TresSugar

Obama's Changing Americans' Behavior With Science

CitizenSugar — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 14:00:09 -0700

Remember hearing "record turnout is expected" before last year's election? Time reports it was the work of 29 of the world's most influential behavioral scientists, psychologists, and economists. They knew people are more likely to do something if they think others will do it. Like vote!

Now the president is using the team to put policies in place and funnel stimulus money into programs that will help America help itself. How so?

It's easier to say yes than no: Excited for the automatic-enrollment pension plans? I'm sure. Well, it's because the government doesn't want to pay our assisted-living rent when we're 90. A 2001 study showed only 36 percent joined 401(k) plans when they had to opt in, but 86 percent stayed in when they were automatically signed up.
You'll spend the extra cash in your next paycheck: Beginning this month, $116 billion worth of payroll tax cuts, compliments of the stimulus package, will roll their way into paychecks. Why the paltry change when Obama could have given out $600 checks like Bush? Not because it didn't work, though true, but because Obama knows why it didn't work: people spend when they get a few extra dollars and save lump sums.

To see the other two, read more.

Knowledge is powerful: Might as well just turn the heat down now. Pretty soon smart meters will tick away, telling us how deep our carbon footprints are on the future's sandless shores.
Because we would jump off the bridge: Peer pressure works. It got AIG executives to give up bonuses, and now it's going to persuade Americans to stay in automatic pension plans and live on less energy. Why? Because people will assume it's what they're supposed to do and that everybody else is doing it.

And that's really what it's about - creating new social norms, the change of all changers. Financial responsibility, healthier lifestyles, and everyday environmentalism will ultimately lighten America's burden of itself. Do we need subtle nudges from the government? Or is it too creepy and sinister for you?

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Yes She Did! Ex Obama Volunteer Calls Self Expert, Cashes In

LibertySugar — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 10:00:40 -0800

Well someone was going to cash in on the story of Obama skyrocketing to the White House. Who knew it would be an unknown, unpaid volunteer? Rahaf Harfoush, former comment moderator on my.barackobama.com, apparently did.

She volunteered for the campaign during its final three months, along with two to three dozen other people in the same role. While she was buoyed by her background as a research coordinator for the book Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything, there was nothing remarkable about her résumé or time there.

Since then she's gone for profit, billing herself a "social media strategist" who "helped develop the most innovative, comprehensive, and high-stakes social media campaign ever conceived." She's given speeches on the campaign's successful media tactics and is now writing a book, Yes We Did! An Inside Look at How Social Media Built the Obama Brand.

So while she's becoming a spokesperson for the campaign's afterlife, bewildered staff members on Obama's new media team scratch their heads. Good thing they are getting paid!

Favorite Woman in Power of 2008: Hillary Clinton

LibertySugar — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 09:30:44 -0800

Hillary Clinton may not have won the presidency, but she did prevail as CitizenSugar readers' favorite woman in power of 2008. With 45 percent of the votes going to Hillary, Condoleezza Rice placed a distant second with 17 percent.

While she won't start 2009 as the nation's first female president, Hillary will most likely be the face of America abroad, serving as the top-US diplomat. So much of Hillary's public life has been directed toward trying to call the White House home, so I'm excitedly curious to see how she evolves during her next chapter in leadership.

Some write-in votes included: DC Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson, Sen. Diane Feinstein, Sen. Claire McCaskill, and Sen. Barbara Boxer. All these impressive women leaders make it hard to choose just one favorite! Check out all the other highlights of the past year!

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Candidates Broke Late-Night Show Appearance Records

CitizenSugar — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 13:30:32 -0800

The Presidential candidates worked the late-night talk show circuit during the 2008 campaign, making more than four times the number of appearances with Letterman, Jay Leno, Jon Stewart, and the likes than the 2004 lineup did, according to new research.

Candidates showed off their face-to-face skills with 110 appearances on late-night comedy shows, a sharp shoot up from 25 in 2004, according to the Center for Media and Public Affairs. Fifty of those spots occurred before the primary votes were even cast, offering the chance for candidates to show their comedic chops and create ideal YouTube or cable news sound bites. And, as a former Hillary Clinton adviser said, "It's a lot more risky, as Sarah Palin will attest, to do an interview with Katie Couric than it is with Jay Leno".

John McCain made 17 guest appearances and created quite a hullabaloo when he canceled on Letterman. President-elect Barack Obama clocked 15 appearances, third behind Republican Mike Huckabee, who now has his own show on Fox News Channel and was promoting his book. Do you think the late-night appearances helped you get to know the candidates?

