Check out this little gem from Austin Bay on John Kerry. The most important thing he says is that John Kerry is not read for a YouTube world. In other words, Kerry, and a lot of politicians, are accustomed to a helpful media that will drop mistakes and miscues, and help whitewash extreme statements, but they cannot depend on that anymore. CNN may be willing to drop a story that makes a politico look bad, but a million blog readers are going to see the video and write about and tell their friends about it.

I remember in a history class talking about how TV made all the difference when JFK ran against Nixon. JFK looked so nice on screen that people who only heard the radio broadcast of their debate said Nixon won handily, but people who watched the televised broadcast said JFK won.

Perhaps this is a sign of a new change. Myabe we won't care who looks better and more polished anymore, but instead who can think quick on their feet, avoid foot-in-mouth disease, and hold their own in blogging debates.

It's not just politics, though. Don't forget the ivory tower. Academics don't just have other academics looking over their anymore, now they have all those bloggers, many of whom have just as much expertise, if not more so, than an academic in the area they discuss. It's the long tail of learning, and anyone can do it.