I don't know about you, but I have nightmares about Rand Paul, Sharron Angle and Jerry Brown as a result of the onslaught of political ads on television these past few weeks. And, with less than a week to go, there literally isn't enough time in the day on some television stations to meet the demand for political advertising.
The din of democracy must have the Founding Fathers rolling over in their graves! TV Ad Week, a trade publication, estimates that $2 billion dollars will be spent on political ads that air on local television stations throughout the country. And, in many cases, they have generated a great deal of buzz among possible voters. The 2010 midterm elections appear to be this year's break out hit "Reality Show."
Elections will be held for 37 Senate and 37 Gubernatorial seats, and the entire House of Representatives, 435 seats. No one seems immune from the reach of political advertising this year. This is especially good news for TV stations that were clobbered by the economic downturn and are now making out like bandits. Especially since TV Ad Week estimates another $1 billion will be spent on so-called "issue" advertisements.
No doubt reflecting the polarization of the country, many campaign commercials have taken on a more negative tone this election year. In fact, there is a consistency in messaging across the country for candidates from each party. "ObamaCare is socialized medicine,” a Republican claim, while many Democrats say that their opponents want to "privatize Social Security."
What is most alarming it the trend toward personal attacks. For instance, one ad attacked Rand Paul for "worshipping the god Aqua Buddha," while another questioned how Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid earned his wealth. There is no such thing as "you went too far" in political advertising.
Of course, political advertising has gone viral, and it is paying off big time for Internet companies. Whether on TV or on You Tube, candidates want a message that breaks through the political noise and connects with voters. The results can be a bit outrageous.
For instance, West Virginia's Democratic candidate for the Senate, Joe Manchin, fired a bullet through "Obama's Cap-and-Trade Bill." Nevada's Republican candidate for the Senate, Sharron Angle, has an ad that shows evil looking young men when complaining about Senator Harry Reid's position on immigration. Pennsylvania's Democratic Senate candidate Joe Sestak, holding a bag of dog poop, compares cleaning up after his dog to cleaning up his opponent's economic mess.
Polls indicate that most Americans say they are against negative ads. In fact, a recent Rasmussen poll shows that 58% of those surveyed said they would “vote for the other candidate” because of a negative poll. But political consultants know that negative ads do work. And these ads can be a decisive blow in a close race. One pundit quipped, “Every dollar spent on a positive ad is wasted!”
Come Wednesday the intensity, the insanity, of political advertising will go into hibernation. Viagra and Tums will return to prominence, a welcome relief. But, with the explosion of media outlets across all platforms, and the increasingly enormous amounts of money pouring into political campaigns, get ready for the 2012 elections!
ALSO POSTED ON: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2010/10/29/joe-peyronnin-rand-paul-sharron-angle-jerry-brown-reality-ad-week-aqua-buddha/
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Read Before Voting
With the midterm elections one week off, it appears Republicans will take control of the House of Representatives and come close in the Senate. While such an outcome would be bad news for the Democrats, it could also trigger a fight for control of the Republican Party between traditional party members and the "Tea Party" wing.
The Republican leadership is so confident of a sweeping victory that they have already shifted their focus on to the 2012 presidential election. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell bluntly told the National Journal, “The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president.” So defeating President Obama is more important to Republicans than "jobs, jobs, jobs" and improving the economy. It is more important to Republicans than immigration reform, the threat of terrorism against America, its burgeoning deficit or its wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Republicans have the "Tea Party" to thank for a large part of their success this midterm. The newly constituted Republican Party will populate Congress with some very interesting characters, to put it mildly. The good news is that it will be a windfall for stand up comedians.
But most Americans may not be laughing when they come to realize exactly what's on the Republican agenda. Of course, the newly constituted Republican Party will want less government. For instance, they want to privatize Social Security, Medicare and Veteran's care. They also want to end the federal minimum wage.
Republicans will immediately push to overturn Health Care Reform legislation passed earlier this year. This would free health insurance companies to deny coverage to people with "pre-existing" conditions, deny coverage for those who lose their jobs and to deny coverage to 30 million Americans who do not currently have health insurance. It would mean an end to controlling health care costs. Health companies would again be able to rapidly raise premiums and exclude their coverage to all but the healthy and wealthy.
Republicans will want to deregulate banking and financial companies. Important financial reform legislation passed by Congress would be overturned freeing bankers to return to their old ways of making money. Remember how that movie ended last time?
Republicans probably couldn't do much to undo the help President Obama gave to the American auto companies now that they have found new life and are adding jobs. And the GOP will not be able to get back "Stimulus" money that went to preserve tens of thousands of jobs across the country and help states through their financial crises. But Republicans would try to shut down the Department of Education, and shift the responsibility to the states. So much for America achieving uniform educational outcomes.
