I think I agree with Ron Paul, cute ads, but they don't mean much in the end.
OneManBlog
· 2 years ago
Also in the Rudy ad is it me or is the star over his left shoulder a bit distracting.
47th Ward
· 2 years ago
If that's a cross in Huckabee's ad, then Giuliani has a pentagram over his shoulder. Sign of the devil?
Jaded
· 2 years ago
I think the are great. If more people would say Merry Christmas more often, the world would be a much better place.
Merry Christmas.
Robbie
· 2 years ago
I was surprised about 'the birth of Christ' line in Huckabee's ad. I don't really care of he says it, but I figured more people would be outraged about it.
VanillaMan
· 2 years ago
I liked them all.
Huckabee figets too much when he is speaking and that makes me uncomfortable. But he is as smooth as a BS milkshake. On the rocks. With two straws.
Giuliani is having the most fun and he gets his point across and in on the joke at the same time. His message is still on the campaign and Christmas is a theme in it. BTW, there are two commecial, both of them pleasantly silly.
Obama is typically Obama. He is speaking to us like he is our big brother who is too serious to have fun. Michelle is excellent, and the girls are sweet!
Hillary's is the least Christmas-y. Do you know what is in each of those boxes? OUR BILLS for each of the promises she is making! WHAT kind of "gifts" are those? Also, no mention of Christmas since it seems that for Hillary every day can be Christmas if you really want to believe in everything she is promising!
Where's Bill? Probably spooning Mrs. Claus under the mistletoe, right? As one of the elves does a lap dance for him. Playing "find the candy cane" with a staffer?
But I liked them all.
Rod sez I'm pork
· 2 years ago
I thought you were hallucinating at first. But then a strange and powerful light just over Mike's right shoulder drew me in and showed me the errors of my liberal ways. I smiled at Hillary's until I realized that one does not usually indicate the contents of a wrapped gift on the gift tag. If not, why is she giving universal pre-K a gift? Rudy should not quit his day job. And Barack's? It was so charming the way Sasha Obama said happy holiday's for all us non-types. Much obliged, Miss.
MTP
· 2 years ago
There was only one truly horrible ad in the bunch -- Guiliani's. Red is not his color, and combining Orwell (Peace through Strength) with Santa Claus is a level of cognative dissonance that I can't handle.
The rest were fine. Huckabee's ad is particularly brilliant for the type of campaign he is running.
Way South of the Border
· 2 years ago
My first thought when I saw Rudy was "he looks like an overgrown elf." Then the camera pulled back and panned to Santa, and that notion went from amusing to kinda creepy.
Obama pulled off a Rockwellian moment, thanks to his gorgeous family.
Kid Vegas
· 2 years ago
Rich is dead on about Huckabee, I am as liberal as they come and I find myself agreeing with the guy. Great Ad.
Snidely Whiplash
· 2 years ago
Obama looks to be trying to allay fears of Christias with an ad no moderate D or R of any kind could ever hope to get away with. Christmas tree? Check! Kid (he can say, "I didn't say it!") saying "Merry Christmas?" Check! Lack of evidence of any Muslim heritage? Check! Hmmm ... would Barack support putting Christmas decorations in schools or public place? Blatan self-serving hypocracy, CHECK!
Poor Huckabee had to be slick and strategically place himself near the junction of his entertainment center's shelves(and he's still being criticized for it).
I actually liked Giuliani's ad. Hillary's sounded like a kid asking for a pony and a giraffe from a dept. store Santa ... "middle class tax break?" And still pay for umpteen billions of dollars in social programs she also names??? She does realize the Jedi mind trick only works on the weak-minded, doesn't she?
wordslinger
· 2 years ago
Huckabee bears false witness.
I produce spots for a living. It's inconceivable that the cross was unintentional. The lighting and camera movement are designed to make it the dominant image. I'm guessing there was post-production work to give the cross its glowing (burning?) effect.
Next time, Huckleberry, just hit us on the head with a hammer. You're a Christian. Christians rule. We get it.
Thomas Jefferson, author of the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom, is rolling in his grave.
