Video: Are you ready for the McCain money bomb?
posted at 4:03 pm on July 23, 2008 by Allahpundit
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Well intentioned but fraught with peril, as anything less than a surprisingly stellar haul will hand the media a ready-made narrative about (a) the enthusiasm gap, (b) the weakness of conservative fundraising online, and (c) the fact that even GOP also-rans have demonstrated more money muscle. Here’s me doing my modest part to help stave off disaster. Mark those calendars: August 1st.
Update: Remember “Fred’s Giving Day”? Oof.
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Fair Winds and Following Seas to the Bravo Zulu campaign.
I for one will contribute the pay from one of my Navy reserve drills that weekend. The least I can do for CAPT McCain.
NoDonkey on July 23, 2008 at 4:06 PM
Oh, I hope this doesn’t get too much press. I mean, “Great!” if it raises tons of money…but “Not so great” if it, pardon the pun…”bombs”. It’s just a little too “Ron Paul” for me.
Just donate to McCain…today, tomorrow…no need for money bombs.
JetBoy on July 23, 2008 at 4:08 PM
Yeah, I agree. Remember when Fred’s campaign tried a big online fundraiser? Oof.
Allahpundit on July 23, 2008 at 4:11 PM
**Slams Head on Desk**
Brilliant move. This way when they raise enough money for a cup of coffee, we can get laughed at from here to November 4th.
amerpundit on July 23, 2008 at 4:12 PM
1. Should have stuck with McCain era footage.
2. Gives the ObamaATM machine a target for a big fat middle finger on the same day.
Oy….
Limerick on July 23, 2008 at 4:12 PM
Thats gotta be the hardest thing to do, take off and land on an aircraft carrier! sheesh.. >:D
that would be INTENSE!
Chakra Hammer on July 23, 2008 at 4:12 PM
Antipathy towards the red truck, Allah?
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on July 23, 2008 at 4:13 PM
I pledged $100. I like to reward visible effort.
RushBaby on July 23, 2008 at 4:14 PM
And it would have been even harder to do with McCain’s era equipment..
Chakra Hammer on July 23, 2008 at 4:14 PM
I bet Obama will raise more but it doesn’t matter. This is an opportunity to shock the ratbags with a great effort.
davod on July 23, 2008 at 4:16 PM
J.Q. Adams spelled “perseverance” incorrectly…
morganfrost on July 23, 2008 at 4:18 PM
That was lame.
McCain needs to hire a PR firm and dump all this volunteer crap.
Good grief, it wouldn’t surprise me one bit if the McCain girls made that.
RobertInAustin on July 23, 2008 at 4:19 PM
I hate to ask a stupid question, but what is Bravo Zulu? I have heard this term numerous times.
L
letget on July 23, 2008 at 4:19 PM
Fred…
:-( I miss him…Yeah, money bombs work for guys outside the mainstream like Paul, but not so hot for others. The bad just outweighs the good here.
JetBoy on July 23, 2008 at 4:19 PM
The downfall of the Thompson money bomb (I’m still not telling how much was raised) was supporters couldn’t track how much was raised. McCain can’t tap into the interesting behavior of people giving simply to watch the dollar meter go up. (I call it the “video game effect.”) Unless the McCain campaign does something to give supporters feedback a successful money bomb will be hard to accomplish.
As for the risks realize Paul supporters tried two or three times before the first multiple-millions money bomb. And note that the Olympics will be a week later and most voters will forget about a failure.
Disclaimer: I worked for Fred Thompson’s Presidential campaign.
seanhackbarth on July 23, 2008 at 4:20 PM
amerpundit on July 23, 2008 at 4:20 PM
That’s why he doesn’t post here anymore…
right2bright on July 23, 2008 at 4:21 PM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bravo_Zulu
Chakra Hammer on July 23, 2008 at 4:23 PM
If you attempt to follow up and visit http://www.bravozulumccain.com/ Norton goes nuts identifying it as a fraudlent/phsihing page. They’d better fix that sooner rather than later if they want this to go forward. Although, I tend to agree with AP that this is “well intentioned but fraught with peril”.
