Two Bush administration cabinet members, Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt and Homeland Security head Michael Chertoff have joined the blogosphere. Although many government agencies have started blogs, Leavitt and Chertoff are the first cabinet members to pen their entries themselves.
Chertoff states in the Homeland Security blog (called "Leadership Journal") that
I've started this journal to open a dialogue with the American people about our nation's security. I would like to hear your thoughts about the steps we're taking to keep the nation safe. This way, we can learn more about concerns you have within your states and communities. And I want to hear fresh ideas and even constructive criticism about our Department.
To its credit, Homeland Security does accept some constructive criticism in the form of comments, but clearly deletes some comments that violate its comments policy (no personal attacks, vulgar language, racial slurs). Interestingly, the blog notifies readers when a comment has been deleted with the following statement: "Comment deleted. This post has been removed by the blog administrator."
Otherwise, Chertoff's is not much of a surprise, reiterating and amplifying the Administration's positions on various matters related to homeland security.
Leavitt's blog, on the other hand, is a delightful and colorful personal journal of the obviously passionate cabinet member's travels, events, thoughts, feelings and, of course, policy positions. Although Leavitt predicted when he started his foray into "blogdom" that most of his posts would be a few paragraphs long, most are at least 500 to 800 words and one post, about a trip Leavitt made to an African orphanage written on August 20, ran 2,444 words.
Leavitt doesn't hold back on expressing emotions or injecting personal asides either. In one post, about visiting locations where genocide occurs, he writes "These are dark places that left my spirit sober and cold."
In his most recent post about attending the Bill and Melinda Gates Malaria Forum, he adds color by trying to describe the couple's famous home.
Yes, their home is spectacular. Unfortunately, I am not good with remembering decorating details. I routinely fail in satisfying my wife's requests for specifics on design, fabrics and art. I do remember the trampoline room and original documents of Napoleon in the library.
It's doubtful that either Chertoff or Leavitt will ever go "off script" with their blogs, but the fact that government officials at this level are personally blogging (as opposed to leaving blogs to PR staff) can only be good for government, the public and historians.
Hat tip to Steve Rubel.
Cynthia Brumfield at 7:04 AM|Comments(0)
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