SO ILL
· 2 years ago
47th Ward, I totally agree about the pentagram -- it was bizarre for a "holiday" ad. Maybe it was a shout-out to the Masons.
Obama and Huck did a great job.
Rich Miller
· 2 years ago
Pentagram, Santa and not a single mention of the word Christmas. Not a great spot for Iowa.
Chicago Cynic
· 2 years ago
I think we have half four of the seven dwarfs with these ads.
Huckleberry seems unaware that we have Jews, Muslims, Buddhists and others in this country. You'd think he'd at least ad a "saver" like, "and to all my fellow Americans practicing their religions of choice, Happy Holidays."
He must fall asleep with visions of a Southern Baptist theocracy dancing in his head ...
YouNeverSawMe
· 2 years ago
Snidely's comments seemed a bit far-fetch and of the conspiracist-variety... but... to each "his/her own."
I thought the ads were nice. None too cliche. Although HRC's made me feel like her intentions are not genuine.
BO's seemed sincere and made me feel good.
Huck's seemed a bit stuffy.
What's with the pentagram behind Guilliani?
Pat Collins
· 2 years ago
you know, I had to look twice to see the cross, and even then I would not have if someone hadn't mentioned the book shelves. But then I never did believe all that about "sex" subliminally in many ads, either.
Rich is dead on about Huckabee, I am as liberal as they come and I find myself agreeing with the guy
That's because Huckabee IS liberal. Real right wingers (like me) want either Romney or Thompson.
Snidely Whiplash
· 2 years ago
Tongue-in-cheek YouNever, tongue-in-cheek.
YouNeverSawMe
· 2 years ago
Snidely-- HAHA... I dunno sometimes, my friend.
And also... why is there a big Santa Clause popping out of NOWHERE in the Guiliani ad!???
That one was a bit strange to watch. His words were ok... but visually-- not so much.
P.
· 2 years ago
Huckabee: Cheese "product"
Guliani: Hard cheddar
Obama: chevre
Clinton: Ementhallar Swiss
A Citizen
· 2 years ago
I can't get past the similarity in appearance of Hillary to Howdy Doody - I think it's the choppers?
jerry 101
· 2 years ago
I didn't have the sound on, but the pentagram in giuliani's ad is a bit weird/disturbing. And, he looks kind of like the vampire from the (very)old movie Nosferatu. Which I never noticed, until I saw this ad. The pentagram, the red sweater, the way he is seated. All in all, very creepy.
Huck's cross is super blatant. The ad man knew what he was doing. Huck is either a liar or not very bright, neither of which reflect well upon him.
Rich Miller
· 2 years ago
===I didn’t have the sound on===
That's the best way to rate a TV ad. The visuals stick with you far more than the sound.
GoBearsss
· 2 years ago
Huckabee's ad will by far be most effective of the bunch.
Hillary's had the best production quality, but won't help her any.
Mr. Cub
· 2 years ago
Huckabee is the best actor
Obama and family are surprisingly awkward
Guliani is a complete goof
Hillary's ad is querky and cleverly lists her key issues
Just Sayin'
· 2 years ago
Gotta give Huckabee credit for going there first. His comes off as genuine. I didn't notice the cross there until you mentioned it, but I do think it's intentional. Still, he's a preacher. Why wouldn't he play that up? It would be weird for him NOT to mention the birth of Christ.
I think Giuliani (especially) and Clinton are trying too hard. But at least it's something different.
diane
· 2 years ago
I just don't see the cross as blatant, the camera was moving slowly around until it wasn't in view at all. It looked to me more like a window than a bookshelf.
BehindTheScenes
· 2 years ago
If I lived in Iowa, I would imagine any/all of them would be preferable to what I have been bombarded with for the last umpteen weeks. I don't, so... The Huckabee ad is more likable as a Christmas ad than Rudy's. Rudy's seems to try to hard, and I did buy the explanation about the bookshelf. As for the other two, Obama's ad seemed more genuine than Hillary's. With all her vaunted experience, I expected more.
Just Sayin'
· 2 years ago
I guess the upshot is, if you're going to make a Christmas ad, make it a Christmas ad. Trying to fit in the politics just doesn't come off well.
