Archive for September, 2008

1st Pres. Debate: Newsworthy Issues on Obama’s Side

Published on September 27, 2008 in Uncategorized. 3 Comments

It could have been 2004. It could have been John Kerry saying the exact same words: “Invading Iraq in the first place was a strategic mistake. It strengthened Iran and brought a terrorist network to Iraq where there was none before.”

The difference. Two things: 1) American public opinion does not settle quickly. But the jury is now out: the Iraq invasion was a strategic mistake and Sen. Obama’s message is consistent with how Americans feel in their gut; 2) Barack Obama is a better candidate than John Kerry. Barack can deliver a one-liner effectively such as the zinger about McCain Beach Boys melody of “bomb Iran”.

But McCain did not perform badly and don’t count him out. For those who recall, George Bush’s performance in the first 2004 debate with Senator Kerry was likely the worst in presidential debate history. Remember the President’s awkward line repeated throughout the debate that being President “is hard work”. Really? Kerry was provided plenty of opportunities by Bush to be buried and you cannot miss that many opportunities on the big stage.

Style and delivery is still a problem for the Arizona Senator. McCain believes he is tested, understands the world better than Obama and is incredulous that the American people don’t see it. This incredulity does not project well on broadcast TV.

Still, except for Iraq and the Pakistan-Afghanistan issues the debate was a substantive disappointment. Neither candidate has really thought though the long-term relationship with Russia and this reflexive reaction that the Republic of Georgia should be gifted $1b billion from the American taxpayers is not good policy. What are the policy goals of the $1billion? What exactly will the $billion be used for? How does Russia perceive the $1billion? What are EU countries doing? If it’s humanitarian assistance how much is the UN giving? Also, there are credible intelligence reports that it was Georgia that initiated the conflict. Few are willing to “straight talk” about this.

Unless I missed it, there was no discussion of America’s long-term relationship with China. How could this be missed? Without question, China poses serious military and economic challenges to US. What about India? And America’s competitive position, which has been eroding?

Given the content and contrasting styles, Obama wins the first round but game far from over.

Politicians (Finally) Are Starting to Pay Attention to Tech. Industry

Published on September 26, 2008 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

by Tim Jemal, Executive Director, Technology Leadership Political Action Committee (TLPAC)

California politicians have taken the technology industry for granted. For years, elected officials believed that no matter what they do, businesses will stay in California. After all, wouldn’t a corporate CEO rather live in Newport Beach than in Tulsa?

May be. But the belief that executive management will stay in California as a matter of privilege is false. This is particularly true for small and mid-size technology companies which comprise the backbone of the innovation economy. One senior Democratic operative in Sacramento told me recently that the State Legislature has done virtually nothing to promote technology industry and that this must change.

We’re not talking about corporate welfare. Most technology companies have an entrepreneur’s mentality and don’t rely on the government for business success. But they shouldn’t be punished either.

Our industry has a great story to tell. Nearly 1 million technology workers in California earn an average annual wage topping $100,000, more than 60 percent higher than the average annual wage in other industries. Yet, legislators continue to make policy decisions with little or no input from the overwhelming majority of California-based technology companies. This must change. That’s why we need your help.

In Sacramento, some state legislators in Sacramento recently attempted to impose new taxes on Californians who purchase digital media, including software, e-books, music, videos, cell phone ring tones, cable TV and movies on demand. New taxes have been considered on IT services. Finally, additional taxes have been proposed for small online retailers and Internet service companies that sell products to Californians via the Internet. These taxes would cause great harm to the technology industry and send the wrong message to industry that employs over 100,000 with the highest wages in the nation.

In Washington, Congress tried to pass a “patent reform” bill that would have adverse consequences for all segments of the technology industry, particularly startups, small and midsize companies.

The November 2008 general election includes the presidential election, several state propositions and 153 state and federal legislative elections. All of the 53 seats that California holds in the U.S. House of Representatives are up for election.

Most Americans are tired of elected officials making decisions based on ideology or partisan politics. TLPAC is providing a voice to the technology industry at the grassroots level and politicians are starting to listen. TLPAC intends to go on offense by sponsoring bold legislation in Sacramento that offers both relief and incentives to California’s technology industry.

With your help, TLPAC will make a difference for our companies, employees and quality of life.

Dems Taking the Bait

Published on September 12, 2008 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

Here we go again. You would think that after getting bulldozed in 2000 by a smarter and tougher campaign and losing a winnable ‘04 campaign, that the Democratic strategists would stop taking the bait on Sarah Palin? The McCain campaign is outfoxing the Obama campaign and has gotten under their skin.

Focusing on Sarah Palin is a mistake. Don’t you realize that the other side wants you to focus on Sarah Palin by offering condescending, elitist critiques? If you want to win, focus on the fact that 80% of Americans think the country is on the wrong track and George Bush has been President during this period. Why is it so hard to stay on message?

I did not see that entire Charles Gibson interview with Sarah Palin but hanging your hat on what was clearly a gotcha question about the so-called Bush doctrine is stupid mistake. Yeah – did I deduce Gibson was talking about preemptive war? Yes. But the Bush foreign policy has shifted goal posts so frequently (preemptive war, nation building, spreading democracy in the Middle East a la the Wilson Doctrine, ousting a dictator, etc.) it was not a seminal moment when Palin asked Gibson to clarify Gibson’s question.

There is still time to stop making amateurish mistakes but get on your game – quickly.

Jemal Public Affairs & Thank You Ocean Campaign Featured in Major DC Publication

Published on September 9, 2008 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

Tim Jemal and client CA Thank You Ocean Campaign were featured in a prominent Washington, D.C. publication, Politico, under the heading “Jemal Thanks Our Oceans” in the popular “Suite Talk” section. Suite Talk features major developements in the public affairs sector.  

Jemal Public Affairs and WunderMarx|PR have been retained by the California State Coastal Conservancy (SCC) to serve as campaign strategists for the California Thank You Ocean campaign. Launched in 2006 in response to Gov. Schwarzenegger’s Ocean Action Plan and the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy report, the campaign is a partnership between the California Resources Agency and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Its mission is to educate the public about the importance of sustaining ocean life and inspire Californians to practice ocean stewardship to combat unprecedented threats facing the planet.

Liberman’s Post-Partisan Message Misses Mark

Published on September 2, 2008 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

Connecticut Independent Senator Joe Lieberman attempted to deliver a post-partisan message aimed mainly at independents and moderate Democrats. Right message, wrong messenger.

In my May 2008 op-ed published in the Orange County Register, I argued that McCain’s best chance to capture the White House is to wage a post-partisan campaign and select a post-partisan running mate (the latter issue to be addressed in upcoming blogs).

The Democrat-turned-Independent is hardly the kind of figure to measurably move independents and disaffected Democrats into the McCain column.

The fundamental problem is that the main reason Lieberman is for McCain is the support for the Iraq war. Not just the surge. The rationale for invading in the first place. This also happens to be same position of President Bush. Thus, the Iraq war is not exactly a glowing example of post-partisanship. I suspect Independents and centrist Dems. were not convinced either.

To be fair, ending his speech tonight by speaking directly to the American people and beyond the partisans at the convention was the right idea. Just the wrong person to do it.