Archive for October 12th, 2010

"Don’t make me look bad, now” …

October 12, 2010

Delivering a rallying  speech at historically black Bowie State University in Maryland a few days ago, the president got downright personal: “Don’t make me look bad, now.”

It’s not easy to convert exhaustion into enthusiasm. But if Obama doesn’t want to look bad, that’s what he has to do.

Washington Post, Need to Translate into Votes, Oct. 12, 2010
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2010/10/12/will_need_translate_to_votes_107522.html

Whatever happened to hope and change ?

Obama’s latest rally-shout isn’t exactly “win for for the Gipper”, is it ?

“Don’t make me look bad” is one of his current campaign themes … along with bashing Boehner (who ?), Rove, Gillespie (who ?), the US Chamber of Commerce (huh ?), oil companies, banks, big pharma, insurance companies, etc.

Then, after telling the crowds to “buck up” and get to work for their local Dem candidates, he headed for the links.

President Obama hit the golf course Saturday for what, by CBS News’s Mark Knoller’s calculation, was his 52nd such outing since taking office.

The Hill, Obama hits links for 52nd golf day, 10/09/10
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/123511-obama-hits-links-for-52nd-golf-day

Guess he hasn’t heard the management mantra: “Walk the talk.”

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BTW: How does one “buck up”?

Posted in Management - General, Obama Administration | Leave a Comment »

“Hey dude, why are you snapping your fingers ?”

October 12, 2010

3 variants of a very old joke:

Original
A dazed guy is standing on a street corner snapping his fingers.  Curious guy approaches and asks “Hey dude, why are you snapping your fingers ?”  Dazed guy answers: “To keep away elephants”.  Curious guy says: “There aren’t any elephants around here.” Finger snapper says: “See.  It works.”

Current
A President is standing on a street corner spending like a drunken sailor.  Curious guy approaches and asks “Hey dude, why are you spending like a drunken sailor ?”  Free-spender answers: “To avert an economic depression”.  Curious guy says: “There’s no depression around here.”  President says: “See.  It works.”

Recent Past Version
A President is standing on a street corner ordering troops to Iraq.  Curious guy approaches and asks “Hey dude, why are you ordering troops to Iraq ?”  Troop-sender answers: “To avert another terrorist attack”.  Curious guy says: “There haven’t been any terrorist attacks since 9-11.”  President says: “See.  It works.”

Hmmm.

Why are only 2 of these counter-factuals considered far fetched by the media?

Posted in Economics, Financial Crisis | Leave a Comment »

Better president — Obama or Bush ?

October 12, 2010

Bottom line : According to a CNN poll, public perceptions are a tie — within the margin of statistical error — … Obama 47%, Bush 45% Question and numbers below.

Commentary form UK’s Telegraph says it all:

Yes, President Bush, America does miss you

The CNN poll is of course deeply humiliating for the White House, especially coming just three and a half weeks before the November mid-terms. George W. Bush’s resurgence is in large part due to mounting opposition to the Obama’s presidency’s left-wing agenda, but it is also spurred by Obama’s image as an out of touch, aloof and elitist president, divorced from economic and political reality on the ground.

A lot of Americans frankly miss the down-to-earth and significantly warmer leadership style promoted by President Bush, as well as his unfailing sense of optimism and heart-felt pride in America on the world stage. You certainly won’t ever find Bush apologising for his country or extending the hand of friendship to her enemies.

And when Bush’s memoir “Decision Points” is published on November 9th, I’m in no doubt it will storm The New York Times’ bestseller list riding a new wave of nostalgia for his time in office. George W. Bush is back in fashion with a vengeance, in marked contrast to his increasingly unpopular successor in the White House.

Telegraph, Yes, President Bush, America does miss you, October 8th, 2010 
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/nilegardiner/100058215/yes-president-bush-america-does-miss-you/

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Question: All in all, do you think Barack Obama has been a better president than George W. Bush, or do you think Bush was a better president than Obama has been?

image

http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/10/08/rel14a.pdf

Posted in Polls & Surveys | Leave a Comment »

Gillette offers a new – cheap – shave … in India, that is.

October 12, 2010

TakeAway:

Gillette’s newest shaving system has just one blade, a light plastic handle and a sharply lower price.  The Gillette Guard will hit stores – in India – next week and costs 15 rupees, or 34 cents, and uses blades that cost five rupees, or 11 cents.

P&G’s goals are to first bring more consumers into Gillette and then try to lock them in to future purchases. 

To develop the Guard, P&G used target costing– starting with what consumers can afford and then adjust the features and manufacturing processes to meet the target.

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Excerpted from Wall Street Journal, “Gillette’s Latest Innovation in Razors: the 11-Cent Blade” By Ellen Byron,October 1, 2010

The Guard reflects P&G’s aggressive push into emerging markets for new customers and growth. That focus is forcing P&G to be more modest on scale and more flexible on price.

Gillette commands about 70% of the world’s razor and blade sales, but it lags behind rivals in India and other developing markets, mainly because those consumers can’t afford to buy its flagship products.

Gillette Guard is aiming to lure users of double-edge razors, about 400 million men in India, according to P&G estimates. In India, a brand called Super-Max holds the lead in double-edge blades, which cost roughly 1.5 to 2 rupees, which is half of the cost of even Gillette Guard.

The need to grow in emerging markets is pushing P&G to change its product-development strategy. In the past, P&G would sell basically the same premium products in developing countries, where only the wealthiest consumers could afford them. To reach more consumers, P&G changed course by creating pared-down products specifically designed to be less expensive.

P&G has a lot of ground to make up in India, where it estimates just 10% of men who shave use Gillette blades, compared with about 50% world-wide. Its plan is to get men to start using its products and then upgrade them as India’s economy grows.

Edit by AMW

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Full Article:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704789404575524273890970954.html?mod=WSJ_hps_LEFTWhatsNews

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Posted in Mktg - Product Line Mgnt, Target Costing | Leave a Comment »