Personally I’m doling out in small amounts to McCain, the RNC and various smaller races. The whole “moneybomb” thing just smacks to much of hare when I prefer the tortoise approach.
Jason Coleman on July 23, 2008 at 4:23 PM
I think that McCain may be getting a little desperate as I even got an email from Mitt Romney asking to please give $$$ to McCain.
MB4 on July 23, 2008 at 4:26 PM
Thanks to all for the answer to my question. I guess I should have asked my husband, retired Navy.
L
letget on July 23, 2008 at 4:27 PM
If I’m not mistaken, Democrats have been doing the same for Obama. Just trying to get people who support Mitt but not McCain to think twice.
amerpundit on July 23, 2008 at 4:28 PM
Good to see you at HotAir!
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on July 23, 2008 at 4:28 PM
For McCain?
It’s probably a last ditch effort to stave off a Charlie Foxtrot.
MB4 on July 23, 2008 at 4:28 PM
just donate at the real website.
http://www.johnmccain.com/
Chakra Hammer on July 23, 2008 at 4:30 PM
Every time I think about McCain I am even less likely to give him any $$$.
MB4 on July 23, 2008 at 4:30 PM
Negative Ghostrider, the pattern is full.
steadyrock on July 23, 2008 at 4:30 PM
Awful.
DaveS on July 23, 2008 at 4:31 PM
Shouldn’t “Well done” be Whiskey Delta? Those Navy guys.
MB4 on July 23, 2008 at 4:33 PM
What was that? Everything you want to know about flight deck operations but were afraid to ask?
But then I am ….
Just A Grunt on July 23, 2008 at 4:38 PM
Bravo Zulu refers to signal flags. One ship to another.
However, Obama is free to use Whiskey Tango Foxtrot as the motto of his campaign, we in the Navy like to extol the orations of our most respected betters, with that.
NoDonkey on July 23, 2008 at 4:39 PM
Has anyone else gone to the bravozulu site. My computer blocks it as a known phishing site. Sounds questionable. I think donating to the original site might be safer.
Aggie85 on July 23, 2008 at 4:40 PM
The site asks those who pledge to go to johnmccain.com to donate. You won’t be able to donate at the money bomb site.
seanhackbarth on July 23, 2008 at 4:46 PM
B.Z. could also mean Battle-sight Zero which is when you calibrate your weapons before going into battle.
Either way this video was poorly done and boring bordering on embarrassing. Kind of like and old person trying to be hip or Rove rapping.
Kahuna on July 23, 2008 at 4:47 PM
Oh, this is going to be embarrassing. The website looks like it was built 10 years ago, whoever built it obviously has next to no experience at building websites. There is way too much empty space. Go back and look at the very well put together websites for Ron Paul. They won’t pull a TENTH of what Ron Paul was able to pull, and its going to look SAD. The media is rightly going to run with the story that there is NO enthusiasm for McCain, and its going to hurt. I mean, as of right now, there are 38 pledges totalling $3500 dollarsm and its 8 days out. At eight days out, there were MILLIONS of dollars pledged for Ron Paul. So sad.
muyoso on July 23, 2008 at 4:49 PM
NOT GOOD
July 29, 1967…Forrestal Fire-lots of McCain footage. WHY have the “money bomb” immediately after that tragedy? Nu-uh. Not good. Shoulda picked a different day
scottm on July 23, 2008 at 4:49 PM
I’m thinking that rather than Bravo Zulu it’s getting close to time for the McCain camp declaring a Broken Arrow…
sabbott on July 23, 2008 at 4:52 PM
Excuse me, but why should Conservatives be embarrassed about spending less money than Liberals???
