Years ago, (probably 20), I worked as a camera operator on a picture called “Stuart Little”, about an animated mouse and his interactions with real world cats. We had about a dozen cats each of whom had their owner-trainer who was the only person that could touch them. The cats had each been coerced (bribed) to put their front paws on a tiny piece of carpet in order to get a treat at the sound of a clicker, that way they could be released off camera and they would go to their own mark and face towards the camera that the guy with the clicker stood next to, it worked probably 80% of the time which is over the top good when it comes to herding cats, the very phrase denotes the nearly impossible, those people figured out a way to herd cats, I have no doubt that the cat in your ad came from a like group of working cats. The Democrats need to figure out how to herd cats and get them to go to the voting booth in order to get their treat; a nation we all want to live in that expresses the best in us. If people are able to get cats to do the seemingly impossible then surely it must be possible to turnout the multitudes we need in order to right this listing ship we call our country.
It would be great to see the kind of “not ad” done by folks as a template for democrats. “ Here, fixed it” ads. Democrats need help. They seem to not get they need help. Some, like Fetterman are connecting- but why is Rev. Warnock struggling? Is it polls that mean nothing?
Why are there not ‘gen z ‘ ads?
“Democracy is on the line” isn’t the same as “do you want to be forced into someone else’s religious beliefs?
"The pursuit of happiness is a glorious cause. It belongs to all Americans in 2022 equally. We all share a birthright of freedom. Some are trying to take it away. They must be stopped because we are not the authors of the freedom. We are the trustees and beneficiaries. We are the custodians of the most important ideas that have ever been put to paper by mankind about the organization of society."
My favorite quote in one your BEST reflections! Thank you, Steve.
I live in Texas. We have a governor who is a coward. He will not appear in public unless it is a controlled environment and the attendee’s checks have cleared the bank.
My guess is the last time he appeared in public was the photo-op for the Uvalde elementary school shooting. As usual he showed up to give his thoughts and prayers as he had done after all the other Texas mass shootings during his tenure. I am sure he is regretting showing up for that one because Beto called him out for doing not one thing to stop the slaughter while he has been governor.
Turns out Beto’s words were the only true statements during that entire press conference.
Abbott’s calls for the legislature to do something are a joke because the Texas legislature meets once every two years, and this ain’t the year. Only Abbott can call a special session to deal with the problem but the NRA won’t let him.
Beto is owned by no one. The DC establishment needs to STFU and get behind Beto because the only polls that matter are the results of the election. If everyone I have heard say “I like Beto but he can’t win” would shut their mouths and get in line to vote, we can roll Abbott into the dustbin of history where he belongs.
You covered so much in this Warning it’s hard to know where to begin. The cat in the ad is a very expensive pure breed cat. They are appealing to the people who want to compete with what others have. Pure breed cat, expensive food for your cat, only the best is good enough. Those who can’t afford this lifestyle feel left out. Advertising does a lot to divide the haves from the have nots. Fancy Feast is made by Nestle Global. They where slow to curtail business in Russia after the unjustified invasion. They now claim to only sell life sustaining products in Russia while not making any profits. They also claim they donate any profits to humanitarian causes. They say they support Ukraine by making donations to them. They make these ads to help justify the high price of their tiny portions for their cat food.
I am one of the dim witted supporters of Beto O’Rourke for Governor of TX. He’s passionate about changing TX for all Texans. He understands our problems, he shows up when people need help, he’s honest. He has responded immediately to every disaster we have faced in recent years. He’s inclusive and drives his pickup all over the state talking to everyone no matter their party affiliation. He sees the need to get money out of politics. He is a good person with a big heart. I think Robert Kennedy would approve of Beto.
Robert Kennedy’s speech is timeless. I wonder what could have been accomplished had we not lost our leaders who were not afraid to speak truth to everyone? I wonder if Robert Kennedy would approve of RKJr’s stance on most issues?
Political ads are meant to confuse and cause chaos. If you research who is behind them, paying for them and would benefit from them being successful you find their messages are very misleading. A case of ads airing multiple times a day now is by a group called American Edge.
We will never have a better time to save our freedoms and our democracy than at the present. More people are paying attention now than any time I can remember. We must heed the emergency facing us and unite to save our country.
Thank you for calling attention to our present issues.
I served in the PA House of Representatives for 20 years.
I knocked on doors, attended group functions, did mailings in a district of approximately 60,000 people in western PA.
