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Platinum NO RATINGS 
I agree with your basic premise that campaign spending buys influence not votes. However, there is a small exception to that, namely that all the billions being raised are going to advertising in a small number of swing states.
Living in New York as I do, I will never see the ads; never get a door-to-door canvass, never really have my vote matter. My money would matter, but it would go to funding scorched earth efforts in maybe five states. No thanks!  User Rank
Iron NO RATINGS
During the last presidential election I made a $10 contribution to the Obama campaign simply because I was curious about the use of social media and wanted to get the text alerts, etc. Well, four years later I am still trying to purge my name from the mailing lists. Once a donor, you are always viewed as a sucker.
 User Rank
Blogger NO RATINGS
I agree. Once on a mailing list - anybody's mailing list - you never escape. Often your name and address are "regifted" to everyone else in the same business. Charities are frequent offenders.
 User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
They call them sucker lists for a reason, don't they?
User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
The other thing that's annoying is that political groups are exempt from a lot of consumer laws, like robocalls and provisions of the do not call lists.,
 User Rank
Iron NO RATINGS
I never understood why political groups got a pass on the do not call list. They are the ones I want to hear from the least.
User Rank
Blogger NO RATINGS
Blame the electoral college for that one. Politicians talk about getting rid of this anachronism, but it never happens, because it allows them to get the most bang for their economic buck.
 User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
I always found the Electoral college to be a mystery.... until Bush v. Gore in 2000.
Remember that Circus? There will be close elections again. Just like 2000, one state or even a fraction of a state will be under a microscope. And this local fiasco is so much better than nationwide chaos. PC  User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
The more I learned about the Electoral college the more depressed I felt about our alleged democracy. (ok democratic republic...)
User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
When I was reading the original post, I decided to research the concept of a "vote of no-confidence" which allows the UK to change its government more frequently than every four years.
I'm mixed on the results and would love other's opinions. The good news is that a disfunctional government gets put out of its misery sooner. The bad news is that the legislature, in that case Parliament, holds all the power. The idea of our Congress controlling the executive branch is pretty scary. Not sure what the lesser of the evils is in this case. User Rank
Blogger NO RATINGS
Perhaps someone can explain the Supreme Court's "Citizens United" decision, that makes the Super PACs all powerful and makes money even more powerful than votes. Influential groups like the NRA pushed for this.
User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
Explaining Super PACs is like explaining the birth of the universe. Way too hard for most people to understand.
 User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
$1 billion to run a campaign is absolutely ridiculous.
 User Rank
Gold NO RATINGS
I agree specially at a time like this. If they really did care and wanted to be true leaders to the American people they should use the money to help with the unemployed etc. That's not going to happen but I think people are going to notice how the money is spent during this election more than in the previous elections because of the economic problems.
User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
And what do you want to bet that the ad agencies that benefit from this windfall will have some political connection to the candidates?
User Rank
Iron NO RATINGS
I bet you are right. I also bet most of that revenue will remain concentrated in the hands of the top execs--and not find its way to the hands of the workers.
User Rank
Iron NO RATINGS
How much would they spend if they just eliminated every negative ad?
User Rank
Iron NO RATINGS
My guess: A hell of a lot less than $1 billion...
User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
I bet you are right.
I don't give anything -- not even by checking that box on the income tax return
User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
LOL @Drivewaygirl -
At the end of the income tax process, I am in the farthest thing possible from a charitable mood. NOT checking that little box feels like thumbing my nose at the IRS. Yes, I know it doesn't effect my tax bill, but I never check that box. PC User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
Ah! I'm glad I'm not alone PC!
User Rank
Gold NO RATINGS
The ad agencies will benefit a lot and like you said there could be the political beneficiary as well. So much money spent for such a cause really makes you rethink this whole thing. And it's just going to annoy most of the intended target market. Do you think the negative ads have an impact on the voters?
User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
Does anyone else find it upsetting or odd that Michelle Obama is doing the fundraising? What is the message she is sending...that Barack is that unpopular? Or that she wants it more than he does?
Doesn't sit well with me either way, and yes, I did vote for him in 2008. But not because of her...  User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
Here's a weird couple of coincidences I've noticed on the news in the last couple weeks. Could be coincidence, could be a guerrila marketing campaign. Anyway, the first instance occurred when President Obama was giving a speaking engagement and a kid had him sign an excuse note for missing school because he went to see Obama instead. Next instance occurred nearly a week later when this time the First Lady was giving a speech and, yes, she signed a note for a child to give to her teacher for missing school. Both made the news.
User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
That is too random to be coincidence. Maybe they got such good reaction the first time they tried the same plan a second time.
User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
@Broadway, good catch on the corny news stories about both Obamas signing notes to miss school. NO coincidence there!
The irony to me is that I simply cannot imagine the tables being turned and the Obama girls missing school for any such purpose. Michelle, the tiger mother, would NEVER permit that! This story dates me, but it's worth it: Years ago, when I was in high school in Southern California, Richard Nixon did a campaign event in my home town. I was active in student government at the time and was offered the chance to miss school to help work at the rally. As intoxicatingly novel as bailing on a day of classes was, I just COULD NOT see my way clear to go work for Tricky Dick. Looking back on history, I'm not sure to this day if I'm happy or sad about my choice! User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
From a strictly practical standpoint, a note from anyone other than a parent or guardian isn't even legal
User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
Ha, ha, ha, @Drivewaygirl! You're absolutely right! Am I the only one picturing some aide walking behind Obama carrying a whole BOX of permission slips and handing them out?
