Blackberry Staffers - Blogging is a hobby not a job

As with all bloggers, I have an opinion about the Blackberry Addicts NDP caucus blog. I think it is a disgrace that the Addicts, AKA Donne, Riva and whoever else were doing this on government time. I have heard many discussions from MSM and blogger types alike indicating their dislike for the Addicts.

Blogging is for people who feel they have an opinion that is not being expressed in the MSM, not for staffers to espouse the "official" government lines. I love reading blogs from many sources across the political spectrum, but I had a real problem with them doing it while I was paying them to be hacks for Today's NDP (seems to be a theme developing here!) Curtis Brown and Dan Lett have blogs, but their bosses allow this activity. Did Gary Doer say it was OK to do this on company time? Are these the official views of the NDP party? Enquiry minds want to know.

I think Donne's anticipated political career took a nose dive when rumours came out about his attachment to the Addict blog. Even NDP types turned on him. The odd thing was that is was because the writing style was so arrogant and not the fact he was doing it on taxpayer time. I welcome NDP, Tory and Liberal ideas as well as those outside the official brand politics to blog because it allows greater participation. What got everybody's nose out of joint with the Addicts was their absolute disdain and disrespect for media outlets that gave them a smooth ride during the Doer administration. Biting the hand that feeds you within a year of an election can't be good for business! Not sure how Harper's battle will turn out.

Maybe Donne and his friends are starting to get bored. Maybe they are getting frustrated at the tail end of a second term. Who knows and really, who cares! The bottom line is that if the Blackberry Staffers were making these posts on government computers on government times they might be in contravention of the Elections Finances Act (Manitoba). Wouldn't it be ironic if the so called "reformers" of the Act be the ones that break it?

Interesting. I just received a "heads up" that says the poll mentioned by the Blackberry Staffers in the Endless Spin Cycle that might even be worse than bloggin on company time. It seems piggy backing "election like" questions on union polls might be a big no no. Stay tuned.