David Vitter Announces Grant from Group

[SoCalDem]

[Swamp Rat]

1. Yeah, this is gonna stick...

;) ... so to speak. :D

[opihimoimoi]

2. SoCal....I got diet coke on my keyboard.....Shame on you....LOL....

[countmyvote4real]

3. LOL/COL

The odd thing is that the diaper fetish is old news. It's only new news because of his DC Madam phone # connection. I hate hypocrisy, but there are worse crimes.

In the meantime, we must impeach this administration for breaking and violating Our Constitution. If the GOP had any sense of patriotism, then they would join to rid themselves of these rat bastards. They don't. GOP these days is party before country.

Now I digress and even wonder if the diapers were landfill friendly. Somehow, I think not.

[Initech]

4. So he needs it to fix the poop deck?

:rofl:

[SoCalDem]

5. Hey $5 is $5.. and some stores even double coupons. n/t

[ChairmanAgnostic]

6. where the HELL are the MSM stories on Vitter?

he was a family values candidate, anti-abortion, anti-gay rights, pro abstinence, and pro-cromagnon type of christian.
multiple hookers, diapers, and many lies to his constituents, possibly criminal acts as senator in DC.

If this were Cleenis, we would have 24/7 coverage over this. Why is the media so forgiving to a bloody cheating christian hypocrite?

I don't get it.

[SoCalDem]

7. Any story that involves the possibility of "poo", is to be avoided at all costs

UNLESS it's a BUSINESS story on the stock market channel.. and it involves a space ship toilet or a state-of-the-art contraption made in Japan, that does everything but serve you drinks and shine your shoes while you sit on it...

If a story "may" involve a senator asking prostitutes to wipe his ass and change his diapers..well that's a place they just don;t want to "go".

[Harry Monroe]

22. This story is no longer number one on the MSM's radar...

...at best it is Number Two!! :hurts:

[Snotcicles]

8. Hurry! let me barrow one of those. nt

[Richard Steele]

9. I hate to see y'all poo-pooing such a serious issue!

:rofl: Recommended! :thumbsup:

[Snotcicles]

10. Why he has not gone public.

He is toiling, over his soiling.

[slowry]

11. Bad news regarding the OP's sig.

That is NOT chocolate.

:scared:

[originalpckelly]

12. "What's that smell?"

"I think the shit the fan."

[Harry Monroe]

24. Ooh, that smell.

Can't you smell that smell?? The smell of it surrounds you!!

Lynerd Skynerd

[Snotcicles]

13. He is low maintenance. nt

[rucky]

14. It's good to see he's getting the protection and support he needs. n/t

[rucky]

15. You have a very dry sense of humor. n/t

[SoCalDem]

16. OMG.. look what I found now..

Answer
Subject: Re: Patriotic Products Market
Answered By: politicalguru-ga on 16 Aug 2002 06:56 PDT
Rated:4 out of 5 stars

Dear Mgdixon,

Thanks for asking this interesting, yet complex question. It is complex, because the term "Patriotic Products" is a bit vague and
wide. This is important for you, because it means that there are no market researches on this industry, but rather on "flags", apparel",
etc. Moreover, it can contain products ranging from those you have mentioned (t-shirts, flags, etc), but also, basically, choosing to
prefer a certain product because it was produced in your home country can be conceived as a "patriotic act".

It is problematic, since except for flags, most other products are combined with sales of "non patriotic" (i.e., regular) products.
According to The Baltimore Sun, stars-and-stripes T-shirts and flag-decorated travel mugs merely scratch the surface of the patriotic products out there. Here are some of the more off-the-wall ones:
- Paragon Trade Brand's Little Patriots disposable diapers with red, white and blue stars
- Stainless steel tongue ring with "USA" and flag
- Topps "Enduring Freedom" trading cards featuring Colin Powell et al. But no bubble gum
- PetSmart's Patriotic Cat Toy Value Pack, featuring a stars and stripes catnip mouse, among other patriotic toys
- Renuzit Patriotic Candles in scents like Star-Spangled Berry
- Marshmallow Peeps. White stars with blue and red glitter
- Beretta "United We Stand" 9-mm pistol
- Frederick's of Hollywood Patriotic Panty (a cotton thong)
- Breathe Right Nasal Strips, decorated with stars and stripes USA Flag-Shaped Stress Reliever (made of foam, it's relaxing to squeeze)".
That, without mentioning Pilsbury's star and stripes cake, "Little Patriots Diapers", or many other products whose packages were decorated with patriotic themes.