Republicans will want to extend to all Americans the Bush Tax cuts, scheduled to lapse at the end of the year, even though it will add $4 trillion dollars to the deficit over 10 years. Of course most Americans agree with President Obama that the cuts should apply to only to the first $250,000 of an individual's income. That would reduce the impact on the deficit by $700 billion over the next decade. But the Republicans want to make sure the rich get every penny possible to avoid class warfare.
Of course, a few dozen of America's richest oilmen, bankers and business leaders have been anonymously pouring record amounts of campaign money into the GOP, targeting close races and underwriting continuous attack ads. One Republican called it carpet-bombing and sniper attacks.
But for Republicans, victory in one or both houses of Congress will mean increased responsibility. It will mean they will have to actually declare specifically what their legislative agenda is for next year. It will likely also ignite a fight for control of the party between the center and the far right. These factors will open up opportunities for Democrats and make Senator McConnell's one stated goal, the defeat of President Obama, impossible in 2012.
The Republican leadership is so confident of a sweeping victory that they have already shifted their focus on to the 2012 presidential election. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell bluntly told the National Journal, “The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president.” So defeating President Obama is more important to Republicans than "jobs, jobs, jobs" and improving the economy. It is more important to Republicans than immigration reform, the threat of terrorism against America, its burgeoning deficit or its wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Republicans have the "Tea Party" to thank for a large part of their success this midterm. The newly constituted Republican Party will populate Congress with some very interesting characters, to put it mildly. The good news is that it will be a windfall for stand up comedians.
But most Americans may not be laughing when they come to realize exactly what's on the Republican agenda. Of course, the newly constituted Republican Party will want less government. For instance, they want to privatize Social Security, Medicare and Veteran's care. They also want to end the federal minimum wage.
Republicans will immediately push to overturn Health Care Reform legislation passed earlier this year. This would free health insurance companies to deny coverage to people with "pre-existing" conditions, deny coverage for those who lose their jobs and to deny coverage to 30 million Americans who do not currently have health insurance. It would mean an end to controlling health care costs. Health companies would again be able to rapidly raise premiums and exclude their coverage to all but the healthy and wealthy.
Republicans will want to deregulate banking and financial companies. Important financial reform legislation passed by Congress would be overturned freeing bankers to return to their old ways of making money. Remember how that movie ended last time?
Republicans probably couldn't do much to undo the help President Obama gave to the American auto companies now that they have found new life and are adding jobs. And the GOP will not be able to get back "Stimulus" money that went to preserve tens of thousands of jobs across the country and help states through their financial crises. But Republicans would try to shut down the Department of Education, and shift the responsibility to the states. So much for America achieving uniform educational outcomes.
Republicans will want to extend to all Americans the Bush Tax cuts, scheduled to lapse at the end of the year, even though it will add $4 trillion dollars to the deficit over 10 years. Of course most Americans agree with President Obama that the cuts should apply to only to the first $250,000 of an individual's income. That would reduce the impact on the deficit by $700 billion over the next decade. But the Republicans want to make sure the rich get every penny possible to avoid class warfare.
Of course, a few dozen of America's richest oilmen, bankers and business leaders have been anonymously pouring record amounts of campaign money into the GOP, targeting close races and underwriting continuous attack ads. One Republican called it carpet-bombing and sniper attacks.
But for Republicans, victory in one or both houses of Congress will mean increased responsibility. It will mean they will have to actually declare specifically what their legislative agenda is for next year. It will likely also ignite a fight for control of the party between the center and the far right. These factors will open up opportunities for Democrats and make Senator McConnell's one stated goal, the defeat of President Obama, impossible in 2012.
Go San Francisco Giants!
One year ago July, Zoe and I were given the opportunity of a lifetime by San Francisco Giants' president Larry Baer.
Susan and I eloped at San Francisco's city hall in 1984 immediately following the Democratic Nation Convention. Susan and I were covering the convention for CBS News.
In July 2009 I arranged to take Susan and Zoe to San Francisco for a twenty-fifth wedding anniversary celebration. I contacted a former CBS colleague of mine, Larry Baer, who is now president of the San Francisco Giants. He arranged for me to buy three second row box seats right next to the Giants dugout.
The night before the game Susan was recalled to New York by CBS News to produce an instant "Michael Jackson Special" on the singer's life and very sudden and suspicious death. So Zoe and I attended the game, along with our friend Mark Larkin. We all ended up sitting in the front row for several innings.
