Twitter, the latest Web-based "social networking utility," offers users the opportunity to update each other on their whereabouts and activities, as long as they do it in 140 typed characters or less.

Of course, that's only how mere mortals use it. Put a tool like Twitter in the hands of Erick Erickson -- editor of redstate.com (which bills itself as "the most widely read right of center blog on Capitol Hill and ... the most cited right of center blog in the media"), 69th most influential conservative in the United States (according to London's Daily Telegraph) and member of the Macon, Ga. city council -- and Twitter becomes a way to discredit the conservative movement with a handful of characters left over.

O hai. Im in ur Congressez bannin ur aborshunz.

That’s right. Rep. Paul Broun, R-Athens, is now on Twitter.

Broun scoffed at the political power of new media when he ran in 2007. But now, not only can constituents follow his tweets, he has a blog at the conservative Web site RedState and his own YouTube channel.

Another thing Broun’s doing right is handling requests for inauguration tickets.