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Archive for category Debate Central
Day 2 of Haley “I’m not really a Boss Hogg Old Southern Racist” Barbour Scandal Hits
Posted by TJ Walker in Analysis, Authors Corner, blogging, Body Language, CEOs/Financial, Crisis Communications, Debate Central, Government & Politics, Keynote Speaking, Media on December 21, 2010
TJ Walker’s first Forbes.com column highlights the public relations issues facing Haley Barbour. To read TJ’s column click here: Forbes.com
Haley Barbour’s race scandal is growing now that it’s hit day 2. Barbour needs to act quickly—Today! He’s go to change the terms of the debate. He’s got to stop seeming as though he is defending. As long as he defends, it forces reporters and bloggers to dig deeper into his past.
Ukraine legislators beat the Cr@p Out of Each Other!
Posted by TJ Walker in Communications, Crisis Communications, Debate Central, Government & Politics, Politics, public relations, reputation management on December 19, 2010
While it is fun to bash legislators as wind bags spouting off hot air, it turns out that smashing your opponents with nasty rhetoric is still a lot less painful than getting hit over the head with a chair. Watch this video to make you fee better about your own local and national lawmakers.
Finally there is good news for the Obama Administration: Michael Steele running for a 2nd term at RNC
Posted by TJ Walker in advertising, Analysis, Communications, Crisis Communications, Debate Central, Government & Politics on December 14, 2010
There are at least a few champagne corks popping at the Democratic Party headquarters last night. The news that Gaffe-factory Michael Steele is running for a second term is surely the best news anyone has heard at the DNC since, well, since election night 2008.
Many Democrats believe that Steele was their secret weapon in keeping the Senate and may be the key to Obama wining a second term. Too bad for Steele that Democratic party honchos can’t vote for him—he’d win in a landslide!
Neil Cavuto Rips into Chris Matthews for calling Chris Christie “Fat”
Posted by TJ Walker in advertising, Analysis, Audio/Video Technology, Authors Corner, Best Speaker of the Day, blogging, Body Language, celebrities, CEOs/Financial, Communications, Crisis Communications, Debate Central, Government & Politics on December 14, 2010
Is this the beginning of a backlash in favor of Chris Christie? Can he get Cavuto, Oprah, Mike Huckabee (now that he’s portly again) and Roger Ailes to support a Christie for President—He’s One of Us-Campaign?
I don’t think so.
The Seven Key Speaking Rules Sen. Bernie Sanders BROKE while giving the most-talked about speech of 2010
Posted by TJ Walker in Communications, Debate Central, Government & Politics, Great Lectures, Keynote Speaking, Presentation Skills Training, Public Speaking Skills on December 12, 2010
Sen. Bernie Sanders gave an 8 hour and 37 minute speech on the floor of the Senate and has since become an Internet sensation and a hero to liberals/progressives as his speech has become the most discussed of 2010. Bernie did it HIS way, but he also shows how many of the so-called rules of speaking are based on fallacy.
Rule number one: be short and concise.
Senator Bernie Sanders Filibusters for 9 hours
Posted by TJ Walker in Communications, Debate Central, Government & Politics, media relations, Media Training, Politics, Presentation Skills Training, Public Speaking Skills on December 11, 2010
Finally, it’s nice to see a senator use a filibuster as was intended by the founding fathers. Sanders didn’t just threaten to speak out against a bill (that’s been all it takes to stop legislation in the /senate for the last couple of decades), he actually delivered. True, Sanders didn’t actually stop a vote from taking place, because none were scheduled for Friday. Still, he put a major spotlight on his viewpoints and philosophies; specifically that he feels the country should not cut taxes for rich people. A lot of people like to mock Sanders New York, outer borough accent, his rumbled appearance and his socialist rhetoric, but he captivated millions of people around the country yesterday with his withering denunciations of the Obama tax compromise. Sanders was funny, emotional, passionate and attacking. That might not always make for good public policy, but it sure livens C-SPAN up a bit. More at Talking Points memo.
How NOT to get a major Corporate Endorsement Deal, by Luke Scott
Posted by TJ Walker in advertising, Analysis, Audio/Video Technology, Authors Corner, Best Speaker of the Day, blogging, Body Language, celebrities, CEOs/Financial, Communications, Crisis Communications, Debate Central on December 9, 2010
Luke Scott, a Baltimore Orioles outfielder and told a reporter that President Obama does not represent America and “was not born here (America).” This is brilliant if your goal is to one day get hired as an un-paid intern at the Rush Limbaugh show. But if Scott had dreams of a post career spokesperson for a bank, an insurance company or major consumer products company, he has destroyed it. Because anyone who works for corporate America either now believes Scott is a contemptible jerk or that half of their customers think that Scott is a contemptible jerk. Either way, Scott becomes a corporate untouchable.
