=p
Posted on 10/17/2006 9:15:46 AM PDT by areafiftyone
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--HOTSOUP.com®, today announced that former President Bill Clinton, Senator Hillary Clinton, Governor Mitt Romney, and Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Karen Hughes, will join the Web site's discussions in the coming weeks and months. Also joining the lineup are entertainer Jon Bon Jovi, Producer/American Idol judge Randy Jackson, and Lead Pastor of the National Community Church, Mark Batterson.
"People want to get involved and participate in their communities, but they really don't know where to begin," said Jon Bon Jovi, lead singer of Bon Jovi. "There's so much noise and spin out there right now - they don't have a way to cut through that and have their opinions heard. Everybody talks about red states and blue states, but I think that most people think of themselves as purple. They just want an opportunity to talk about the issues that matter to them and their families."
HOTSOUP.com is an interactive community that seeks to level the playing field of public discourse by bridging the divide between the nation's insiders and outsiders. Using social networking technology, HOTSOUP.com will connect America's 30 million Opinion Drivers, from household names to grassroots, community influencers, allowing them to engage in smart, productive dialogue about the most pressing issues of the day. Anyone and everyone will have the chance to make a statement, take a stand and have a say in how American institutions can work better.
HOTSOUP.com was formed to unite all Opinion Drivers, enabling millions of Americans to connect over meaningful issues regardless of factors such as income, profession, or political leanings.
"Today's leaders are found in State Houses, as well as coffee houses. They shape everything from public policy to where people eat," said Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. "Having a place where people from all walks of life can connect and discuss the issues they face will provide unprecedented opportunities to make a positive impact in our communities."
Here's what others had to say:
Karen Hughes, Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs: "The challenges America faces in the world today are complex, and we need the help of grassroots citizens to share our nation's story with audiences across the world. I hope members of this Internet community post their ideas and videos at HOTSOUP.com to help me better explain our country's values."
Randy Jackson, talent judge on American Idol: "Americans want their opinions to count, regardless of whether that pertains to who wins a talent competition or how their legislator should vote on a bill. HOTSOUP.com provides a new, exciting opportunity for all of us to stand up and be counted."
Mark Batterson, lead pastor of the National Community Church: "People are drawn to organized religion because they want to be part of a community that values and respects them. HOTSOUP.com will unite people nationwide, allowing them to respectfully discuss important issues, and foster that sense of community they so desire."
HOTSOUP.com was created by political and internet veterans from both sides of the aisle. The co-founders are:
ABOUT HOTSOUP.com
HOTSOUP.com is the premier online community for the millions of influencers who want a say in how to improve America. Harnessing the power of social networking technology, HOTSOUP community Members discuss and debate the topics that are relevant to their lives and critical to our country's organized institutions - from politics and business, to religion and the media. A community comprised of involved, passionate, and concerned individuals, HOTSOUP will turn the pathways of influence in this nation upside down as community Members help rewrite the national agenda and leaders engage with their constituencies in new ways.
INITIAL HOTSOUP.com PANELISTS
ACADEMIA/LEGAL/RESEARCH
Jon Berry, author
Nick Eberstadt, American Enterprise Institute
Gordon Gee, Vanderbilt University
Jacob Hacker, Yale University
Tamar Jacoby, Manhattan Institute
Ed Keller, KellerFay Group
Michael Lomax, United Negro College Fund
Xiaoyan Zhao, GfK NOP
BUSINESS
Scott Heiferman, Meetup.com
Lloyd Hill, Applebee's International
John Kotter, Havard Business School
Jack Leslie, Weber Shandwick
Elon Musk, Space Exploration Technologies
Steve Parrish, Altria
EDUCATION/ENVIRONMENT/SCIENCE
Ian Broverman, Bethesda, Md.
