Thursday, August 30, 2007
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Online Advantage: Romney
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Posted by:
Patrick Ruffini at
10:56 AM
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You know that when a campaign puts the words, “Yes, we’re serious” in a campaign e-mail, it’s gonna be good. Mitt Romney’s create-your-own-ad contest is exactly the kind of online innovation I’ve been waiting for out of the Republican candidates for President. The winning ad gets a real, live media buy. In other words, supporters are co-creating something of actual value and importance to the campaign. That’s meaningful, and supporters get that. Lots of user-generated content contests fail because the sponsor tries to create an incentive that exists only in the online parallel universe. Users sense the second-class treatment, and yawn. This is gutsier because they’re putting real dollars behind it (hopefully it won’t be just a phantom buy), and after MoveOn’s Hitler ads, the quintessential example of bad user generated content, it’s particularly bold. The JumpCut platform will help the campaigns manage the flow, and give even average users the chance to edit a video. The production values and complexity of the winning video probably won’t match what the TV admakers can put together. But does it matter? Wasn’t the great thing about “The Pitch,” the best campaign video of 2004, the fact that it was understated — effectively a bunch of photos stitched together? (See if you can remember the narrator.) Plus, as has been pointed out before with user-generated contests like this, the genius is not what happens with the winner, but how the also-rans take pride in their videos and spread them through their personal networks. This is a creative way to spread the Romney message with hundreds of small videos distributed throughout the Web. I don’t know if Romney is anywhere close to Hillary Clinton’s one million e-mail addresses, but it’s creative stuff like this that shows me that Romney has the warewithal and creativity to catch up. It should be no surprise to anyone that I buy into the Trippi theory of insane Democratic competition on the Web redounding to the benefit of (probably) Hillary. The relevant bit starts at 2:15, but the crack right before about the GOP candidates and YouTube was depressingly (if temporarily) prescient: I’ve had some issues with Romney, but his supporters are right to point out that his superior organization is a point in his favor when going up against the brutal Clinton machine. It’s something savvy Republican primary voters have a right to evaluate, and this year, the Web is going to be a huge component of that organization, because we will be outraised by $100 million or more if our campaigns only start thinking about building lists and engaging online on February 6th. Kudos to Team Romney. Now let’s see the Rudy, Fred, et al. counter, and start a spiral of online competition that will make the eventual nominee stronger.
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Maybe I'm getting old, but that's not exactly the way I remember it. You asked me if I was Mormon justifying your question by saying "I just want to understand your point of view, it's simple."
So I asked you if you were a bigot, saying I just wanted to understand YOUR point of view, it's simple.
I answered and you didn't. I never called you a bigot.
I do admit to calling a few here nutjobs and it's all in fun, of course. And I've never called anyone an idiot in my entire life.
Paid Mormon TH bloggers? Bless your little nutjob heart. |
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I appreciate your explanation, but have to politely disagree. We really are safer with Bush, despite the illegal immigration issue. Annoying Fact: there has been no significant terrorist attack on American soil since 9/11/2001.
Look, my bone of contention with Paul is over his policy in Iraq. That is a non-negotiable issue for me. In the end, we are fighting terrorists in Iraq and not here.
Now you have indicated that I am spreading misinformation. If you would kindly be specific about my misinformation, I would be glad to make corrections. If, for example, Paul aims to see the war to victory, then perhaps I have been misinformed. Otherwise, I don't see it. I heard Paul in the debates and was not amused.
What would Paul do on Iraq? |
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Alex it was not in this thread and this is the first thread, that portlandmom was active, that I have seen.
Portlandmom, it was as I had said, that people are writing that there are paid bloggers here at TH.com. Asking if you are an LDS member was a natural question and as I stated it was to understand your position, on Romney. I felt our communication was civil. You had your point and I had mine. You sent me to a link and I read it. I felt it justified my information and quoted from it. Then you called me a bigot, as did others. I read the thread and then re read the thread and thought about it for a day or so. I feel that you calling me a bigot was uncalled for and unjust.