Lefty Lefty
· 2 years ago
That pentagram isn't even on the tree! It floats around as the camera moves. He must be going for the all-important druid/wiccan vote. Or maybe John Smith is reaching out from his planet (you get your own when you die a faithful Mormon, you know) to make Rudy look satanic.
And, as mentioned by Rod Sez, Hillary's doesn't make any sense at all. Or her father, "stinting" (Roger Morris' term in "Partners in Power") when it came to affection, probably ruined all her Christmases in Park Ridge by putting the contents of the present on the label.
The Century Club
· 2 years ago
I watched the ads first without sound, just to see the visuals, and Huckabee's cross couldn't be any more prominent if he had branded it on his own forehead.
On my computer Guliani's pentagram looks like it was added in later. Are these videos from the campaign?
Levois
· 2 years ago
I think peope read too much into Huckabee's ad. The only ones whod complain are those who are against X-mas. Hillary's ad was a series of gifts for more entitlements. I would hope that doesn't translate well, but it will resonate with someone.
Greg
· 2 years ago
Rich,
That pentagram has got to be a user-edited spoof. Is your link correct?
The Century Club
· 2 years ago
Oh, and judging by what everyone is wearing, I like how we've now ceded the color red to the Republicans, even at Christmas time. I hope that means the democrats can were a nice pastel blue in the Easter (or springtime) ads.
Greg
· 2 years ago
PS, it looks like in the real version, it's a large golden ornament.
winco
· 2 years ago
That Giuliani ad has been modified. That pentagram was added in by somebody. His campaign site has the original ads, and they don't have it. Also, at the end, he does say "merry Christmas," in the one on his website. It is right after he says he approved this message, which is also cut off the specimen above.
winco
· 2 years ago
But whoever added it in: That's funny!
Rich Miller
· 2 years ago
LOL. Thanks for the tip. Changed.
Another Pro-gunner
· 2 years ago
Hmmm. I guess calling a Baptist Minister a liar is more acceptable than calling Blago a rat. Maybe prefacing the slap with a little peck on the cheek was what made it OK.
"Hey, I like the guy, but I know he's a liar, although I have no real proof of that."
Bruno
· 2 years ago
Just in case some political consultant misses the opportunity...
The Hillary ad - reworked with credit card swipes in between each gift - should work out pretty well. Just end it with a shot of the name on the credit card at the end of the ad.
"Joe Taxpayer"
That is, of course, if she gets past the primaries. ____
What cynics we have all become. These ads tell us more about these people than all the negative/policy ads ever will.
I don't have to like or agree with them to realize that they all think they are doing their part.
Whether we like it or not, the quality of the 15-19 people running for President is a direct reflection on us.
cermak_rd
· 2 years ago
Baptist ministers, Catholic priests and Jewish rabbis can all be liars. There is nothing in their ordination ceremony that removes the potential to commit acts of moral turpitude.
And yes, I also think he is not being completely truthful (there, does that sound better than lying?) when he says he didn't know the cross was in the ad.
Snidely Whiplash
· 2 years ago
Photoshopping that pentagram i was priceless! I seem to be in the minority, but I think he came off as a regular person, and to me that worth some points. Huck, well ... man, everybody bends the truth from time to time, but when a clergyman does it, it just leaves a bad taste in my mouth ... like huckeberry! :D
Another Pro-gunner
· 2 years ago
Wow! You've uncovered the secret that people have the capacity to lie! Look at the big brain on cermak! Now allow me to retort.
The point you missed (or carefully avoided) was the apparent double-standard. Rich gives grief when someone labels Blago a rat (a description not necessarily scientifically provable, but which one might be able to argue with all sorts of examples of ratlike behavior), then calls a former governor and Presidential candidate (there, does that sound better than Baptist Minister?) a liar (a description that may be provable, but for which there is no evidence, other than all the input from "experts" who know every decision ever made regarding campaign ads in which they had no part in producing).
Besides, what you think is pretty much irrelevant (sorry to burst your bubble). I was talking about Rich, who makes the rules for the blog. And, apparently, decides when and how they can be broken/bent.
