Comments on: Comparing veep candidates’ speeches http://graphicdesignr.net/blog/2008/09/03/comparing-veep-candidates-speeches/ Conversations about journalism, news and design Thu, 18 Feb 2010 19:45:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Erica Smith http://graphicdesignr.net/blog/2008/09/03/comparing-veep-candidates-speeches/comment-page-1/#comment-2268 Erica Smith Sat, 06 Sep 2008 03:06:27 +0000 http://graphicdesignr.net/blog/?p=619#comment-2268 <strong>@shitreesdotnet:</strong> You're "facts" are off, but you're correct to warn people to actually look at issues. USA Today has a <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/candidate-match-game.htm" rel="nofollow">match game</a> if you want to see which candidate's views you match up with. <strong>@Scott:</strong> Good points. You can't really compare the two speeches, but you can compare what they focused on. I thought it strange that one of Palin's big words was "man." The others -- for Biden and Palin -- made sense to me. (The Democrats also use McCain's and Palin's names. The Republicans seem to be using that old political trick of addressing their opponents as "my opponent" -- allegedly it keeps the focus on them, not the opponent.) <strong>@I. Rule:</strong> Thanks! @shitreesdotnet: You’re “facts” are off, but you’re correct to warn people to actually look at issues. USA Today has a match game if you want to see which candidate’s views you match up with.

@Scott: Good points. You can’t really compare the two speeches, but you can compare what they focused on. I thought it strange that one of Palin’s big words was “man.” The others — for Biden and Palin — made sense to me. (The Democrats also use McCain’s and Palin’s names. The Republicans seem to be using that old political trick of addressing their opponents as “my opponent” — allegedly it keeps the focus on them, not the opponent.)

@I. Rule: Thanks!

]]> By: Sifting through the speeches - Off the I-15 : Desert Dispatch http://graphicdesignr.net/blog/2008/09/03/comparing-veep-candidates-speeches/comment-page-1/#comment-2264 Sifting through the speeches - Off the I-15 : Desert Dispatch Fri, 05 Sep 2008 20:38:14 +0000 http://graphicdesignr.net/blog/?p=619#comment-2264 [...] Joe Biden [...] [...] Joe Biden [...]

]]> By: I. Rule http://graphicdesignr.net/blog/2008/09/03/comparing-veep-candidates-speeches/comment-page-1/#comment-2251 I. Rule Thu, 04 Sep 2008 22:21:44 +0000 http://graphicdesignr.net/blog/?p=619#comment-2251 I failed to mention that I enjoyed your creativity. My apologies. I failed to mention that I enjoyed your creativity. My apologies.

]]> By: Hey You http://graphicdesignr.net/blog/2008/09/03/comparing-veep-candidates-speeches/comment-page-1/#comment-2250 Hey You Thu, 04 Sep 2008 22:06:20 +0000 http://graphicdesignr.net/blog/?p=619#comment-2250 If you only look at the frequency of word use, the speeches are percieved one way, and if you listen to the speeches, and where emphasis lies, they would be perceived another way. I think the cloud would be a more effective method if comparing a impromtu oral presentation, rather than a written speech. If you only look at the frequency of word use, the speeches are percieved one way, and if you listen to the speeches, and where emphasis lies, they would be perceived another way. I think the cloud would be a more effective method if comparing a impromtu oral presentation, rather than a written speech.

]]> By: I. Rule http://graphicdesignr.net/blog/2008/09/03/comparing-veep-candidates-speeches/comment-page-1/#comment-2248 I. Rule Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:28:17 +0000 http://graphicdesignr.net/blog/?p=619#comment-2248 They're both puppets reading speeches written for them by professional speechwriters. All the words chosen were strategically used to push all the right buttons to gain the most undecided votes. Vanity? Please. Running for President of the United States is ALL about vanity regardless of the party. Conscience? C'mon! They'll say what you want to hear and do nothing. Once voted in, they'll do what they want based off which corporation fattened their pocket the most. Change? Pipline = God's will? Seriously? Open your eyes and ears people. Get off the couch and quit watching the circus. OK. I'm done. They’re both puppets reading speeches written for them by professional speechwriters. All the words chosen were strategically used to push all the right buttons to gain the most undecided votes.

Vanity? Please. Running for President of the United States is ALL about vanity regardless of the party. Conscience? C’mon! They’ll say what you want to hear and do nothing. Once voted in, they’ll do what they want based off which corporation fattened their pocket the most.

Change? Pipline = God’s will? Seriously? Open your eyes and ears people. Get off the couch and quit watching the circus.

OK. I’m done.

]]> By: Scott http://graphicdesignr.net/blog/2008/09/03/comparing-veep-candidates-speeches/comment-page-1/#comment-2247 Scott Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:10:54 +0000 http://graphicdesignr.net/blog/?p=619#comment-2247 The names of the candidates appear in Biden's speech more than Palin's because Biden's speech sought more to highlight distinctions between Obama and McCain (thus causing him to use their names more frequently relative to the other words than Palin did), whereas Palin's sought to appeal to the Republican base and its values. The goal of each speech was different, so I'm not sure you can fairly compare them with these clouds. Nonetheless, kinda cool. The names of the candidates appear in Biden’s speech more than Palin’s because Biden’s speech sought more to highlight distinctions between Obama and McCain (thus causing him to use their names more frequently relative to the other words than Palin did), whereas Palin’s sought to appeal to the Republican base and its values. The goal of each speech was different, so I’m not sure you can fairly compare them with these clouds. Nonetheless, kinda cool.

