We've already seen how ever-present media and Internet-speed communication have made a macaca out of more than one campaign. And how more and more campaigns and parties are tightly managing their Internet presence. These people didn't grow up with the Internet, however. They're only reacting to how others are using it against them.

But as for you, you blog-posting, Facebook-profiled, GChat-addicted political activists, if Campus Progress has done its job, some of you will run for Senate some day, and your Internet history will yield a wealth of opposition research.

You know that Facebook "friend" you have who's a member of one too many socialist groups? Be ready for when you're accused of cavorting with communists in college. Your GMail chat log with your ex-girlfriend? Turns out she supports your opponent, so I hope you didn't say anything too racy…

While you're at it, better change your "religion" setting to something other than "I believe in punk rock." That might not play well with voters down the line. And the Google StreetView of someone coming out of the adult bookstore? Was that you? Doesn't matter. Voters just need to be convinced it could have been.

There are plenty of privacy settings to keep people you don't want from seeing your information, but:

1.) Lots of people aren't using them, as a random stroll through Facebook or MySpace pages shows, and

2.) Opposing campaign might just break into your accounts and get your data anyway.

Maybe there's some Facebook App developer out there right now writing a program to track the postings, connections, groups signups and friends lists of aspiring politicians.

We could even envision the creation of more sophisticated identity management services. Some already exist for getting your name to the top of a Google search amidst a slew of negative postings about you. Someday soon a promising law student or ambitious community organizer might hire a firm to track down all controversial postings, videos, and comments now before they make their political run in 5 or 10 years.

With good enough voice and face recognition software and the right search terms, it might be worth it to pay someone to scan tens of thousands of feeds looking for dirt to scrub.

Even so, learning now what not to share with the rest of the Internet might be your best strategy.