Photo courtesy of NBC

Biggest Headlines of 2008: Barack Obama Elected President

LibertySugar — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Out of all of 2008's biggest headlines, the election of Barack Obama may be the most significant. We started off 2008 with little idea that Barack Obama would be America's president-elect come year's end. A long road of formidable opponents, record fundraising, and dozens of debates led Obama to the White House. Take a look back at how Obama became the president-elect and made history as America's first African-American elected to the highest office! Source

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Favorite Barack Obama Moment of 2008: Election Night Victory Speech

LibertySugar — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 08:00:09 -0800

CitizenSugar readers apparently care about results! Barack Obama's victory speech won favorite Barack Obama moment of 2008, beating out all the other choices having to do with Obama's path to the White House.

On election night Obama greeted the world from Chicago's Grant Park, exclaiming that:

Change has come to America. If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible. Who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.

The road ahead will be long, our climb will be steep, we may not get there in one year or even in one term, but America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you. We as a people will get there.

One of the top write-in choices involved Obama's comments on the yet-to-be-chosen White House puppy. For other top moments of 2008, check out all our highlight coverage!

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Favorite John McCain Moment of 2008: His Graceful Concession Speech

CitizenSugar — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 08:00:00 -0800

John McCain's graceful concession speech on Nov. 4 won the award for CitizenSugar readers' favorite John McCain moment of 2008. As many of you said in the comments, the fact that McCain lost did not make this your favorite moment, but rather the quality of the speech swayed you.

McCain conceded the presidency less than 30 minutes after the polls closed on the West Coast, telling supporters in Arizona:

These are difficult times for our country and I pledge to him [Obama] tonight to do all in my power to help and lead us through the many challenges we face. I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our goodwill and earnest effort to find ways to come together.

McCain put up a tough fight for the Republican nomination and the presidency, coming out gracious and humble. Check out the rest of our Best of 2008 coverage!

Favorite Sarah Palin Moment of 2008: Sarah Meets the Press

LibertySugar — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:30:39 -0800

While the McCain campaign sometimes appeared reluctant to let VP nominee Sarah Palin talk to the press, her interviews with Charlie Gibson and Katie Couric proved to be CitizenSugar readers' favorite Sarah Palin moments of 2008.

When Charlie asked Sarah if she hesitated over her level of experience when McCain asked her aboard the Straight Talk Express, Palin said: "I didn’t hesitate, no . . . I answered him yes, because I have the confidence in that readiness and knowing that you can't blink." But Palin did blink a bit when Charlie asked for her thoughts on the Bush Doctrine.

Saturday Night Live also took a liking to the Katie Couric interview, as Tina Fey used Palin's exact words to become your favorite Lighten Up moment of the year.

And yet another Palin interview came in second place - her Thanksgiving-timed chat with a reporter that went down while turkeys were slaughtered right behind her. Thanks for the memories, Gov. Palin! Check out some of the other top memories of the year.

Most Shocking Headlines of 2008: Bristol Palin Is With Child

CitizenSugar — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 08:00:28 -0800

Not long after Sarah Palin sled into the national limelight, rumors started circulating that Trig, her newborn son, was not her fifth born, but really the son of her 17-year-old daughter Bristol. Stop the press, Sarah said, that's impossible. And then she threw down what is probably the greatest comeback in the I-didn't-pretend-to-have-my-daughter's-baby genre ever: She's pregnant now.

And so Bristol stopped covering up with a blanket and baby brother Trig on her chest. She brought fiancé, Levy Johnston, to the Republican National Convention, where he had his 15 minutes, though he found time for more. Overall, the press respected Bristol's privacy and let the story go. Expect to hear more soon, though, because the governor of the great state of Alaska is expected to add grandmother to her résumé Dec. 18.

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Who Is Your Favorite Celebrity Campaigner?

CitizenSugar — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:30:23 -0800

The 2008 presidential campaign inspired a year of political expression and celebrities were no exception. Will.i.am remixed Barack Obama's landmark speech and spoke out at the DNC, Diddy said Sarah Palin "scares him" and Matt Damon called her VP nom a "bad Disney movie." Scarlett Johansson upped the Obama love by saying she was engaged to him. Meanwhile celebs like Heidi and Spencer, Ben Affleck, Brad Pitt, and Halle Berry showed support through quieter efforts and political t-shirts. On the small screen, Oprah kept her endorsement off air until after the election, but celebrated with a special tear-filled show and The View's Elisabeth Hasselbeck campaigned for McCain and Palin, calling the pricey wardrobe scandal "sexist."

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