Suddenly, in the middle of the fourth inning, the scoreboard revealed the following message, "Happy Anniversary to Joe and Susan Peyronnin from Your SF Giants!" I was able to capture and email Susan a picture of the scoreboard. What a thrill for all of us.
So this is a brief explanation of why I, a lifelong and much suffering Cubs fan, am pulling for the Giants to win it all. I have seen Willie Mays, Willie McCovery and even Bobby Thompson play in Wrigley Field. What a great tradition.
We are big fans of Larry Baer, the Giants organization and beautiful San Francisco. Go Giants!
Friday, October 8, 2010
THE EXTERMINATOR
This one hits home!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SURma5PlfGs&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SURma5PlfGs&feature=player_embedded
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Dysfunctional Democrats
Congress is fleeing Washington for their local districts to campaign for the upcoming Midterm elections. But an overwhelming majority of Americans are not likely to vote November 2, despite the fact that the outcome will have serious consequences for them.
Republicans are counting on the Tea Party movement to put them over the top in many key races. They are embracing so-called Tea Party candidates who believe evolution is a myth, float "second amendment remedies" to win back government and talk of repealing the Civil Rights Amendment. "The political class is really dysfunctional," former Florida Governor Jeb Bush observed in an interview on MSNBC. Well governor, if Democratic voters sit out this Midterm election, the young, Hispanic, African American and blue-collar workers, you haven't see anything yet!
Should Republicans gain control of one or both houses of Congress they will set about to dismantle President Obama and all of his legislative achievements. They will work to unwind regulatory reform and oversight so that Wall Street firms and the banking industry can return to their profitable practices of the past.
Republicans will immediately attempt to repeal the historic Affordable Care Act and bring and end to health care reform. That means insurance companies will again be able to set lifetime caps, will be able to deny coverage to children with pre-existing conditions, and will be able to bar parents from keeping their children on their health care policy until they are 26. That also means that more than 30 million uninsured Americans will have no health care coverage, other than the local emergency room. And it means that health care costs will continue to skyrocket for all Americans.
Republicans will bring a halt to stimulus spending, much of which went to help states keep teachers, policemen and firemen employed. And Republicans will attempt to make major cuts in education spending, just at a time when America's students are falling behind many of those in other countries.
How will Republicans turn the American economy around? Start with extending all of the Bush tax cuts that are set to expire at the end of the year. Doing so will add $4 Trillion to the US deficit over the next decade. President Obama proposed not extending the tax break for the wealthiest 3% of Americans, families with more than $250,000 in income, which Republicans opposed even though it would have saved $750 Billion over the decade. Yet the GOP continues to blame Democrats for the deficit. Meanwhile, Republicans have proposed building an expensive missile defense system which would set off another costly arms race with the Russians.
Republicans will roll back more than just banking reform. They will work to overturn government supported environmental regulations and initiatives, as well as efforts to develop alternative fuels. Instead, it will be "drill baby drill." They will also seek to restrict or overturn social reforms, including such controversial issues as immigration, civil rights, "don't ask-don't tell" and Roe vs. Wade. And many Republicans are on record for privatizing Social Security and altering Medicaid and Medicare.
If that is not enough incentive for Democratic voters, GOP control of the House will lead to several expensive committee investigations into a whole range of issues. For instance, whether President Obama was actually born in America, whether the 14th Amendment should be repealed and whether Congressman Joe Sestak was offered a job to stay out of the Pennsylvania senate race.
For sure, President Obama has made some mistakes. But he has also had several meaningful legislative victories. Some in the progressive wing of the Democratic Party are unhappy that President Obama's reform measures did not go further, so they have threatened to sit out the Midterms. This spurred Vice President Joe Biden to ill advisedly call them "whiners." But if these dysfunctional Democrats fail to vote this Midterm, they will only have themselves to blame for the chaos that will ensue to the detriment of the American people.
Republicans are counting on the Tea Party movement to put them over the top in many key races. They are embracing so-called Tea Party candidates who believe evolution is a myth, float "second amendment remedies" to win back government and talk of repealing the Civil Rights Amendment. "The political class is really dysfunctional," former Florida Governor Jeb Bush observed in an interview on MSNBC. Well governor, if Democratic voters sit out this Midterm election, the young, Hispanic, African American and blue-collar workers, you haven't see anything yet!
Should Republicans gain control of one or both houses of Congress they will set about to dismantle President Obama and all of his legislative achievements. They will work to unwind regulatory reform and oversight so that Wall Street firms and the banking industry can return to their profitable practices of the past.
