Palin has a strong executive record of nonpartisan governance and doing what she believed to be right, from which Alaska benefitted, thereby making her a threat to those who make their living and receive gratification by controlling others.

She has endured some of the most heinous media attacks in history, and I ask: Why? What has she done to warrant any of it? Who in all of recorded history has received such unwarranted or warranted venomous attacks? Eliot Spitzer gets a television program. Jim McGreevey is forgotten. Ted Kennedy is idolized. Sarah Palin? Demonized. What is the media’s true objective?

…

She is a strong woman with convictions and a belief in the U.S. Constitution, and the American will and spirit of the Founders that cannot, and will not, be broken — regardless of what the bitter media sends her way.

Lee Benedict - March 6, 2011 - “Media simultaneously savaged Sarah Palin, protected Barack Obama” (The Augusta Chronicle)

Click the link above to read the entire well-written editorial.
(h/t The Right Scoop via Twitter)

- tdc

governor palin: calling it ‘crony capitalism’ like she sees it

As you well know, President Obama gave is 2011 State of the Union speech on Tuesday night. While some paid the obligatory homage to his ability to give a good speech, most pundits - and regular folk - saw this latest show as heavy on platitudes and lacking in substance.  In times like these, those of us who pay attention to politics have come to expect a tough, straightforward response from Governor Sarah Palin.  And, once again, she delivered.

I highly suggest you read her entire post on her Facebook page - it’s well worth your time. Below, however, I extracted what I think is a key passage in which Governor Palin completely redefines the essence of the Obama administration and its policies:  “big government liberalism” turned “crony capitalism on steroids.”

Consider what his “big government greatness” really amounts to. It’s basically a corporatist agenda – it’s the collaboration between big government and the big businesses that have powerful friends in D.C. and can afford to hire big lobbyists. This collaboration works in a manner that distorts and corrupts true free market capitalism. This isn’t just old-fashioned big government liberalism; this is crony capitalism on steroids. In the interests of big business, we’re “investing” in technologies and industries that venture capitalists tell us are non-starters, but which will provide lucrative returns for some corporate interests who have major investments in these areas. In the interests of big government, we’re not reducing the size of our bloated government or cutting spending, we’re told the President will freeze it – at unsustainable, historic levels! In practice, this means that public sector employees (big government’s staunchest defenders) may not lose jobs, but millions of Americans in the private sector face lay offs because the ever-expanding government has squeezed out and crippled our economy under the weight of unsustainable debt.

Ronald Reagan said, “You can’t be for big government, big taxes, and big bureaucracy and still be for the little guy.” President Obama’s proposals last night stick the little guy with the bill, while big government and its big corporate partners prosper. The plain truth is our country simply cannot afford Barack Obama’s dream of an “exceptionally big government” that may help the big guys, but sticks it to the rest of us.

Again, it’s worth your time to read this excellent post in its entirety. It’s succinct.  It’s cogent.  And there really isn’t much more to say…

- tdc

*Image via LA Times Blogs

If Americans feel as cynical as the president suggests, perhaps it’s because the audacity of his recycled rhetoric no longer inspires hope. Real leadership requires results. Real hope lies in the ingenuity, generosity, and boundless courage of the American people whose voices are still not being heard in Washington.

Sarah Palin reflects upon the President’s State of the Union address (via Facebook)

I do believe we have the equivalent of a nightstick in prose.  Read the whole thing - it’s about as straightforward a response you’ll see from any political figure.  Good stuff.

- tdc

politics and branding - part two: the making of obama

For part two of this series, below are two video segments describing the process to develop the Obama brand for the 2008 presidential campaign.  Then-candidate Obama had the foresight to hire a multi-disciplinary firm, VSA Partners, that typically works with corporate clients.  The collaboration resulted in a graphic identity and messaging campaign unlike any that had come before it in previous political contests.