I worked with Carville and Begala on two successful Bob Casey (he of Casey v. Planned Parenthood) and served as a co-chair of Harris Wofford's successful campaign against Dick Thornburgh to replace Sen. John Heinz.
I do not recognize politics today. It is hateful, it is ugly, it serves no one but those who make millions of dollars polling, testing, etc. And of course those who provide those millions to own what we like to believe is a "government for all people."
What has happened since Gingrich lit the fire is exactly what the Founders feared. The manipulation - the total control - of the mindless masses who somehow believe what we have here is self-sustaining.
The electronic connection to places where 2+5=3 is daunting.
In the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, "Oklahoma," there is a song, "It's a Scandal, It's an Outrage," that ends with the musical question: "Where is the leader who will save us?"
I've kept a private journal of literary orts for more than 30 years--bits and pieces of writing from all sorts of sources that have moved me to laughter or to tears or to that rare moment of exaltation that exquisite writing can bring. Robert Kennedy's quote from Aesculus is among them. I think that some parts of this essay are going to wind up there as well.
Consumerism. Just look at this cat! I mean, it is a snob in looks, but maybe just a pussycat in fact! Before Petsmart and PetCo., there were supermarkets and your local grocery stores. Fancy Feast, well, a more expensive brand than Friskies, would naturally draw the desire to possess. And still does. But cats are finicky. They are set in their eating habits with the determination of normal bodily functions. Still owners may insist on buying social status at least once, even for their cats, parading out of the store with their Fancy-Feast-like-Vuitton-Sac proudly showcased. Sales. Stray cats, not breeds, are the reality of the streets. How many an aspiring social climber must have bought the same breed as the one you picture above and, if truly venturesome, the many other exotic new breeds that portend ominous futures for the poor beasts bred like the flat-faced one in the Fancy Feast ad that have a difficult time breathing and surviving their ambient temperatures, maybe declawed if their owners can afford it, owners hardly keeping up with the demands of consumerist status! Is not politics full of such snobs, social climbers who make a living detached so from the reality of Americans Making A Living, throwing around smart-sounding comments that actually do harm if caught by news cycles that likewise proceed like Hawleys and Cruzes, taking oxygen away from true leaders like Beto who tap into the psyche of America? And who made the splashy news this week? Orban and Trump sitting in the latter's manor, freely addressing the portion in the country that still reveres their likes and Murdoch's manipulation of the news. The WSJ? Smoke into conservatives' eyes. BS. Must we witness the mumbo-jumbo of Orban's sneering jabs against drag queens like threatening poisoned darts a-la-Putin? Is there a Democratic Connoisseur out there who has the guts to confront, with cameras rolling and megaphonic audio, the preposterous red carpet thrown at Orban's feet as he parades around America freely? Is there a Conservative Public Servant who will confront, publicly, the insanity in Dallas? Or must those who speak up feel the threatening airs that blow our way? Enough!
Advertising, like politics p, is about the herd. Not the targets, but the herd of the creators. Conformity of formula, and execution. That is why so few ads are resonant.
“The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress.” - Frederick Douglass
Pur-fectly uplifting and illuminating article giving us a small peek into the theater of political drama. Yes they have to focus on capturing the hearts and the souls to turn the tide this fall and win it for our precious freedom.
It's all about which cat you put in the ad. It needs to be a cat that has the charisma needed to connect with the audience. Great politicians are like lead singers in rock bands. I like to use Van Halen as an example. Sure, Sammy Hagar was a better singer and could play guitar. David Lee Roth, however, was a master at connecting with the audience. Those who saw him perform live, loved him and never forget seeing him perform.
The problem I see with the Democrats is that they are Sammy Hagar people, too focused on qualifications and fit for their agenda (which they never can agree on). A connector like Beto didn't stand a chance when he got thown at the wolves in the primary debates. He wasn't considered smart enough or qualified enough. In order to win, they need to put that aside and find a great lead singer (or a cute cat) that people will rally behind and put aside their differences to keep the band together.
Thank you for the positive, I just keep remembering that Biden did win in 2020, I had a gut feeling that there have to be some other smart people out there that knew he was the BEST Candidate.
Years ago, (probably 20), I worked as a camera operator on a picture called “Stuart Little”, about an animated mouse and his interactions with real world cats. We had about a dozen cats each of whom had their owner-trainer who was the only person that could touch them. The cats had each been coerced (bribed) to put their front paws on a tiny piece of carpet in order to get a treat at the sound of a clicker, that way they could be released off camera and they would go to their own mark and face towards the camera that the guy with the clicker stood next to, it worked probably 80% of the time which is over the top good when it comes to herding cats, the very phrase denotes the nearly impossible, those people figured out a way to herd cats, I have no doubt that the cat in your ad came from a like group of working cats. The Democrats need to figure out how to herd cats and get them to go to the voting booth in order to get their treat; a nation we all want to live in that expresses the best in us. If people are able to get cats to do the seemingly impossible then surely it must be possible to turnout the multitudes we need in order to right this listing ship we call our country.
