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Meet Rameumptom, Inc: Schubert-Flint
What is Schubert-Flint ? Otherwise known as Schubert Flint Public Affairs ?
Shrugs.
So, how's about a little Q&A ?
Nods.
Awesome, let's get started ...
Q: The right choice for those facing difficult public policy challenges when success is the only option ?
A: You betcha.
... because [Schubert-Flint] deliver results.
Sounds good. What sort of results?
How about you lettin' me run this Q&A, and you focus on keepin' up? OK?
Thanks.
Q: Is it a PR outfit that celebrates their defeat of Proposition 86 - which would've increased taxes on cigarettes by $2.60/pack and help fund California children's health coverage ?
A: That it is.
SCHUBERT FLINT PUBLIC AFFAIRS CELEBRATES ELECTION DAY VICTORIES ... Proposition 86: The tobacco tax measure was defeated by 52 percent of California voters.
Q: Is it a four-star team of GOP public relations consultants ?
A: That, too.
Andy Pugno from the Protect Marriage Campaign reached out to me today to let me know that their campaign has retained the four-star GOP team at Schubert-Flint to handle their side of things.
Q: Wait a sec. In addition to their four-star Republican rating, and their 2006 assist with helpin' keep my tobacco affordable, this is the PR crew that's now been hired by ProtectMarriage.com ?
A: One and the same.
On the other side, ProtectMarriage.com has hired Schubert Flint Public Affairs. The firm's Jeff Flint is leading the effort in support of the ballot initiative, called the California Marriage Protection Act.
Q: But isn't that the same Jeff who used to work at Russo Marsh & Rogers, the GOP-linked political firm that includes the pro-Iraq War group Move America Forward among its clients ?
A: Yes, and it's been nothin' but onwards and upwards for Jeff since those glory days.
Q: You mean the same Move America Forward whose chairperson, Melanie Morgan, suggested in the summer of 2006 that Bill Keller, an editor of the NY Times, be put to death in a gas chamber for treason for reporting on Bush administration domestic spying?
A: None other.
Q: So, I take it that Jeff's the guy to call with any institutional media inquiries about the Protect Marriage Campaign, right ?
A: Absolutely. Jeff's looking forward to hearing from you at (916) 448 4234, or drop him a line at jeff@schubertflintpa.com ... At the same time, please kindly avoid bothering Jeff with questions regarding the meaning of Rameumptom.
It's not his job to know.
--
x-posted at Daily Kosxx-posted at OpenLeft
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This is me weaning myself off posts about Mormons, OK?
In fact, this is me pivoting - from railing against the failures of the beloved religion of my youth - to breaking down evil into bite-sized portions.
Schubert-Flint is today's tasty morsel.
June 30, 2008 12:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
For the record, I'm feelin' like persona non grata in the bloggernacle. What's up with that?
June 30, 2008 1:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
And, yeah, I love TPMCafé, but I keep x-postin' over at dKos and OpenLeft 'cuz - for some reason - my posts come out much easier on the eyes over there and there.
Go figure.
And, yeah, this is me burnin' bridges with not only all the Mormon siteowners I know, but with those of the Jewish persuasion as well. So I'm an ecumenical, equal opportunity pain-in-the-ass that way. Deal.
Although, to Josh's credit, he's never forced me to give up bein' Chino just to get a friggin' comment to load.
June 30, 2008 1:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hi, Jason,
I don't think you're persona non grata. At least, not at anyplace I blog.
Akismet seems to feel otherwise, I'm sorry to say. And I'd turn off akismet, but that would be a very bad idea. It catches a lot of spam. I just emptied the filter of 127 comments about online gambling, porn of various types (lots of bestiality in the filter today), and questionable financial transactions.
I do rescue your comments when I see them in the filter; but I don't usually check it more than once a day or so.
June 30, 2008 2:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey Kaimi,
Don't mind me. I'm just venting.
I mean, considering how easy it should be for me to organize a statewide action from my laptop here in Taiwan, I'm really feelin' kinda foolish for not comin' up with the goods.
No water cannons, no CNN, no nothin'.
I suck.