Parker-Spitzer on Deathwatch?
Posted by TJ Walker in advertising, Analysis, Audio/Video Technology, blogging, Body Language, celebrities, CEOs/Financial, Communications, Crisis Communications, Debate Central, Fear of Speaking, Workplace, Worst Speaker of the Day on December 8, 2010
CNN’s Parker-Spitzer is continuing to get more and more media attention. Unfortunately is all about dissention on the set and low ratings—not exactly helpful. As I mentioned in a review of the first show, Parker doesn’t say or do much. And Spitzer is a strong and forceful liberal intellectual who is widely appealing to the 20,000 people who read Slate.com on a daily basis. Speaking of slate, Parker-Spitzer should consider moving to an online environment for Slate once they get cancelled by CNN. More at the New York Times.
Obama is finally getting noticed for being more emotional
Posted by TJ Walker in Analysis, Audio/Video Technology, Authors Corner, Best Speaker of the Day, blogging, Body Language, celebrities, CEOs/Financial, Communications, Crisis Communications, Debate Central, Government & Politics on December 8, 2010
Obama is getting lots of press coverage for speaking with more passion at his press conference yesterday. Obama raged against both liberals in his own party and his Republicans. Obama finally seems angry. Prediction: this “works” for him. Obama needs to show passion on a more regular basis. The positive feedback he’s getting form yesterday’s press conference will give him the encouragement he needs to do so. More at the Washington Post.
Public Speaking blunder of the Day: KSU instructor arrested for allegedly exposing self in class
Posted by TJ Walker in Analysis, Crisis Communications, Debate Central, Fear of Speaking, Student Speak, Teaching, Technology, Training Community, Workplace, Worst Speaker of the Day on December 8, 2010
I’ve seen some odd ways for speakers to captivate the attention of an audience, but this takes the cake. This teacher took his clothes off in front of the class, and no, it wasn’t a modern art class—it was an accounting class! Something tells me the tenure committee won’t be impressed. More at the Atlanta Journal-constitution
Bush job approval rating higher than Obama’s
Posted by TJ Walker in Analysis, Best Speaker of the Day, blogging, Body Language, celebrities, CEOs/Financial, Debate Central, Government & Politics, Workplace on December 7, 2010
Is this significant? Actually, no. It’s easy for any former president to generate higher approval ratings than a sitting president. Why? Because a former president can generate tons of positive publicity by raising money for natural disaster victims, speaking out for non-partisan organizations like the Red Cross and working for world peace. Plus, the enemies of a sitting President no longer see any strategic value in attacking that same president, once he’s out of office. As a former President, you never get blamed for conflict in Washington or unemployment. Before Bush supporters get too carried away with all of this they need to realize that Jimmy Carter had higher approval ratings than Ronald Reagan did during part of Reagan’s presidency.
Read more at Politico.com
Gordon Ramsey is being sued $1 million for cancelling a speaking tour
Posted by TJ Walker in Analysis, Audio/Video Technology, Authors Corner, Best Speaker of the Day, blogging, Body Language, celebrities, CEOs/Financial, Communications, Crisis Communications, Debate Central, Fear of Speaking on December 7, 2010
I don’t know if Ramsey has a good reason or not, but setting up a major speaking tour is extraordinarily complicated, given all the logistics, publicity, and arrangements that have to take place. TV and film stars often seem to think that giving a speech is such an informal affair that it’s like raising your hand at a script reading. No; it’s a bigger deal than that. If Ramsey did violate the contact, he should compensate the organizers to make up for their losses, which were presumably considerable.
Read more at PerezHilton.com
Indian Political Talk show ends in Fight – CNN is this your Answer?
Posted by TJ Walker in Communications, Crisis Communications, Debate Central, Media, News on December 7, 2010
I have to confess, I think this is the funniest thing ever! I’d love to see a serious political talk/debate show end in a fight like this every night. A lot of men will agree with me on this. No women will like this. You’ve got to watch for yourself.
