Archive for November 2nd, 2010

It’s ok (maybe better) if Dems keep Senate and Reid wins …

November 2, 2010

First, it’s a given that the GOP will retake the House.

That’s good … real good … because:

  • Revenue (i.e. tax) bills originate in the House not the Senate … so, the House can keep passing sensible tax laws and, even if they get stopped in the Senate or vetoed by Obama, members of the House & Senate will have votes on record for 2012
  • The House has subpoena power … so there’ll be a constant string of public hearings on ObamaCare, tax policy, the economy etc. … I doubt that Steven Colbert will get a 2nd bite at the apple
  • While I’d prefer a young gun like Paul Ryan or Kevin McCarthy as the face of the GOP in the House, I think Boehner — with some coaching — can play the role without causing major damage

I also think that a Reid-led Senate would be a good thing … because:

  • If the Dem majority shrinks to, say,  52 … they won’t be able to pass any more mega-destructive legislation … some moderate Dem senators will be running in 2012 … they’ll be less willing to vote like rubber-stamp lemmings
  • I want Reid to be a public face of the Democratic party … it’ll play as “business as usual” and continue to infuriate voters
  • I don’t want Mitch McConnell to be the face of the GOP … he “shows” almost as badly as Reid

In other words, I think a GOP sweep would help Obama’s 2012 re-election run.  He runs against demons, and he’ll have some.

Winning just the House takes some of the wind out of that sail, and lays the groundwork for the GOP in 2012.

Posted in Opinions, Politics - General | Leave a Comment »

"Words matter" … after lecturing us, the orator-in-chief gets another teaching moment.

November 2, 2010

Remember when — during the presidential campaign — candidate Obama was criticized by some folks as being all talk?

His response was a speech — which he plagiarized from Gov. Patrick of Massachusetts — that refrained the phrase “they’re not ‘just’ words, words matter”.

Well, last week he told Latino voters that they should vote “to punish their enemies”.

That has become a battle cry in recent days … for his opponents.

One of Obama’s usual targets — John Boehner — put it succinctly:

We have a president in the White House who referred to Americans who disagree with him as ‘our enemies’.

Think about that. He actually used that word.

When Ronald Reagan, George Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush used the word ‘enemy,’ they reserved it for global terrorists and foreign dictators – enemies of the United States.

Sadly, we have [a] president who used the word ‘enemy’ for fellow Americans … fellow citizens.

He uses it for people who disagree with his agenda for bigger government…people speaking out for a smaller, more accountable government.”

WSJ, Boehner Blasts Obama’s ‘Enemies’ Line*, November 1, 2010
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2010/11/01/boehner-blasts-obamas-enemies-line/

I think Obama’s message resonated … more with his opponents than his supporters.

* * * * *

While I’m on the subject, don’t forget his cocky proclamation “elections have consequences, and I won”

I wonder if tomorrow morning he’ll man-up and say “elections have consequences, and I lost”

My, oh my … words do matter, don’t they ?

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

Management style: Just walk out … huh?

November 2, 2010

Says one Obama aide:

Mr Obama is notoriously impatient, slapping a time limit on all discussion.

“If there is no agreement in 45 minutes, no matter how important the issue may be, he simply stands up and walks out.”

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3201486/Can-Obama-expect-a-hammering-in-the-mid-term-elections-YES-HE-CAN.html

Wouldn’t you like a peek at his calendars to do a work-time analysis?

I wonder: does he ever wakes and say to himself: “Gee, I think I’ll stay in the White House and spend a few minutes on the economy today?”

Naw …

Posted in Obama Administration | Leave a Comment »

Where, oh where, is My McRib?

November 2, 2010

TakeAway: The McRib – a boneless pork patty molded into the shape of a rib slab and adorned with pickles, onions and barbecue sauce on a bun – is almost never available at all McDonald’s restaurants at the same time.

Instead, the Golden Arches offers them in different cities at different times, rarely for longer than a few weeks.

The elusive nature of McRibs has prompted a “McRib Locator” website and offers cache to a humdrum sandwich.

Sometimes, distribution is slim on purpose.

* * * * *

Excerpted from the Wall Street Journal, “Bona Fide Fans Chase Rib-Free Rib Sandwich” By Julie Jargon and David Kesmodel, October 11, 2010

The sandwich’s elusiveness has created a fan base of people who go to considerable lengths to munch on a McRib.  On Nov. 2, for the first time in 16 years, McDonald’s will offer the McRib at outlets across the U.S., but even then, only for six weeks or so. “It doesn’t sell well all year long because people get tired of it,” says McDonald’s USA President Jan Fields.

Plenty of companies offer limited-time products to coincide with holidays or promotions. Burger King offered actual ribs for a while this year. Mars sells red and green M&M’s at Christmas.

While the chain says it sold more than 60 million McRib sandwiches in the last three years, it sold 1.5 billion Big Macs in the same period. But every sale counts in a business that demands month after month of strong same-store sales.

Edit by AMW

* * * * *

Full Article:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704696304575538373863627604.html?mod=WSJ_hps_RIGHTTopCarousel_2

 

* * * * *

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