Charlie Baker's inaugural video, complete with fake scenery

funny how his hair doesn't move when branches are moving on trees ... (6.00 / 2)

gratuitous green screen.  Not very good quality.

A little robotic, he needs some work.

"There is hope?"
"I know we can bring change?"

Hope and Change Charlie Baker!

Listening to Charlie Baker talk about fiscal responsibility is like getting lectured on abstinence from Paris Hilton - Tim Murray

---

by: johnk @ Tue Jul 28, 2009 at 12:35:04 PM CDT

That was intentional (0.00 / 0)

It was done to portray Baker as a rock, someone who will not move with the winds of change. Kind of like when the financing for the Big Dig changed - he kept right on with the game plan regardless what it meant for cities and towns across the state.

---

by: Jeremy Marin @ Tue Jul 28, 2009 at 14:41:32 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Gaah! Does anyone know how to disable autoplay in a flash movie? (6.00 / 1)

I tried inserting a "param autoStart value='false'" but it had no effect.  :(

---

by: David @ Tue Jul 28, 2009 at 12:36:12 PM CDT

Fixed. Ah, YouTube. (0.00 / 0)

---

by: David @ Tue Jul 28, 2009 at 14:25:32 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

You are welcome. (6.00 / 2)

You should get the "download helper" app for firefox. It allows you to download web video and re-upload it to you tube. That's what I did.

---

by: EaBoClipper @ Tue Jul 28, 2009 at 14:37:05 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Thanks EaBo! (0.00 / 0)

---

by: David @ Tue Jul 28, 2009 at 15:23:52 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Good thing he's starting now... (6.00 / 1)

...because he needs to practice.  So does his team.

I don't like     the odd pauses    before clauses   in a sentence.   It sounds as if    he has   mental arrhythmia.

Per johnk, it screams green screen -- the wind that doesn't jibe up and the odd lighting (he's rather well-lit from the left of the viewer for a shady glade, as the sun beats from directly overhead, judging by the cars going by.)  Oh, and...

Baker:Weld::McCain:Reagan
Baker:Romney::McCain:Bush

~~~~
Believe it or not, I have even more to say...

---

by: sabutai @ Tue Jul 28, 2009 at 12:41:47 PM CDT

Baker: needs more practice, better consultants (0.00 / 0)

The talking points are strong, I think. But they are meant for paper. Or better delivery.

Bad movement of hands.

Sloppy green screen.

Amateurish zoom in for lower tone "serious issues" zoom out for upbeat, zoom in for serious. Badly thought and badly edited. Too sharp a jump.

He doesn't play well on camera. Looks and sounds a bit young. He must be great in a backroom and super smart, because his presentation is not confidence-inspiring.

At the same time, he also somehow portrayed an arrogance. The combination brought to mind immaturity, which was counter-intuitive, given his reputation to this point.

The Jindal comparison was apt, I thought. At the end of each performance I thought to myself: "this is what all the fuss was about?"

He's better than that video, he has to be, considering his reputation and work within the Statehouse and in the healthcare industry. But this format is the first chink in the armor. He's going to need to train on this. I have no doubt the national GOP will send help, given the other tools Baker has and the symbolic trophy the Mass Governorship would be.

------------------------------

I am noternie.

More than a full year's worth of blogginess at  Someday I Will.

---

by: noternie @ Wed Jul 29, 2009 at 09:25:12 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Agreed on the consultants (0.00 / 0)

I keep looking at this, and I wonder who were Baker's people who saw this and said 'this is great--release it'.  It's Baker fault for having such body language, but it's his campaign's fault for showing it to the rest of us.

~~~~
Believe it or not, I have even more to say...

---

by: sabutai @ Wed Jul 29, 2009 at 11:33:14 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

That's what makes it self-refuting (6.00 / 1)

The guy touts his competence on an incompetent ad.

"I'm competent," says the man.

"No, you're not," say the hands.

---

by: KBusch @ Wed Jul 29, 2009 at 16:25:39 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

He doesn't know where to put his hands (0.00 / 0)

 

---

by: stomv @ Tue Jul 28, 2009 at 14:17:15 PM CDT

people think this guy is going to beat Patrick? (0.00 / 0)

Slim chance.

---
My thoughts are mine and mine alone. They should not be considered representative of any other organization, group or person - save me.

~Ryan.

---

by: Ryepower12 @ Tue Jul 28, 2009 at 14:39:23 PM CDT

He's got a long way to go to be competitive, for sure (0.00 / 0)

The one thing he's got going for him is the argument that he's succeeded in his two previous "turnarounds", the Weld administration and Harvard Pilgrim.  Weld is still reasonably well thought of in retrospect.  On the other hand, being the brains of the Weld/Cellucci/Swift administrations means that he can reasonably be tarred with the Big Dig, and even with the security of MassPort prior to 9/11 if we want to go there.