]]> By: Erica Smith http://graphicdesignr.net/blog/2008/09/03/comparing-veep-candidates-speeches/comment-page-1/#comment-2246 Erica Smith Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:09:16 +0000 http://graphicdesignr.net/blog/?p=619#comment-2246 <strong>@Tippy:</strong> I only see "mom" listed once in Biden's speech -- at the very top above the O in John. Am I missing the other one? It's possible "moms" is also in there, just like "America", "American" and "Americans" shows up in both word clouds. Word clouds simply pick up the most repeated words. <strong>@Heather:</strong> <a href="http://graphicdesignr.net/blog/2008/08/28/word-cloud-from-obamas-speech/" rel="nofollow">Here's Obama's speech</a>. I plan to create and post a word cloud from McCain's speech after he speaks tonight. <strong>@Kelly:</strong> You're welcome to download the word cloud, or create your own at <a href="http://wordle.net" rel="nofollow">Wordle</a>. Just enter the text of the speech -- <a href="http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/politics/story/DC0165ED6927AD93862574BA001208DA?OpenDocument" rel="nofollow">here's Palin's</a> -- and then you can change the fonts, colors and layout. <strong>@Marc:</strong> The size of the word is determined by how often it is repeated, and each word cloud includes 150 words. So in Biden's speech, "Barack", "Obama" and "John" look to be the most popular. In Palin's speech there's not quite as much variance, but it looks like "McCain", "America", "country", "just", "people" and "man" were the key words. Color is random -- in fact, you can <a href="http://wordle.net" rel="nofollow">create a word cloud</a> that's all one color. @Tippy: I only see “mom” listed once in Biden’s speech — at the very top above the O in John. Am I missing the other one? It’s possible “moms” is also in there, just like “America”, “American” and “Americans” shows up in both word clouds. Word clouds simply pick up the most repeated words.

@Heather: Here’s Obama’s speech. I plan to create and post a word cloud from McCain’s speech after he speaks tonight.

@Kelly: You’re welcome to download the word cloud, or create your own at Wordle. Just enter the text of the speech — here’s Palin’s — and then you can change the fonts, colors and layout.

@Marc: The size of the word is determined by how often it is repeated, and each word cloud includes 150 words. So in Biden’s speech, “Barack”, “Obama” and “John” look to be the most popular. In Palin’s speech there’s not quite as much variance, but it looks like “McCain”, “America”, “country”, “just”, “people” and “man” were the key words. Color is random — in fact, you can create a word cloud that’s all one color.

]]> By: shirteesdotnet http://graphicdesignr.net/blog/2008/09/03/comparing-veep-candidates-speeches/comment-page-1/#comment-2245 shirteesdotnet Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:00:38 +0000 http://graphicdesignr.net/blog/?p=619#comment-2245 Bob said, "Palin’s speech is about family, taxes. energy, and America… all values that American’s care and vote about in elections." Bob, You sure are gullible arent you? Let history speak for themselves here: Obama has CFR ties (Council of Foreign Relations) and you can bet he will buy Americas good name back by raising our taxes. Obama was also seen at the Bilderburg meetings, a world Elite organization. Im sure he doesnt have AMERICA'S best interests in mind. McCain's integrity is WORTHLESS. He was a key member of the Keating Five Savings & Loan scandal of the 1980s. While Sarah might be able to talk the talk, its embarrassing how she supports John McCain, a New World Order shill. I hope you dont fall for this rhetoric.... from either party. Bob said, “Palin’s speech is about family, taxes. energy, and America… all values that American’s care and vote about in elections.”

Bob, You sure are gullible arent you? Let history speak for themselves here:

Obama has CFR ties (Council of Foreign Relations) and you can bet he will buy Americas good name back by raising our taxes. Obama was also seen at the Bilderburg meetings, a world Elite organization. Im sure he doesnt have AMERICA’S best interests in mind.

McCain’s integrity is WORTHLESS. He was a key member of the Keating Five Savings & Loan scandal of the 1980s. While Sarah might be able to talk the talk, its embarrassing how she supports John McCain, a New World Order shill.

I hope you dont fall for this rhetoric…. from either party.

]]> By: Marc http://graphicdesignr.net/blog/2008/09/03/comparing-veep-candidates-speeches/comment-page-1/#comment-2244 Marc Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:18:11 +0000 http://graphicdesignr.net/blog/?p=619#comment-2244 how is the size and shading determined? For instance in Palin's cloud the word America is bigger than any other word but is shaded lighter than other smaller words , while in Barack's cloud the largest words are the darkest...is this some arbitrary interpretation of the designer or is it based on emperical data? Colors and shades should be consistent with size in order to presetn a better comparison of th espeeches. Nice work though. how is the size and shading determined? For instance in Palin’s cloud the word America is bigger than any other word but is shaded lighter than other smaller words , while in Barack’s cloud the largest words are the darkest…is this some arbitrary interpretation of the designer or is it based on emperical data? Colors and shades should be consistent with size in order to presetn a better comparison of th espeeches. Nice work though.

]]> By: Kelly http://graphicdesignr.net/blog/2008/09/03/comparing-veep-candidates-speeches/comment-page-1/#comment-2243 Kelly Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:08:48 +0000 http://graphicdesignr.net/blog/?p=619#comment-2243 This is a nice idea. Can I get the Palin one put on a t-shirt? This is a nice idea.
Can I get the Palin one put on a t-shirt?

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