Not everyone is out to destroy Romney and some like myself are looking for a candidate to support. If another posts information, most often I will go look and verify it. If warranted, I will use it in my own questions or to justify my position. On that day, I used information that I verified as fact and not someones opinion or from a biased article.
By you and others that support Romney on TH.com and call others names, like bigot, idiot, nutjobs, does the man a great disservice. |
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If I recall - you asked me if I was LDS and it had literally nothing to do with the topic. Care to explain that too? |
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"I was looking for information on Romney and had valid questions, about his record. I asked you if you were an LDS member and then you called me a bigot. "
I just did a search on this page for the word "bigot" and "LDS" and only found your post. Would you care to explain? |
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"portlandmom writes: Friday, August, 31, 2007 1:20 AM
Jackshiite - judgedredd1
2 happy little peas in a pod. Well, make that angry. And nuts, actually. Oh well."
Might as well throw me in there too. I was looking for information on Romney and had valid questions, about his record. I asked you if you were an LDS member and then you called me a bigot. As did others who continuously post under Romney articles. Then I was thrown into the category with judgedredd1 and now Jackshiite is also put there.
What looks to be happening is that you are creating enemies and not friends, by your own posts.
People have questions, people are curious and people are looking for a candidate to support.
You and the like are destroying Romney's campaign right here on TH.com, by idiotic attacks. If some one presents information, asks questions or whatever, you attack and attack and then the same people join in and attack some more. Looks to be a pattern. |
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...Ron Paul supporters, but cannot endorse your man. I cannot support someone who doesn't have it clear in his mind on who really attacked us on 9/11 and who it is we are really fighting in Iraq. He does not appear willing to stand up to the terrorist sewage that would slit your and my throat. I'm sure he is a nice guy and that I could conceivably become a close friend of someone like him, but my allegiance is to my God, family, and country first. I will not turn away from the threat and pretend that it does not exist. Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom. That is hard nosed doctrine, but it is the truth. Vigilance is not easy and never will be--in fact it requires stamina and determination.
Because vigilance requires strength over time it, by its very nature can become boring and unspectacular. I support and pray for those soldiers who unglamourously press on in the execution of their duties, for our President who has to endure an adolescent public that demands he entertain them, and for normal hardworking Americans who live quiet moral lives who could complain, but don't. One would think that if someone figuratively holds your life in his hands, you wouldn't try to make him stumble. Many on the left would do just that, and name it patriotism to boot. I am not referring here to dialogue, differing ideas and disagreement on policy, but rather to active undermining of an authorized war effort. |
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Sorry to tell you Brightwinger but McCain was on Leno just a couple of days ago and Mitt was on there about a month ago. I'm not sure if Guiliani has already been or if he will but Fred isn't the only one.
Joining the military is not for everyone. Should my wife join, how about my brothers? Should we have a quota to satisfy some people. My only complaint is more general than a one candidate and directed at our society in general. If we continue (and I hope we do) to have an all volunteer Military we need to start treating them professionally from the lowest private to the highest general. Pay equal to our abilities and courage.
Courage is not the absence of fear, courage is acting in spite of fear to accomplish what must be done. |
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2 happy little peas in a pod. Well, make that angry. And nuts, actually. Oh well. |
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because Mitt has a nice family. |
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Romney aide’s bogus badges: Sources detail ‘illegal’ security tactic
By Casey Ross/ Exclusive
Boston Herald Reporter
Friday, July 20, 2007 - Updated: 12:21 PM EST
In an apparent violation of the law, a controversial aide to ex-Gov. Mitt Romney created phony law enforcement badges that he and other staffers used on the campaign trail to strong-arm reporters, avoid paying tolls and trick security guards into giving them immediate access to campaign venues, sources...
