I posed a sequence of questions focused on bloggers and blogging, since the Cindy Sheehan phenomenon was probably the first major political news event to capture the attention of American public after blogging had entered the media mainstream with the 2004 Presidential Election.

How large did bloggers figure in your view of the media prior to the Cindy Sheehan story? What role did you see bloggers filling, if any?

Both of us are media veterans and we realized early on that blogs would change the media landscape. The CBS debacle with false documents gave great credibility to bloggers. The Summer of Cindy was a wild ride in the blogosphere. The opinions racing around the Web were wonderful, if not sometimes too bawdy. We saw a real explosion when Cindy's in-laws released a letter to Melanie saying they disagreed with Cindy's tactics. Immediately, the leftists decried the document as a fake. But they were wrong, as they ultimately were in their assessment of Cindy.

The media also ignored Cindy's opponents until Melanie received the letter and the blogs got crazy on them. ABC, CBS, NBC all called Melanie and demanded to know who her sources were. Yes, the same media who never demanded the source of Deepthroat or now the Foley IMs.

Did that view during the Cindy Sheehan story? Why? Were there specific incidents or stories?

Our view didn't change much during the Sheehan story. But it was much more personal because we were involved. So you could monitor the truths and outright lies that spread.

Our feelings of support for our troops became much more intense and personal as we read the very same feelings in bloggers around the world.

Did you characterize bloggers following the Sheehan story in general categories?

The characterization didn't change much. You have the lefties and the conservatives. The anti-war folks were kneejerk when it came to supporting Cindy Sheehan - no matter what. More conservative bloggers seemed to measure their responses. Some thought Sheehan was a traitor, but most empathized with her horrible loss.

How would contrast the way bloggers followed the Sheehan story versus the main stream media?

Our research found that bloggers genuinely did a better job of journalism than the mainstream media. Just as bloggers uncovered the fake documents CBS news and Dan Rather tried to use against President Bush, they ferreted out other nuggets of truth. One example of the new media finding facts was Kristinn Taylor at FreeRepublic.com finding out that Sheehan had changed her story when it came to meeting President Bush the first time. As professional journalists, we appreciate the depth of work done by bloggers.

Did you note a difference in the way bloggers in the United States commented on the story versus those in other countries? If there were differences, what did they suggest to you?

Bloggers from outside of the United States followed the same patterns as those inside the United States with one exception: you. Outsiders of the hate-America first crowd of course sided with Cindy Sheehan. She was a media star for Al-Jazeera. As a Canadian, you really filled out the story and investigated it to depths that no mainstream news outlet did. Amazing how you could do that with limited resources and being thousands of miles away.

Did either side of the blogging world -- right vs. left -- generally understand Sheehan better than the other?

It is true that people from both sides took their cheap shots. But as mentioned before, we saw a pure instinctual response from the left: How dare you question the motives of a grieving mother? The right wanted to find out the details. Why did she change her story about meeting President Bush? Why did her family speak out against her? Is this woman really a good representative for the Gold Star parents?

Sheehan was seen by many to have used by one side or the other. Do you think bloggers used Sheehan? How? Were they successful?

The right did use Cindy Sheehan to put a face to a destructive message that undermined troop morale and endangered their lives overseas and American lives here at home. Cindy and her professional handlers made sure to use the bloggers to shape her Peace Mom image.

How would you characterize the way bloggers followed the Sheehan story from the left and from the right? Is there any reason to believe either side adds value to a national debate like the one Sheehan created?

We spoke some about this earlier. Bloggers always add value to national debate, even when they get it absolutely wrong. Discussion that doesn't deteriorate into sewer talk is especially helpful and telling.

A self-editing mechanism exists naturally in the blogosphere, unlike in the MSM. Bloggers correct each other almost instantaneously, as the MSM will continue with its self-righteous king-of-the-hill position and ignore blatant errors in reporting.

During the summer of Sheehan, was there a blogging high point? Low point?

One blogging high point was the purely grassroots pro-troops effort behind the "You Don't Speak for me, Cindy!" tour. This effort was put together by Melanie and Move America Forward, with help from the FreeRepublic.com in less than two weeks. Police estimated that 5,000 people showed up in Crawford from around the country to protest against Cindy.

Low points are death threats, name calling, assaults on people's physical issues. This happened on all sides and it does nothing to further the debate or understanding. We personally had death threats, attacks on our families, and every bit of foul language one can imagine. We also saw attacks on Cindy Sheehan's looks. This type of banter shows nothing but ignorance and a void of real ideas.

Do you think bloggers were used by either side? If so, who used bloggers more effectively?

Both sides were quite effective in using blogs. The Michael Moore left was a big power behind getting Cindy's name spread around the world. He and George Soros and the John Kerry campaign ensured that Cindy never lacked for money or high-powered PR people. It was a slick campaign that included blogs.

Again, bloggers put 5,000 people in Texas. That's cooking with gas. The blogs were on fire.