The vote in this year’s election is for President of the United States. Our constitution is clear about the executive branch of government, and in that clarity refers to the person as President. Not pastor, not priest, not handicapper general. President.
Our constitution, in the 26th Amendment, also requires voters to be of a certain age, […]
It’s a dangerous world we live in, with disasters both natural and unnatural occurring all the time. At the heart of many in the latter category are the absence of logic, common sense or decency. Several news items today illustrate the point, and we’ve hit the trifecta - - no logic, no common sense, no […]
Former United States Senator and Democratic candidate for Vice President in 2004 John Edwards has become the most recent fellow caught in one of the oldest and most common predicaments among men. Joe America wouldn’t see his name in the news, print or screen, for such an indiscretion, but then again, Joe didn’t aspire to […]
Cats and dogs, oil and water, celebrities and politicians. It had seemed like everyone agreed these things don’t, or at least shouldn’t, mix well. You think you know something, and the next thing you know, you don’t.
Presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain thought he was being cute when with the merest whiff of a suggestion […]
Politics is politics, and sports is sports, but when you think about it for a moment, they do have a lot in common. Both are games, for instance. Both are based upon competition, with winners and losers. In sports, the objective is to destroy and humiliate the opponent using whatever means are at your disposal, […]
It is true in presidential politics the devil is always in the details, but sometimes it’s necessary and prudent to step back to see the entire board and not just the little square that happens to be you. It can be a sobering experience, or at least it can help restore reality even if for […]
In March of this year, Senator John McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, traveled to Europe and the Middle East, attempting in doing so to appear more “presidential” than the then-primary embattled Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Recently, he took his tour to Latin America, acting very presidential in the process once again.
His staff […]
Political Commentary Comments (0)
The political punch/counterpunch games between Senators John McCain and Barack Obama have remained amusing over these otherwise quiet weeks of corporate America’s vacation month. It’s been hard to tell and know of late at the gym that there is even a presidential election underway, though - - almost as though everyone has had enough and moved on to other things. Perhaps, though, it’s just everyone catching their breath for the mad run of autumn.
For the political junkie and those seemingly few following the election news, though, the bobbing and weaving that is the selection of running mate keeps things lively. Obama says he’s going to announce his selection by text messaging - - how “techie” of him, how hip. McCain’s campaign has rallies scheduled that raise speculation about his choice of running mate, too.
Neither wants to be the first, it seems - - each would rather counter-punch to steal the limelight from the other. First one to flinch loses. Politics is a game, which is both its strength and its weakness. That it is a game is less than flattering to the electorate, for it does not speak well of us that gaming us is a successful strategy. It does seem at the moment, though, that Obama is the better political athlete in this competition, a little slicker and more polished in his tactics than McCain.
It’s a moment in presidential elections when the choice of running mate is less important than the timing of the selection, the method of selection, and the counterpunch of the other party’s nominee. Form over substance, although that is a fair description of politics at times, too. Often, the substance of the running mate selection never becomes real, evaporating into the ether over time. How many of you can name Barry Goldwater’s running mate in 1964, or Hubert Humprhey’s running mate in 1968? Or Gerald Ford’s in 1976? At least those of you in my generation, anyway?
But at the moment, we have McCain and Obama circling each other, waiting, watching the other’s movement to discern the timing if not the name. The first one to chose will be counterpunched by the other in an effort to steal the thunder and the light and the news space. Any edge could help, and even a score card draw can make a difference.
Today’s poll results from CNN suggest Obama’s lead has diminished to three points. Can we know why? The Russion aggression in Georgia that puts the foreign policy inexperience of Obama into question? The recent drop in oil prices that diminishes Obama’s edge in voter confidence on economic issues? The Brett Favre trade to the Jets?
Assuming neither comes out of the VP round with a clear edge on timing, news space or substance, the polls are not likely to change. And a couple of decades later, only the really hard core politicos will remember the running mate of this year’s loser, and Trivial Pursuit will have some ready made material for some future release.
Harrison @ August 20, 2008
Social Observations Comments (0)
Sometimes it is with the very best and most innocent of intentions that the most moronic things happen in this world. And it’s not just the average Jacks of the world that come up with brain dead schemes, especially when it comes to marketing.
We’ve heard so many stories of the inadvertent faux pas caused by the differences in language and culture, and the translation goofs by advertising geniuses. Here are just a couple for your amusement, including one from today’s news:
♦ We all know the Colonel here in the States, and the goodness that is Kentucky Fried Chicken. Mashed potatoes, cole slaw, biscuits and fried chicken are close to divine. Seems “finger licking good” doesn’t travel well, though, or translate smoothly into the Chinese market, where the slogan came out as “eat your fingers off.”
♦ How about Coke? Well, not so good there, either. The Chinese translation initially went with “ke-kou-ke-la” because when spoken in Chinese it sounded close to “coca cola.” However, Coke was a little embarassed to learn that the phrase means “bite the wax tadpole.” They learned this, too, after printing thousands of signs.
Chagrined, but with a market the size of China to pursue, Coke persevered. After reviewing tens of thousands of Chinese characters, it came up with “ko-kou-ko-le.” This translated better into “happiness in the mouth.”
Today’s news brought us another story of advertising misjudgment. This time, it’s from Disney, a company with a certain image to uphold and maintain, one that supports clean and family-friendly entertainment and amusement. Those of my age bracket remember growing up in the ’50s and ’60s to the Disney show every Sunday night, and the Mickey Mouse Club show every afternoon at 3:00. We also, those of us men, remember the crushes we all had on Annette on the Mickey Mouse Club show. These shows were certainly family- and kid-friendly.
Well, someone at Disney came up with a new branded product, a line of panties for young girls. The panties were themed for a swimming pool scene from the Disney Channel hit movie,”High School Musical 2.” Sounds okay so far. The scene from the show that was depicted on the panties involved the main characters singing of their love for each other as they circled a swimming pool. Again, sounds okay so far.
The problem was with the text on the panties, which invited the reader to “Dive In.” Oops. The news does not report the fate of the person who came up with this idea, or the higher ups who gave the green light to the product.
Thankfully, though, they were not the same people who managed the Coke campaign in China. Imagine if the panties read “bite the wax tadpole,” or “happiness in the mouth.”
Let’s think things through, people. The best of intentions are not always enough.
Harrison @ August 18, 2008