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Allegedly acted as State Police trooper." ... "State Police are investigating one of [2008 election Republican Presidential candidate] Mitt Romney's top campaign aides for allegedly impersonating a trooper by calling a Wilmington [Massachusetts] company and threatening to cite the driver of a company van for erratic driving, according to two law enforcement sources familiar with the probe." ... "Jay Garrity, who is director of operations on Romney's presidential campaign and a constant presence at his side, became the primary target of the investigation, according to one of the sources, after authorities traced the cellphone used to make the call back to him" ... "The New Hampshire attorney general, according to the Associated Press, has also opened an investigation into a report that a Romney aide, later identified as Garrity, pulled over a New York Times reporter in New Hampshire and said he had run his license plate." ... "New Hampshire law prohibits private citizens from accessing license plate databases or pulling over fellow citizens." ... "In 2004, the Globe reported, Garrity was cited and fined for driving a Crown Victoria with red and blue lights mounted in the grill, a siren, a PA system, and strobe lights; and for having a nightstick and identification showing a State Police patch that read "Official Business."" -By Stephanie Ebbert and Scott Helman with contributions by Suzanne Smalley, Andrea Estes, and Jonathan Saltzman -Boston/Globe |
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"Mitt $$-raiser is indicted in complex $32M fraud scheme
By O’Ryan Johnson"
"A former big-fish fund-raiser who was working on former Gov. Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign was indicted for a scheme to defraud companies out of $32 million that he allegedly spent on real estate, a yacht and private jet trips for himself and his pets.
In the wake of the 23-count indictment..."
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Mickie,
Women with small children deploy to Iraq all the time, some for the third or forth time. We put the burden of this war on a very, very small number of servicewomen and men, while the rest of us have sacrificed nothing for the war Hugh keep saying is so important.
Being married with children does not preclude these folks from being soldiers, and I do not accept it as an excuse for the Romney's.
I am not in favor of a draft, but I don't like the military burden being carried by so few for so many.
FDR and Teddy Rosevelt has sons who served; elites not doing military service.
It is not a matter of 'inclination' as you state; it is a matter of duty our elites now avoid. I have not heard a persuasive reason for this shirking of duty.
Nor is it a matter of 'being in the blood.' In fact, most anyone's son or daughter can be made into a soldier. We live in a republic which, whether we like it or not, faces enemies who wish our destruction. I am only saying that those who presume to lead us, to make the life and death decisions required of a Commander in Chief, should have some relationship to the actual blood sweat and tears duty entails.
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In regard to military enlistment being a "duty", when did we reinstate the "draft"? I respect and appreciate any who are WILLING to serve our country by defending it through military service, but our country does not require any of our citizens to serve in the military at this time. It seems to me, that I see families that have the military in their blood, it's been a part of their family for generations. But I also think that there are families who contribute in other ways to our country, and they just aren't the military "type". Mitt's sons are all married, with children. Generally, if one is not "career" military, it seems that a father of young children would be less inclined to go into the military and leave their family, than stay home and be a good father and husband, leaving the military to the younger,unmarried or without children yet, group of men. Would you have fathers of young children, without a military "mindset" or background, enlist just to look good to their father's critics? |
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Lots of money, though!
So I guess what he lacks in principal, he can just buy. Just like he is trying to buy his way into the White House.
What a puke bag he is. He was my governor, and he was a puke bag then. He has a spine of jelly. He makes a great weather vane, though!
I think he just stole this whole idea of making an ad from Ron Paul because the Ron Paul people have already run a contest like this.
Sheesh! He can't even come up with an original idea! |
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Was it Bill Clinton's old outfit? The one Chelsea joined? Or John Edwards' unit? Al Gore III's.
Gimmee a break. I served in the Marine Corps in Vietnam. My namesake went down on the West Virginia at Pearl Harbor, Dec 7, 1941. My Cousin fought all over the Pacific. I had relatives in the Colonial/Indian Wars. They were Cherokee.
