The Obama Jacket

I meant to write about this over a month ago but I'm only remembering to do it now. It's interesting so still worth writing about!

When I spotted this ad in Times Square early in January it struck me that something was a little off... Obama looked quite relaxed and casual so it didn't seem like the government had erected this billboard. Closer inspection revealed this billboard was actually an advertisement for a clothing company!

Located at the corner of 41st and 7th Ave in the centre of Times Square this billboard created it's fair share of controversy. The billboard showed a picture of President Obama at the Great Wall during his November 2009 visit to China. He appears to be wearing a Weatherproof jacket, which the company called the 'Obama jacket'.

When this advertisement went up over the door of Red Lobster on January 6th it instantly attracted attention. The main question being: can a company really use the President for advertising purposes? That question doesn't have a definitive answer it seems. The White House commented there is 'a longstanding policy disapproving of the use of the president’s name and likeness for commercial purposes'.

Still the Weatherproof dragged their feet on the matter for a few days, presuming to lap up the ensuing publicity the affair was creating. The New York Times reported Weatherproof President Freddie Stollmack as saying 'not being an attorney — I’m being, really, a designer, merchandiser guy in the apparel business — I would leave that to the attorneys or whatever. We’re not saying President Obama endorses Weatherproof apparel'.

Discussions held the following week resulted in the company agreeing to take the billboard down, as a goodwill gesture to The White House.

However, the ad proved it's worth even in one week and Weatherproof got even more than they'd hoped for. And really it's a publicity stunt even audacious Micheal O'Leary would be proud of.

Obama appears on The Tonight Show

President Barack Obama appeared on the Tonight Show last night and in doing so became the first sitting president to appear on a late night talk show. The Tonight Show, hosted by Jay Leno, is better known for interviewing film and music stars. But last night, Obama took to the couch to talk about the economy and his new life.

Early in the interview, Leno asks Obama to explain the problem with executives giving themselves generous bonuses in these times of economic strife. Obama easily explains the situation with regard to insurance giant AIG; and it makes you think how Bush might have hmmed and hawwed his way to a non responsive answer.

Presumably part of this appearance was designed to reach out to Americans who don't always watch the news, so it's hard to see how this couldn't be a success. But you can't please everyone as one quote I found online demonstrates;

'Does anyone care about how much of the tax payers money was used for Obama - his family and secret service - to take a trip to the Leno show? Doesn't he have anything better to do??? Great use of our money...'

If nothing else this appearance might make the American public see the value of getting politicians and leaders in front of TV cameras without the PR smokescreen of the White House Press Room. In other countries, leaders are routinely called to answer on television but this is largely something that has never caught on in the US. This is perhaps how GW Bush managed to blunder his way through two terms in the Oval Office without anyone really coming down on him.

When RTE's Carole Coleman interviewed George Bush back in 2004 the American media and public savaged her and RTE for essentially 'not being nice' to GWB. Her interview, while possibly slightly heavy handed, was exactly the kind of accountability that is missing in America. The American public took her style of questioning as lacking respect for the President. This was because she often interrupted GWB's incoherent ramblings to bring him back on track. Would we just call that style 'forcing leaders to be accountable'? This interview was like no other for GWB, and he is clearly bewildered by Coleman's approach as you can see here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fze2J2Ve9is

The full twenty five minute Obama/ Leno interview is available at http://www.nbc.com/The_Tonight_Show_with_Jay_Leno/video/clips/president-obama-319/1067541/

Babies judge Bush and Obama

I got this great email yesterday about babies judging former (thankfully) President George Bush and new President Obama. They say pictures tell a thousand words.... this is probably the best example of that you'll ever find!

Both the adults and kids love this guy.....

But not so much this guy.....

HURRAH FOR THE CHANGE OF PRESIDENCY!!!

Bye Bye Bushisms

The 43rd President of the United States has given his final press conference to the White House Press Corps acknowledging that 'not finding weapons of mass destruction was a significant disappointment'. Expired President George W Bush has just eight days left in his ever so memorable and tumultuous presidency. Like many US Presidents before him, there appears to be many people just waiting to push him out the door. Here's hoping the shining light that is Obama can lift us all from the financial and spirtual mess we're in.


