Brilliant Strategies, Brilliant Logo December 14, 2008

The Obama campaign was brilliant in so many different respects, revoluationary in others.  From the focus on grassroots organization, to the use of the internet for fundraising, the core values, and cohesive and tight messaging, there was no match — not from Clinton nor McCain.

To the target audience, it was fluid and compelling.  Now we learn about some of the behind-the-scenes efforts to develop the right “look” to  be the face of the campaign.

Here is a fascinating interview with the designer, Sol Sender (who had never before designed for a political campaign).

The evolution of the logo included the following:

The winner and now familiar sight:

Grassroots Taking on Cause of Workers December 13, 2008

Not your father’s unions.

Worker movements of the 21st century are taking shape as “unions of the people.”

With the recent sit-in staged by the workers at Republic Windows and Doors as a perfect example of SUCCESS through grassroots efforts, more activities are taking shape along the same lines.

Here is a link of various labor activities, ranging from demonstrations to town hall meetings. They are taking place all across the country, being organized by community organizers, labor leaders, and just plain citizens who understand the need to advocate for worker’s rights.

The popular theme: “BofA got a bailout. Why can’t workers get fairness.”

Check out an event in your area by clicking here.

Once again, the power of the Obama movement is being exercised.

Grassroots At Its Finest! November 26, 2008

That crucial senate vote in Georgia next Tuesday can be influenced by you, the grassroots!

If the Democrats win the runoff between Chambliss and Martin, the Senate will achieve its long sought 60 majority votes.  The GOP is pulling out all the stops.  Palin, McCain, Giuliani — they all have plans to campaign in Georgia for their guy, Saxby.

Well guess what?  You can campaign too.  The Obama campaign (administration?) is using their phenomenal on-line phone bank to let us grassroots make calls from the comfort of our homes.  That is the power of grassroots, and it’s just starting to flex its strength.

Here’s the site to get you started:  Campaign for Jim Martin. You’ll feel right at home on the Barack Obama web page.  I know I did.

Grassroots in Alaska — Setting the Standard November 25, 2008

Alaskans for Truth unleashes their new found strength. This grassroots organization wants to make sure our elected officials are held accountable.  Just because the presidential campaign is over shouldn’t mean that we can ignore the deception, unethical actions and corruption that was exposed.

Alaskans for Truth is a classic for grassroots to use as a model in whatever state, county or city you want to exert your influence.

The site allows for a Call To Action and comes with a handy list of elected officials.  A donation site let’s non-Alaskans make their voices heard too.

Jump on board and let’s get this train on the road!

Best Obama Impersonator November 24, 2008

Good looking and funny!

It’s A New Day! November 9, 2008

President Barack Obama November 6, 2008

Quotes from around the world on Barack Obama’s election as the next President of the United States of America:

From Arab News:Obama in this campaign has revealed his character — he has at a relatively young age found and mastered his own sense of gravity. And America has chosen to elect him president. Thank you, Martin Luther King: “Peace at last. Thank God Almighty. Peace at last.”

From Ghana: Obama’s victory is a clear indication that America has now lived up to the true meaning of its creed –that all men are created equal and that they are endowed by their creator with inalienable rights, among these life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

From Nigeria: My people now refer to the Almighty as the great God of Obama –– the God of all possibilities. They are, in effect, saying that they, too, have a dream that one day, Nigeria would be led by the people’s popular wish.

From Thailand: That is what happened in America on Tuesday. What was so remarkable about this election is that, despite all the talk in the media, when it came down to the moment of decision it really wasn’t about race, it was about character.

In the run-up to the election Mr Obama’s character was tested and put on display. He had come across as intelligent, reasonable and, not least, hopeful.

From Uganda: The American people yesterday made history by electing the first ever black man to be their president. The many fears, doubts and moments of despair of many especially black people in the Diaspora and on the African continent specifically were extinguished with a phenomenal campaign that resulted in an awesome victory for America’s first black occupant of the White House.

From Australia: If King were alive he would see the realisation of his dream “that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’ “

Democracy has delivered on that dream.

