• by Gavin O'Malley , March 9, 2005

Condoleeza Rice, a leather-clad foreign policy dominatrix? Sure. Or at least according to screenwriter and lawyer Erik Huey, whose liberal lyrics could be seen and heard online yesterday as he spoofed Nancy Sinatra's classic "These Boots Were Made For Walkin" on the debut of DemsTV.com.

Democratic bloggers, consultants, and activists are producing and starring in the new weekly Web video show, which premiered Tuesday. The 20-minute weekly online political talk show-- described by Dan Manatt, a Democratic political consultant who created and will co-produce the show, as "part talk, part game, part 'Daily Show with Jon Stewart'"--will be available online to download every Tuesday afternoon.

"Democrats need new leadership and new communications tools to fight back against the right- wing media machine," Manatt explained.

The first show offered up several Democratic jokes at the Bush administration's expense, as bad techno music played in the background. Other themes that Manatt said will be touched on every week included a summary of the GOP's possible 2008 presidential candidates, panelists' picks for the "blogger of the week," and predictions of who will be the most important Democratic leaders in the coming years.

"DemsTV aims to inform, entertain, and inspire Democrats to make their voices heard in new and innovative ways," said Jonah Seiger, DemsTV.com's other producer.

DemsTV has no formal relationship with the Democratic National Committee, Air America Radio, or ex-vice president Al Gore's new TV venture, said Manatt, who described DemsTV as an independent for-profit media company. DemsTV would welcome advertisers, but Manatt said he is just hoping that revenue generated from a blog ad network will cover the cost of streaming.

Manatt--who said he has no plans to quit his day job as a consultant, and is shooting the show from his home--explained that the declining costs of distribution, production and talent, along with the spread of broadband, is making the previously impossible possible. "This is really video blog that other bloggers are encouraged to link to," Manatt said.

DemsTV.com plans to expand its program offerings to include video blogs, "Red State commentary," and live competitions for new talent, Manatt said.