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Adolescent Spin
Apr. 22nd, 2009 07:31 pmI can just imagine the schoolkids in New Labour Spin Department:
"Hey Josh, I've got a wheeze!"
"What's that, Caroline?"
"Well, you know those digital camera wotsits those journos used to catch out the policeman, and he had to resign and it was an AWFUL embarrassment!"
"I do indeed. A grotty day indeed".
"Well, why not do it DELIBERATELY!!!!"
"Not with you, Caz."
"I mean, leak something that looks good for us!"
"Ahh, with you, and we pretend it's a mistake."
"Yes!"
"Sounds good, Caz. One small problem. We have to have a tame minister who's prepared to pretend that it was a mistake."
"Oh, I'm sure we'll find someone."
++++++++++++
A new strategy is emerging in Corpo-speak, which strikes me as the CEO stating a fact that is just blatantly at odds not just with the underlying reality, but with the action that the company which he heads has just taken.
Take Alex Wynaendts, CEO of Aegon, and this marvo piece of double-speak in a release this morning.
To which one might respond that if you continue to view Asia as an important growth market, you have a very funny way of showing it. Perhaps he means growth in some sort of general airy-fairy fashion, not for Aegon in particular?
++++++++++
Have been scrambling back some moneys online, bringing the net result of the months down to a bearable level. And, as Greenstein and Caro have written, a $500 win is still $500, whether you are building on a win or recovering from a loss.
________________
"Hey Josh, I've got a wheeze!"
"What's that, Caroline?"
"Well, you know those digital camera wotsits those journos used to catch out the policeman, and he had to resign and it was an AWFUL embarrassment!"
"I do indeed. A grotty day indeed".
"Well, why not do it DELIBERATELY!!!!"
"Not with you, Caz."
"I mean, leak something that looks good for us!"
"Ahh, with you, and we pretend it's a mistake."
"Yes!"
"Sounds good, Caz. One small problem. We have to have a tame minister who's prepared to pretend that it was a mistake."
"Oh, I'm sure we'll find someone."
Hazel Blears today became the latest government minister to be involved in an embarrassing security blunder when she inadvertently revealed private papers detailing plans to scrap the second home allowance for MPs.
The secretary of state for communities and local government emerged from a cabinet meeting at No 10, clutching the documents in full view of photographers this morning.
The papers confirmed Gordon Brown's plan to scrap the second home allowance and replace it with a flat rate daily allowance based on actual attendance at Westminster. (Guardian, April 21)
++++++++++++
A new strategy is emerging in Corpo-speak, which strikes me as the CEO stating a fact that is just blatantly at odds not just with the underlying reality, but with the action that the company which he heads has just taken.
Take Alex Wynaendts, CEO of Aegon, and this marvo piece of double-speak in a release this morning.
AEGON has agreed to sell its Taiwanese life insurance business based on a valuation of approximately EUR 65 million, as per the end of 2008, to Zhongwei Company.
"Our decision to divest our Taiwanese life business is a result of AEGON's strategic priorities to optimize capital allocation and returns, announced last June," said AEGON CEO Alex Wynaendts. "AEGON continues to view Asia as an important growth market. We will focus our attention on further developing AEGON's Asian platform which we believe offers significant growth and return prospects in the coming years.
To which one might respond that if you continue to view Asia as an important growth market, you have a very funny way of showing it. Perhaps he means growth in some sort of general airy-fairy fashion, not for Aegon in particular?
++++++++++
Have been scrambling back some moneys online, bringing the net result of the months down to a bearable level. And, as Greenstein and Caro have written, a $500 win is still $500, whether you are building on a win or recovering from a loss.
________________