Republicans will immediately attempt to repeal the historic Affordable Care Act and bring and end to health care reform. That means insurance companies will again be able to set lifetime caps, will be able to deny coverage to children with pre-existing conditions, and will be able to bar parents from keeping their children on their health care policy until they are 26. That also means that more than 30 million uninsured Americans will have no health care coverage, other than the local emergency room. And it means that health care costs will continue to skyrocket for all Americans.
Republicans will bring a halt to stimulus spending, much of which went to help states keep teachers, policemen and firemen employed. And Republicans will attempt to make major cuts in education spending, just at a time when America's students are falling behind many of those in other countries.
How will Republicans turn the American economy around? Start with extending all of the Bush tax cuts that are set to expire at the end of the year. Doing so will add $4 Trillion to the US deficit over the next decade. President Obama proposed not extending the tax break for the wealthiest 3% of Americans, families with more than $250,000 in income, which Republicans opposed even though it would have saved $750 Billion over the decade. Yet the GOP continues to blame Democrats for the deficit. Meanwhile, Republicans have proposed building an expensive missile defense system which would set off another costly arms race with the Russians.
Republicans will roll back more than just banking reform. They will work to overturn government supported environmental regulations and initiatives, as well as efforts to develop alternative fuels. Instead, it will be "drill baby drill." They will also seek to restrict or overturn social reforms, including such controversial issues as immigration, civil rights, "don't ask-don't tell" and Roe vs. Wade. And many Republicans are on record for privatizing Social Security and altering Medicaid and Medicare.
If that is not enough incentive for Democratic voters, GOP control of the House will lead to several expensive committee investigations into a whole range of issues. For instance, whether President Obama was actually born in America, whether the 14th Amendment should be repealed and whether Congressman Joe Sestak was offered a job to stay out of the Pennsylvania senate race.
For sure, President Obama has made some mistakes. But he has also had several meaningful legislative victories. Some in the progressive wing of the Democratic Party are unhappy that President Obama's reform measures did not go further, so they have threatened to sit out the Midterms. This spurred Vice President Joe Biden to ill advisedly call them "whiners." But if these dysfunctional Democrats fail to vote this Midterm, they will only have themselves to blame for the chaos that will ensue to the detriment of the American people.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
2010 Football
It is no secret that I have been a Chicago Bears fan all of my life, and a Louisiana State University Bengal Tiger fan since I can remember.
I went to some Bears games at tiny Wrigley Field, even when the crossbars were placed at the back of the endzone. Of course, looming just a couple feet away was the solid brick left field wall covered with dead ivy. There Gayle Sayers, Willie Galimore, Doug Atkins and Dick Butkus toiled under the demanding leadership of Bears founder and coach George Hallas. These were the "Monsters of the Midway!"
I attended LSU Tiger games in the 60's. I lived in the Stadium dormitory when I attended the school. The team had suffered several poor seasons after winning the national championship in 1958 with the help of Bill Cannon. He was the fleet-footed running back who once bulled over eleven Ole Miss players to score a game winning touchdown, and event that is repeated every year on local radio. In the past decade, however, LSU won two BCS championships.
Here's the deal, so far this season LSU is 3-0 and the Bears 2-0. I just want you all to know that I am NOT getting my hopes up. In both cases I feel like I am standing on thin ice and the temperature is rising. In both cases I see real issues on both sides of the ball. In both cases the QB is not consistently good. In both cases I see plenty of tough competition ahead. In both cases I do not see a head coach who will make winning an imperative.
LSU will lose 5 games, Arkansas, Alabama and Florida for sure. The Bears, well, I say they lose 6 games. In both cases, pretty good years. But Les Miles may be looking for a new job.
I went to some Bears games at tiny Wrigley Field, even when the crossbars were placed at the back of the endzone. Of course, looming just a couple feet away was the solid brick left field wall covered with dead ivy. There Gayle Sayers, Willie Galimore, Doug Atkins and Dick Butkus toiled under the demanding leadership of Bears founder and coach George Hallas. These were the "Monsters of the Midway!"
I attended LSU Tiger games in the 60's. I lived in the Stadium dormitory when I attended the school. The team had suffered several poor seasons after winning the national championship in 1958 with the help of Bill Cannon. He was the fleet-footed running back who once bulled over eleven Ole Miss players to score a game winning touchdown, and event that is repeated every year on local radio. In the past decade, however, LSU won two BCS championships.
Here's the deal, so far this season LSU is 3-0 and the Bears 2-0. I just want you all to know that I am NOT getting my hopes up. In both cases I feel like I am standing on thin ice and the temperature is rising. In both cases I see real issues on both sides of the ball. In both cases the QB is not consistently good. In both cases I see plenty of tough competition ahead. In both cases I do not see a head coach who will make winning an imperative.
