Google has just opened a new Labs project, called In Quotes, to the public. The site allows users to compare quotes from various political figures, displaying key excerpts from speeches and interviews that they’ve given recently.
By default the site is presenting quotes from US Presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain, contrasting the things they’ve said on such issues as Iraq, marriage, abortion, and the economy. Users can click a “Spin” button to compare two randomly chosen quotes, or they can choose to cycle through them manually. All quotes are pulled from Google News stories that have appeared in the last few weeks. There are 20 political figures available in the United States version of the site, with other editions available for Canada, India, and the UK.
The site’s About page explains that the quotes are meant to reflect an unbiased view of the news, casting aside the analysis that is present in most reporting. This may be true, but the site doesn’t seem to be utilizing any algorithms to determine how each keyword is used - some of the “quotes” are paraphrased, while others are being attributed to someone who didn’t say them in the first place.
In any case, it’s still fun to play around with your own keywords. I’m partial to “lipstick”.
See all
Post
This seems like a great site, but I think the best way to learn about the candidates’ position is to read non-partisan summaries compiled by actual people. You get a more complete perspective.
Check out VoteGopher.com — it’s a great, non-partisan site where you can learn all about the candidates’ positions on the issues, not just portions of their positions through quotes.
How about this spin. FUCK BERNANKE, PAULSON, DODD, FRANK and SCHUMER.
FUCK THEM ALL. THEY ARE A BUNCH OF FUCKING PUSSIES.
We don’t need those fucking pussies watching out for our bank accounts. FUCK EM. They and their fucking ideas started this whole mess. They can kiss my ass.
Someone is using my account to promote vote Gopher. Vote Gopher obviously has some dishonest friends!
great google, Good luck to you!
I think it’s awesome how technology has changed politics over the past decade. This is a much needed addition to the list of informational sources for politics.
Technology in the wrong hands has caused elections to be stolen. This election
will be stolen as well. Voter transparency on the internet is whats needed and that is not rocket science. Our economy crumbles when politically organized crime syndicates run amuck. Gaggle could launch a online transparent voting system but dont count on it because gaggl is truly not interested in helping the masses who need it most.
VoteLocator.com
No, I don’t think the Democrats will be able to pull it off this year either.
If I ever had a doubt that the “don’t do evil” thing was pure marketing gimmick, now it’s factually confirmed.
Ralph Nader is running for president, he’s the highest 3rd party candidate in the polls, which effectively makes him #3 in the presidential race. He’s on the ballots in 45 States…
Wether or not you buy into the 2000 scapegoating, or the witch hunt (ie. “Nader’s crazy! Nader’s an egotistical scumbag! etc…”) is irrelevant. There’s no possible LOGICAL justification for the omission of this candidate. This is a prime, by the book, example of censorship people…
Technology is a tool, it can’t change anything itself, certainly not the elections. Don’t be blinded by the shiny new gizmos and look at the big picture…
How fun!
Obama 08′
And there you have it, the reason why the US is going down the drain summed up in 2 words… It would be brilliant if it were sarcasm, but I know from the “Obama 08″ that it isn’t…
Eh, it doesn’t work all that well. The quotes are surrounded by pretty loaded explanations, and the quotes end with “…” too often, leaving it up to you to view the source and find it.
And while I’m quite lazy, I do think that taking things out of context is one of the biggest problems with political dialogue. I’m kind of surprised at Google for doing this.. It seems like Monday morning at the staff meeting they said “We’re getting a lot of searches about the candidates… how can we join in?”
And we get “In Quotes” and the polling station/absentee voting dealies. Meh.
not hugely useful - but fun
God, do they need ui designers…
no?
Seriously. This is worse than engineer-designed UI. Kindergarten HTML level.
Spend some of those billions on aesthetics and usability, Google-Gods!
hmm. Seems to me Google is running out of places to go as this is truly an awful idea. Not only does this “service” add to our ridiculous soundbite culture, it let’s take a giant leap forward.
Another innovative product from Google. Lets hope they succeed with this too.
Google guys had a lot of innovative idea indeed. This is fun.
“Those who do not do politics will be done in by politics.”
George W. Bush - “No quotes about “taxes” available”
This explains a lot!
Right move on right time by Google. I think the site will get good number of visitors due to upcoming presidential election. But don’t know how they’ll manage it after that.
The UK Edition has a “Baldwin Spencer” in the list of politicians.
I’m pretty good on my UK politics, including historical UK political figures but have never heard of him.
Did a quick Wikipedia search and it turns out he’s Prime Minister of Antigua.
For those of you not too great on your geography - Antigua is not a part of the UK.
WTF?!
its not out there for everyone..
labs prod mean out for testing.. so do not expect a superior and final UI and everything workin great nd good..
I can not see it as a useful tool
If you like this, you should check out MyElectionChoices.com. It does something slightly similar, but doesn’t tell you who said the quote until after you decide whether you agree with it or not. That way you can learn a little about which candidate(s) you share similar views with.
very useful initiative. I thanks the author for sharing it with those whom don’t know about the google qoute.
Regards,