The rationale, and the absence of concrete proposals, is exactly what worked for Romney in 2002.  But Romney was able to handle the communication tasks of wholesale politics in a way that Baker, so far, can't.  And since Baker's face and voice are so far unknown to a vast majority of the public, the crappiness of this video could really hurt him in establishing himself.

Then again, this is the state that voted for Fast Eddie King because of a snit over the sweater that Mikey wore during the snowstorm...

---

by: DaveMB @ Tue Jul 28, 2009 at 14:51:51 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Rye, this is not Christy Mihos. (5.00 / 2)

He'll give Deval a good competitive race, despite efforts of people like David on this blog to Palinize him.  I don't really know much about the guy except what you had posted previously as to what he didn't do in Swampscott. Snarking about the background scenery on the video really doesn't mean "didley squat" to most voters.

---

by: Edgarthearmenian @ Tue Jul 28, 2009 at 14:57:59 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Polinerds like me.. (6.00 / 2)

..hate to see bad craftwork. It diminishes the genre.

Plus, voters notice shoddy.

A consensus formed from the echo of parrots, is no consensus.
I'm Jack Mitchell and I'm confused by this message.

---

by: John from Lowell @ Tue Jul 28, 2009 at 15:08:17 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

But does it matter all that much? (4.50 / 2)

Chris Gabrieli had fantastic TV ads but he still lost to Deval who had ads that are apparently not as good because I don't even remember them.

---

by: JoeTS @ Tue Jul 28, 2009 at 16:29:38 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Fantastic? (6.00 / 1)

Chris's ads were vague, punchless, and too cute. Deval's ads were ... mostly of Deval. Deval was more confrontational, more inspiring, and left the impression he was going to do things differently and shake things up.

Gabs was a decent candidate; I'm not a hater. I just wouldn't call his ads fantastic. I thought they were a waste of money at the time -- I don't think I'm just engaging in 20/20 hindsight.

---

Blue Mass. Group
So what politics do you deserve?

---

by: Charley on the MTA @ Tue Jul 28, 2009 at 22:33:00 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Distribution? (0.00 / 0)

Is this a net thing, or will it actually be aired?  Considering how unknown he is, Baker really does have to start defining himself this fall, but if this was the best take, I'd hate to see what the worse ones were.