Focus on results…not input!!!
landlines on July 23, 2008 at 4:55 PM
Wow they have an ugly website.
kc8ukw on July 23, 2008 at 4:56 PM
@ kc8ukw on July 23, 2008 at 4:56 PM
No kidding. Never seen one with so much empty space.
muyoso on July 23, 2008 at 4:57 PM
Charlie Foxtrot
mojo on July 23, 2008 at 4:58 PM
@muyoso
Yep. If you have to give the liberals something, I think they do tend to make better websites than conservatives. (They might just have more money to higher good programmers.) But I think a lot (most now?) of high school guys could have done better than that. There are so many free templates on the web nowadays - everyone can have a great looking site.
kc8ukw on July 23, 2008 at 5:01 PM
I love the video - I pledged and will donate because I want this to work..how about the rest of you?
Ann on July 23, 2008 at 5:03 PM
@ kc8ukw on July 23, 2008 at 5:01 PM
You want to see a website that is simple, but garnered a CRAP TON of donations? Here:
http://seantevis.com/kansas/3000/running-for-office-xkcd-style/?helphim
This guy created a comic which was both funny and creative, web comics being quite popular, and it has worked.
He has received 5,298 donations, because we was only asking for a small amount, and this was for a guy running for STATE house in Kansas, not the president of the United States. The website made it on all sorts of social websites because it was FUNNY and unusual. THATS how you get people to donate.
muyoso on July 23, 2008 at 5:11 PM
More like Delta Bravo for either one of these “candidates.”
I miss Fred.
wccawa on July 23, 2008 at 5:14 PM
This proves it: Geocities-style do it yourself web design is back baby!
Typhonsentra on July 23, 2008 at 5:21 PM
Bravo Zulu is Navy/Marine Corps aviator jargon for attaboy/well done. Now, if you’re really smokin’, someone’ll shoot you a hearty Sierra* Hotel, or “*excrement Hot!”
tree hugging sister on July 23, 2008 at 5:23 PM
I agree that this commercial leaves a lot to be desired, but as I watched the pilots and crews in action, I couldn’t help but remember Obama saying in one of the Dim debates that he doesn’t want to promote the idea of “American exceptionalism.”
Obama and his flag-stomping, America-denigrating friends (and wife) don’t belong anywhere near our White House. McCain, for all his flaws (and he has many), at least understands how special this country is, and when it comes to a military challenge to the U.S., McCain’s first instinct is to fight harder and trust our military to get it done. Obama’s first instinct is to cut and run, and then offer up a bunch of self-serving, assinine excuses.
AZCoyote on July 23, 2008 at 5:25 PM
pledged, :salute:
it says i was #45 to do so :)
trailortrash on July 23, 2008 at 5:29 PM
Why are they using video of a modern carrier with F-18s? McCain flew F-4 Phantoms.
rokemronnie on July 23, 2008 at 5:34 PM
Bad news…I gave on Fred’s Giving Day, I won’t be funding McCain. I have no regrets for donating to Fred. I have nothing BUT regrets over the putative Republican candidate.
~STILL bitterly clinging to Fred!
ihasurnominashun on July 23, 2008 at 5:34 PM
+1
wccawa on July 23, 2008 at 5:57 PM
Since we’re just throwing these things around, how about…
BOHICA?
: )
catmman on July 23, 2008 at 6:19 PM
Perhaps…
FUBAR?
As in, “That video is definately FUBAR!”
catmman on July 23, 2008 at 6:20 PM
I was number 28 about 3 hours ago. Now they are up to … 49. Not good.
BuzzCrutcher on July 23, 2008 at 6:24 PM
For the record, I designed the web site.
The web site design is simple because I tried to keep it that way. I was afraid that if I made it too fancy with big images and the like, a link from a few sites like Hot Air may wind up getting the site knocked off line by my web host.