I have to admit never liking the man and I certainly wouldn't have left him in charge of a vegetable plot, never mind a country. BUT he was a reliable source of entertainment over the last eight years providing us with a constant flow of laughable quotes, never mind the pretzel incident. So in recognition of all that here's what I think are some of the 43rd President's best 'Bushisms':


1. "Too many good docs are getting out of the business. Too many OB-GYNs aren't able to practice their love with women all across this country." —Poplar Bluff, Missouri., Sept. 6, 2004

2. "Rarely is the questioned asked: Is our children learning?" —Florence, South Carolina., Jan. 11, 2000

3. "Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we." —Washington, D.C., Aug. 5, 2004

4. "There's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again." —Nashville, Tennesse, Sept. 17, 2002

5. "First, let me make it very clear, poor people aren't necessarily killers. Just because you happen to be not rich doesn't mean you're willing to kill." Washington DC, 19 May, 2003

6. "This thaw -- took a while to thaw, it's going to take a while to unthaw." --George W. Bush, on liquidity in the markets, Alexandria, Louisiana, Oct. 20, 2008

7. "I didn't grow up in the ocean -- as a matter of fact -- near the ocean -- I grew up in the desert. Therefore, it was a pleasant contrast to see the ocean. And I particularly like it when I'm fishing." --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Sept. 26, 2008

8. ''I think it was in the Rose Garden where I issued this brilliant statement: If I had a magic wand -- but the president doesn't have a magic wand. You just can't say, 'low gas.'" --George W. Bush, Washington D.C., July 15, 2008

9. "I remember meeting a mother of a child who was abducted by the North Koreans right here in the Oval Office." --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., June 26, 2008

10. "We've got a lot of relations with countries in our neighborhood." --George W. Bush, Kranj, Slovenia, June 10, 2008

11."I understand small business growth. I was one." New York Daily News, 19 February, 2000

12. "We want people owning their home -- we want people owning a businesses." --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., April 18, 2008

13. "I thank the diplomatic corps, who is here as well." --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., March 12, 2008

14. "Removing Saddam Hussein was the right decision early in my presidency, it is the right decision now, and it will be the right decision ever." --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., March 12, 2008

15. "You teach a child to read, and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test.'' Townsend, Tennessee, 21 February, 2001

And what's the quote that best describes his exit from the Presidency??? ..... "I'll be long gone before some smart person ever figures out what happened inside this Oval Office." Washington DC, 12 May, 2008

I certainly look forward to listening to a President who is a bit more skillful with words....
(photo from independent.co.uk)

The Less and More of 2009

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Another year huh...

As the final year of the noughties nears, it's hard not to think about what's being left in 2008 and what might happen in 2009. So I've been thinking about things I'd rather see left behind in 08, and things I'd like to see more of in 09.

Bad news first of course....

Less:

1. Celebs drink driving- clearly a) we know what they look like and b) the cops would like to use them as an example to everyone else - so why do they do it? It's either because they reckon they won't be caught or they don't like paying for a taxi or a driver..... So celebs- stop doing it because it's just plain annoying, never mind dangerous...

2. 'R' word whining by people who can change things- Cowen, the government, shop owners, builders.... stop whining about people not spending money on overpriced things. People won't feel the need to go to Newry if you lower prices and lower the VAT rate. As for the builders trying to sell overpriced houses for €1.8/2 million- be realistic, you're not going to get the €1.5m profit you were planning on, so just sell those empty houses for a reasonable price and start repaying those bank loans.

3. Spencer Pratt still in our lives- of The Hills fame - the Speidi union is bad enough and Heidi isn't that bad, but her keeping Spencer as a boyfriend when he behaves worse than a small child is criminal. The world has never seen such an immature young man. Having created trouble by the bucketload with Heidi's best mate Lauren Conrad, Spencer now can't sit still unless he's making people pick 'a ship' to be on, and ranting about how much he hates the lovely Lauren. Go away Spencer!!!

