Archive for May 24th, 2010

For the politics of intimidation … look for the union label.

May 24, 2010

Much has been written about the alliance between unions and gov’t.

It’s simple: gov’t adds more and more unionized gov’t jobs … most with above market pay rates, near certain lifetime employment and oversized end-of-career pensions.

In gratitude, the unions turn out the vote … and rough up opponents … apparently with de facto immunity from the press and police.

Things are getting ugly …

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Excerpted from WSJ: Tea Parties vs. Unions in November, May 21, 2010

Elections this month have enhanced the political clout of two groups widely separated on the political spectrum.

The tea party movement stands to play an outsize role in the fall elections now that outsider Rand Paul has swept Kentucky’s GOP Senate primary.

Democrats are fearful of the Tea Party’s grass-roots enthusiasm

The rise of the tea party makes Democrats even more dependent on organized labor. Unions provided the muscle for Democrats to win a key special election in Pennsylvania for the late Jack Murtha’s seat. The AFL-CIO alone sent out 80,000 mailers on behalf of Democrat Mark Critz, along with 100,000 robocalls.

In Arkansas, unions decided to make an example of Blanche Lincoln after she opposed the “card check” bill that limits the use of secret ballots in union elections. Unions, especially the Service Employees International Union, spent more than $3 million against her.

And, some SEIU members have ratcheted up violence against political “enemies”.

Lastweek, 500 screaming, placard-waving SEIU members and allies surrounded the home of a Bank of America exec. Police refused to intervene for fear of inciting the crowd.

Watch the video and ask yourself how you’d like your house – with kids inside – surrounded by these wingnuts

image

Full article:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703559004575256323526178094.html?mod=djemEditorialPage_h

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Maybe Arizona should just adopt Mexico’s immigration laws …

May 24, 2010

Those who have read the Arizona law (i.e. not Holder, Napolitano, et. al.) are pointing out that:

(1) The law simply provides an enforcement mechanism for established U.S. Federal law – no new restrictions are added

(2) Racial profiling is explicitly banned in the AZ law – but not in Federal immigration laws

(3) According to Pres Calderon himself, the AZ law is way softer than Mexican immigration laws (transcript below)

So, why all the fuss ?

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New York Post: The Mexico model, May 23, 2010

Mexican President Felipe Calderon repeatedly teed off on the new Arizona law that makes illegal immigration a state crime and requires aliens to show documentation should a cop request it. 

Calderon moaned that many immigrants “still live in the shadows, and at times, like in Arizona, face discrimination.”

He said the law “introduces a terrible idea using racial profiling as a basis for law enforcement.”

Then he went on CNN.

Asked Wolf Blitzer: “If people want to come [into Mexico] from Guatemala or Honduras or El Salvador or Nicaragua, they can just walk in?”

“No,” responded Calderon. “They need to fulfill a form. They need to establish their right name. We analyze if they [don’t have] a criminal [record].”

“Do Mexican police go around asking for papers of people they suspect are illegal immigrants?” asked Blitzer.

“Of course,” said Calderon.

“If somebody sneaks in from Nicaragua or some other country in Central America,” continued Blitzer, “they wind up in Mexico, they can go get a job?”

“No, no,” Calderon replied. “If somebody [does] that without permission, we send back — we send them back.”

Full article:
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/editorials/the_mexico_model_2DyxJuFroueHqDGXMzB04K

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Taster’s Choice: Nescafe whoops Starbucks’ Via …

May 24, 2010

Punch line: Starbucks decided to go downmarket with Via instant coffee and now finds itself in a street brawl with the potential to knife Starbucks premium image. 

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Excerpted from BrandChannel: Nescafe Calls Starbucks’ Instant Coffee Bluff,  November 19, 2009

Under pressure from Dunkin’ Donuts and McDonald’s, and with its brand value in decline, Starbucks introduced Via instant coffee with an in-store taste-test promotion intended to prove that the new instant can’t be told apart from the store brew.

Starbucks competing against store brands ?

Not the usual way to maintain a brand that was built upon premium-quality coffee and the idea that Starbucks stores are America’s “third place” (after home and work).

To counter Via, Nescafé is setting up sampling stations for a taste tests of their own: Nescafe vs. Via. 

The Nescafe mantra: “A lot of hype. OR a lot of flavor.”

According to Nescafe, they’re winning convincingly.

Ouch.

Nescafé stands as a reminder and a warning: you can always take your brand down and compete on the low end.

But don’t expect your new competitors to take it lying down.

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Full article:
http://www.brandchannel.com/home/post/Nescafe-Calls-Starbucks-Instant-Coffee-Bluff.aspx

Posted in Mktg - Brands, Mktg - Promotion | Leave a Comment »