Somebody said "he doesn't know what to do with his hands".  That may be true -- and that is why you do several takes to figure it out.

~~~~
Believe it or not, I have even more to say...

---

by: sabutai @ Tue Jul 28, 2009 at 17:10:06 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

it's very easy (0.00 / 0)

Keep them at your side. Sounds lame, but it works ;p

(I've had more than one theater director who have gone insane over me 'doing things' with my hands.)

---
My thoughts are mine and mine alone. They should not be considered representative of any other organization, group or person - save me.

~Ryan.

---

by: Ryepower12 @ Tue Jul 28, 2009 at 22:15:54 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

The other way around (0.00 / 0)

According to recent polling its a slim chance Deval keeps his job-even with Cahill in the mix.

---

by: jconway @ Wed Jul 29, 2009 at 14:46:11 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

btw, (6.00 / 2)

what was stopping him from rolling out of bed and taking a camera to the gazebo in front of the beach in Swampscott? That's where he freaking lives, for heaven's sake. It's just like a Republican to skip the free, beautiful natural setting to do a quick youtube video... and pay (probably over a thousand) for an unnatural, not-compelling, hackish, over-analyzed, boring studio version that pretends to be in a beautiful, natural setting.

Fail.

---
My thoughts are mine and mine alone. They should not be considered representative of any other organization, group or person - save me.

~Ryan.

---

by: Ryepower12 @ Tue Jul 28, 2009 at 14:46:13 PM CDT

OMG! Bobby Jindal Redux! LOL! (6.00 / 1)

Somebody check Baker's FEC filings. I think Jindal consulted on this!


A consensus formed from the echo of parrots, is no consensus.
I'm Jack Mitchell and I'm confused by this message.

---

by: John from Lowell @ Tue Jul 28, 2009 at 14:50:17 PM CDT

It's funny .... but now that's it's settled in. (0.00 / 0)

This thing is a train wreak, from the ninja hand moves to sounding like he reading a script (badly).  So badly, it's like someone overacting pretending to read from a script.

Not ready for prime time.  This thing is a joke.

Listening to Charlie Baker talk about fiscal responsibility is like getting lectured on abstinence from Paris Hilton - Tim Murray

---

by: johnk @ Tue Jul 28, 2009 at 15:04:05 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Mr. Baker, Define "A Wreck", Please (6.00 / 3)

In this disinfomercial, Mr. Baker says, "The Massachusetts economy is a wreck right now." (1:02)

Fortunately, CNBC says Mr. Baker is wrong.

In the study cited below, MA ranked 8th. The state ranked 15th in the 2008 version of this study.

Overall Rankings - 2009
We scored all 50 states-using publicly available data-on 40 different measures of competitiveness. States received points based on their rankings in each metric. Then, we separated those metrics into the ten broad categories, with input from business groups including the National Association of Manufacturers. We weighted the categories based on how frequently each is cited in state economic development marketing materials.

Here are the ten categories ranked in our study:

- Cost of Doing Business
- Workforce
- Quality of Life
- Economy
- Transportation
- Technology & Innovation
- Education
- Business Friendliness
- Access to Capital
- Cost of Living

A consensus formed from the echo of parrots, is no consensus.
I'm Jack Mitchell and I'm confused by this message.

---

by: John from Lowell @ Tue Jul 28, 2009 at 15:49:38 PM CDT

I mentioned shoddy? (0.00 / 0)

I did mention that before, right?

I'm stickin' to my guns.

A consensus formed from the echo of parrots, is no consensus.
I'm Jack Mitchell and I'm confused by this message.

---

by: John from Lowell @ Tue Jul 28, 2009 at 15:51:44 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

it think it would make for a fantastic commercial break (6.00 / 2)

on this show:

---
My thoughts are mine and mine alone. They should not be considered representative of any other organization, group or person - save me.

~Ryan.

---

by: Ryepower12 @ Tue Jul 28, 2009 at 15:59:31 PM CDT

OMG, I am truly a better actor than that (0.00 / 0)

and so are hundreds of thousands of community theater people around the country - you think if they'd had an open casting call...

---

by: DaveMB @ Tue Jul 28, 2009 at 20:34:17 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I'm horrified to admit it (0.00 / 0)

But I've seen enough of that series to know the acting gets a little better in previous seasons (and yes, I did use the plural version of season). I hope these two posts don't out me as a horrible Star Trek nerd =p

---
My thoughts are mine and mine alone. They should not be considered representative of any other organization, group or person - save me.

~Ryan.

---

by: Ryepower12 @ Tue Jul 28, 2009 at 22:19:25 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Completely unprofessional (6.00 / 1)

It's not a bad presentation, content-wise, and I think the man himself probably could connect very well with the camera. But he certainly does not do it here. Hands flapping around like a seal at the aquarium; background that changes like a freaky MTV video -- were releases obtained from the people walking around in the background? just wondering ... maybe they are not identifiable, but maybe they are; the mic. appeared to pick up the sound of his hand clasps, and there even seemed, most strangely, to be some traffic noise. Maybe it was shot by the same team that produced Jim Ogonowski's memorable Washington DC video.  

BMG: Reality-based commentary.

---

by: Bob Neer @ Tue Jul 28, 2009 at 16:07:23 PM CDT

the scary thing (0.00 / 0)

i'm 99% sure he paid someone to add the traffic noise.  

---
My thoughts are mine and mine alone. They should not be considered representative of any other organization, group or person - save me.

~Ryan.

---

by: Ryepower12 @ Tue Jul 28, 2009 at 16:43:28 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I think the video is OK (0.00 / 0)

But the talking points are lame. If the message is, I've succeeded in both the private and public sectors, it won't be a lot of work to point out that the public sector work was the Romney administration, and the private sector work was a health insurance firm.

---

by: JimC @ Tue Jul 28, 2009 at 18:57:56 PM CDT

For additional consideration (6.00 / 1)

