14 DAY TRIAL // The web should hardly be a new ‘frontier’ for politicians, but as the old saying goes, better late then never. Former US president George W. Bush has set up a Facebook Page which is already proving to be very popular. The former president, or more specifically, someone in his staff, has posted two entries so far, none of which are particularly interesting.
Written in the third person, Bush’s first post brings us up to date with what he’s been doing for the past year and a half. “President Bush has remained active. He has visited 20 states and 8 countries; given over 65 speeches; launched the George W. Bush Presidential Center; participated in 4 policy conferences through The Bush Institute; finished the first draft of his memoir, ‘Decision Points’; and partnered with President Clinton to establish the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund,” the entry reads.
The second status update is nothing more than a promotion for the former First Lady Laura Bush’s book. Still, these two entries have managed to spark more than 4,000 reactions in less than a day after they’ve been posted. And the Facebook page itself has been ‘liked’ by more than 70,000 Facebook users so far and there’s no sign of it stopping there. For comparison’s sake, the current US president Barack Obama’s Facebook Page has more 8.6 million likes, so Bush may have quite a bit of catching up to do.
Bush’s page has had its fair share of fans, but it hasn't been without its critics. While some are questioning whether it’s an official account, which it is, others are disappointed by the official tone of the first messages. Social media users are accustomed to a more direct approach and a personal touch. Many public figures aren’t ready for this sort of engagement and it may even be a good thing. Still, it’s a good first step for a politician who isn’t exactly seen as progressive or web-savvy. And, considering that many believe Obama’s Internet campaign contributed a great deal to him becoming president, it was a necessary step as well.