Steve Cochran, Environmental Defense Fund
Francis Collins, National Institutes of Health
Kevin Knobloch, Union of Concerned Scientists
Carl Pope, Sierra Club
Margaret Spellings, Secretary of Education
Mary Tierney, American Institutes for Research
Marion Wright Edelman, Children's Defense Fund
ENTERTAINMENT/SPORTS
Lance Armstrong, cyclist
Berkeley Breathed, cartoonist
Gloria Cesal, artist
Davis Guggenheim, director
Randy Jackson, American Idol
Jon Bon Jovi, musician
Norman Lear, producer
John Ondrasik, musician
Bradley Whitford, actor
Jack Valenti, Motion Picture Association
FOREIGN AFFAIRS/NATIONAL SECURITY
Ian Bremmer, Eurasia Group
Charlie Brown, Citizens for Global Solutions
Tom Carothers, Carnegie Endowment
John Diamond, Woodrow Wilson Center
Al Felzenberg, 9/11 Commission
Brian Katulis, Center for American Progress
Peter Mandaville, George Mason University
Bobby Muller, Veterans for America
Tom Newcomb, Tiffin University
John Terzano, The Justice Project
Garett Reppenhagen, Veterans for America
Jamie Rubin, former Assistant Secretary of State
Strobe Talbott, Brookings Institution
GRASSROOTS/COMMUNITY
Heidi Boynton, Capitola, Calif.
John Bridgeland, Civic Enterprises
Bobby Shriver, DATA/(Red)
Tim Shriver, Special Olympics
Mary Shull, Pittsburgh
ELECTED & PARTY OFFICIALS
Dick Armey, FreedomWorks
John Ashcroft, former attorney general
Evan Bayh, United States senator
Donna Brazile, Democratic strategist
Jane Campbell, former mayor of Cleveland, OH
Adam Ciongoli, former counselor to the AG
Bill Clinton, former president of the United States
Hillary Clinton, United States senator
Henry Cisneros, former Housing secretary
Michael Coleman, mayor of Columbus, OH
Howard Dean, Democratic Party chairman
Ken Duberstein, former WH chief of staff
Joe Gaylord, Republican strategist
Ed Gillespie, former Republican Party chair
Newt Gingrich, former House Speaker
Mike Huckabee, governor of Arkansas
Karen Hughes, under secretary of State
Steve Lombardo, pollster
Mary Matalin, Republican strategist
Flo McAfee, Democratic strategist
John McCain, United States senator
Scott McClellan, former WH press secretary
Mike McCurry, former WH press secretary
Ken Mehlman, Republican Party chair
Minyon Moore, Democratic strategist
Barack Obama, United States senator
John Podesta, former WH chief of staff
Bill Redpath, Libertarian Party chair
Ed Rendell, governor of Pennsylvania
Bill Richardson, governor of New Mexico
Mitt Romney, governor of Massachusetts
Jeanne Shaheen, former governor of NH
Andy Stern, president of SEIU
RELIGION
Bob Buford, Leadership Network
Mark Batterson, National Community Church
David Beckmann, Bread for the World
Contact:
Louder Than Words Rich Polt or Tricia McKenna, 781-487-0002 hotsoup@louderthanwords.com
What is Hotsoup.com?
Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold up - Fournier isn't writing anti-Bush crap anymore? Did he get canned?
HOTSOUP.com is the premier online community for the millions of influencers who want a say in how to improve America. Harnessing the power of social networking technology, HOTSOUP community Members discuss and debate the topics that are relevant to their lives and critical to our country's organized institutions - from politics and business, to religion and the media. A community comprised of involved, passionate, and concerned individuals, HOTSOUP will turn the pathways of influence in this nation upside down as community Members help rewrite the national agenda and leaders engage with their constituencies in new ways.
=p
Waiter, there's an (unzipped) fly in my Hotsoup.
Anybody go to the site and try to register for emails? I was told I'm not "authorized" to view the site.
I tried and I can't get on either. Maybe I have to be a Democrat?
I even went with my office email address. Did email them though and will see if I get a response.
Maybe its not set up completely yet.
Where's Peter Paul???
And this is the solution? Oy!
Received a reply telling me that they will make sure I'm on their listserve for Hotsoup.com updates.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.