As you may know, this agency does some political consulting.  However, we also have several divisions of our company and people in our company that do NOT do politics, political consulting, etc.  Occasionally, others in Ozean’s office have become uncomfortable with my political opinions and have asked me to take them down the hall.

That is exactly what I am going to do.

In the next few months, each one of Ozean’s divisions will launch their own website.  The first to launch is the political consulting division.    You may find the Ozean Political Consulting website here.

This means that all Alex Patton’s political comments will be made on the blog on that site:  the Ozean Consulting blog.

This blog will remain, but will be for you to keep updated on all things digital media - like website design, video on the web, SEO, SEM, and social media.

So, if you are interested in politics - read this blog.

If you are interested in media - continue to read this blog.

Happy Reading.

So the campaign for Florida House District 22 is heating up and we have our first mail piece.  It is a nice bio piece, but it it also offers a lesson in authenticity.

Authentic Hunters don't wear pressed jeans

In Mr. Deakins’ introduction to the public, he attempts to convince us that “tough times, call for tough leaders”.  In fact, he is so darn tough, he likes guns.  I could just be a real smart alec, and just mock the fact that it is hard to convince me you are TOUGH AS NAILS when dressed liked a dandy in your nicely pressed jeans (are those Jordache?) when out for a nice hunt with Fido.  My entire family hunts, NEVER have one of them pressed their clothes before entering the woods.   NEVER!  Never-ever have I heard, “Hey, wait up, I need the iron to heat up before going out to the stand!”  HOWEVER, I will not go that route, it is just too easy.

Instead, I will offer up that this election is about authenticity.  The times are too tough (as Mr. Deakins points out) to allow any candidate to get away with NOT being authentic.  The Tea Parties and the public are demanding straight talk from their candidates .  This entire mail piece just seems to try too hard - I hunt, work hard, and I am married.  Kind of like the dude in starbucks who is listening to his iPod, while surfing the web on his Ipad, while getting a call on his Iphone, drinking his triple latte with three different types of foam.   It is just too much, says everything you THINK a republican candidate SHOULD say, yet says NOTHING.

As you may be able to tell, I don’t have a lot of love for Mr. Deakins.  Already, I think this guy is running a nasty, sneaky, gutter campaign.  You would think with John being an officially declared candidate for 2 years, he would be secure in his self-proclaimed “monumental lead” and NOT have to stoop to underhanded tactics.

That is NOT the case, and luckily for him - there is still a campaign to run.

Campaigns have a way of exposing people - especially ones that are NOT being authentic. (More to come on that later.  )

However, if you like your Hunters TOUGH AS NAILS wearing pressed Jordache jeans, then you found your man - VOTE DEAKINS.    If you like your candidates a little more authentic, then you may want to hold off and survey the field a little more.

DISCLAIMER:  Ozean Consulting is assisting an opponent of John Deakins in the campaign for Florida House 22.  The words expressed here are of the authors, Alex Patton, not paid for by anyone, and not the sentiments of any candidate whatsoever.

paid political advertisement Alex Patton, 2831 NW 41st Street, Gainesville, FL  32606 -No candidate approved this advertisement.

Amendment 4 is better known as “Hometown Democracy” and might be the fight of the year. Placed on the ballot by petition, it says voters should have final say over amendments to city and county “comprehensive plans,” which control growth. - St. Pete Times

This should NOT be named “Hometown Democracy”. It should be named the “The Political Consultant Relief Act of 2010.”

Let’s set aside the fact that this proposed amendment is awful public policy.

If it were to pass, political consultants like Ozean will rejoice in the streets.  You haven’t been witness to the sheer joy sure to come.  You see, these do-gooders are providing the political consulting industry a bail-out package that will make the auto industry green with envy.  Each proposed comp plan amendment must be taken to the voters?  REALLY?  AWESOME!

Political consultants will be forced to take hundreds of hours of testimony on congruency, traffic counts, proportionate fair-share, density levels, zoning classifications, and other EXCITING topics and boil them down to :30 second television commercials, direct mail pieces, website, and occasional radio spots.  Political Consultants will be hired to help convince a public, that often can’t bring themselves to the polls, to vote for or against a proposed change in the comp plan.  THAT WILL BE FUN……and expensive.

You love political ads?   Then PLEASE, vote for the Political Consultant Relief Act of 2010.  PLEASE vote for our bail out.  My children will thank you.

I do think that the people of Florida are starting to realize how bad this amendment is for Florida, and will vote it down.  However, if amendment 4 does pass, Ozean Consulting is poised for rapid expansion!

P.S.  the ironic nature of this situation : the potential opportunity of tons of business being provided by do-gooders is not lost on us.

A post by another blogger Gary Fineout reminded me of something today.

A couple of months ago, Judge Stephen Mickle found a state law that requires Electioneering Communication Organizations or ECOs to register with the state was “a violation of First Amendment rights and was a burden for free speech.”  The state can no longer regulate these organizations.

That ruling has made the upcoming 2010 election cycle the “wild, wild west”. With this ruling, ECOs do not have to report contributions or expenditures. You will be able to see who the officers of the ECO are - but nothing else.

Get ready to be savaged by “Citizens Wanting a Slightly Improving Economy” or “People Against your Mustache” or “Tropical Fish that just don’t approve of your campaign”

For right now, in Florida - it is game on. You ready?