4. High level people getting bonuses for not much/bad work- I'm looking at the banking sector here- getting a salary is generous enough for the mess that's been created and overseen by some of these people- but bonuses and lavish Christmas parties are just plain ridiculous.

5. Recession talk- it probably wouldn't be this bad if we didn't keep talking about it. Enough already, lets get the confidence going again.

In better news I could do well from seeing MORE...

1. Price reductions and better value- possibly the only benefit of the downturn is that we're seeing more reasonable prices, prices that we should have been paying all along. With the Sterling at rock bottom its good to see retailers finally having to reduce prices to more reasonable levels.

2. Cheap(er) oil- today a barrel of oil cost US$39, pretty good when compared to 2007's closing price of $96 a barrel. But while it's all good news as we enter 2009, and we can continue to drive the gas guzzling SUV's that certain sectors of Irish society seem to love, we have to face the fact that in the not too distant future our oil supply may dry up. Soon enough it could be back on your bicycles, so enjoy the comfort of the car until then!

3. Sunshine- We've been shivering for weeks now but at least there's been less rain than usual. So for 2009 can we please request more sun, less rain and higher temperatures.

4. Decent leadership from people like Obama- the year 2008 will probably be best remembered for the US Presidential election that brought us Barack Obama. A complete breath of fresh air Obama turned everything we thought we knew about US Presidents on it's head. Already admired by people and leaders around the world, his leadership and vision is something leaders at home and abroad should emulate. 2009 will be the year this man gets to show off his real flair.

5. Peace- some of the prosperity we enjoyed over the last decade may be gone, but at least we appear to be living in a peaceful Ireland. A time where people freely crossed the border simply to buy things cheaper is an amazing achievement given the situation just ten years ago.

I'm sure there's millions of more less and more's to think of, those above are just a few that I've been thinking of... feel free to add more ideas in the comments.....

Happy New Year!

Mark Shields Speaks to DCU audience on the politics of the US 2008 election

Barack Obama will face the most difficult Presidency yet according to US political commentator Mark Shields. Shields spoke to an audience of around 500 people on the politics of the recent US election at the Helix in DCU last night. Seventy one year old Shields has been on the political scene for decades; he worked for Robert F. Kennedy’s Presidential campaign in 1968. In 1979 he joined the editorial team of the Washington Post and began writing a political column which is now syndicated by an online company. He has been making television appearances since the 1980s and is now a regular panelist on CNN's ‘Capital Gang’ and the award-winning PBS produced ‘NewsHour With Jim Lehrer’ show. Shields was invited to Dublin by the Washington Ireland programme in collaboration with DCU Educational Trust.

Fellow American and DCU Professor Steven Knowlton introduced Mr. Shields to the audience and commented that he is ‘one of the most astute political observers on the US political scene’ today. Mr Shields took to the stage in the Mahony Hall of the Helix commenting ‘it’s a lot easier to be an American abroad since November 4th’. This theme of change would set the tone for the remainder of the thirty minute speech. Shields began by acknowledging that the November 4th election of Barack Obama was symbolic and historic in many ways. In particular he pointed to the fact that when Mr. Obama was born, his mother and father’s marriage was illegal in many states. One of those states was Virginia, a state which Obama won by over 9 percentage points just over forty years later. Shields attributed Obama’s win to the fact that he called out to ‘disaffected and uninvolved voters’, made excellent use of the internet to build his campaign from the bottom up and crucially he started ‘a revolution amongst young voters’. But Mr Shields was quick to acknowledge the serious challenges that lie ahead for the President elect. Obama will need to deal with a deepening economic crisis in addition to the many foreign policy issues such as the continuing Iraqi war. He commented that Obama’s first and foremost challenge will be getting a grip on the economy, and ensuring Americans keep their homes and their jobs. He commented that two things drive politics in the US; that is Americans are very optimistic and highly practical. ‘When the economy is bad, that’s all that matters’ he added.

