Kiss Your Own Damn Baby! And How to Garner 11% of the Vote
An old friend of mine is running for state Assembly in New Jersey. He is an independent, and has one of the more interesting campaigns you will see.
Dan Jacobson served one term in the Assembly over 20 years ago when he was in his 20s - as a Democrat.
As a more mature adult today, he has thrown off the barbed reins of the Democratic dark side. He now sees himself as fiscally conservative as the rest of us, ranting in his weekly newspaper (disclaimer – I used to rant in columns for it) about the problems with unions and politics, among other issues Republicans would like.
On social issues he is a Libertarian, though a bit libertine for some tastes. The only thing left of his old Democrat ways as far as I can tell is that Dan doesn’t seem to know what a baby is or where one hangs out the first 9 months of his or her life.
Which is probably why he won’t kiss yours.
What truly makes his campaign interesting is the way he runs it: He takes no donations. He seeks no endorsements. He holds no rallies. He has no staff. He networks with no one.
Truly independent! His goal seems to be a campaign that isn’t one, by a candidate who refuses to be one; thus his refusal to honor the political tradition of kissing your baby. He wants to go to Trenton not owing anyone anything. Good luck with that, Dan.
I once ran a political experiment and found that a truly independent candidate who runs only on issues and seeks no endorsements gets 11% of the vote. That’s important - every campaign manager in America should know that issues will garner 11% of the vote. I predict Dan will get 11% of the vote.
In the meantime, check out more of his funny newspaper ads that he has run about his campaign. They are different, and it will make you smile that this campaign is real:
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Re: Kiss Your Own Damn Baby! And How to Garner 11% of the Vote
These ads are awesome. I am the 11%.
Jun '10
Re: Kiss Your Own Damn Baby! And How to Garner 11% of the Vote
Who wants some slobbery, germ-ridden, insincere politician kissing their baby anyway? I just want them to cut spending. I may move to NJ to vote for him.
Edited on Nov 7, 2011 at 6:44amApr '11
Re: Kiss Your Own Damn Baby! And How to Garner 11% of the Vote
I like his blunt, direct style, and that he's spoken out loud the underlying reason I suspect is absolutely true that many Americans continue to vote Dem, despite the fact that they are, "...idiots on economic policy...," namely, that "Democrats are around to make sure this country doesn't turn into a theocracy...," (see his article, "Kiss the Tea Party's Ass?") which seems, at least to a large extent, why Dan Jacobsen is around, too.
That's ok, obviously. It's the Libertarian streak he describes himself as having. It's also a "knee-jerk" reaction to the equally knee-jerk-like notion on the part of many Republican pols as well as voters, that separation of Church and State is just a notion from one of Jefferson's personal letters, too.
Still, as much as I appreciate his candor, even his viewpoint, I can't help wondering. Is reflex a desired quality for elected office? Especially in someone who admits, he voted for Obama in 2008? Is Mr. Jacobsen confusing reflex and leadership?
Mar '11
Re: Kiss Your Own Damn Baby! And How to Garner 11% of the Vote
Please forward my best wishes to him; if my wife was to ever allow me to run for public office, I'd do it the same way. Of course, it'd be helpful if I also owned my own newspaper.
Edited on Nov 7, 2011 at 8:57amApr '11
Re: Kiss Your Own Damn Baby! And How to Garner 11% of the Vote
Well I'd vote for him, sadly I don't live in NJ. Guess that makes me part of the 11%.
Apr '11
Re: Kiss Your Own Damn Baby! And How to Garner 11% of the Vote
Ok. Apparently reflex = leadership, then.
Jul '10
Re: Kiss Your Own Damn Baby! And How to Garner 11% of the Vote
There's something wonderful about the crank streak in American politics that gives us stuff like this, where in Europe it gives you creepy parties with uniforms and yearnings for the God-King.
I especially loved his tagline that read, "Detailed info at DanJacobsen.com. It is your responsibility as a voter to read it."
Apr '11
Re: Kiss Your Own Damn Baby! And How to Garner 11% of the Vote
He's going for a legislative position. Kneejerk partisanship (to any idea) from a majority in the legislature or from the executive is unfortunate. From a small minority, it's not so bad. Analogously, if Justice Thomas were as dumb as libs used to claim, he'd just be one of the best judges on the Court, rather than indisputably the best, but he'd still be pretty darn good!
Apr '11
Re: Kiss Your Own Damn Baby! And How to Garner 11% of the Vote
Populism : politics as"The Book of Mormon" : "West Side Story."