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| Nevada Jack |
Nevada Jack hasn't been too active since the Bush Administration, but he has finally come out of retirement and decided to throw his two cent into the current political climate in America. "I'm not looking to do a long term political gig," the furry fellow said when he turned in his copy. "After all, there are more important things than politics. Both the regular season for Major league baseball and trout season opens next month."
Shake It Up
by Nevada Jack
Ever wonder why certain characters all seem to be drinking Cokes or Pepsi s or eating Reese’s Peanut Pieces? Somewhere, some marketing guru paid a producer for the rights to have their product featured on the big screen. It’s standard practice for manufacturers to pay to have their products highlighted in movies. Subtle advertising! The consumer doesn’t even know he’s just paid and outrageous amount of money to watch a commercial. In a bold move, Henry Liealot, the marketing guru for The Ohio Art Company, makers of the 50 year old kid’s toy Etch A Sketch, came up with a new product placement scheme. Liealot negotiated a financial deal with Mitt Ronney's aide Eric Fehrnstorm to highlight his company’s product on the campaign trail. Etch A Sketch sales have skyrocketed, forcing many stores to dig through their back shelves to find extra boxes of the product, which were then dusted off and for the first time since 1969, prominently displayed.
Most baby boomers have fond memories of the Etch A Sketch as a favorite Christmas or birthday gift from back in the 60s. The “favorite status” of the gift generally lasted about 48 hours, after which the toy was cast off, only later to be passed down to a younger sibling or sold at a church rummage sale. Lately, the company has been battling to market its product in a digital age.
I’ve been amazed at the result,” said Liealot. I didn’t even think about approaching rival candidates with the idea, but soon both Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum were playing with their own Etch A Sketches. In what seemed to be a replay of many baby boomers childhood fights, Rick grabbed Newt’s Etch A Sketch and erased his drawing of the White House. Newt responded with a sucker punch to Rick’s stomach. Meanwhile, Mitt picked up another delegate from some far-flung American territory in the South Pacific. Commentators at all the major news media outlets pondered if it was finally enough for him to put away the nomination.
In response to the success had by the Ohio Art Company, other manufacturers have been quick to start their own political product placement campaigns. In the board room of Just for Men Shampoo, a debate has been ongoing as to whether they should try to pitch their product to Mitt or Rick. Newt’s campaign has been proactive, conducting their own a bidding war to decide if their candidate will represent the Double Wooper or the Big Mac. The Hunger Games producers have supposedly been approached by Ron Paul’s folks for an endorsement. It does seem like the Republican party is truly the party of big business, but that hasn’t stopped Spaulding, a major supplier of basketballs to approach President Obama for his endorsement. The President, who was reportedly seen wearing a Carolina blue jersey, told the Spaulding representative to get back with him after the NCAA tournament was over.
A poll conducted by Phew Public Research Foundation showed that most Americans wished politics were like the Etch A Sketch, so they could erase Bush’s eight years in the White House and go back to a time when the country was solvent and hadn’t pissed off half the world.
I remember my irritating Chicago cousins having one of those things. I lusted after the darn thing for years. Then when I got my hands on one I was so disappointed that I could never go diagonally so you could never do that pitched roof in the above photo.
ReplyDeleteAs to your Rep candidates this year. You cannot but think someone upended the barrel and took from there. Very poor, very very poor indeed. Still, I suppose it'll give the Dems to get their ass in gear for next time.
I always like reading your take on American politics, Vince. It is interesting to see how those from outside our borders see us. As for the toy, you had to be able to turn both knobs together at the same speed to make it go (somewhat) diagonally.
DeleteYou had lovely verticals and horizontals. Then this thing that looked like the teeth on a saw.
DeleteHere's one for you. US influence is so low that, today, peace in northern Ireland would not be aided by their involvement. It wouldn't be hindered. It just wouldn't matter. And that's really saying something, for % for %, Irish and those in the UK have more of a true awareness on your politics than your own.
Further, I can give you the precise point you lost influence. After 9/11, none could predict how your president would react. Which was compounded when he came out with that 'you're with us, or against us'.
It is all very well having the biggest stick, the trick is in the not using it.
I never had an etch a sketch of my own but I played with my nephews' all the time.
ReplyDeleteI never actually owned one, either. But my sister did.
DeleteWife and I were talking about Etch-a-Sketch this morning. We both thought its appeal had been incomprehensible, much like the Slinky. Or early video games. Sort of like a cat's fascination with a wad of tissue paper on a string.
ReplyDeleteI am one of those who would happily go back to the Bush years. I don't care what foreigners think of us, as long as they possibly fear to abuse us.
Years ago in the Peloponnese I was baffled by Greeks expressing their admiration for Oregon until I realized they were saying "o Reagan", "the Reagan". They admired our President as a stand-up guy.
We have tried being Mr. Nice Country and it doesn't seem to pay long-tern dividends. I fear that American travelers are safer now in fewer countries than we were at the beginning of the present administration. As a traveler, I would prefer the bad old days when the locals had to worry that we might send a gunboat if they ill-treated us. But call me old-fashioned.
Bush taking the war into Iraq was stupid--we should have finished up in Afghanistan and left, telling them if they let some nuts attack us again, we're coming back.
DeleteNever had an etch-a-sketch and never saw the appeal either. But thanks for explaining how one got into Rick Santorum's hands the last time I saw a photo of him...
ReplyDeleteAs for "shock and awe" foreign policies, I think we can see where that got us.
You know, I never really had one either. My sister did, but the first I remember playing with belonged to my cousins.
DeleteI agree about the "Shock and Awe" foreign policy
The only thing I remember doing with an etch a sketch is completely blacking out the screen by painstakingly going from one end to the other in minute increments.
ReplyDeleteEd, You must have had lots of time (and a steady hand).
DeleteI had an etch-a-sketch - now I wonder what happened to it? My mom was always a big one for sifting through out stuff for the church bazaar and I guess I didn't miss it when it was gone. :)
ReplyDeleteI'll be so glad when this election is over.
i thought the etch-A Sketch comment was extremely honest even though I doubt his boss thought so.
ReplyDeleteYes sir buddy hit the nail on the head..can't go back and the future is walled off from any sense of reality. Who knows is all I know.
Ha, that brings back memories - my sis' had one, which I regularly hi-jacked. Product placement in election campaigns? Very witty (unless you're serious??)..
ReplyDeleteSo many of us recall toys that stand out when we were kids. For me, the times were truly kinder and gentler back then. I'm not much into politics, but I appreciate my visits here! :)
ReplyDeleteSuperb Post and some of the Etch a Sketch artists are truly phenomenal!
ReplyDeleteGood one buddy!
J