Wikileaks parody on SNL- VIDEO analysis
Posted by TJ Walker in Analysis, celebrities, CEOs/Financial, Communications, Crisis Communications, Debate Central, Technology, tip of the day, Video, Workplace on December 6, 2010
TJ Walker takes a look at the top stories of the day including the Wikileaks parody video on SNL and Bill Maher calling Barack Obama a “wimp and a wussy”.
WikiLeaks Whack-a-Mole
Posted by TJ Walker in Analysis, Crisis Communications, Debate Central, Technology, Workplace on December 6, 2010
Governments are getting better at shutting WikiLeaks sites down, but so-called mirror sites are popping up just as fast. That’s the good and the bad about communication in the digital era. Once content is created, it’s easy to spread around and isn’t depended on any one infrastructure or distribution system. If the government wants to stop WikiLeaks, it’s going to have to catch it before it Leaks the first drop.
More on NYTimes.com
Bill Maher Calls Obama ‘Wimpy, Wussy’ On CNN
Posted by TJ Walker in Analysis, Audio/Video Technology, Authors Corner, Best Speaker of the Day, celebrities, CEOs/Financial, Communications, Crisis Communications, Debate Central, Government & Politics on December 6, 2010
Sure, Bill Maher is just a comedian, but he’s echoing arguments also put out by Frank Rich this weekend. Why can’t the democrats have a president or a leader who is willing to make forceful rhetorical arguments for partisan principles even when they are unpopular or against the prevailing sentiment held by the other party? Reagan did it. NJ Gov. Chris Christy does it. And yet everything out of Obama’s mouth seems to communicate weakness backtracking and equivocation. Bill Maher was an enthusiastic supporter for Obama in 2008. Are we that far off from seeing a Democratic challenger in 2012? What was unthinkable only a few weeks ago may seem inevitable by spring if Obama doesn’t start communicating with his Democratic base a little more forcefully.
Mike Huckabee to the entire political world: “I’m still here, even though my name isn’t Palin!”
Posted by TJ Walker in Analysis, Best Speaker of the Day, blogging, Body Language, celebrities, CEOs/Financial, Communications, Crisis Communications, Debate Central, Government & Politics on December 6, 2010
The profile of Mike Huckabee in Politico today suggest there’s a chance he might not run for President because he’s making too much money and enjoying life now. I can’t imagine this being a deterrent for him. If he runs and loses, he can make even more money. And if he runs and wins, he will be able to make 9-figure wealth the way bill Clinton did in a few years after his time in the White House.
New debate on colleges selling off their radio stations
Posted by TJ Walker in advertising, Analysis, Audio, CEOs/Financial, Communications, Crisis Communications, Debate Central on December 6, 2010
Colleges around the country are looking to sell off their valuable radio broadcasting stations to raise money. And I think they should. College kids don’t listen to radio, at least not the music pumped out through traditional broadcast transmitters. Kids listen to iPods and internet. Colleges can and should set up internet radio stations. If colleges can sell valuable broadcast frequencies to raise enough money to lower tuition or build new student centers, so be it. Confession: I used to do regular radio commentaries on WDUK, the Duke University Student Radio station. And even in that pre-iPod, pre-internet era of the early 80s, nobody listened; nobody once ever told me they heard me. College-aged music enthusiasts will find a way to spread their passion to like-minded people, but they don’t need expensive towers and old technology to do it.
Read more at NYTimes.com
Sound Bite of the day: Chris Wallace to Mike Gallagher regarding the war of Christmas “you’re the host so I’ll play along and pretend this is an important issue.”
Posted by TJ Walker in Communications, Debate Central, Media, Media Training, News, Public Speaking Skills on December 5, 2010
Listen to the brief clip of Chris Wallace on Mike Gallagher’s show last week. Wallace does everything but call Gallagher Retarded. Wallace is peeved, annoyed and clearly shows contempt for Gallagher’s intelligence. It’s a rare moment where two media figures who are working the same side of the aisle diverge so much. More at Mediaite.
War on Christmas Heats Up: Chase Bank next to get wounded in battle?
Posted by TJ Walker in Analysis, CEOs/Financial, Debate Central, media relations, public relations on December 3, 2010
I wouldn’t want to be the director of communications for Chase Bank for the next month. Some customer of a Texas Chase branch donated a Christmas tree for the bank lobby. It was put up, and then taken down. Uh-oh! Paging Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, the ACLU. Everyone take your places. Assume the position. Start braying. Emote phony outrage. More at the Star Telegram.
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