Shields spoke openly about his thoughts on the losing party in this election also. Commenting that the Democratic candidate had successfully engaged young voters, Hispanic voters and African American voters the speaker pointed to the success of McCain in attracting votes from the over 65 age group. Using an analogy which provoked laughter from the audience; Shields remarked that Democratic voters were moving from rooms to apartments to houses, while Republican voters were moving from houses to rooms in nursing homes to funeral homes. He reflected on this generational problem as the ‘reality of election 2008’ for the Republican Party.

A question from the floor queried America’s lessening place in the world, referred to as the Post America Era. Shields stated that Obama is the transition to a new place, one where America can cooperate with other countries to achieve a consensus. He commented the reality of the ongoing situation in Iraq has made Americans realise that there is no ‘American solution’ and added that it was certainly ‘not found at the end of the barrel of a gun’.

Wrapping up, Mr Shields remarked that the November 4th election authorized him to feel good about his country adding that it allowed America to put ‘its saddest and most shameful chapter’ of its history behind it. ‘The psychological change will be enormous’ he concluded.

Best Obama Front Page Award

I've been looking back over the newspapers I purchased on November 5th- the day after Barack Obama was elected the 44th President of the USA- and have decided my award for 'Best Obama Front Page' goes to the Evening Herald. My criteria was pretty simple - I favoured the newspaper that had the most 'frameable' front page. That translated into a great graphic with a simple headline. Amongst the papers I purchased were Evening Herald, Irish Times, Irish Independent and The Guardian. On Nov 4th there was much fuss in the media about buying that famous front page and keeping it in a safe place.... I was definitely a little disappointed with some front pages on what was an inherently historic day.

Some of the other more traditional broadsheets ran with terribly informative headlines. But that's not really what it was about on Nov 5th. On the morning after an African American (just as much Caucasian really but that's another day's work) is elected to US President, do we really want to see a headline about the mammoth task that lies ahead for him? NO! Personally I was yelling loudly (in my head of course) and emphatically at the stacks of a certain newspaper that ran a cumbersome headline on just that. Not today people, maybe tomorrow!!! November 5th should have been about savouring history in the making, not policy chatter!

The Herald won hands down in my estimation with their entire front page dedicated to Obama's win. A full page image of Obama with the simple words Mr President across the front to match. A great addition to the spread was a well chosen extract from Obama's memorable speech that read 'it's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this date in this election at this defining moment, change has come to America'.

Well done to the folks at the Herald! (And to the greatness that is Barack Obama too). Round two takes place on January 21st so get your game on eds!

Beyonce Offers Obama a Song

AP reports Beyonce has offered to sing at Barrack Obama's inauguration in Washington DC on January 20th. Obama will be 44th president of the United States. Beyonce said 'Whatever they want — if they need me to volunteer, they need me to sing, I'm there, and I'm ready'. Clearly a big fan of Obama, she cancelled promotions in Japan scheduled for last Tuesday to witness history in the making. Beyonce gushed 'I've never been so patriotic! I'm just beyond excited'...

Could be a very interesting inauguration!

Has the World Changed Again?

Just over seven years ago we claimed 'the world will never be the same again'. The fall of the twin towers on September 11th 2001 brought a whole new reality to the lives of those living the dream in the developed or so called 'first' world. No longer could we ignore the nastiness that went on in other parts of the world. Terrorist violence was now in our back garden. But more importantly it was now in the American back garden. That garden contained a pool, a jacuzzi, a bbq and certainly no space existed for the harsh reality that arrived that fateful morning. But since last Tuesday's momentus events I've been wondering has the world changed again? The US general public electing an African American to the role of Commander in Chief is one of those historic moments that is likely to never be forgotten. Unlike 9/11 it will be remembered for positive reasons. Hopefully in a decade we will look back and remember it being the start of something amazing.

Obama embodies everything that the world (outside of the US) looks for in a US President. But it took Americans a little longer to catch on to what makes a good leader. It is not someone who tops the 'beer vote' or is like you or me. As a colleague pointed out, do you really want someone just like yourself running a highly powerful country like the US? Hmmm, probably not. 11/04/08 will likely be remembered as the day the wheels started moving. 01/20/09 will be remembered as the day it all began and a new beginning gripped America.

Obama is the man for job, and luckily he appears to have most of the world behind him.