How to Communicate Legislative Successes in 140 Characters or Less
When the polls leading up to this week’s elections showed a Republican tide coming, the President and his people were quick to take the blame. The problem, as he and they saw it, was he wasn’t communicating his legislative successes well enough. When the votes started to be counted and it was clear the GOP was going to rack up a lopsided number of victories, the press was quick to fault the President. His error? He wasn’t communicating his legislative successes well enough. Now that the dust is settling and there’s been more sober analysis, the President has sat down for an interview with 60 Minutes, to be broadcast on Sunday, in which he finally explains his party’s shellacking: he wasn’t communicating his legislative successes well enough. Who says politicians can’t learn from their mistakes?
As someone who has had some dealings with the public, I thought I would offer a suggestion to the President on how he might more effectively communicate to the American people. I think the answer is Twitter. With a limit of 140 characters per Tweet, the messages would be short enough for a confused electorate to understand.
“Another legislative success today. Later had to clean up after the dog again.”
“Great milkshake at the WH. Might see JoeB later. Had another legislative success.”
“Met with Boehner. Piece of work. Wants to mess with my legislative successes.”
You get the idea. Short and snappy. Humanizing elements.
“Talking on phone with Reid. Doesn’t know I’m Tweeting. Cool.”
And today would be a good day to start. It's "Follow Friday" on Twitter.
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May '10
Re: How to Communicate Legislative Successes in 140 Characters or Less
Isn't that always the Democrats' excuse? "We didn't get out message out."
Re: How to Communicate Legislative Successes in 140 Characters or Less
There's got to be a way to make this idea go totally viral on Twitter using some clever hashtag. I'm having a complete failure of clever coming up with a hashtag that sums it up, though. Anyone have a good idea?
Jul '10
Re: How to Communicate Legislative Successes in 140 Characters or Less
Could be unfortunate:
Rammed PPACA thru! ROTFLOL! Rubes! Now, Cap-n-Trade FTW!!!
Jul '10
Re: How to Communicate Legislative Successes in 140 Characters or Less
Republicans suck! #DemMessage
We hear you, and we don't care! #DemMessage
Keep ur insure, less $$$, everyone in! Got bridge to sell, 2 #DemMessage
May '10
Re: How to Communicate Legislative Successes in 140 Characters or Less
Hehe. Actually, Pat, the Dems spent a whole lot more time trying to cover up "legislative success" this election.
Jul '10
Re: How to Communicate Legislative Successes in 140 Characters or Less
Best twitter feed out there? Fred Thompson
"President hands out Halloween candy at WH. Determined to get stimulus out one way or another."
"Poll: 65% would vote out entire Congress if given option. Other 35% said they'd settle for having them tarred and feathered."
"Sheen says outburst b/c watch missing. Yup, nothing worse than being on naked, drunken rampage & not knowing what time it is."
May '10
Re: How to Communicate Legislative Successes in 140 Characters or Less
And somehow it's been clear for a while that Obama isn't a Great Communicator. He had one speech and concluded "I have a gift". Of one speech, apparently. Even Billy Mays couldn't make people buy a lousy product.
Jun '10
Re: How to Communicate Legislative Successes in 140 Characters or Less
Snuck some great green energy pork into education bill today! #LegSuccess
Re: How to Communicate Legislative Successes in 140 Characters or Less
Condoms for Kids wins federal funding! #Donkeykicks[expletive]
Jul '10
Re: How to Communicate Legislative Successes in 140 Characters or Less
Hey Pat,
The People did to give Barry Credit for all of his accomplishments.
Only, They called it Blame!
So how about;
Dems lament lack of credit as Repubs call it Blame
Oct '10
Re: How to Communicate Legislative Successes in 140 Characters or Less
We know all about his legislative success: despite majorities in both houses he still had to ram a bill through with the sort of backroom deals and sneaky porcine tactics he campaigned against. And once people learned what was actually in the bill they hated it more and more. Unprecedented success!
May '10
Re: How to Communicate Legislative Successes in 140 Characters or Less
It has been too much fun (like Peter, I'll get serious next week at the earliest; maybe not til January) watching lib columnists complain about the Prez "not getting credit". Oh, he got full credit, thus explaining the enormity of the loss.
When your message is "voters are doodie-heads", well maybe that messaging had an effect.
Oct '10
Re: How to Communicate Legislative Successes in 140 Characters or Less
Oh, but there was communication. They spoke, the people heard; the people spoke, and now they are receiving the consequences of not hearing the people say NO!!!!!
Edited on November 5, 2010 at 5:39pmRe: How to Communicate Legislative Successes in 140 Characters or Less
Hilarious, Pat. But the narrative narrative is all part of the left's narrative. They've convinced themselves that there is no "truth" and narrative is all. America's greatness? Narrative. The moral superiority of the west? Just a story someone told, my friend. But every good storyteller knows that narrative doesn't create truth, it rides truth, truth is what gives it its power. Oh, wait, I've gone over 140 charac...
Oct '10
Re: How to Communicate Legislative Successes in 140 Characters or Less
I agree. Unfortunately, their narrative is more fiction than fact.
Edited on November 5, 2010 at 5:45pmAug '10
Re: How to Communicate Legislative Successes in 140 Characters or Less
You stupid hillbillies, put down the banjos and the flintlocks, the bibles, snakes, moonshine jugs, biscuits, and gravy. Get your sorry a** down to the polling place and vote Democrat!
Aug '10
Re: How to Communicate Legislative Successes in 140 Characters or Less
Spot on, Andrew. Exactly.
May '10
Re: How to Communicate Legislative Successes in 140 Characters or Less
How about:
#letmebeperfectlyclear
Or better yet, the highly ironic:
#giveMEabreak
Or the clear but less clever
#sosaysTHEONE
ok, I'm done...
Edited on November 5, 2010 at 10:09pmJul '10
Re: How to Communicate Legislative Successes in 140 Characters or Less
The Democratic leadership thinks if you massage a lie enough it becomes the truth. This the MSM then reports as an agreed fact. People who just don't get the science are ignorant or crazy clingers standing in the way of progress. You can see the massaging going on even with this week's election. The emerging narrative is it was really a victory for Obama because it will allow him to use the obstructionist House as an anvil to pound out a victory in 2012.
Oct '10
Re: How to Communicate Legislative Successes in 140 Characters or Less
@Tripedis Canis U r 2 funny! RT @TOTUS I luv u 2 Indonesia!