Basil Marceaux Has Something To Say

We have no idea what it is, but clearly he's committed to spitting it out. A TV news station was trying to do the right thing by having their own little version of the Fairness Doctrine, but just like the real Fairness Doctrine, it don't work so good.

Enjoy the world according to Basil.

Brady vs. Quinn: It's Double Negative

In a special two-fer edition of Political Ad Guy, here are a couple of negative ads stagger out of the bar fight that is the IL Governor race. With the smell of Blago's hair gel still wafting in the air, you'd think this would be an R slam-dunk. Not so. Polls give Brady (R) a slight edge, but the Ds aren't quitting.

The DGA has whipped out the old saw that starts with "What kind of politician..." I didn't hear much after that.

Grade: C

Brady answers with a wacky "Christmas In July" gag with some pretty fun graphics and a couple of clean, believable hits.

Grade: B

Brady wins this round by a nose, but can he absorb enough hits to protect a 3-point lead?

Click here to watch DGA's "What Kind?"
Click here to watch Brady's "Christmas"

Matt Entenza Blames Bush, Thinks Kids Should, Too

Democrats have blamed Bush for everything from the weather to having too many dandelions in their yards. MN Gov candidate Matt Entenza joins the party and brings some kids along with him. He's blaming Bush's No Child Left Behind for standardized tests that kids and teachers hate.

The premise is pretty thin, but the mnemonic of kids ripping the test sheets in half cuts through. Who doesn't want to tear up a test? Especially a test that mean old Mr. Bush handed out. Kinda.

Grade: B

Check out "Rip"

Harry Reid Hates Big Banks, Loves Cheap iStock Images

Normally I wouldn't even bother to post generic tripe like this Adobe Premier/iMovie mess from the generically-named front group "Americans United For Change," but I'll make an excuse to start a rant.

How many more times am I going to have to look at this same cheap stock shot? "Man In Suit Opens Scary Looking Zero Halliburton Briefcase Full of Cash." C'mon guys, at least click to the next page and find a different briefcase, a different angle, a different country's cash, anything.

Politically speaking, AUFC know old Harry's in trouble so they're probably trying to save their pennies to use in races that are a bit more competitive, but, please, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD find another shot.

Here's "Harry Holds Banks Accountable."

Grade: F

Rob Simmons' Hands Are Sending Me A Secret Message

That's the only explanation for why Rob Simmons is using some choreographed robot hands routine in this spot for his "suspended" Senate campaign.

You may remember Mr. Simmons suspended his US Senate campaign when he was trounced in the state convention. Since getting beat is no reason to quit, Rob Simmons skipped buying a Frappucino and instead used the $4 to create this awful commercial and run a light cable schedule.

Simmons has the audacity to call the spot a PSA. To quote someone who knows much more about political advertising than Rob Simmons does, "You keep using that word...it do not think it means what you think it means."

The best part is the close: "I'm Rob Simmons, I approve this message and I'm still on the ballot."

Click here to share in Rob Simmon's odd new spot, oh sorry, PSA.

Mark Kirk Attacks Himself

This Memorial Day will be remembered as the year the military turned and attacked itself. First Dick Blumenthal gets outed for lying about his Vietnam service and now Mark Kirk, running for Obama's snake-bit seat, has stretched the truth a bit about being named Intelligence Officer of the Year. [Insert your own joke about the word "intelligence."]

Here's the video that starts out as a better-than-ever bio web spot and then turns into a pair of cement shoes.

Watch Kirk "bio"

Michael Bennet Presses The Panic Button Early

Is Michael Bennet in trouble in his race to hold off Republican challenger Jane Norton?

This spot sure looks like it.

Even though it's his first spot, Bennet presses all the buttons:
Look at me I'm not in Washington!
I'm wearing a barn coat just like people in Colorado do!
I hate Congress, too!

If you can bore people into voting for you, Bennet has this one in the bag.

GRADE: C

Click here to watch "I'm Wearing A Barn Coat!"

Carly Fiorina Gives Boxer A Giant Noogie

There are some in the political ad world who are hammering Carly Fiorina over this ad.

They're wrong.

How do you say someone has a gigantic ego? You give them a big head, like the evil zeppelin in Up In The Air. It's funny, it's well-produced and it's a punch in the gut.

Normally, I'd blow you up for doing the boardroom b-roll shot, but these are the best boardroom b-roll shots I've ever seen.

That being said, couldn't we have told this story in two minutes instead of seven? We all know internet viewing plummets to near zero after 91 seconds and, cool as the special effects are, the story goes on and on and on. Then it goes on a little more.

Cut it in half (or more) and you've got yourself something.

