I have not weighed in at all on the blimp controversies(?), but I wanted to add my 50 cents. Oh yeah, it's more than $0.02.
DISCLAIMERS
1. Yes, we all have a right to an opinion, freedom is what we're all about, etc etc. I applaud the right of anyone to have their say on this.
2. I live in Columbia, SC and am delighted that I'll get to see the blimp (on the 16th, no less!) without traveling. However, I don't think it's clouded my logic on this.
What is the purpose of the blimp (in my opinion)?
In order of importance:
1. It's an unusual way to advertise, and a powerful symbol of the grassroots support of this candidate, and thus it is, dollar for dollar, a good investment. The media will (I think) find it charming and give it a good deal of coverage both nationally, and everywhere it goes.
2. To the extent we can have it present in any of the four early states, it is a HUGE boost in those states. Having said that, and even living in SC, the best place to have it is NH. Why?
2a. NH is small. We can get great saturation.
2b. NH is close to the northeast megalopolis so that the blimp can most easily get to other population centers.
2c. NH is already our best shot at a win. We are doing better there than NV, IA, or SC. let's play to our strengths and seal the deal.
3. I never valued this much myself, but some people are especially attached to idea of having the blimp somehow be a part of Tea Party '07 in Boston. I don't know if they think it will help increase donations, or just make for a more impressive party in Boston, thereby getting marginally more media coverage.
It's clear to me that in the context of the storms and the goals stated above, we simply wait it out in the southeast, and then head for NH as soon as possible, going through all major population centers (including Boston) on the way. Once in NH, I think the blimp should pretty much be circling there, with short excursions out to NYC, Boston, Philly, etc. Getting to Boston on the 16th is not only impractical/impossible, it also isn't very important in the Big Picture.
In other words, when a lot of people are talking about not getting what they paid for, what I am hearing is "I want a refund on this car I bought, because the steering wheel didn't come with the leather cover."
So if the blimp spends only a few days with a single banner, then adds the second banner and heads north for its "main" job, we're fine. Everything's ok.
Now, if the blimp goes for more than just a few days without the 2nd banner, we are effectively losing all the eyeballs that look at the blank side of the blimp. In that case, we are getting much less out of our investment than we thought. That's akin to buying the car without the wheels on the right side. If the banner isn't on by early next week, I'll change my tune.
As for the strawman that the media will "make fun" of us for not having both banners on in the first couple days, I think that the symbol of even getting the thing up in the air will FAR outweigh such small concerns.
UNLESS the media comes to these forums and uses our bickering as story material.
Anyway, them's mah thoughts.
Fire away.
- Topher
DISCLAIMERS
1. Yes, we all have a right to an opinion, freedom is what we're all about, etc etc. I applaud the right of anyone to have their say on this.
2. I live in Columbia, SC and am delighted that I'll get to see the blimp (on the 16th, no less!) without traveling. However, I don't think it's clouded my logic on this.
What is the purpose of the blimp (in my opinion)?
In order of importance:
1. It's an unusual way to advertise, and a powerful symbol of the grassroots support of this candidate, and thus it is, dollar for dollar, a good investment. The media will (I think) find it charming and give it a good deal of coverage both nationally, and everywhere it goes.
2. To the extent we can have it present in any of the four early states, it is a HUGE boost in those states. Having said that, and even living in SC, the best place to have it is NH. Why?
2a. NH is small. We can get great saturation.
2b. NH is close to the northeast megalopolis so that the blimp can most easily get to other population centers.
2c. NH is already our best shot at a win. We are doing better there than NV, IA, or SC. let's play to our strengths and seal the deal.
3. I never valued this much myself, but some people are especially attached to idea of having the blimp somehow be a part of Tea Party '07 in Boston. I don't know if they think it will help increase donations, or just make for a more impressive party in Boston, thereby getting marginally more media coverage.
It's clear to me that in the context of the storms and the goals stated above, we simply wait it out in the southeast, and then head for NH as soon as possible, going through all major population centers (including Boston) on the way. Once in NH, I think the blimp should pretty much be circling there, with short excursions out to NYC, Boston, Philly, etc. Getting to Boston on the 16th is not only impractical/impossible, it also isn't very important in the Big Picture.
In other words, when a lot of people are talking about not getting what they paid for, what I am hearing is "I want a refund on this car I bought, because the steering wheel didn't come with the leather cover."
So if the blimp spends only a few days with a single banner, then adds the second banner and heads north for its "main" job, we're fine. Everything's ok.
Now, if the blimp goes for more than just a few days without the 2nd banner, we are effectively losing all the eyeballs that look at the blank side of the blimp. In that case, we are getting much less out of our investment than we thought. That's akin to buying the car without the wheels on the right side. If the banner isn't on by early next week, I'll change my tune.
As for the strawman that the media will "make fun" of us for not having both banners on in the first couple days, I think that the symbol of even getting the thing up in the air will FAR outweigh such small concerns.
UNLESS the media comes to these forums and uses our bickering as story material.
Anyway, them's mah thoughts.
Fire away.
- Topher
