Congratulations Labour MPs for your prolific work over the last 18 months on Red Alert.
Since May 2009 we have:
- 34/42 MPs posting on Red Alert
- written 3000 posts
- accepted 68,156 comments
Thanks to fellow moderators (Trevor Mallard, Grant Robertson and Chris Hipkins) for all your work trying to keep RA honest and a place where people feel okay about commenting.
I’m sure 2011 will show increased enthusiasm on Red Alert, by both posters and commenters.
And we will have some new features, I promise (including an edit function for commenting)
Tell us what you think so far. And what you’d like next.
3
!!!!!!!!!!
An edit function would be great, just make sure it has a time limit on it so that people can’t retrospectively change their comments after someone has replied to them.
I wish wordpress would add to their fine range of emoticons.
I’m willing to give them suggestions! 
A shrine to Trev, make offerings and his animated face smiles.
The occasional open mike thread so that we can go nuts
Congratulations on maintaining a lively open forum and setting the standard for other Parties to only dream of.
Oh yeah, good job guys and Clare.
(flower).
I’ll probably never vote Labour, but it’s always interesting reading, for a number of reasons.
suggestions:
* – Less of the ‘demented door-man’ The comments don’t really add to the debate, and are incredibly annoying.
I have some more Xmas presents to ask, can sweetd and millsy be taken out of mod? Pretty please with beer on top?
Spud u don’t need an open thread.
Hi Trev!
How about a cooking section where spuds can be roasted, mashed, stuffed, etc ?
Any stats on the number of people banned for whatever reason?
Are you wanting to be banned johnbt? Clare
what do you think of it so far ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHRWQ4Ulugs
I really like having direct engagement with MPs in this fashion. I at least feel like my voice is heard, but while I’m very comfortable engaging in conversations like this I think we should all bear in mind that this is only one of many ways that Labour can get its message out. If the number of regular commentors is any guide to total use, there’s not a lot of wider awareness of Red Alert out there (I think I found it through Public Address).
I do think a campaign using new media like this blog, Twitter, YouTube and Facebook will reap rewards (along with fellow travellers posting on the major blogs and forums), but I don’t think this can be done to the exclusion of traditional campaigning. I’m a liberal, university educated male who sits on the cusp of Generation X and the Millennials. The internet is known ground for me. Labour must reach out to its other core constituencies – who might not be so au fait with computers and may not even be able to afford such things.
When Labour gets into government, I do expect the demands of that work will impact on how much MPs can post on Red Alert, but I don’t want to lose this kind of engagement.
I’d like spud to do a editorial. Please.
@ 3.54!
! Murderer 
Thanks Clare (gerbera).
I agree with Matt – let me do an editorial!
Please, please, please
I would also like to be a mod!
Now, now Clare. Let’s face it. Spud annoys everyone. And you guys do get a tad precious about those you ban. Or doesn’t that “Open Gummint” thingy apply to all of us?
@johnbt I thought it was the people who got banned who got precious. Or were in moderation for whatever reason. Not feeling precious. You get a good run I reckon.
The funniest thing about the ‘in moderation’ moans is that these guys get much more access to mps they wouldn’t ever vote for than the ‘open and transparent’ government that they do, and still feel the need to whinge about it.
Well done on 3000 posts. I’m so glad I stumbled across the page. Perhaps telling more people about it would be a good move, no?
The direct access to mps is setting a high standard of how it should be done.
Keep up the good work, team. You get my two ticks.
I have a question – there are a lot of accusations and banning due to trolling. When Lab get back in and begin to implement policies etc…, what’s the your take on past posts from authors and contributors being used to point out contradictions and most probably, hypocritical speeches and policies? i.e. when these contradictions are pointed out, will they too be banned for trolling, even though it’s taken from the same site?
Congrats on having the courage and foresight to create such a forum and consistently stick to it with regular postings… This blog costs you political capital, journalists and Parliamentary staffers read it but surely over time it will gain you more than the parties that don’t…
I’ve seen the amount MPs have to read, between that and electorate work, select committee work, time in the house and travel, it is excellent that you still find the time to post and engage…
I don’t agree with most of the posts but you deserve to be thanked for the interaction…
@Jeremy your comment means a lot
It’s the truth, the Nats cannot rely on other right leaning blogs forever and when they create Blue Alert or whatever, it is the public that will gain from having a direct line of communication with the majority of MPs… Red Alert will largely be responsible for that…
Congratulations on achieving this milestone. This blog has some valuable material.
My wish would to see the Labour Party close the 30-point margin on the National Party by the time we see another 1,000 posts.
These are tough years but the issues are out there. the outcome Carmel’s investigations into National Standards would be a good place to start.
I agree with the sentiments expressed by Jeremy. I have often thought this blog adds to the political landscape in all kinds of ways. Given that it attracts people and attitudes across the entire spectrum there is some courage to what you all do.
A 30 point gap is a worry for all NZ, in my opinion, and the genuine possibility that in private Labour has given this election away in terms of expectations to win is of great concern because it is relegating us all to another 3 years of ACT policies which will take a long long time to undo.