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‘Jeb,’ He Exclaimed
John Ellis Bush, a.k.a. Jeb, tweeted out his campaign logo Sunday; an amuse–bouche before the big campaign announcement. The reaction was not positive, though I’ve yet to see presidential branding highly praised in the online fever swamps.
As a graphic designer, I’m often asked what I think of various campaign logos. Reactions usually span from “meh” to “that’s atrocious” and Jeb’s entry falls betwixt the two. I rather like the Baskerville Bold font for the “Jeb” and the Hypatia variant for “2016.”
But that exclamation mark.
In a company logo, this punctuation can imply playfulness, a la Yahoo! But adding an exclamation mark to a candidate’s name is a screaming admission he is boring. Worse still, adding !!! can’t generate excitement if the subject does not. “Cabbage!” doesn’t make me want to eat the stuff.
Granted, Jeb has used this formula since his first gubernatorial campaign, but it’s not 1994 anymore. And it’s not as if the punctuation is a winner electorally. Let’s review every presidential candidate who tried the !.
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In 1968, Nelson Rockefeller ran a stealth campaign, hinting he was the best candidate for the Republican nomination! Richard Nixon won the nomination on the first ballot! |
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In 1972, Edmund Muskie was the strong favorite to win the Democratic nomination! After barely eking out wins in Iowa and New Hampshire, the party dumped him for George McGovern! (When McGovern is viewed as the exciting candidate, you have a problem!) |
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In 1996, Lamar Alexander finished third in Iowa and New Hampshire, after which he dropped out! In 2000, he took dusted off the exclamation mark and tried again, this time quitting after the Ames Straw Poll! |
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Sen. Paul Wellstone began touring early primary states to test the waters for a 2000 run! Despite the impressive punctuation, he didn’t have enough support to officially announce his candidacy! (Aren’t all these exclamation marks annoying?!) |
What unifies these four candidates is their dullness and their failure. It remains to be seen if Jeb’s exclamation mark can ignite the passions of a weary nation, but history indicates he’d have been better off using a period.
Published in General
Mike Murphy? I think Jeb! needs Mike Nelson…
I’d love to see Mike, Tom Servo, and Crow cover the 2016 debates.
¿Why?
With WI Con 100%. First reaction was peanut butter.
Jon!,
Isn’t it amazing that Jeb! made a speech that sounded much more like he was attacking Rubio than Hillary Clinton. This the most untimely absurd speech. Hillary shouldn’t be attacked right now over the ‘no real accomplishments’ even if it is great fun. At the moment the real story is that Bill and Hill belong in Jail!
Yes, Jail! If Jeb! doesn’t have the guts to go after her throat now, when will he have that guts? I don’t give a damn if he has money for April 2016 already. He doesn’t have the stomach for September 2016 and knocking her down in the stretch.
So far it was cool slick counter productive idiocy.
Regards,
Jim!
I think a semicolon captures the excitement for Jeb; better than alternative punctuation.
Inote that you left Hillary! 2008 out of the historic list. Didn’t want to throw her any publicity?
Jon, I’m just an amateur but what do you think of this little improvement?
J3B!
Could also have gone for the Muslim vote with “HiJeb!”
Looks like the merch is already available at the Ricochet store. Fully embroidered, no cheap print job.
The only Jeb to ever deserve an exclamation mark.
“BUSHED!”
I’m not sure what Bush was thinking; interrobang was clearly the way to go. It concisely mirrors the perplexity and exasperation of the base, hints at bilingualism, and is a code-punctuation that shows the Ivy leaguers he’s on their level. Another missed opportunity that has me question his candidacy.
(I am beyond terrified that my auto correct predicted and suggested “code-punctuation”… just another brick off the wall.)
Your title could do with a swift makeover:
“Jeb” He Exclaimed Bushily.
I’m considering giving my pseudonym a makeover. How does Son! Of! Spengler! sound?
Ladies and Gentlemen, it’s time to play…
SON!
OF!
SPENGLER!
I think it should be “& Jeb” as in “George, George, & Jeb”
Fantastic
300+ million people and this is what we come up with? Good God!
Matt Bartle
I think it should be “& Jeb” as in “George, George, & Jeb”
Why would I rather vote for Larry, Daryl or his other brother, Daryl?
Maybe just Son! Of! The goal is to downplay the last name.
Wait a minute, the “Bush” part is already represented by the “B” in “Jeb”. I could take a cue from him, and just go by SOS!
Cabbage makes mighty fine cole slaw. And I had corned beef and cabbage in a small town in Maine once that was delicious.
Bush, not so much.
Meet America’s next Republican leaders today!
From the launch speech:
Looks like we are set for this century. Henry VIII would be so jealous!
I wish you were joking, but I fear we’ll see Bushes and Clintons and their ilk ad infinitum.
Jeb Bush: proof that time is an illusion. It’s 2015, but it’s simultaneously 2000.