It would be great to see the kind of “not ad” done by folks as a template for democrats. “ Here, fixed it” ads. Democrats need help. They seem to not get they need help. Some, like Fetterman are connecting- but why is Rev. Warnock struggling? Is it polls that mean nothing?
Why are there not ‘gen z ‘ ads?
“Democracy is on the line” isn’t the same as “do you want to be forced into someone else’s religious beliefs?
"The pursuit of happiness is a glorious cause. It belongs to all Americans in 2022 equally. We all share a birthright of freedom. Some are trying to take it away. They must be stopped because we are not the authors of the freedom. We are the trustees and beneficiaries. We are the custodians of the most important ideas that have ever been put to paper by mankind about the organization of society."
My favorite quote in one your BEST reflections! Thank you, Steve.
I live in Texas. We have a governor who is a coward. He will not appear in public unless it is a controlled environment and the attendee’s checks have cleared the bank.
My guess is the last time he appeared in public was the photo-op for the Uvalde elementary school shooting. As usual he showed up to give his thoughts and prayers as he had done after all the other Texas mass shootings during his tenure. I am sure he is regretting showing up for that one because Beto called him out for doing not one thing to stop the slaughter while he has been governor.
Turns out Beto’s words were the only true statements during that entire press conference.
Abbott’s calls for the legislature to do something are a joke because the Texas legislature meets once every two years, and this ain’t the year. Only Abbott can call a special session to deal with the problem but the NRA won’t let him.
Beto is owned by no one. The DC establishment needs to STFU and get behind Beto because the only polls that matter are the results of the election. If everyone I have heard say “I like Beto but he can’t win” would shut their mouths and get in line to vote, we can roll Abbott into the dustbin of history where he belongs.
You covered so much in this Warning it’s hard to know where to begin. The cat in the ad is a very expensive pure breed cat. They are appealing to the people who want to compete with what others have. Pure breed cat, expensive food for your cat, only the best is good enough. Those who can’t afford this lifestyle feel left out. Advertising does a lot to divide the haves from the have nots. Fancy Feast is made by Nestle Global. They where slow to curtail business in Russia after the unjustified invasion. They now claim to only sell life sustaining products in Russia while not making any profits. They also claim they donate any profits to humanitarian causes. They say they support Ukraine by making donations to them. They make these ads to help justify the high price of their tiny portions for their cat food.
I am one of the dim witted supporters of Beto O’Rourke for Governor of TX. He’s passionate about changing TX for all Texans. He understands our problems, he shows up when people need help, he’s honest. He has responded immediately to every disaster we have faced in recent years. He’s inclusive and drives his pickup all over the state talking to everyone no matter their party affiliation. He sees the need to get money out of politics. He is a good person with a big heart. I think Robert Kennedy would approve of Beto.
Robert Kennedy’s speech is timeless. I wonder what could have been accomplished had we not lost our leaders who were not afraid to speak truth to everyone? I wonder if Robert Kennedy would approve of RKJr’s stance on most issues?
Political ads are meant to confuse and cause chaos. If you research who is behind them, paying for them and would benefit from them being successful you find their messages are very misleading. A case of ads airing multiple times a day now is by a group called American Edge.
We will never have a better time to save our freedoms and our democracy than at the present. More people are paying attention now than any time I can remember. We must heed the emergency facing us and unite to save our country.
Thank you for calling attention to our present issues.
I served in the PA House of Representatives for 20 years.
I knocked on doors, attended group functions, did mailings in a district of approximately 60,000 people in western PA.
I worked with Carville and Begala on two successful Bob Casey (he of Casey v. Planned Parenthood) and served as a co-chair of Harris Wofford's successful campaign against Dick Thornburgh to replace Sen. John Heinz.
I do not recognize politics today. It is hateful, it is ugly, it serves no one but those who make millions of dollars polling, testing, etc. And of course those who provide those millions to own what we like to believe is a "government for all people."
What has happened since Gingrich lit the fire is exactly what the Founders feared. The manipulation - the total control - of the mindless masses who somehow believe what we have here is self-sustaining.