Apparently, Patriotic Products are a thriving industry, especially in peak periods of national crisis (WW2, Gulf War, 9/11) and around national holidays (4th of July, Flag Day). Since 9/11, the had been a growth in sales of the so-called patriotic products.

Some businesses, selling variety of "patriotic products", increased sales in 15% since the attacks (Baltimore Sun2). According to Brandi
Ricker, executive team leader of Target in San Leandro, as quoted in the Oakland Tribune, sales of "patriotic products" have more than
tripled since 9/11. Similarly, Up Country, a company, which manufactures pet related patriotic products, reported increase of 300%
(three-folds) since 9/11 (Providence Journal). Another business that reported an increase is StartCollecting.com, which increased sales
five folds since 9/11.

Hallmark also reports a great increase in the sales of patriotic products. According to their press release "Demand for Hallmark patriotic products has increased 75 percent over sales in recent years prior to September 11.", in numbers, "6.4 million patriotic Hallmark
cards were purchased, and Hallmark has increased the number of its patriotic products from 53 to 181 through the end of 2002 to meet consumer need" (Hallmark).

Flags are industry worth checking into, since most flag sales can be classified into the patriotic products niche. Sales of flags in the
few month after 9/11 grew in more than 150% - from a "normal" annual rate of 20 million flags sold a year to 50 million in 2001 (according to Entrepreneur.com and the National Flag Foundation), while WalMart reportedly "sold about 450,000 flags, a nearly 20-fold increase from the same period last year" (Go Memphis.com). Another business owner reports that his company sold more than 300,000 flag pins in the first month after the tragedy compared with 1,000 in a normal month (+30,000%) (Newsday.com). In 4th of July, it seemed "flag sales...this year through March quadrupled, compared with the similar period in 2001" (Baltimore Sun2). Hallmark sold 10 times more flag stickers as in usual years.

However, says an article in Entrepreneur.com, "while the nation's attitude is ripe for new patriotic products, it's not necessarily an
easy sell. Like any "hot" trend, getting started quick is crucial—and getting started quick requires long, long hours".


Lately, this increase had stopped, and the sales of patriotic products have declined. Clay Timon, chairman and chief executive of Landor Associates, a San Francisco-based market research firm, estimated to the Philadelphia Inquirer, that the market for patritic products is "just slowly, slowly fading away."

In other words, the 'patriotic products' market grew considerably in the last year; the increase depends on the industry. Hallamrk sold 75% more patriotic items, in flags an apparel the growth was bigger - reportedly 300% and more. However, it is difficult to foresee a continuation of this trend. Before 9/11 Hallmark participated an increase, due to a growing interest in "American Values", but not at this scope.

Sources:
(The) Baltimore Sun1, SunSpot.net,
http://www.sunspot.net/features/home/bal-hf-flag0630.story?coll=bal-artslife-home

[Richard Steele]

17. Oh, you have gotta be kidding me! That's just too perfect! nm

[SoCalDem]

18. and no photoshopping needed :)

:) Whodathunkit?

[Richard Steele]

20. But, bearing in mind that "need" and "WANT" are two different things:

[rucky]

19. This is a sure sign of the Apocolypse. n/t

[malaise]

25. Little Patriots is supposed to be a leak proof product

How did this shit get out again? :rofl: :rofl:

[Harry Monroe]

26. You gotta be SHITTING me!!

BTW, I don't see any mention of it, but does the American flag appear anywhere on the diaper. If this is so, then this is flag desecration (ie: crapping into the flag) Little Patriots indeed!!

[northofdenali]

21. In addition, they generously provided

diaper covers for every day of the week:

[malaise]

23. If I die laughing tonight hubby will blame DUers

:rofl: :rofl:

[SoCalDem]

27. At least you would die ...."happy "..

:rofl: