W&M, Eminent Domain(Kat-Mo)

If you need another reason not to like the Winners, here's a good one. According to the Winner&Madenbach website, they helped defeat California's Proposition 90 that was meant to protect California property owners from the extensive eminent domain Kelo Supreme Court decision.

Here's what they had to say (pg 3):

The decision was made early to frame Prop 90 as a “Taxpayer Trap.” This frame –delivered throughout the campaign in paid and earned media – helped overcome the public’s enthusiasm for eminent domain reform by tapping into inherent skepticism of ballot measures in general and the costs related to the hidden provisions in Prop 90 specifically. A multi-phased advertising campaign in the final weeks emphasized the coalition and labeled Prop 90 as anti-homeowner and anti-taxpayer – essentially flipping the proponents’ “protect our homes” rhetoric. The campaign also featured targeted cable advertising aimed at progressive voters, emphasizing the detrimental impacts Prop 90 would have on the environment. An extensive viral email and web advertising effort also delivered tailored messages to Californians statewide. These strategies proved successful, as voters rejected Prop 90 on Election Day.

Does this campaign activity sound familiar? "Viral email and web advertising", "flipping" the message?

California citizens, you've been "Winnerized". How's that taste?

What makes this really interesting is that Winner&Associates holds as their client Edison International, the major power company in California that owns Southern California Edison.

Why would SoCal Edison/Edison International be interested in defeating Prop 90? Might have had something to do with this:

Southern California Edison has entered into a contract with Stirling Energy Systems to buy electricity from a 500 megawatt, 4,600 acre (19 km²), solar power plant which is due to open in 2009.[1][2] This will be the first commercial application of the Stirling Solar Dish. A different technology from the more familiar solar panel, the dish concentrates solar energy by the use of reflective surfaces and by the use of the Stirling heat engine to convert the heat into electricity.[3]

In a recent move, Southern California Edison plans to secure 1,500 megawatts or more of power generated from new projects to be built in the Tehachapi Pass Wind Farm area. The 2006 contract, which more than doubles SCE’s wind energy portfolio, envisions more than 50 square miles (130 km2) of wind parks in the Tehachapi region, which is triple the size of any existing U.S. wind farm.[4]

Explicitly:

Southern California Edison plans to secure 1,500 megawatts (MW) or more of power generated from new projects to be built in the Tehachapi area. The 2006 contract, which more than doubles SCE’s wind energy portfolio, envisions more than 50 square miles of wind parks in the Tehachapi region, which is triple the size of any existing U.S. wind farm.[1]

Just asking questions.

posted by xgenghisx at 09:33 PM

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