Ridiculous and Sad News: The next bachelor for a somewhat popular reality show will be the back-up QB to the NY Giants. How embarrassing to (male) fans! Olivia Goldsmith, the popular novelist, recently died because of complications of cosmetic surgery. A sad end that all the same would not have surprised the characters in her best known works of fiction.

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In the true "Internet Election" no campaign, national committee, or organization will decide where and when the conversations take place, who participates, or what is the agenda.

From many conversations, the best arguments and the best arguers will gain traction. Some may jump to other conversations to increase interest in their issues, and others may leave because they're still not convinced. Barriers to entry in any conversation will be low; listening will be valued as much as speaking; and the best ideas will survive because the market for them will only grow.

In the end, voters will turn out to vote in higher numbers because they chose the candidates and policies at issue, on their own terms and timelines. Disillusionment and jadedness about politics will decrease sharply.

-- from an essay by Lauren Gelman on the future role of the Internet in elections