11/06/08 01:21 pm ET
Update: The change.gov Web site was live again by late Thursday afternoon.
For a moment, the Obama transition team's new Web site change.gov -- which says it is "your source for the latest news, events, and announcements so that you can follow the setting up of the Obama administration" -- was up and running as promised. It looked like this:
No sooner had the site launched, however, it was down. Users trying to access the site got this message:
An inauspicious beginning to an administration hoping to use technology as a cornerstone to managing the government.
If you had a chance to get on the site, you would have learned that not only does it promise to provide the latest news, but also that "just as this historic campaign was, from the beginning, about you -- the transition process will offer you opportunities to participate in redefining our government."
The site asks the public to submit their stories and their "hopes and concerns." It also offered blogs and a video of Obama's victory speech in Chicago.
No news on why the site was down, but it could have something to do with overloaded servers. After all, Obama's victory has captured the world's attention.
Looks like we need some technology we can believe in -- the kind "Obama the campaign" relied on to build up a record campaign chest.
One last thing: Make sure you type in the site's URL correctly, unless you want to order something intimate for your wife or girlfriend. (This is reminiscent of the problem -- although not nearly as explicit -- that the White House faced with its URL years ago. The site whitehouse.com was a porn site, which undoubtedly surprised users who wanted the latest OMB circular.)
COMMENTS
Joe, It would appear the site change.gov is indeed legal. The verbiage below is from GSA's own web site re: their responsibilities in facilitating the presidential transition.
(http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/contentView.do?contentType=GSA_OVERVIEW&contentId=24614)
The Presidential Transition Acts of 1963 and 2000 give the General Services Administration (GSA) a prominent role in this process. They authorize the Administrator of GSA to provide the President-elect and the Vice-President-elect the services and facilities needed to assume their official duties.
Some of GSA’s responsibilities in support of the President-elect include:
Providing temporary office space, parking, furniture, telephones, furnishings, supplies, IT equipment, mail management, payroll, financial, contracting and other administrative services for the transition team;
Consulting with Presidential candidates prior to the general election, to develop a plan for computer and communications systems that will support the transition between the election and the inauguration;
Myan Urbiznis 11/10/08 02:21 pm ET
"People tend to get the government they deserve."
Agesilaus 11/07/08 08:13 am ET
It this website change.gov legal?
The General Services Administration issues .gov domains https://www.dotgov.gov/index.aspx
change.gov = 69.25.74.162
CustName: Blue State Digital
Address: 1000 Vermont Avenue, NW
Address: Suite 1000
City: Washington
StateProv: DC
PostalCode: 20005
Country: US
Joe 11/06/08 10:48 pm ET