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Change is Coming: Foreign Relations Committee Website Will Get Overhaul

Share / Recommend - Comment - Print - Wednesday, Jan 28 2009, 11:55AM

John Kerry.jpgI am standing down my protest against the lack of innovation and change in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's anachronistic and ineffective website.

Earlier today, I threatened to create a new Facebook page titled "1,000,000 Strong Against the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's Bad Website" if we didn't get some kind of nod that something new and more effective for users was being cooked up.

We got the nod. Change is on the way.

To his credit, Committee Chairman John Kerry also thinks that upgrading the site is a key priority, according to staffers with whom I have spoken today.

I want to thank new Senate Foreign Relations Committee Communications Director Frederick Jones for reaching out. I'm not going to quote his words other than to say that he intimated that he and the entire staff of the Committee are on the same page as I am regarding upgrading and enhancing the functionality of the site. He said it is a "top priority."

A new webmaster has just started with the Committee and will be working on improving the web operation, but it can't happen overnight (unless one happens to be working for the President on these sorts of things).

Many thanks to the Committee staff for connecting with the public on this. And The Washington Note looks forward to providing the first links to the new improved site as soon as it is ready to be unveiled.

-- Steve Clemons

« Previous Article - Note to Senate Foreign Relations Committee: Website NEEDS Overhaul
» Next Article - Madeleine Albright's International Migraines

Reader Comments (10) - post a comment

Posted by Spunkmeyer, Jan 28 2009, 12:17PM - Link

Dear god, that's the prospect of a design-by-committee from hell
for some webmaster/web designer.

Posted by Tahoe Editor, Jan 28 2009, 12:30PM - Link

You should axe Mr. Jones for some webmaster references.

Posted by Steve Clemons, Jan 28 2009, 12:43PM - Link

Just spoke to several people on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee...this will be a good project. And any change after what I have learned is "seven years" of no change will be excellent.

The webmaster turns out to be someone I know -- and will be great.

-- steve clemons

Posted by questions, Jan 28 2009, 2:39PM - Link

Steve,

You're a stimulus package of one!! Can you make one million more complaints and get one million more people hired to do stuff?!

(My present complaint is that anyone who ever had a hand in designing financial aid forms NEVER had to fill out the CSS Profile form AND the FAFSA form and the individual form for the school you end up going to!) Steve, couldja do something about this, too??!! It is, after all, one of the places where the public "interfaces" with the government and just wants to cry. (And I think it's on Obama's priority list -- make him move it up!! He's wealthy enough now that he's never going to have to fill these forms out.)

Posted by PissedOffAmerican, Jan 28 2009, 9:18PM - Link

Perhaps the idiot that designed your "CAPTCHA" maze could devise a similiar IQ test to subject the SFRC visitors to.

But then again, upon reflecting on our foreign policies, I find it doubtful the SFRC members would have the intelligence to navigate the CAPTCHA maze. Perhaps they better just stick to pretty colors and whatever format and script that Israel recommends.

I hope they are at least honest with the remodel, and incorporate an Israeli flag in the logo.

Hmmm, I wonder what a bunch of senators can spend on remodeling a website?

My bet????

$100000000,0000000000000,000000000,0000000000,0000000000000,000000000,0000000000,0000000000000,000000000,0000000000 and some odd cents.

Posted by readerOfTeaLeaves, Jan 29 2009, 12:28AM - Link

I thought you were joking till I clicked on the link to the SFRC site.
And when it came up, I just sat and stared in disbelief.

Like lipstick on a pig, and decent website can try to hide a host of
ills in an organization.
But that SFRC website is a national embarrassment.
Here's hoping the new webmaster has fun with it.

Here's hoping that they include some interactive, Flash-based
maps.
And that's only for starters.

Posted by Kathleen G, Jan 29 2009, 1:35PM - Link

Go Steve. Thanks

Posted by pauline, Jan 29 2009, 8:51PM - Link

I've said it elsewhere here, but a Senate or House committee who can't explain or account for the billions upon billions of taxpayer bailout money wouldn't know a good web designer over a bad one.

Let's start a grass-roots effort where citizens can recall idiot Congress people who don't know or use common sense economics, accounting, auditing and ethics. Testing of these rascals should be a requirement to run for office.

Just like Blaggo, many in congress need to lose their jobs. Lets do it by a recall vote.

Posted by Andrew Bennett, Feb 09 2009, 7:07PM - Link

Welfare for wall-street,Yes, we also need welfare for main street.

Posted by Andrew Bennett, Feb 09 2009, 7:09PM - Link

Welfare for wall-street,Yes, we also need welfare for main street.

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