But Schubert-Flint sucks even harder, so I'm goin' after those lowlifes now.
Wish me luck.
Oh, and I notice you didn't even bother to rec my post here.
What's up with that?
On the other hand, considering all the surplus bestiality you might be lookin' to offload, I'd be willing to set the personal slights aside and open up some private back-channel negotiations. It's an aspect of my nostalgia for life down on the farm that I'm not proud of, but there it is. Think it over.
And I'm willing to meet you half-way on the whole "Jason" thing ... yeah, I know that's my name, but Chino's my pride and joy, man.
How about a nifty anagram and we call it even: Casino John
No way you could mistake Casino John for some online gambling spammer, and I get to comment with my dignity intact.
Deal?
June 30, 2008 2:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Chino, I always reccomend your posts and read them happily, if only for the continuing discussion you have with yourself in the comment thread. I heartily enjoy the back and forth you have with yourself, even if the topic doesn't interest me, i.e., the blogernacle stuff.
Honestly, it's like watching someone during the manic part of bipolarity and it's actually quite fun and amusing. ( Please don't take that the wrong way, or in anyway that I intend to imply that you are bipolar.)
You remind me more of Kathryn Hepburn in "Bringing Up Baby", which is one of the all time great comedies. That's how I mean my comment.
So, carry on........
June 30, 2008 4:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey, thanks for the encouragement. I know I'm probably quickly exhausting whatever goodwill I may have accumulated here at TPMCafé - what with my recent - admittedly arcane - rantings.
No, I am not bipolar, thank goodness. I have friends who are, and it's no picnic.
And I am also not comfortable with pimpin' my own posts around here. At least not now, at a moment when I fear I'm fast approaching dominickdesid territory with my current obsession.
As such, I'd really appreciate it if you could help pimp my posts for me. I know that's a lot to ask, but on a certain level, that's really what my latest screeds have been all about, you know - the kindness of strangers.
http://www.equalityforall.com
June 30, 2008 5:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dammit, Dee, if this exchange from "Bringing Up Baby" doesn't capture something I'm feelin' right now:
Susan Vance: You mean you want *me* to go home?
David Huxley: Yes.
Susan Vance: You mean you don't want me to help you any more?
David Huxley: No.
Susan Vance: After all the fun we've had?
David Huxley: Yes.
Susan Vance: And after all the things I've done for you?
David Huxley: That's what I mean.
I've spent the better part of the last week tryin' to get my head around what's happenin' in California with the Protect Marriage Campaign. Jeff Flint and his crew have assembled quite a coalition. He's a real pro, and his success with Measure M was a real achievement. At the same time, as Jeff himself has admitted:
As usual, he's planning on winning his amendment battle in November by running to the middle - it's his MO - and it's got a solid track record.
If we're gonna defeat Jeff this time around, we're gonna have to meet and beat him in that middle that he intends to claim as his own.
To my mind, that means reaching out to Mormons, Evangelicals, and every other CA demo that we'd normally write off as too costly to engage. If we can't bridge the Bakersfield-Bay Area divide before Nov. 4, it's gonna be a nail-biter - and it doesn't need to be - but it will be if we stick with what's comfortable, if we don't recognize the allies we've got spread out across the state, but instead stubbornly cling to our comfortable urban clusters, rather than identifying the scattered foot soldiers already embedded in EVERY community, waiting for their marching orders.
It's fun engaging these far-flung folks. You end up finding out that more of them share your view than you'd have expected. That some don't, that there will always be those who are incapable of distinguishing a sincere attempt at engagement from outright attack is just something that comes with the territory, and I should know better than to mope about it. Still, after all the fun, it does hurt to be told maybe it'd be better if I just went home.
June 30, 2008 5:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
By the way, for what it's worth, I've sent an email to Jeff Flint to let him know what's goin' on with my posts here and at dKos and OpenLeft, in case he cares to respond, or excoriate me for publicizing his email, or whatever. Professional courtesy. And he's replied with a hearty "Thanks!" ...
Thank me later, Jeff. This party's just gettin' started.