I never held it against a man who elected NOT to serve in an elective war. Vietnam was such a war. Iraq is, also. The phony chickenhawk argument against the boys will never get traction. Give it up. |
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I don't care about the dog story. I care that the Army has to pay $20,000 enlistment bonuses to sign up. Mitt was on Ingram's show bragging how fit and athletic his son's are.
Military service is not a matter of choice, it is not a 'calling' as an earlier post asserted, nor is it a choice as you imply.
Is is a duty; a duty which no Romney man has fulfilled. What values did Mitt inculcate in the son's if they refuse service in a time of what Hugh calls the most important struggle?
And now Mitt just jogs up and want's to be Commander in Chief? |
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No one from the Romney campaign was charged/arrested/cited for impersonating a police officer. The head of his security team had allegations against him by Liberal media types whose feelings were hurt. However Brob, it certainly was not his campaign manager.
If you have information that the national media doesnt in reference to an arrest or a pending arrest I would love to hear about it. |
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He's highlighting the difference between himself and two old cancer patients. |
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Cajun - It seems that more and more people are realizing that Romney is the best man for the job. Don't worry - you'll get there sooner of later!
Richard - are you the one who was also stuck on the dog story for so long? You seriously need to get a life. Last time I checked, Romney's 5 sons had free will. I dare say they are top notch young men and doing just fine. They have nothing to feel guilty about. Get over it. |
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I loved that ad of Mitt running. Was he recreating his meeting with his draft board in the 60's? |
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Begun to notice that TH is becoming Romney's version of the Paulbots? |
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I must admit that in the realm of foreign policy, I too have a few doubts about Ron Paul's position. While I admire the basic philosophy (non-intervention), I am uncertain how it will play out going forward. I know that he is not opposed to war, per se, but what would it take for us to get involved with Iran under his leadership? This is a question I would like to ask him just to help me understand fully what his vision of foreign policy is.
However, the big reason why I like Ron Paul is the fact that he is the only candidate who is taking our pending financial disaster seriously. Medicare and Social Security *will* bankrupt our country if we do not take some sort of action soon. The baby boom generation starts their retirement next year (January 2008), and we do not have the resources to support them. Our government has been leeching off this fund for years.
We also are in desperate need of real reform in immigration. My sister and brother-in-law are trapped in Mexico because they are trying to enter the country legally while the politicians are talking of offering amnesty to all of those who illegally crossed the border. Ron Paul is offering true reform to encourage legal activity and discourage illegal immigrants.
Foreign policy has always been my concern with Ron Paul, but in spite of it, I found the rest of his philosophy to be the only true conservative voice in the campaign. And the more I consider his foreign policy, the more I wonder if he has a point. Should we as a nation be involving ourselves in situations in which we truly do not belong? Perhaps the Middle East should deal with Iran. If they need our help, they can ask for it, but we shouldn't assume that we need to fix every problem in the world.
I'm still thinking about that one. :-)
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You said,
"Also, to those who make wisecracks regarding Ron Paul, make sure you do your research on what he actually believes instead of being spoon fed your opinion by Giuliani and his ilk. You might just be surprised at how reasonable Ron Paul actually is when you get past the rumors and know the facts."
I get my facts from the debates and what I read about him.
He's no doubt a kind and decent man, but he is not presidential material, and he is quite nutty in some of the things he believes.
More importantly, my impression is that he will not protect the US. What does he intend to do about terror beyond border control? What does he think we should do about Iran?
He is lousy on the main issue of our day. and that translates into danger and risk for me and my family.
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Townhall says "Romney Winning The Race Online." But, Ruffini doesn't say that. In fact, there are no facts in Peter's article. If we can't get good journalism from Townhall, the Republic is indeed in jeopardy. |
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Straw polls don't really show who is leading in a particular state. The current polls, even when adjusted to add in the "cell phone effect" for Ron Paul, show Romney to be well in the lead of all candidates. A recent article estimates that Ron Paul may in fact have a 3-5% boost in the polls due to the fact that those without landlines are not included in the current polling process, and people with cell phones are notorious for not wishing to be polled (causing pollsters to generally avoid them). However, even this would only put Ron Paul in 5th place (ahead of Huckabee).
