Of course functions can always bee added to existing platforms, but the real question is, can a better result be achieved by building from the ground up?

Also, Drupal gets mixed reviews as a platform, particularly from a usability standpoint.  Installation is the regularly cited biggie.

Personally, I was never that crazy about XML, because I think it puts the source code further out of reach for novices.

I just don't think Drupal is all that accessible of a platform.

The only thing I hate with MySQL is that the syntax is all over the damned place.  Look at the difference between the INSERT and UPDATE commands.  

Perhaps this is where MySQL kills people.

The point about the need to track member participation caught me.

This, though, requires something that isn't necessarily good to keep on a website (or would require massive security).

Then again, my bank gladly fires up their website to look up my history, so maybe I'm just paranoid.

Now, I say that as someone who used to use C++ binaries.  Now there's vulnerable.

PHP is actually less vulnerable than Perl, since Perl was never intended to be a web server scripting language.

I've seen more bad code in Perl than in PHP.  PHP covers your ass pretty nicely if you're willing to learn, and willing to write clean connect scripts.

The key is to use a lockdown connect script for anything outward facing.  I scrub everything at the GET and POST.  That works well.  We have a local kid who does a good job hacking into systems and he still hasn't gotten into our PHP CMS stuff.

After all, the core problem is that you'll never get enough decent techs to cover enough campaigns.

Mathematically, it's almost impossible, since you figure the better tech golfs are going to drift into business and ignore politics, or else drift toward the larger campaigns.

Hmmm.  

Here's a question to the techies: what are your thoughts on an AJAX type setup to further facilitate usability?

Or perhaps we're adding too many features and we need to think about building a Soviet tank instead of a spaceship.

I dunno.  

This must be super secret. Care to elaborate? I have been charged with creating a web site for my local Democratic Town Committee. Will this be free for official Democratic organizations? Will there be any set up fees?  Will I need a tech guru to set it up and install? Or is it as easy as movable type?

What can I do to get ready for this new software?  Who is behind this operation? More information please, MORE MORE MORE!

That's usually the first precursor of vaporware.

1. It's done by an unemployed database programmer.  Which basically means, it's done by a person either without talent, without experience, or without motivation.  

2. It gets nickel-and-dimed by a person with a business who is squeezing in coding whenever they can.

3. It gets talked about but never done.

Especially to smaller campaigns.

Generally, when they start tossing around stuff like "trial copy" and such, it usually means they want money, money, money.