The msg on the blimp

It won't make or break the campaign. Having the "optimal" message would be nice, but it won't HURT the campaign if we don't. It will only influence the degree to which the blimp benefits us. So for that reason, we shouldn't expect it to go exactly as everyone wants. What does everyone want anyway? That's the problem with projects like these, you can't please everyone, especially with the challenge to please us while the FEC breathes down the organizer's necks.

And you can't keep going around changing things. Logistics of these kinds of projects can be very difficult to manipulate. I'm just going to support this effort, trust that the organizers are doing this in the best interest of the campaign, and trust that they are carefully evaluating any meaningful advice they get. As far as I know, there have been so many challenges to get this project up off the ground (no pun intended) that I'm just thankful everything has gone alright up to this point.

Keep this in mind: as far as I know, no other candidate is planning something of this scale for their campaign, so this is just meant to give us a slight edge. And I feel no matter what, as long as the organizers don't commit a COMPLETE blunder, the campaign will benefit in some way that other campaigns won't. That alone is enough to make me happy.

Up until this year I was not even the least concerned about politics. I did vote because my Parents taught me THAT was important....BUT...here is how I decided...

Hmmm...Fleetwood Mac likes that guy who plays the sax...Clinton. Guess I'll vote for him.

Hmmm...This guy running for mayor sure has a lot of signs around my town...people must really like him if they let him put them up in their yard...guess I'll vote for him.

I didn't start to wake up until someone made me read Harry Browne's book...and even then, it took me awhile.

My point is...anyone looking up and seeing "Ron Paul" will have that memory pop up in their head when they see his name on the voting machine. Not all...but a good bit of them might just hit his name cause of that.
IMHO anyway.

legal issue. I believe I have read this issue addressed twice.

On the bright side.....since the "bright side" deserves equal representation here.

I am going to say this in defense of the logo selection. I also am in marketing and business etc.

To a person seeing the blimp there is going to be the following response:

1 ) "Oh! look at the blimp!" Very few people will be expecting to see a blimp.

2) "That's cool!" Blimps are cool...they just kind of float along, they don't make a lot of aerodynamic sense and they are rare.

3) "Now what the heck is a blimp doing floating around here?" Blimps are associated with events.

4) "There must be something going on...somewhere....where?....what?"

5) "Who is Ron Paul?....well....who IS Ron Paul anyway and why the hell is his name on a freaking blimp?...Google?"

6) "Well, it has to be big because he's on Google..."

We could go on, but, keep in mind that this really is what is going to happen to most people when they see the blimp.

The messages just stimulate a question that is all. Yes, I am in marketing also and I understand branding, I have done it successfully for two companies. I know image is really important etc etc....

This "product" is different though. The Ron Paul 2008 presidential campaign is not a "buy." We are not working a "brand." I will say that those of us in business are going nuts trying to brand and market Dr. Paul, but, it ain't happenin' and I don't think it's gonna. He is not the brandable, bankable, imagable man.

He is Dr. Paul. He gives us who he is each time he smiles, each time he makes a statement, each time he shows us his passion, each time he shows us his resolve. He touches all us with who he is. If I tell Judy that Ron Paul is "this and that" I guarantee you that Judy will make a far different group of conclusions.

Frankly, Dr. Paul has made a lot of hay with all of us by being the antithesis of the politician and the way we are doing this campaign it is most assuredly the antithesis of all political campaigns.

Not having on the side of the Air Force 0.01:

RON PAUL 2008 INTEGRITY HONESTY AMERICA VOTE ETC...

Doesn't really bother me. Folks are gonna go home and say "Hey, Jerry? Who is Ron Paul? He's on the blimp...."

And the answer we all know will come from th next room...

"For Pete's sake! What is the matter with you?! He's the next president of the United States....silly....sheesh! Don't you know nuttin'?"

Maybe, they should have another blimp for us supporters.....

One side reads..":WE ALREADY DID!"

Other side reads..."THE NEXT PRESIDENT"

And there could be a little white escort plane
flying after our blimp with a banner saying...."Thank God!"

Best,

T

Hate to even continue this thread, but do think it is important enough to discuss further. I too agree with Steve regarding the message is past it's time and not the best to send out right now. Trevor and company are not going to change it at this stage and it certainly will be extremely beneficial regardless. Many of us just think it could have been far more productive and more geared toward the older without computers which is the audience we most need currently. Always remember your target.

Since many different people are donating to it and this campaign is about "the people," I hope they take other messages into consideration in the coming weeks. (Personally, love the message: "America loves Ron Paul - Vote Ron Paul for Prez!" It tells people that they are part of something big in America, gives them an action to do, and the word "love" is the most moving and well accepted word in the dictionary.) My 2 cents, but other suggestions are good too.

