ABSTRACT
This chapter revisits four themes to reset the stage for what often turned out to be unrealistic and hyped Internet expectations. The role that the media play in American democracy is unquestioned. Exhaustively studied television replays of the Kennedy-Nixon debates show that imagery is often more powerful than substance for determining ascendancy. While political consultants and media conglomerates developed Web sites and e-commerce experts zeroed in on likely fund-raising and advertising targets, everyday people played the Internet version of prospecting for gold. Cybersquatters bought domain names, speculating that the candidates would want them and would be willing to pay. The general emphasis was to engage the Web users, making them feel like delegates. Political and news Web sites would offer streaming video coverage and live audio feeds of nightly sessions. Visitors to sites could download archived speeches, chat online with others, and interview delegates and journalists.