Justice
· 2 years ago
Great ads. Don't recall this much clamor before of everyone trying to out Christmas the other. Great presentations, and the shinning cross over Huckabee's shoulder. What genius! Rudy and Hilary hit their points well but Hillary is way, way overspending. Oh, but wait, it's not her money! Somehow everyone missed the Illegal Alien thing. Not a good holiday spirit theme of punishing people (corporations) for doing something illegal. I don't blame the illegals. Dang, I really loved that cross. Made Huckabee look so religious, of course ignoring the many fee (tax) increases. Sound familiar? Everyone is so nice this time of year. Just as soon as the trees come down the big guns come out. This is going to be a wonderful entertainment season; and all in HD! Wow. Whatever your religion, or not, after seeing these ads, I say hold on tight to your money and your rights. Nothing scares me more than to hear someone say "Why, he's a good Christian man." I'm converting tomorrow.
Esteban
· 2 years ago
The "cross" in Huck's ad is obviously a book- case; you can see stuff sitting on the horizontal portion.
Anonymous
· 2 years ago
I love the Giuliani ad. It's fits him perfect. Very dry humor. The Obama girls are beautiful. Also a good ad. Huck, too Goomer Pile for me. Hillary forget about it.
phocion
· 2 years ago
Not sure if this is the right place to post this but....
Obama didn't get the IVI-IPO endorsement for President yesterday. That's his home base organization since the early 1990's. Trying not to overstate this, but this could be a problem for him to explain.
Rod's Brush
· 2 years ago
Forgetting the John Edwards Ad?
JonShibleyFan
· 2 years ago
Bah! to Rudy and Hillary for making their holiday ads so political. I pray for Peace through Strength...ugh, give it a rest already. Sickening.
I too find Huckabee strangely compelling...until I remember that he is insane, and was a shoddy governor to boot.
IllinoisEddie
· 2 years ago
The Huckabee spot is a work of art.
"Do you hate political ads? ... I hate political ads. ... This is not a political ad."
steve schnorf
· 2 years ago
What cross? Are people talking about the white bookcase in the background?
Jay SeaBee
· 2 years ago
I don't know that it's totally fair to call Huckabee a "liar." I never noticed the image until the hoopla began. If the current trends hold up, it's going to be Obama and Huckabee. People say religion doesn't matter, but in the end, it really does. Can you truly see Americans voting for an atheist? Muslim? Mormon? I think many voters and pundits talk a big game but we really want a president who has some mainline religious base to call upon. It is going to be Obama vs. Huckabee.
All Comments
That and I had images of Al Franken doing his impression of Paul Tsongas saying 'I am not Santa Claus'...
Also the image of Hillary giving you all of those things, kind of dumb if you ask me.
I think I agree with Ron Paul, cute ads, but they don't mean much in the end.
Merry Christmas.
Huckabee figets too much when he is speaking and that makes me uncomfortable. But he is as smooth as a BS milkshake. On the rocks. With two straws.
Giuliani is having the most fun and he gets his point across and in on the joke at the same time. His message is still on the campaign and Christmas is a theme in it. BTW, there are two commecial, both of them pleasantly silly.
Obama is typically Obama. He is speaking to us like he is our big brother who is too serious to have fun. Michelle is excellent, and the girls are sweet!
Hillary's is the least Christmas-y. Do you know what is in each of those boxes? OUR BILLS for each of the promises she is making! WHAT kind of "gifts" are those? Also, no mention of Christmas since it seems that for Hillary every day can be Christmas if you really want to believe in everything she is promising!
Where's Bill? Probably spooning Mrs. Claus under the mistletoe, right? As one of the elves does a lap dance for him. Playing "find the candy cane" with a staffer?
But I liked them all.
The rest were fine. Huckabee's ad is particularly brilliant for the type of campaign he is running.
Obama pulled off a Rockwellian moment, thanks to his gorgeous family.
Poor Huckabee had to be slick and strategically place himself near the junction of his entertainment center's shelves(and he's still being criticized for it).