What the straw polls *do* say, though, is that Ron Paul has been able to convert some of that Internet interest into real votes on the ground. His supporters are dedicated and involved. He doesn't need to shuttle them to the polls -- they do that on their own. We will not know how many voters he will get in January, but we do know that the supporters he does have are very likely to show up at the polls in the primaries. All indications show that his campaign is rapidly gaining steam, but whether it will be enough to land a nomination will not be known for several months yet. |
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Ron Paul got 3/4 of the votes. It all MAKES SENSE, Now.
Boomchuckalucka, boomchuckalucka, boom |
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Ron - 208 (73%)
Romney - 26
Huckabee - 20
Tancredo - 8
McCain - 7
Cox - 5
Hunter - 5
Fred Thompson - 3
Giuliani - 3
Brownback - 1
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Romney lost the straw poll in NH. |
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That must be why he's only leading, there, by 10.8 according to Real Clear Politics. Yeah, that makes sense. |
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This truly is laughable. Regardless of what you may think of him, Ron Paul is way ahead of the other candidates with his involvement on the Internet. A quick look at this homepage shows links to the who's-who list of social Internet sites. He has over 40,000 volunteers linked up via Meetup.com, and his volunteers have already been producing high quality videos without any incentive at all. YouTube is flooded with volunteer made videos with at least one consistently displayed in the top rated list.
Consider these examples:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DqY8iIxe2c&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Edailypaul%2Ecom%2F
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFfdB5OzlyQ&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eronpaulforpresident2008%2Ecom%2F
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ln7gaOsNyac
Ron Paul has built his entire campaign using the Internet to get out his message for very little money, and it is starting to pay off. And as for voter turnout, consider his respectable performance in recent Republican straw polls.
http://www.ronpaul2008.com/straw-poll-results/
I think it is indeed a good thing for the Republican party to use the Internet because the Democrats are already very present in that medium. But you need to give credit to where credit is due. Perhaps they could learn a few lessons from Ron Paul's campaign (if not his politics).
Also, to those who make wisecracks regarding Ron Paul, make sure you do your research on what he actually believes instead of being spoon fed your opinion by Giuliani and his ilk. You might just be surprised at how reasonable Ron Paul actually is when you get past the rumors and know the facts. |
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You're wrong - but funny.
You're guy is supposedly announcing today that he will announce Sept 6 - hilarious, but it's no surpise that he is skipping out of another debate.
Poor Fred. |
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..call SATIRE wasn't it!
Shoot I think it was satire. Whoa- maybe he meant it like he wrote it?
Nah- it's gotta be satire. |
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is that Rudy, or Fred will get the nomination and have to announce a month before the election that their Cancer is back. This is the only thing that I can imagine that would positively guarantee a Hillary, or Obama in the White House. |
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Living in Massachusetts I can assure you that Mitt is no RINO, he is a true republican. You may differ with him on some issues, as do I. But please try to remember that any of the top Republicans would be a better choice than any of the Democrats running. I think that Mitt or Rudy would have the best chance to beat the Dems. I like Fred also, I just think the country won't vote for another folksy type communicator. |
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Romney is another globalist elite liberal, plain and simple. Get real people - he's not a conservative. Don't vote for a liberal just because he has an R by his name, that way leads to death of the party.
Take your party back for true conservatism. Start at your local party HQ. Get true and actual conservatives into leadership positions at all levels.
Run off and out the CINOs and NeoCons who have stolen our party and ruled using big spending and big government, all the while clamoring for continual war in the ME to pad the coffers of their elite buddies. These people are fooling you. Don't buy into it.
Do it for you country, and your country will be forever grateful.