While the process of exploration and design described in the videos is common for design firms, what made this project unique was its application to the very different arena of modern political campaigning.  In the end, the final product proved to be nearly flawless in its effectiveness in communicating with the electorate and eliciting the desired response.  Due to the success of the Obama campaign, I wouldn’t be surprised if this branding model is one that will be replicated by future candidates for national office.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this bit of designer “inside baseball.”  Needless to say, I certainly found the videos quite interesting.

- tdc

SEGMENT ONE:

SEGMENT TWO:

MORE INFO:

politics and branding - part one: of course design matters!

In the spring of 2009, I started a personal blog that was centered on design-related topics.  As I was still reeling from the whirlwind of the 2008 election cycle (yes, I realize it was months later), I sought to channel my energy into an analysis of what I thought was one of the most fascinating aspect of the campaign:  the branding of each candidate.

As we approach the 2010 elections, these issues would seem to be of particular interest; so, for the first of two tdc posts exploring this subject, below is the text from my initial review of the 2008 branding strategies of the McCain and Obama camps. If you happen to be working with a candidate (or you are a candidate), I would urge you to consider the power of good design to influence the thoughts, emotions, and actions of the electorate.  The Obama campaign most certainly paid attention and look where they ended up…

Follow this link for: politics and branding - part two: the making of obama, which presents a video review of the design process behind the brand.

- tdc

**Originally posted May 14, 2009**

The 2008 US presidential race captured attention like no other political event in recent memory.  In the simplest of terms, the race pitted a War Hero against a Cosmopolitan Intellectual and each candidate presented a very different image to the public.  Designers, in particular, took notice of the visual communication strategies used by the campaigns.

On the one hand, the McCain-Palin campaign portrayed a more traditional personal brand – one of strength and patriotism, using bold text and the classic icon of a star as a central them of their graphic identity.  In contrast, Obama-Biden sought to emphasize the future with a more ethereal color scheme and a sense of forward-looking dimension within the official logo.

Watching the campaign, I found myself wondering how and whether good design and a strong brand identity truly impact voters’ decisions.

Good design is inherently attractive.

A candidate wielding a well-crafted graphic identity should conceivably be able to use visual cues to direct our attention to the key points of his or her campaign message.

The greatest challenge to politicians lies in communicating with an increasingly consumerist public that is constantly bombarded with advertising and attention-grabbing headline news.  It is in this arena that thoughtful design can make the greatest impact, enabling politicians to distill complex issues into easily understood graphics and succinct messaging.

The exceptional quality of the Obama campaign’s graphic identity illustrated this point.  The themes of Hope and Change, and an optimistic focus on the future were clearly expressed in the official logo and all of its grassroots derivatives.  The Obama brand was, and is, a strong one that inspired supporters to connect to campaign messages in a very personal way.

What does this tell us about brand communication?

When establishing a brand identity, it is important to understand that visual imagery communicates to an audience in a way that words cannot.  Color, form, typography…each of these graphic elements elicits a response from your audience that allows individuals to connect with your brand.  If you communicate the basic strengths of who you are, the public will discover how you fit into their lives.

Consumers, like voters, respond favorably when provided the opportunity to evaluate options and make an informed decision.  In order to be a responsible steward of your brand, you must be confident in what it stands for and consistent in expressing it in all of its forms.  Trust the work you put into establishing your brand and put your best self forward.

LEARN MORE:

Rudy Guiliani on Larry King Live - January 7, 2010

This is something that I addressed here previously:  the President’s tendency to think, think, and re-think before taking necessary action.  It was evident in dealing with General McChrystal’s requests for additional troops in Afghanistan, and it is reinforced in this instance.

As I wrote last month, President Obama’s pensive decision-making process puts him in stark contrast with someone like Governor Sarah Palin, whose executive and life experience have given her the wisdom “to think and act quickly as circumstances demand.”  The commander-in-chief does not always have the luxury of time, particularly when we are at war, and the country needs to have confidence in his preparedness.

From what I have seen thus far, President Obama might want to study the pitch-perfect communication strategy employed by Governor Palin using nothing more than a laptop and a Facebook account to address the nation.  She responds quickly and she doesn’t mince words - two traits our current administration would do well to emulate.

Let’s pick up the pace, Mr. President.

- tdc