GRADE: B

Click here to watch "Big Head"

Dr. McKenna: The Race For Orleans Coroner IS ALIVE!

This is the weirdest political ad I've ever seen. I have nothing else to say.

RATING: F (or A depending on your point of view)

Click here to see "Igor"

Bill White Fires Up The Old Cliche Machine

Bill White (who apparently is very popular in Houston), has put up his first TV spot for Texas Governor.

He's raided the iStock b-roll film library and delivered the great old political ad bromide, "we must move (YOUR STATE NAME HERE) forward, we can't afford to stand still."

That being said, for a guy who doesn't count TV among his strong suits, he's not bad to camera.

RATING: C

Click here to watch "Moving Texas Forward"

Martha Coakley Throws Her Own Hail Mary (probably needs to say a few, too)

With the Coakley campaign in trouble and being called "lackluster," they're trying to channel a little of that Staubach-to-Pearson magic.

Seriously, they're leaning hard on the "Panic" button and launching a spot starring the President. They've even borrowed Obama's logo for their website.

Click here to watch "Obama"

Martha Coakley: Doh!

Normally a spot like this wouldn't even rate a review. Typical slash and burn attack ad from the Coakley campaign.

The only thing that makes it noteworthy is that they spelled the name of their home state wrong in the legal disclaimer.

Nice going Bad Attack Ad Makers.

Click here to see "Lockstep"

Bob Schillerstrom: Guiltless Self-Promotion, Part 2

Remember the old tagline, "With a name like Smuckers, it's got to be good."

We've taken that concept to a new level with this spot for Bob Schillerstrom who is running for Governor of Illinois. He was a very good sport to let us abuse his name, he's also a heckuva a good guy. So, if you're in Illinois, vote for Bob, c'mon, you owe me.

Click here to watch "S***storm"

Guiltless Self Promotion: Our New Spot For Kay Bailey Hutchison

Is it fair to review your own TV spot? Sure. And in a shocking turn of events, our review is "two thumbs up, unless you have more thumbs, then put those up, too."

Comments are open.

Click here to watch KBH "Road Signs"

Andy Martin Cracks Me Up

After a year of very dull (read: healthcare) advertising, Andy Martin sends 2009 out with the most insane, over-the-top radio spot in the history of ever.

Sure, it sounds like an SNL bit, but it really is the candidate going on the radio for 60 seconds to say that there are "solid rumors" that his opponent is gay.

Happy New Year everybody.

Click here to listen to "Andy's Radio Spot"

US Chamber Saves Health Care

Maybe not the health care issue, but after watching about ten thousand horrible health care themed spots, the US Chamber saved the day and brought us one that has an idea and some decent production values.

Click here to watch "Hidden Taxes"

RNC Ruins Good Idea With Shabby Production

When the ad guys talk about "lighting" and "production values" and "color correction" and you only think about how much money that's going to cost, consider this commercial. A nice idea shot on a home video camera and given zero color correction. The edit isn't bad, but the look is so homemade it's an insult.

C'mon guys, I know message is critical, but no one wants to watch an ugly commercial.

Click here to watch the could-have-been-good "Listen To Me"

Farouk Shami Will Lose, Seems Like A Nice Guy

Farouk Shami, the guy who invented the Chi hair straightener thingie and really likes rockets, is running to lose the Democratic primary for Texas governor to former Houston Mayor Bill White.

Here's his bio story. It's a wonderful rags to riches, Horatio Alger, hard working American story. Enjoy it now, because he's out before the inner tubes start floating down the Nueces.

Click here to watch "Story"

Apparently Connecticut Democrats Aren't Too Crazy About Joe Lieberman

First they try to knock Lieberman out of the primary, now they steal his campaign and run it against him. That's cold.

Of course, Joe isn't up until 2012 and, while I'm not in the business of giving free advice, it doesn't seem like such a good idea to go up on TV three years early when you have a 2010 candidate that might not be able to get elected to the local elementary school Bake Sale Committee.

I'm just saying.

Click here to watch "All About Joe"

Okay, Okay, I'll Do Whatever The AFL-CIO Says

Here's the latest highly confusing ad in the health care wars. This one features my Kryptonite: Scary Middle Aged Lady With Glasses Too Far Down Her nose! Aaaaiiieeeee! Make it stop!

As near as I can tell, the AFL-CIO wants Congress to give them cheap health insurance, but also, they'd like Congress to find someone else to pay for it. I figure this is right, since it's how the AFL-CIO has operated forever anyway.

What do they want? The government to give them the whole company? Oh wait, that's what the UAW got. Never mind.

Here's the latest from the AFL-CIO