October Surprise? A Bristol Palin Wedding

Folks on the GNB have commented a few times on the tragedy of the Palin family being used as a political prop in the McCain campaign. The 4 mon. old Trig being passed around like a photo op football, the constant comments about Sarah being a mom of 5, etc. etc. But this new rumor should it prove to be true, is simple beyond the pale. It is pathetic, unfair, and really quite disgusting.

This is the gossip from the UK Sunday Times;

In an election campaign notable for its surprises, Sarah Palin, the Republican vice- presidential candidate, may be about to spring a new one — the wedding of her pregnant teenage daughter to her ice-hockey-playing fiancé before the November 4 election.

Inside John McCain’s campaign the expectation is growing that there will be a popularity boosting pre-election wedding in Alaska between Bristol Palin, 17, and Levi Johnston, 18, her schoolmate and father of her baby. “It would be fantastic,” said a McCain insider. “You would have every TV camera there. The entire country would be watching. It would shut down the race for a week.”

There is already some urgency to the wedding as Bristol, who is six months pregnant, may not want to walk down the aisle too close to her date of delivery. She turns 18 on October 18 . . .

. . . McCain is expected to have a front-row seat at Bristol’s wedding and to benefit from the outpouring of goodwill that it could bring. “What’s the downside?” a source inside the McCain campaign said. “It would be wonderful. I don’t know that there has ever been a pre-election wedding before.”

This is wrong in too many ways to count. I hope against hope that the American public can see through this as a stunt, and that there will be backlash for politicizing the situation between Bristol and Levi. This is the kind of crap that makes people think poorly of all politicians- unchecked ego and aggressive aspirations taking a toll on family, friends, the community and ultimately voters everywhere.

And can I just say, "McCain, leering from the front row, ewwwww!" just what every young bride dreams of.

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Brand Obama

It struck me today, there are a lot of things about this campaign that are different.

Print magazine recently ran a review of campaign signs over the years--but there is no online link. I did find this site showing recent political signs, truly an example of the good the bad and the ugly.

Check out this monstrosity.



Or this;



But like so much of Barack Obama's improbable journey- even his print image is different.

The Obama logo is recognized literally around the world. I didn't know (till now) where the logo came from, who made it? But it is really quite something. Patriotic but not nationalistic. Recognizable but not patronizing. Simple, elegant and it really captures a hopeful feeling. Not sure I even thought it was possible to capture hope in a logo... a path way through Obama to a better future. Red white and a new kind of blue.

And it has been a fun logo to play with as many constituency groups have done.

Plus it is simple to recreate on hand painted signs, barns, fans, buttons, shirts, shoes, tatoos. You name it-- they've done it. There is even a site to create your own customized version.

And I find this very cool lego-logo. (disclosure- I love Legos)


logo by Jamiee

Branding is looked on by most of us lefties with a cynical eye and a wary stance against corporate America- But this logo really has been a focal point, and the postive image it projects has helped bring people together.

The folks that made the logo-- Sender LLC. Check out their presentation, interesting. Nice that he chose a small local firm.

I leave you with this one...

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