I actually liked Giuliani's ad. Hillary's sounded like a kid asking for a pony and a giraffe from a dept. store Santa ... "middle class tax break?" And still pay for umpteen billions of dollars in social programs she also names??? She does realize the Jedi mind trick only works on the weak-minded, doesn't she?
I produce spots for a living. It's inconceivable that the cross was unintentional. The lighting and camera movement are designed to make it the dominant image. I'm guessing there was post-production work to give the cross its glowing (burning?) effect.
Next time, Huckleberry, just hit us on the head with a hammer. You're a Christian. Christians rule. We get it.
Thomas Jefferson, author of the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom, is rolling in his grave.
Obama and Huck did a great job.
Huckabee: Preachy
Guiliani: Creepy
Obama: Happy
Clinton: Dopey
He must fall asleep with visions of a Southern Baptist theocracy dancing in his head ...
I thought the ads were nice. None too cliche. Although HRC's made me feel like her intentions are not genuine.
BO's seemed sincere and made me feel good.
Huck's seemed a bit stuffy.
What's with the pentagram behind Guilliani?
Rich is dead on about Huckabee, I am as liberal as they come and I find myself agreeing with the guy
That's because Huckabee IS liberal. Real right wingers (like me) want either Romney or Thompson.
And also... why is there a big Santa Clause popping out of NOWHERE in the Guiliani ad!???
That one was a bit strange to watch. His words were ok... but visually-- not so much.
Guliani: Hard cheddar
Obama: chevre
Clinton: Ementhallar Swiss
Huck's cross is super blatant. The ad man knew what he was doing. Huck is either a liar or not very bright, neither of which reflect well upon him.
That's the best way to rate a TV ad. The visuals stick with you far more than the sound.
Hillary's had the best production quality, but won't help her any.
Obama and family are surprisingly awkward
Guliani is a complete goof
Hillary's ad is querky and cleverly lists her key issues
I think Giuliani (especially) and Clinton are trying too hard. But at least it's something different.
And, as mentioned by Rod Sez, Hillary's doesn't make any sense at all. Or her father, "stinting" (Roger Morris' term in "Partners in Power") when it came to affection, probably ruined all her Christmases in Park Ridge by putting the contents of the present on the label.
On my computer Guliani's pentagram looks like it was added in later. Are these videos from the campaign?
That pentagram has got to be a user-edited spoof. Is your link correct?
"Hey, I like the guy, but I know he's a liar, although I have no real proof of that."
The Hillary ad - reworked with credit card swipes in between each gift - should work out pretty well. Just end it with a shot of the name on the credit card at the end of the ad.
"Joe Taxpayer"
That is, of course, if she gets past the primaries.
____
What cynics we have all become. These ads tell us more about these people than all the negative/policy ads ever will.
I don't have to like or agree with them to realize that they all think they are doing their part.
Whether we like it or not, the quality of the 15-19 people running for President is a direct reflection on us.
And yes, I also think he is not being completely truthful (there, does that sound better than lying?) when he says he didn't know the cross was in the ad.
The point you missed (or carefully avoided) was the apparent double-standard. Rich gives grief when someone labels Blago a rat (a description not necessarily scientifically provable, but which one might be able to argue with all sorts of examples of ratlike behavior), then calls a former governor and Presidential candidate (there, does that sound better than Baptist Minister?) a liar (a description that may be provable, but for which there is no evidence, other than all the input from "experts" who know every decision ever made regarding campaign ads in which they had no part in producing).
Besides, what you think is pretty much irrelevant (sorry to burst your bubble). I was talking about Rich, who makes the rules for the blog. And, apparently, decides when and how they can be broken/bent.
case; you can see stuff sitting on the
horizontal portion.
The Obama girls are beautiful. Also a good ad. Huck, too Goomer Pile for me.
Hillary forget about it.
Obama didn't get the IVI-IPO endorsement for President yesterday. That's his home base organization since the early 1990's. Trying not to overstate this, but this could be a problem for him to explain.
I too find Huckabee strangely compelling...until I remember that he is insane, and was a shoddy governor to boot.
"Do you hate political ads? ... I hate political ads. ... This is not a political ad."