Can also be called shoddy, but then again, not pretending to be anything but amateur video....

Yr. Obedient Servant, Peter Porcupine, Republican

---

by: Peter Porcupine @ Tue Jul 28, 2009 at 19:05:30 PM CDT

So Mihos can do retail politics, as here -- can Baker? (0.00 / 0)

Does anybody know how Baker is in settings like this?  He must be effective in business meetings, given his resume, but we have a negative review of his performance in town government and he seems to have avoided the stump pretty carefully so far.

Thanks for posting this, PP.

---

by: DaveMB @ Tue Jul 28, 2009 at 20:40:39 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Methinks (0.00 / 0)

you guys are getting nervous.  Baker to me looks like a serious threat.  Level of vitriol that I'll see on this post will only reinforce that thought.

---

by: Mike from Norwell @ Tue Jul 28, 2009 at 19:41:02 PM CDT

So your point is ... ? (0.00 / 0)

if a candidate has a dud of a performance, one that he is first introducing himself.  If we point out how bad it was then we are nervous?  Please.  

You tell me.  Was this good?  Yes or No.

Did he not sound robotic?  Yes or No.

Did you think that this was a great first introduction to voters?

Let me know your thoughts...

This is exactly what we should comment about.

Listening to Charlie Baker talk about fiscal responsibility is like getting lectured on abstinence from Paris Hilton - Tim Murray

---

by: johnk @ Tue Jul 28, 2009 at 19:59:47 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

The point is (0.00 / 0)

that Charlie Baker is a heckuva smart guy, and will be a very attractive candidate going forward given the economic circumstances (competence and humility will play well in 2010).  Think that we all need to pull out of the fishbowl that is the Internet if you think a webvideo at the height of summer the year before the election is the official "introduction to voters".

Charlie Baker is a formidable candidate; should be an interesting election season.

---

by: Mike from Norwell @ Tue Jul 28, 2009 at 20:45:17 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

this is his "first" ... (0.00 / 0)

meaning first.

The is his first political speech if you will, and let me tell you something, he doesn't come off as a heckuva smart guy.  

How the hell did Gray think this was good?

Plus how long before they yank this think off his web page.

Listening to Charlie Baker talk about fiscal responsibility is like getting lectured on abstinence from Paris Hilton - Tim Murray

---

by: johnk @ Tue Jul 28, 2009 at 20:56:24 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Google (0.00 / 0)

Charlie Baker in the mid-90s in the Boston Globe archives.  I'll take competence over pretty boy looks or speechifying any day, especially after we've gone through the Democratic "fix" to the economy.  You can learn how to be mediawise; can't learn how to be intelligent if you're an empty suit.

---

by: Mike from Norwell @ Tue Jul 28, 2009 at 21:37:33 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Competence?? Where did he display competence... (6.00 / 2)

...in his mismanagement of the finances for the Big Dig?

Small dollar year round fundraising: PeanutButterPAC.org

---

by: JohnT001 @ Wed Jul 29, 2009 at 07:38:16 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Mike that's the question ... (0.00 / 0)

Let's take a look at Charlie's record.  Yes, it's nice to be in government during the Clinton era economic boom.  What did Charlie do while he was involved in decision making.  First and foremost is his involvement in the big dig and the structural deficit we have been living in since the Weld administration.  

We are still paying a heft price for Baker's decisions, and Patrick's original transportation bill with gas tax in part is paying for Baker's actions, for the escalating cost overruns, push costs out to the future so he didn't have to deal with them and ignoring infrastructure.  Guess what, that is part of his record and you have to take a look at it.

You cannot simply ignore it and say he made money as a CEO.  If you have a record in government, it should be reviewed.

Plus, if you are making your first political video, it's probably not a good idea to come off as not ready.

Listening to Charlie Baker talk about fiscal responsibility is like getting lectured on abstinence from Paris Hilton - Tim Murray

---

by: johnk @ Wed Jul 29, 2009 at 10:09:48 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

While Baker was the AF and CoS (0.00 / 0)

The Turnpike was paying for salaries by credit, and both the Pike and MBTA were forced to take on massive amounts of Big Dig debt -- the debt that is now crushing both entities. The administration was not providing oversight and, in the case of the Big Dig debt, openly pushed it onto those organizations because they, at that time, had stellar credit and it was much preferable (to incompetent Republicans) to push crushing debt on the next generation, as well as to a fraction of the state's commuters, instead of paying for important work done then and sharing the burden of its costs.

If a Democrat does that, we call it incompetence. If a Republican does that, we forget it ever happened. IOKIYAR.

---
My thoughts are mine and mine alone. They should not be considered representative of any other organization, group or person - save me.

~Ryan.

---

by: Ryepower12 @ Wed Jul 29, 2009 at 11:59:53 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Uhmm..maybe deceiving people is not the best start. (0.00 / 0)

Given the natural beauty of Massachusetts, beyond a bad idea to use this fake stuff. If Deval runs the campaign he ran four years ago...getting around the state and activating everyone from the grass roots...he will eat this guy alive. It is not about TV commercials, but I can think of some great negative ones.

ProgressiveMan

---

by: ProgressiveMan @ Tue Jul 28, 2009 at 21:38:31 PM CDT

Anybody else bothered that his first approach to voters (0.00 / 0)

Is made in his shirt sleeves?

Call me a stickler, but Governor is a serious job.  I'd like to see a candidate wear a suit to his first interview.

He didn't wow me with his charisma, I'm glad to say.

"Perseverance is a great element of success. If you knock long enough and loud enough at the gate, you are sure to wake up somebody." -Longfellow

---

by: Bean in the 'Burbs @ Tue Jul 28, 2009 at 21:59:48 PM CDT