If Trevor or Katherine are looking at this thread, I ask that you put a questionnaire up on the blimp site to get feedback.....and ask how many more would donate if the message was changed in the coming weeks. Everyone I have asked about the "Who is..." message is not that thrilled with it, although I know some here have suggested otherwise. Majority is not always right, but I think in this case, they are right. I can't tell you how many times I have proven the "experts" wrong, including many lawyers, marketing people and doctors. It could never be proven either way as the blimp will have great impact as long as Ron's name is on it, but why not appease the many and get more donations because of it?....and probably do more good for the campaign than the current message.

Believe in us Trevor, as we have believed in you....and will continue to.

Thanks for listening.

I think message is great as is.

"Who is Ron Paul" is a clever variation on "Who is John Galt". I know that many do not appreciate it at the moment. But more and more people will understand.

The rEVOLution is a movement's unofficial logo by this time, no problem there

The blimp is already generating a lot of news coverage. It may not be perfect, we all may want to do things slightly different, but it is working just fine. I am just so proud to be a part of the Revolution, whatever may come. Let's all try to show a little patience and keep talking to one person at a time to spread the word of Dr. Paul.

Pass that information onto those that are getting the blimp airborne.

The stickers can be changed and probably just for a nominal price.

www.ronpaulblimp.com

ok, so what?

Guess what? it doesn't MATTER!

A wiser man than I (although a Canadian), once said:

THE MEDIUM IS THE MESSAGE!!!

I think (IMHO) that that means: AS LONG AS IT SAYS RON PAUL IT DON"T MATTER!!!

I'm bored, and I'm going to bed. If you want to join me, take a ticket.(joke)

I think those of you who placed your bets on the blimp should be applauded. I've already seen good returns on this investment in terms of coverage. My guess prior to its launch would have been that it would not be a good return. I think I have already been proven wrong.

Those of you who would not like to place your bets on the blimp as currently configured, place your bets elsewhere. You are more than welcome to come up with a different idea. Make your recommendations to those who invested in the blimp, and then move on to focus on your own investment!

But whining and armchair quarterbacking is less than productive. Let the blimp folks do what they're doing and god bless them. And you launch your own initiative where you have more control over its implementation..

We should have many many different irons in the fire. We can each try to predict what will work best -- but it's a bet. And a portfolio of bets is better than one big bet.

State education: The best way to insure implicit obedience is to commence tyranny in nursery.
-- Disraeli
Parents: http://p196.ezboard.com/bafterschoolers

Dear Mr. Parent,
I'm a general practice physician and in medicine there are finally 3 levels of certainty on which we are supposed to base our decision making.
The highest is based on scientifically derived double blind studies that are reproducable. The lowest form of decision making is based on "expert opion". This does not deride experts, just makes me warry when I hear "expert opinion".
Yesterday my wife and I came to Atlanta, the South East's largest city and struck up conversations in passing at the Lenox mall. There was no end to the number of people who still say "who's Ron Paul?" or "never heard of him". One gentleman seeing my Ron Paul button, asked me "Are you Ron Paul?" He and the others where given Slim Jims and campaign buttons and thanked for their time and questions.
Therefor the message on the blimp is unfortunatly still too relevant.
Hopefully, very soon; and due in part to the publicity derived from the blimp, the question "Who's Ron Paul?" will be asked only in jest.
I thank you for having donated to the blimp and hope that the supporters of the blimp project might consider launching another one on the West coast with the words you suggest.
Sincerely yours,
Mike V

i agree 110%..asking who ron paul is is not telling anybody who ron paul is..most will think "who is ron paul?..i dont know" and leave it at that..TELL them who ron paul is..the next great president of our country..i think that will get more attention...

One of the basic rules of marketing is to tell your customer about your product and then tell them to purchase it? GM and Mars Corp. don't let their customers flounder around in the wilderness hoping they discover their latest product -- they tell them what it is.

Our product is President Ron Paul. What action do we want them to take: vote!

My 2 cents.

Lisa C.
www.ronpaulinternational.com

I love the message as it is a very clever metaphor, it reminds me of the opening line which is actually a question in Ayn Rands (Atlas Shrugged), who is John Galt? It is perfect really.

I agree.

Also crazy is that they didn't get Google to pay for all the advertising Google is going to get with "Google Ron Paul" painted on the blimp. That's inexcusable. That could help fund the blimp and more.

www.TeaPartyMoneyBomb.com