From Iran: And why was Obama the world’s candidate? Quite simply, because they feel they can talk to him. People around the world connected with Obama because they view him as a man of dialogue, not a man of dictates. And after years of the arrogance, intolerance, and unilateralism of the Bush administration, this came as a breath of fresh air. And voters in the United States should be proud of themselves for overcoming the fear and racism that had so dominated their society for centuries.

My favorite, though, is from right here in the United States:

Washington Post BARACK OBAMA, 44th president of the United States: Like so many millions of Americans, we savor the phrase, and congratulate the winner, and celebrate the momentousness of the occasion. It is momentous for the generational change it heralds, the geographic realignment it reflects and the racial progress it both acknowledges and promises. Most of all, Mr. Obama’s victory is momentous for the opportunity it presents to put the country on a new and better path, imbued, as he said last night, with a new spirit of patriotism, service and responsibility.

America is quickly regaining what it lost:  dignity.

Our Next President Isn’t Afraid To Get Wet October 30, 2008

Obama rallied 9,000 people in the rain in Chester, Pennsylvania.  McCain cancelled his rally in Pennsylvania that day due to weather.

Awesome Campaign October 15, 2008

I love how this campaign has been managed.  Tight, organized, strategic.  Using the most innovative tools of the 21st Century to get the maximum leverage with the right message for the targeted audience. 

No doubt that the campaign has earned recognition as THE most effective presidential campaign in history.  We should not have been surprised, given that Obama has surrounded himself by the most effective ad team in the country.  Chicago’s pride and joy.

Here are my favorite campaign messages and vehicles du jour.

First up is Senator Webb’s radio message for Obama.  An alpha-male message to fellow Virginians, defenders of the 2nd Amendment.  

Strong.  Wish it were running in New Mexico.

The next one really blew my mind.  Obama is running his campaign ads on video games!  This is in the Xbox 360 racing game Burnout Paradise.  I have no idea what the message is, what struck me was the medium.  (Marshall McCluhan was right.) 

Smartly, the Xbox 360 strategy is smartly targeting 10 swing states. 

Only gamers playing online in 10 states can see the ads, which appear as stadium signage or billboards… (The ads are downloaded when gamers log on to the Xbox Internet service.) Unsurprisingly, all 10 states are swing states: Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Indiana, Montana, North Carolina, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio and Wisconsin. President Bush won all of those states in 2004 except for Wisconsin.

The ads began running Oct. 6 and will be visible until Nov. 3, the day before Election Day…

Then, there’s proof that the campaign has developed effective and strategic alliances.  Great ad from Moveon.org:

The last impression about the campaign’s message almost has nothing to do directly by the campaign, but with the grassroots movement born from the campaign: 

The architects and builders of the Obama field campaign, on the other hand, have undogmatically mixed timeless traditions and discipline of good organizing with new technologies of decentralization and self-organization.

Obama’s organization has empowered people.  It’s new territory for modern political campaigns:

From the point of view of the conventional wisdom of much of the pre-Obama field organizing world, the campaign is actually taking two big risks: first they are risking everything on the effectiveness of masses of volunteers, then they are risking everything again by relying on volunteer teams to lead those masses.

Even more groundbreaking is the fluidity with which they adapt:

“Rather than say we have X leadership roles to fill, we’re creating leadership roles for as many leaders as we have. So we have people in charge of whatever they ARE. We are saying, ‘What’s your social network?’ We say, ‘OK, you’re The Balcony Coordinator—your job is to go party at Balcony [a local bar] every weekend—like you do anyways—but now wear a Barack Obama button—and bring voter reg forms.’ Or, ‘Hey, you work at Brunos—when you go out on deliveries—as long as it’s OK with your boss—ask people if they’re registered. You’re going to be our, um, pizza coordinator.’ “

Beyond impressive.

Abusive October 11, 2008

From the Alaska state legislature, a bipartisan 14 member council (12 voted, 2 missed the vote) unanimously found:

Sarah Palin abused her power by violating Alaska Statute 39.52.110(a) of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act.

Should have vetted!

More of their report here.