LSU will lose 5 games, Arkansas, Alabama and Florida for sure. The Bears, well, I say they lose 6 games. In both cases, pretty good years. But Les Miles may be looking for a new job.
Friday, September 10, 2010
The Twin Towers
Terrorists struck a staggering blow at the heart of America when they attacked New York City's World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. In a moment the whole world changed.
On 9/11, terrorism became a global threat against all humanity. Terrorism transformed itself from an insidious disease affecting a single country or region, into a life-threatening cancer that would quickly metastasize across all borders to other countries in the form of "sleeper cells."
America did not see it coming. New York City had never seen an attack of this scale. Suddenly this horrifying act shook and stunned the city, the nation and the world. It was the worst of times that brought out the best in people. New York City firemen and policemen flew into the face of danger and uncertainty to help innocent victims from all walks of life. In the end more than 3000 people perished as a result of the attacks and the subsequent collapse of the Twin Towers.
There is now a construction site where the Twin Towers once stood. It is still a nasty scar near the center of the financial district. Thousands of tourists walk by every day to match the present site with indelible images of the burning buildings locked in their memories.
People who worked and lived in the area then will carry the emotions of that day forever. Tens of thousands still have trouble sleeping. They are haunted by the sounds of bodies crashing to the ground; victims who chose to jump rather than burn to death. Or the unimaginable sounds of the towers collapsing to the ground. Thousands of "heroes" suffer from lung diseases and other life shortening illnesses. The human toll is staggering.
As a result of these attacks, security at airports and other transportation hubs throughout the world has been greatly heightened. Homeland security is now an important concern for every nation and a major global industry. Suspicions have been elevated as most everyone casts a wary eye on those around them. Uncertainty and fear have heightened divisions and mistrust among religions and peoples. The extreme voices are wreaking havoc on sanity and stability.
The terrorist attacks led to costly wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians have died in these conflicts. The wars are draining America and are being used to fuel hatred among Muslims against the US and its allies. Never mind that terrorists have killed perhaps millions more innocent Muslims in the name of Allah than anyone else. Meanwhile, the terrorists have been wounded but they have not been stopped.
For decades the Twin Towers dominated the Manhattan's skyline like two centurions guarding over the city's financial district. These towers symbolized the power of America's free-market system and the strength of its Democracy. They reflected the energy, optimism and ambition of New York City and its diverse people. New Yorkers are resilient. But they will never forget.
On 9/11, terrorism became a global threat against all humanity. Terrorism transformed itself from an insidious disease affecting a single country or region, into a life-threatening cancer that would quickly metastasize across all borders to other countries in the form of "sleeper cells."
America did not see it coming. New York City had never seen an attack of this scale. Suddenly this horrifying act shook and stunned the city, the nation and the world. It was the worst of times that brought out the best in people. New York City firemen and policemen flew into the face of danger and uncertainty to help innocent victims from all walks of life. In the end more than 3000 people perished as a result of the attacks and the subsequent collapse of the Twin Towers.
There is now a construction site where the Twin Towers once stood. It is still a nasty scar near the center of the financial district. Thousands of tourists walk by every day to match the present site with indelible images of the burning buildings locked in their memories.
People who worked and lived in the area then will carry the emotions of that day forever. Tens of thousands still have trouble sleeping. They are haunted by the sounds of bodies crashing to the ground; victims who chose to jump rather than burn to death. Or the unimaginable sounds of the towers collapsing to the ground. Thousands of "heroes" suffer from lung diseases and other life shortening illnesses. The human toll is staggering.
As a result of these attacks, security at airports and other transportation hubs throughout the world has been greatly heightened. Homeland security is now an important concern for every nation and a major global industry. Suspicions have been elevated as most everyone casts a wary eye on those around them. Uncertainty and fear have heightened divisions and mistrust among religions and peoples. The extreme voices are wreaking havoc on sanity and stability.
The terrorist attacks led to costly wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians have died in these conflicts. The wars are draining America and are being used to fuel hatred among Muslims against the US and its allies. Never mind that terrorists have killed perhaps millions more innocent Muslims in the name of Allah than anyone else. Meanwhile, the terrorists have been wounded but they have not been stopped.
For decades the Twin Towers dominated the Manhattan's skyline like two centurions guarding over the city's financial district. These towers symbolized the power of America's free-market system and the strength of its Democracy. They reflected the energy, optimism and ambition of New York City and its diverse people. New Yorkers are resilient. But they will never forget.
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