June 30, 2008 6:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry, Chino, but I think I'm going to keep all the bestiality spam for now. It might be worth something in a few years, you know, like stamps. Or beanie babies.
But I will go ahead and recommend your post. How's that for a decent trade-off?
June 30, 2008 6:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
You've called me Chino, rec'd my post, and cheered me up, so I've gone ahead and dug up something worthy for you:
BEANIE BABY DEBATE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5FM2EByZec
The clip's relevant, funny and brief.
Hope you enjoy. I had to wade through a beanie baby porn swamp to find this gem, but it was worth it.
June 30, 2008 10:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
A decent intro to the players ...
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-opponents18-2008jun18,0,311728.story
Just to make sure the main point of this post is not getting lost in the rush of comments:
The Protect Marriage Campaign is being run by hired guns whose previous battles were on behalf of Big Tobacco and Big War - the guys fightin' for cheap smokes and cheap oil.
June 30, 2008 11:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
What do I mean "fighting" ??
that should read - the guys willin' to let others die for cheap smokes and cheap oil.
July 1, 2008 12:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
After the election, these political operators will close shop and go home, but the taint on California churches will remain:
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Politics/Default.aspx?id=145022
July 1, 2008 12:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
http://www.camajorityreport.com/index.php?module=articles&func=display&ptid=9&aid=3236
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger told Meet the Press on Sunday that he opposes the proposed gay marriage ban, which can now be officially referred to as Proposition 8.
Supporters are well and truly behind the 8-ball on this one.
Prop 8's chances are sinkin' as fast as the reputations of the hired guns brought in to pull off its passage.
Thanks for the assist, Governor.
July 1, 2008 12:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
Too funny:
I wonder how it makes California Mormons feel to realize that they've basically just been drafted by a GOP PR outfit?
If it was me, I'd be wondering how much of my Church's money was going to pay Jeff Flint while I'm out pounding the pavement for free?
Prop 8 is so not gonna pass, even with all the fear-mongering Jeff's got lined up.
July 1, 2008 1:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
OK, I said I was gonna lay off the rank-and-file and keep my ire focused on the clowns in the suits pulling Prop 8's strings.
July 1, 2008 1:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
http://www.redcounty.com/placercountyca/2008/01/roseville-rocklin-today-asks-f/#c50975
Especially when your pals are gettin' paid to sell that war, eh? I see Melanie Morgan and Michelle Malkin have teamed up for a new number. Saw the ads over at NewsMax and thought of you.
http://www.ocblog.net/ocblog/2006/09/orange_county_r.html#comment-22574663
Old, but true.
July 1, 2008 4:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Politics/Default.aspx?id=145022
July 1, 2008 4:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
The money trail still leads back to the Wasatch Front.
July 1, 2008 12:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thinking about the meaning of Rameumptom, and the 40-day fast some of the Evangelical pastors are calling for out in California, and currently reading The Unfinished Country, this Max Lerner line caught my eye:
July 8, 2008 10:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
Never thought I'd be linkin' to FOX, but this piece deftly makes an important point:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,349789,00.html
July 9, 2008 5:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
July 15th update: My wild guess is that Obama's gonna win big in California this November. If I'm right about that, I have to wonder what Jeff Flint, co-campaign manager for the California Protection of Marriage initiative (the Yes on 8 side), thinks he's accomplishing by posting comments like these over at his place at the Red County blog:
As a partner at Schubert Flint Public Affairs, and as "one of the most widely respected public affairs and political professionals in the state of California" (according to the Schubert Flint website), you'd think he'd be savvy enough to avoid
a) pissing off California's Obama supporters, and
b) sounding like a 12-year-old Al Jolson.
If this is the best PR that the ProtectMarriage.com coalition money can buy, well, then it's already time to put a fork in Yes on 8, because it's done.
July 16, 2008 11:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
http://www.redcounty.com/placercountyca/2008/07/brown-press-release-look-at-me/#c68661
JEFF FLINT SAID:
I'm for change....blah blah blah...I's for bringing people together...blah blah blah...let me quote Obama some more....blah blah blah....
JULY 15, 2008 11:10 PM
July 16, 2008 12:18 PM | Reply | Permalink