The electronic connection to places where 2+5=3 is daunting.
In the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, "Oklahoma," there is a song, "It's a Scandal, It's an Outrage," that ends with the musical question: "Where is the leader who will save us?"
Does anyone know?
Really good, Steve.
God I love the way you write!
I've kept a private journal of literary orts for more than 30 years--bits and pieces of writing from all sorts of sources that have moved me to laughter or to tears or to that rare moment of exaltation that exquisite writing can bring. Robert Kennedy's quote from Aesculus is among them. I think that some parts of this essay are going to wind up there as well.
Consumerism. Just look at this cat! I mean, it is a snob in looks, but maybe just a pussycat in fact! Before Petsmart and PetCo., there were supermarkets and your local grocery stores. Fancy Feast, well, a more expensive brand than Friskies, would naturally draw the desire to possess. And still does. But cats are finicky. They are set in their eating habits with the determination of normal bodily functions. Still owners may insist on buying social status at least once, even for their cats, parading out of the store with their Fancy-Feast-like-Vuitton-Sac proudly showcased. Sales. Stray cats, not breeds, are the reality of the streets. How many an aspiring social climber must have bought the same breed as the one you picture above and, if truly venturesome, the many other exotic new breeds that portend ominous futures for the poor beasts bred like the flat-faced one in the Fancy Feast ad that have a difficult time breathing and surviving their ambient temperatures, maybe declawed if their owners can afford it, owners hardly keeping up with the demands of consumerist status! Is not politics full of such snobs, social climbers who make a living detached so from the reality of Americans Making A Living, throwing around smart-sounding comments that actually do harm if caught by news cycles that likewise proceed like Hawleys and Cruzes, taking oxygen away from true leaders like Beto who tap into the psyche of America? And who made the splashy news this week? Orban and Trump sitting in the latter's manor, freely addressing the portion in the country that still reveres their likes and Murdoch's manipulation of the news. The WSJ? Smoke into conservatives' eyes. BS. Must we witness the mumbo-jumbo of Orban's sneering jabs against drag queens like threatening poisoned darts a-la-Putin? Is there a Democratic Connoisseur out there who has the guts to confront, with cameras rolling and megaphonic audio, the preposterous red carpet thrown at Orban's feet as he parades around America freely? Is there a Conservative Public Servant who will confront, publicly, the insanity in Dallas? Or must those who speak up feel the threatening airs that blow our way? Enough!
Advertising, like politics p, is about the herd. Not the targets, but the herd of the creators. Conformity of formula, and execution. That is why so few ads are resonant.
“The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress.” - Frederick Douglass
Pur-fectly uplifting and illuminating article giving us a small peek into the theater of political drama. Yes they have to focus on capturing the hearts and the souls to turn the tide this fall and win it for our precious freedom.
It's all about which cat you put in the ad. It needs to be a cat that has the charisma needed to connect with the audience. Great politicians are like lead singers in rock bands. I like to use Van Halen as an example. Sure, Sammy Hagar was a better singer and could play guitar. David Lee Roth, however, was a master at connecting with the audience. Those who saw him perform live, loved him and never forget seeing him perform.
The problem I see with the Democrats is that they are Sammy Hagar people, too focused on qualifications and fit for their agenda (which they never can agree on). A connector like Beto didn't stand a chance when he got thown at the wolves in the primary debates. He wasn't considered smart enough or qualified enough. In order to win, they need to put that aside and find a great lead singer (or a cute cat) that people will rally behind and put aside their differences to keep the band together.
So thoughtful and true. Thank you as always.
Steve I remember when MLK was shot and RFK was to speak to a group of blacks and people that were in charge were worried
There would be a riot and more deaths…
RFK put aside his planned speech and spoke from his heart as only he could have the
People knew that RFK was still grieving the
Murder of JFK and YET he empathized….
The impoverished mistreated blacks knew he truly cared and he felt their pain …I’m
Saddened to say I saw JFK, MLK & RFK
All Shot by White Men and I’m white and disgusted today to have watched the fascist
Orban speak in Texas… Steve bless you for
The article you wrote ..as tears roll down my face with sadness of how we need to fight
For our precious freedom our democracy is
The gift we were given and we must rise
To this challenge to save our freedom!
Steve you have a gift of sincerity that shows
The depth of your love of our country and
You Bless My Life You bring Hope! Marsha
Thank you for the positive, I just keep remembering that Biden did win in 2020, I had a gut feeling that there have to be some other smart people out there that knew he was the BEST Candidate.