User Rank
Iron NO RATINGS
Nope, I'm thinking it too--and it disturbs me
User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
So no one sees this as an honest effort by the President and First Lady to excuse a kid from class?
No, neither do I!  User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
These staged events are among my least favorite stupid political tricks
User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
Wonder how many focus groups it took to determine this would be "cute"?
User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
@AskAsa, I'll see your focus group and raise you a national poll!
User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
What ever happened to just kissing babies?
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Platinum NO RATINGS
@Cat tail, I think they outlawed that after Clinton.
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Platinum NO RATINGS
Ha! Good one.
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Platinum NO RATINGS
Agreed! That is a pretty funny (albeit accurate) comment.
 User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
I think they will still kiss babies, but now there must be a charge. You need to raise those billions somehow!
User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
LOL @Street Smart
User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
I saw the notes on the news reports, and they were handwritten by the president and the first lady, so in the very least these aren't rubber stamp affairs. I am now leaning to the fact that perhaps the president did it impromptu the first time, realized the great reaction it got and realized that anytime a child attended a rally and mentioned missing school for it, they would scribble one of these notes. In other words, not a conspiracy but cheap and easy free publicity.
User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
Thanks for the clarification, @Broadway. I'm sure you're right that the notes aren't robo-created! It still seems lame to me. What kind of person takes his/her kid out of school to go to a political rally? In 2008 maybe, but not now.
Actually, I think that's what 's at the root of this. I think Obama just wants to show that he's still "got it" with the crowd-drawing charisma. But remember that everyone who gets close to the First Family needs to be vetted by the Secret Service (there's a joke there, but I'm above making it!) None of this audience participation stuff is EVER spontaneous. Those kids and their families were pre-chosen for their 15 seconds of fame, so cute PR but at the end of the day, so what? User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
Agreed - Obama really wants to show he's still "got it" with the crowd-drawing charisma.
Has anybody fainted at his Obama's speeches lately? Maybe when the weather gets a little warmer we'll see some stories about that again. Charisma can't be forced. User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
PC,
I wonder why people even Bother with Election rallies anymore. Its all a question of who lies more in my opinion. I would rather take the time out to do some Reading which I thoroughly enjoy! Regards Ashish. User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
PC,
Good point. My only issue in all of this is that how do you get the Memo through to Obama? Dude,Obama-You flopped its time to step aside and let someone else try their turn! Obama is waaay to thick-skinned to change anything today. Ashish. User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
I don't know who goes to political rallies, period, with kids or otherwise. To me, they seem like the lamest, choreographed form of entertainment possible. I would rather watch street performers, even the kind that paint themselves with metallic paint and don't move for hours on end. Impromptu poll here ... anybody ever attend a political rally for one of the two major parties?
 User Rank
Blogger NO RATINGS
LOL Broadway!
User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
@Broadway...ha, ha, tell us how you REALLY feel about political rallies! Seriously, I think the poll is a great idea, so I'm weighing in.
Never been to a political rally; never plan to attend one. I did go to a fundraising dinner for a California state senate candidate once (the husband of a college friend of mine) and that was a whole new circle of hell we haven't even discussed! Then there's the "town hall meeting," another unique torture device. A friend of mine was wounded in the Gabrielle Giffords shooting last year, so I'm swearing off those, too. But I do vote... User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
A friend of mine was wounded in the Gabrielle Giffords shooting last year, so I'm swearing off those, too.
@Street Smart - I'm swearing off political shootings myself. :-) In response to @Broadways poll - I've never been to a political rally for the major parties. PC User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
Yep, they always send the spouse when the spouse is seen as more engaging. Not a good sign.
User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
Guys,
I don't get it. What's the big deal about this thoughtprocess that the Media benefits the most from all this Electioneering??? After all,we all have to put Food on the Table right? People in Media also have the same issues which normal people have-They are running a Business for heaven's sake. Regards Ashish. User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
Guys,
Speaking about the Presidential Primaries;Ron Paul was ditched by his own Son. http://www.americanbreakingpoint.com/politics/et-tu-rand-paul.html?cc=eletter&ct=ABP20120616A&cs=cgpo&sid=IQ7600&en=3697580 The man has twice the Grass Roots Organization that anyone else in the Republican Party has. He was the one person who was most capable of fusing it with New Blood. Now his Son has sold out the entire idea to the Neocons. Most dissapointing. It shows in Politics as in everything else,Everybody has a price. Regards Ashish. The blogs and comments posted on Investor Uprising do not reflect the views of Investor Uprising, PRNewswire, or its sponsors. Investor Uprising, PRNewswire, and its sponsors do not assume responsibility for any comments, claims, or opinions made by authors and bloggers. They are no substitute for your own research and should not be relied upon for trading or any other purpose. |
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