Not Exactly “Metafore!”: Politicians and Poetic License

by Freddy J. Nager, Founder & Fusion Director, Atomic Tango LLC

"My darling, I may be a lowly postal employee, but I do have government-run health insurance..." "Then shut up and kiss me, you fool!"

“Words are the worst thing ever. I’d prefer a drunkard at the bar touching your bum to someone who says ‘Your smile flies like a butterfly.’” — Grandmother Donna Rosa in “Il Postino”

Twenty-five years ago, the film “Il Postino” captivated American audiences with its sun-drenched tale of Italian romance, the collision of poetry and politics, and the seductive powers of metaphors. Yes, metaphors — or as the lead character Mario exclaims, “Metafore!”

Then we come to this side of the Atlantic, where we Yanks cast subtlety aside, and our metaphors and similes take a much more colorful turn…

Copycats Beware: Obama from a Marketing Perspective

Different is good. And one of the primary responsibilities of a marketer is to make sure your brand stands out from the competition — ideally in a good way. (Yeah, I’m talking to you, Chrysler.)

Just a Hunch: #1 Halloween Costume for 2008…

Skirting the issues, as usual...

You can picture it now: VPILFs gone wild everywhere… So wear protection, guys — and I mean body armor — particularly if you’re dressed like a wolf.

Full of Holes: The Extremist Attack on Dunkin Donuts

Like many people, I want 01.20.09 — Bush’s last day in office — declared an international holiday. But even with “the End of an Error” in sight, right-wing extremists continue to wreak their corrosive damage, and are now invading the seemingly sheltered world of corporate junk food…

“Breaking News”: A Hilarious Spoof of Obama’s So-Called “Elitism”

The liberal blog Daily Kos just unleashed a scathing and hilarious spoof of the “uproar” around Barack Obama’s supposed “elitism.” It perfectly captures the pathetic state of American journalism, where “freedom of the press” has become “freedom to act like squirrel monkeys.”

More Elections! The Cure for the Common Recession

Word came out that erstwhile Presidential candidate Mitt Romney spent $42.3 million of his own money on his failed campaign. My thought? Cool — it couldn’t have come at a better time, what with the economy looking like something my cat coughed up…

Rules of Competition: The Magic Number is 2

by Freddy J. Nager, Founder & Fusion Director, Atomic Tango LLC

During the South Carolina Democratic debate, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton spent the evening attacking each other instead of addressing the issues. I was completely irked by their misbehavior — then realized that this was classic marketing strategy in action…