is like walking through a SlotCanyon...

Alright, where's that damn comment filter...

Taktix&#174|7.15.08 @ 2:52PM|#

Ahh, there it is...

TallDave|7.15.08 @ 3:33PM|#

Will this service be available in all 57 states?

TallDave|7.15.08 @ 3:35PM|#

Hey, Trebuchet is one of my favorite typefaces.

Yeah, I can't imagine life without my Trebuchet.

Wait... typeface?

BakedPenguin|7.15.08 @ 4:07PM|#

I wonder how much of that is due to being named after an awesome catapult.

I saw a special on History Channel or PBS or Discovery Network or somewhere else where a bunch of historical re-creators constructed a trebuchet along with a small section of a wall comparable to the walls used in medieval castles.

It was an awesome show, and made me quite glad I've never had to live through a medieval siege. (Trebuchet 1, Castle 0).

No Name Guy|7.15.08 @ 4:20PM|#

I can't find another thread for it, but I can't resist linking to this.

Yes, its for real. Not a parody, not a hoax.

|7.15.08 @ 4:22PM|#

BP, you should check out the move Timeline. Some awesome castle storming in that one.

NP|7.15.08 @ 4:54PM|#

Eh, so you know, the line is an improvement over the box, but still it seems a tad forced and unnatural. Again hire a good designer for once.

NP|7.15.08 @ 4:57PM|#

NNG,

That's gotta be one of the dumbest and most tasteless political blitzes I've ever seen. I mean, WTF?

No Name Guy|7.15.08 @ 5:02PM|#

NP, did you go to the guys website and listen to the song?

Its just like...surreal that this is not a parody.

BakedPenguin|7.15.08 @ 6:00PM|#

sage - with massive rocks flying into people? That was my favorite part of the LotR series.

NP|7.15.08 @ 9:58PM|#

NNG, gotta say the video isn't nearly as amusing as that billboard. My fave political music video of the year by far remains "Raining McCain."