Obama’s brand equity is non-transferable
November 4, 2009
It was a good night. Democrats were defeated by 18% in Virginia and 5% in deep blue New Jersey. Obama campaigned for Democrats in both states. This sends a strong signal to the Blue Dogs and others from around the nation: The electorate is angry and there is no Hopenchange Revolution. You will be punished for hopping on the socialist band wagon.
Obama is still personally popular even as voters reject his policies at every turn. He is the cool black friend white liberals wish they had. They can imagine his coolness enveloping them and, by extension, making them cool too. They like the way it makes them feel to be “enlightened” enough to support an uber-cool post-American, leftist black man as president. It gives them creds as being cosmopolitan and super cool themselves. In other words, the Bamster has brand equity.
If you are a pasty white, overweight middle aged Democrat running for congress in Ohio somewhere, however, you are on your own. That Obama mojo is non transferable. Americans still don’t like Obama’s socialism so supporting Obama’s policies is not helpful. That puts you in a quandary. You can’t use Obama’s mojo and if you adopt Obama’s politics, voters will punish you. All over America Democrats are figuring that out this morning.
It would have been great to see Hoffman win in NY23. It was, however, always a long shot. Two weeks ago nobody figured he had a chance. It would have been a huge victory had he won. Still, a third party candidate who doesn’t even live in the district was a bridge too far. So be it. The real news was that Obama and the rest of his crew poured political capital into VA and NJ are were given a slap down in the polling places. Obamojo is about being Obama and it is non-transferable. This bodes well for 2010.
JCT :
Date: November 4, 2009
RD, you don’t often miss a point, but you missed this one lock, stock and barrel. My regard for your perspective remains, but this is one election result that is all about MOJO…the MOJO of the American people!
There is no Obama mojo. He was a charismatic candidate swept in by the tides that were swollen by dark days in our economy, strength from the 2006 election results and an American electorate that was given a choice for generational change between one of the most irresponbile generations and one that holds promise.
There is no Obama mojo. Israel knows that, Iran knows that, Afghanistan knows that, Russia knows that…he is a rookie making rookie mistakes. The rookie mistakes reflect the advices of those around him. Those around him are NOT a distinquished group.
There is no Obama mojo…while the American people want success for our country, the majority of Americans realize that such success comes from hard work, education and opportunity.
It’s not about Obama, it’s about America. And AMERICA has MOJO.
R.D. Walker :
Date: November 4, 2009
Maybe I wasn’t clear on what I meant by “mojo.” I meant that quality he has that made people make paintings of him, faint in is presence, compare him to Jesus, inflate his intelligence, get chills up their legs, make music videos about him and generally become drooling members of his personality cult. We all saw that happen.
None of us here fell for it and became groupies, but plenty of people did. In fact, the remnants of that mojo are why his personal approval rating is still 15 points above the approval rating of his policies.
Look, I don’t think he is cool but then again I think turkey hunting is cool. He seems kind of like Steve Erkal to me. I don’t get to judge, however. I am a middle aged, pasty white guy from rural Iowa who is never going to get a personality cult. Still, I know leftist, post-American, cosmopolitan, metrosexual, multi-racial cool when I see it and Obama has it in spades. That isn’t praise – not by a damned sight – it is just a studied observation.
James :
Date: November 4, 2009
There’s still enough Zero followers to drink the poisoned Kool-Aid.
I hope the Tea Parties don’t let up.
I hope the new Republicans get a taste of them.
I hope they realize they can’t just get in and coast on a bloated government.
That’s my Hopenchange.
Notamobster :
Date: November 4, 2009
I am a hardline, died-in-the-wool conservative and have “sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against all forms of tyranny over the mind of man” – but, I still found myself impressed with the cadence and delivery of a couple of dipshits speeches! I’m no cheerleader for the commie, but he spouts rhetoric well.
R.D. Walker :
Date: November 4, 2009
America is still in trouble. Hell, we could elect a Republican majority in the House and Senate in 2010 and a Republican president in 2012 and we would still be in trouble. The debt is too great, the spending too hard to stop and the political will of the Republicans is too weak. We are in a barrel headed for the falls and it is probably too late for a rescue. We are going to have to go over and hope for the best.
Still, last night’s results were great news. All over America, marginal Democrats in the House and Senate are realizing that a vote for Obamacare is probably a career-ender. That means, I think, we have fought the enemy from the gates yet again. They will regroup and attack again, but for now, it seems the battle is won. I hope I am correct.
JCT :
Date: November 4, 2009
DRILL, BABY, DRILL!
If you look at debt, unemployment, various industries…an aggressive approach to energy sure does put money back in our pocket, gets us jobs and supports a variety of industries.
Energy independence is the key that unlocks all of these and even helps on foreign entanglements.
Obama certainly has charismatic appeal, but facts are stubborn things and facts abound in some of the issues now on the plate.
I’m still quite alarmed about what Obama’s crew can do, but look at where a variety of issues are now compared to one year ago.
DRILL, BABY, DRILL connects a lot of good things for Americans…especially a way forward instead of a spiraling spirit.
Jim 22 :
Date: November 4, 2009
The beginning of the end for crooks like Dodd, Frank, etc….. I hope.
Michelle Bachman timed her House Party perfectly. This little election will energize many Conservatives.
My hope is that we see more like Hoffman: Non politicians running against corruption and the entrenched leftists.
Notamobster :
Date: November 4, 2009
Ending a privately owned central bank would go a long way to putting us back on track, but you’re absolutely right RD – we’re going over the precipice, whether we like it or not! It’s coming and subconsciously, everbody knows it! That’s why people aren’t buying this “we’re out of the recession” bullshit!!!
R.D. Walker :
Date: November 4, 2009
De Nile ain’t just a river in Africa Nance.
Speaker Pelosi:
R.D. Walker :
Date: November 4, 2009
Eleven more school songs praising Obama found.
RUDE JUDE :
Date: November 4, 2009
I was puking when I started watching the 3rd vid from “school unidentified” 3-9-09 or whichever one it was with “yes we can” being repeated over and over when the rap song started and the 2 little black boyz were up front rapping and dancing; the one on the left kept grabbin his packagae. How disgusting!! I had to turn it off.
It’s ALL disgusting!!!!
Notamobster :
Date: November 5, 2009
http://rrobin.com/picture_gallery/Career-Day/1/slideshow.htm?1-true
Holy shit! This is creepy! They changed the name of their school to Barack Obama elementary.