That's what Cnet News is quoting experts as saying about Barack Obama's much-touted text message revelation about his vice presidential pick. It seems that the Gang Who Couldn't Shoot Straight couldn't quite get over the technical hurdles. Many eagerly waiting recipients of the "big news" of Joe "Who?" Biden's ascension to the primary spot in Obama's shadow never got the news at all, or got it very, very late.
A campaign e-mail message on August 12 promised: "Let me be very clear. You are the ones who built this campaign, and Barack wants you to be the first to know who will join him in leading our movement for change."
There were just two problems with that plan. First, the Obama campaign chose the traditional route of handing the news first to a favored reporter: Joe Biden's selection was first reported by CNN. Second, many messages never arrived (one of my colleagues is still waiting).
Keynote Systems on Thursday called it a "technical bellyflop."
The stats are pretty bad. 40 to 50% of the folks who gave up their personal information to The One either never got the message at all or got it late. Gee, one wonders how the "working" toga party at Mile High will work out.
It seems some senior Democrats are very worried indeed about Barack Obama's decision to build himself a temple in Denver. That and the whole stadium thing.
Senior Democratic officials are expressing serious concerns about the political risks posed by Barack Obama’s acceptance speech at Invesco Field at Mile High Stadium Thursday evening.
From the elaborate stagecraft to the teeming crowd of 80,000 cheering partisans, the vagaries of the weather to the unpredictable audience reaction, the optics surrounding the stadium event have heightened worries that the Obama campaign is engaging in a high-risk endeavor in an uncontrollable environment.
A common concern: that the stadium appearance plays against Obama’s convention goal of lowering his star wattage and connecting with average Americans and that it gives Republicans a chance to drive home their message that the Democratic nominee is a narcissistic celebrity candidate.
“We already know he is a rock star, we already know he can bring 85,000 people together in a stadium. He has done it multiple times. He needs to talk to people who haven’t made up their minds yet,” said Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen.
Not only is Obama a rock star, he is also embracing his inner Britney. His temple was built by the same outfit that built Britney Spears stage sets.
DENVER – Democrats will kneel before the "Temple of Obama" tonight.
As if a Rocky Mountain coronation were not lofty enough, Barack Obama will aim for Mount Olympus when he accepts his party's nomination atop an enormous, Greek-columned stage – built by the same cheesy set team that put together Britney Spears' last tour.
Ah, a pantheon built for his oneness. We here at Blue Crab Boulevard are reminded of another stage, another set, another grand ego, albeit completely fictional.
UPDATE: Gasp! Could the Temple of the One and the Mile High Ego actually be all about filthy lucre?
Bad Ideas, Politics, Technology | Gaius August 28, 2008 | 
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