Media Lizzy - Red Carpets Saw Dust DC Insiders

Halil: Before we start please some further information. Send me a few notes on your background: name, age, where you`re from, etc....

Lizzy: Hi, Halil! I’m Lizzy Blackney, I was raised primarily in Atlanta, Georgia and spent my summers as a child with family and friends in California & Oregon. I’m 34, and a recovering political advisor and consultant. Let`s Start !


Halil: When did you had the idea to start blogging?

Lizzy: I have been a closeted writer my whole life. Blogging seemed like a great way to write about politics & historical context for the campaign issues and fights we face in the US.


Halil: Would you like to share with us the URL of your first post?

Lizzy: My very first post from July 2005 has been deleted from the web but will be available in my book, due out later this month! (The book is Sex, Lies & Politricks) ! The earliest available is from September 2005, and can be found here: http://insidedcandredcarpets.blogspot.com/2005/09/autumns-equinox-political-scales-of.html


Halil: Where did you get your daily blog inspiration from?

Lizzy: The news, buzz from friends who work in the political & governmental trenches, my own life experiences as a political hack, a former Sailor, a Gold Star Wife & especially as a mom. Although, my loyalty to President Bush figures in to a lot of my writing. I have a very different perspective on him than a lot of other Republicans.

 
Halil: Describe your blog in three sentences.

Lizzy: Wow… that’s hard to do. Basically, it started out with just myself. Now I have several contributors, including a British gentleman who started with us just this week. We analyze political communications and strategies, we cover some happening in the entertainment industry yin Los Angeles and from Music Row in Nashville, Tennessee. Our heaviest focus right now is on the presidential nominating contests for both the Republican and Democrat parties.


Halil: Are there any topics you wouldn´t write about?

Lizzy: Nope. Bring it on. The more controversy, the better – as long as the discourse is respectful.


Halil: What kind of people read your blog and who should read it? How are their reactions?

Lizzy: I have very loyal readers! They are great. Most a Republican types, not "movement conservatives," liberals, progressives or Democrats. Comments are all over the page… sometimes I’ll get a right on. Usually, it’s angry anti-War folks – and they always call me a fascist. It’s a badge of honor for me. The more hate mail, the better. It means I’m doing my job.


Halil: What tools do you use for statistics? And how do they help you improve your blog?

Lizzy: I think we’ve got a Site Meter but its not super-reliable… and a wrap up of the stories each week goes out to my email list of about 2,000 folks. Recently, I discovered MyBlogLog – it’s great for extending the reach of my blog. I’m really interested in building bridges between the US and our Allies. There’s been a lot of misinformation, and a serious lack of real information, in the public domain. What ever my team can do to bridge that gap, I’ll lead the construction efforts.


Halil: Which of your blog posts had the most reactions from your readers?

Lizzy: Whenever I talk about the war on Terror, it brings out the really passionate comments. My pro-War, pro-Military stance ticks a lot of folks off. I find folks rarely do their homework… and so I take pride in educating them.


Halil: How many blogs do you have currently in your reader?

Lizzy: I read something from 22 blogs every day, at least twice a day when I am writing a column. Plus, I read news on more than a dozen sites.


Halil: The top 3 blogs you read?

Lizzy: 1. Hotline Blogometer , the Political Grind , and RedState – and Real Clear Politics for the best in OpEd reading…


Halil: Do you use any widgets? which ones?

Lizzy: MyBlogLog has my favorite widgets. They ROCK!