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Question of the day

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Bill Dennis and I are working on a new classifieds section for the Capitol Fax blog. We finally settled on the program we want and he’ll begin work over the weekend.

I figure we’ll have most of the usual types of classified ads, with a few new twists, but I’m wondering if there are any special categories that you’d like to use.

Please try to refrain from overtly snarky suggestions. I’m trying to make this as community-friendly as possible, so I need your help.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Feb 2, 06 @ 5:35 am

Comments

[Deleted]

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Feb 2, 06 @ 7:00 am
Hey, I asked that you keep the snark to a minimum. I’m serious about this.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Feb 2, 06 @ 7:18 am
What about internship opportunities for college students? Jobs in the public private sector that relate to state governemnt and a place where people can list their cubs tickets?

Regardless of what you put up, this is a great idea.

Comment by Krenzler Thursday, Feb 2, 06 @ 7:47 am
Ignore the first poster Rich, some people just don’t get it.

Classified are a great idea…job postings, internships, etc would be great to see…both in DC and Springfield. Can’t wait to see it.

Comment by Paul Hewson Thursday, Feb 2, 06 @ 8:16 am
I read Craigs List daily. I only wish there was something similar for smaller towns.

Comment by shelbyville Thursday, Feb 2, 06 @ 8:22 am
Damn.

Now I want to know what the first commenter said.

Seriously, the comparision to Craigs List inrigues me, because there are communities CL doesn’t even mention, like Peoria.

Comment by Bill Dennis Thursday, Feb 2, 06 @ 9:12 am
How about political jobs - even anonymously. Whether you be R or D, there is definitely a culture of “not what you know, its who you know.” There are certainly a lot of folks who would love to have paid (even if measley - because that’s usually what it is) jobs with campaigns, but don’t know where to begin. And while the caucuses and the guv campaigns may run tightly closed ships, there are probably some outsider or low-dollar races where people might be able to cut their teeth.

I suspect this may be in the internship line - but it’s something I would have loved to have access to in my 20s.

Comment by Anon. Thursday, Feb 2, 06 @ 9:21 am
Just to clarify on the above - by anonymously, I mean a description rather than a named candidate, so they can seek job-hunters without having their business all out in the open.

I suppose it could go both ways - with job-seekers offering their services as well.

Comment by Anon. Thursday, Feb 2, 06 @ 9:23 am
Missed Connections. For example —

You: An independent, swing voter. Me: Handsome first-term governor.
I noticed you giving me the eye when at my All Kids news conference. But then you wandered away when the topic of funding came up. If you are ever in Chicago, I would love to get together with you.
– ‘Puffy’

While this post is overtly snarky, I hope it isn’t overly snarky.

Comment by So-Called "Austin Mayor" Thursday, Feb 2, 06 @ 10:12 am
Honestly, I think a Young Springfield Social Calender should be included. This town is beyond boring, especially on the weekends when everyone takes off.

Comment by Bored Thursday, Feb 2, 06 @ 11:07 am
I agree with Krenzler’s ideas above…internships and jobs, plus some of the common areas like timckets, etc.

Comment by the wonderboy Thursday, Feb 2, 06 @ 11:15 am
Does anyone know how to search for salaries of state government positions without doing a FOIA?

Comment by Peoria Gridrion Thursday, Feb 2, 06 @ 11:22 am
The obvious categories:
Political fundraisers (both solicitations or announcements of events and people who do the fundraising work)
Lobbying and/or campaign support service providers (grassroots, mail, phone banks, pollsters, Springfield shared offices, etc.)
Campaign consultants
Etc.

My advice would be to buy the latest issue of Campaign and Elections mag and “borrow” some advertising ideas.

An informal board, such as a “CapFaxList” modeled after Craig’s List, might be very effective, but I’m not sure about the revenue model. (Capitol Fax is a for-profit business afterall.)

But frankly, the “Capitol Fax Personals” suggested above may prove to be most interesting, lucrative and “snarky” of all.

Comment by Anon sequitur Thursday, Feb 2, 06 @ 11:33 am
Automobiles.

Also, an RSS search feature would be nice to have.

Comment by Marie Carnes Thursday, Feb 2, 06 @ 12:38 pm
Peoria Gridrion,
Go to the Comptroller’s website. You can e-mail requests on gov’t employee salaries. From what I’ve heard, the response comes back within a day or two. Beware, this doesn’t work if you’re asking about a contractual employee

Comment by Walking Wounded Thursday, Feb 2, 06 @ 12:51 pm
Political jobs, personal ads, social calendars, cars, restaurant guides with reviews, and especially somewhere to live.

Comment by homeless Thursday, Feb 2, 06 @ 3:18 pm
I think that you should avoid most of what Craig’s list does…people can look on Craig’s List or in their paper if they want to buy a car. Cap Fax has carved out a niche with political junkies–so I think the classifieds should, as much as possible, have to do with things either going on in Springfield or with politics (political jobs, political events, maybe short term apts in Springfield?, and of course, the personals–which sound great, especially if you include “missed connections”). Let the snarkiness ensue.

Comment by chicagogirl Thursday, Feb 2, 06 @ 3:20 pm
Intimate encounters section?? haha

Comment by Elvis Thursday, Feb 2, 06 @ 3:29 pm
Fundraisers is a good idea. But seriously Rich a good moneymaker would be a pay-to use political job board. Job posters pay you and the job seekers would have to pay too.

Great idea Rich good luck

It’s a win win for Rich.

Comment by Goodbye Napoleon Thursday, Feb 2, 06 @ 4:04 pm
How about issue information or research papers - campaigns, candidates needing to fill out questionairs, and policy office are always looking for these types of things. It would be nice to buy it without having to deal with the smart wonk who wrote it.

Comment by Research Thursday, Feb 2, 06 @ 5:24 pm
In regard to Anonymous comment at 9:23 AM, I would think that everyone that was interested in helping a political candidate for pay (or for no pay) would still want to know which candidate they were offering to lay their credibility with friends and community on the line for. I can’t imagine offering to help a candidate that I didn’t believe in, no matter what they paid me. Unless the candidate was willing to let you know their identity so you knew who was seeking campaign help, it would seem that he/she could be wasting their time. Perhaps, I must not understand something?

Comment by Beowulf Thursday, Feb 2, 06 @ 5:40 pm
You gotta have a lost and found.

“Lost five votes on HB123. Reward for their safe return, no questions asked.”

Or is that too snarky?

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Feb 2, 06 @ 10:12 pm
WANTED: Volunteers.

Please contact the Campaign to Draft Edwin Eisendrath to the IL Republican Party.

Andy McKenna, Chairman

Comment by genxpundit Friday, Feb 3, 06 @ 12:19 am