Thank you. |
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Romney's online stuff won't get him significant votes. His ground organization will be critical. So far, he has the best organization, although Rudy's may be as good, it just hasn't flexed its muscles yet.
Thompson, on the other hand, has shown that he can't even manage a pre-campaign, which should have people asking serious questions. If he can't manage his own pre-campaign, what the heck would he do in the White House?
This is a Rudy-Romney race. |
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Romney's organization is so much stronger than any other candidate's. This video contest will be a huge sucess.
The new running ad is amazing.
The only thing stopping a Romney nomination is some southern support. Romney has Iowa and NH in the bag. They know who he really is, and I believe the Iowa evangelical base is a lot more open-minded than the deep south evangelical base. I could argue this all-day but it doesn't matter.
Everyone knows it's gonna be a Romney/Rudy or Rudy/Romney ticket. It will be hard to complain with either. Fred Thompson will fall flat on his face. |
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He is perfect in all he says and does!
He will president and save this country from every problem that exists!
Praise him!! |
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he's a complete nutcase.
Sure, I mean, he's a pro-life, family man with a solid conservative voting record, and worse, one of those weird Christian types who thinks perhaps the best way to deal with the world is to talk, engage in peaceful trade, mind our own business, and not bomb the bejeezus out of nations that haven't attacked you.
Clearly, he must be insane to think he'd get elected in today's GOP. |
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... and yet I just can't help myself.
That's "wherewithal", Patrick, not "warewithal".
I rather suspect the excess of audio information making its way into our consciousness, and displacing what was once almost all written information.
In audio, there is no spelling.
Or maybe Mitt Romney actually has "werewithal", in which case campaigning by moonlight could have some REALLY unpredictable results. :-) |
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...vote, THEN I'll be impressed. |
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Realize Hugh's crush on Romney is an awesome force multiplier and I honestly would rather have Romney as President than anyone else. However, Hugh is wrong when he states people in Uniform are not less than sanguine about the fact that he has five sons and none are in the military even after 9-11. I am retired Army and it bothers me that much of the ruling elite in this nation no longer participates in its defense. It is a matter of leadership by example. Watch Ted Turner's "Rough Riders" about Teddy Rooselvelt and how the elites did serve in those days.
Major "K" |
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...may be doing lots of things on the Internet, but that doesn't compensate for his biggest problem: he's a complete nutcase.
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If anyone of the posters have ever worked on campaigns, they know that the only thing that will count is turnout. Supposedly Mitt has that type of organization. My guess is so does Rudy and hopefully, whenever he gets his act together, so will Fred or even the Huck. We shall see very soon. It is nice people like creative ads and do nice fund raising events. But, when getting out the voters in rain, snow, and sickness plus the fact that by the time these primaries occur, many many voters will be sick of every pol going, those pols actually produce voters, then we can all get excited. |
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Paul doesn't count becuase he's using advanced alien technology...
I'm pretty sure I read that disclaimer somewhere on his website. |
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Wait a minute Patrick. Who has the best online presence right now out of the GOP nominees? I know this site chooses to ignore Ron Paul, but at least get your facts straight. Ron Paul is blowing Romney and the rest of the GOp field away in online organizing. |
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Mitt is the smartest presidential candidate from either party with the possible exception of Rudy. When the country really starts to focus on the election, it would not suprise me to see Romney end up the nominee. |
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Romney's new jogging ad that he just released is very good from a marketing stand point. If he gets a couple from the contest as good as that one he will really help himself. |
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I knew it wouldn't be long before a Paulbot showed up.
They aren't going to like the presumption of your post... |
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was this in the Mormon in the White House..sorry, else it does not count |
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This shrewd move really highlights Romney's experience as a CEO. His competitors better bring their "A" game -- they're going to need it.
Jon, http://exurbanleague.com |
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In this day of scandals and weird family arrangements, Romney is looking better all the time. |
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