That blew up in my face. ;)
It’s obvious I need to change it and I will be working on that. Thank you for pointing that out. :)
For the folks claiming that I don’t know how to build a web site, I did create Blogs For John McCain.
http://www.blogsforjohnmccain.com
By no means am I pro, I’m just a welder who reverse engineers things. :)
Thank you to all of those out there who have pledged. I appreciate it.
Please spread word of this Money Bomb to all you can, hopefully we can have some success with this.
Thank you for posting this Allah.
Lane
Blogs For John McCain
Museum Curator on July 23, 2008 at 6:38 PM
Hey Buzzed Crutcher,
Lay off the vodka, we were at 31 last night. How could you be the 29th pledge three hours ago? LOL
Maybe he’s a Paul Bot?
Museum Curator on July 23, 2008 at 6:43 PM
It is actually much older than Naval aviation.
“BZ” is a coded “flag” signal.
Squid Shark on July 23, 2008 at 6:44 PM
I used to weld, i have a couple Miller’s out in the garage..
>:D
i’ve had lots of jobs..
Chakra Hammer on July 23, 2008 at 8:02 PM
Well, good to know Museum Curator.
kc8ukw on July 23, 2008 at 8:03 PM
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. I’m not donating until I know the VP. I’d be pissed if my $$ went to McCain/Liberman.
Micheal on July 23, 2008 at 9:49 PM
If they’re going to make a commercial featuring video and stills of McCain as a pilot, they need to play Danger Zone throughout. Whoever made this travesty has no clue how to get people excited.
corbettw on July 23, 2008 at 10:03 PM
At this point, I’m really not planning on giving any money. But a number I’d like to know is how much money did stupid libs give away to Gore and Kerry for them to LOSE the elections? It’s like they just keep throwing more good money after bad…
HOW IS AMERICA EVEN IN THIS SITUATION?????
Ugh!
Linlou on July 23, 2008 at 11:21 PM
The ultimate audacity that could lose the election for the messiah would be if he asked McCain for a high-five during a debate. He’s probably dumb enough to think he could get some “hey I’m younger and more nimble than the old dude” cred for that.
Let’s just hope he’s that stupid. It’s going to take something of that magnitude to accomplish that.
We can’t afford the messiah… our country will break in ways never before imagined.
MsUnderestimated on July 23, 2008 at 11:35 PM
You know, money in politics is a real problem, so much so that we had to junk the clear reading of the First Amendment in order to do something to stop it (working instead with a nuanced version of that “living document”).
So out of respect for McCain, I’m going to abide by his wishes and keep my money out of his politics.
It seems odd that anyone would even ask, given the time and effort McCain has put into getting money out of politics in the first place… maybe they just don’t respect McCain’s wishes like I do?
gekkobear on July 24, 2008 at 12:13 AM
He needs some of that anonymous Arab money going into Obama’s campaign through the internet ’small donors.’
blue13326 on July 24, 2008 at 1:22 AM
A survey was done last week by Liberty Maven blog, a popular left-libertarian site, rating the major and third party candidates for President against Ron Paul. They chose a number of votes and positions of the candidates.
Of course, what they found was that Libertarian Bob Barr was first with an 88.
But buried in the survey, and uncommented on, by the survey authors, was the fact that McCain scored 8 points higher than Obama with a 25 to Obama’s 17.
In other words, McCain holds views closer to Ron Paul than Obama, by a somewhat significant margin.
We featured the findings at Libertarian Republican blog.
Next time some Paul fanatic starts bashing McCain and vents that “I might just vote for Obama…” you can use these numbers to point out the idiocy of such a stance.
ericdondero on July 24, 2008 at 6:41 AM
Oh, well. I need a tax deduction and can’t stand the thought of Obama in the White House.
Here comes a little cash, Johnny Mac!
cntrlfrk on July 24, 2008 at 11:18 AM
Do you suppose that hurricane Dolly is costing him Mexican contributions from south of the border.
Buzzy on July 24, 2008 at 2:54 PM