Rand and the Torch? WTF?

[libertariantexas]

The "Store" on Randpaul.com is full of gear with nothing but the word "Rand" and a flaming torch.

No last name, no mention of President, no mention of 2016.

Am I the only one that thinks that when the average CLUELESS American citizen sees "Rand" and a torch on a Tshirt he is not going to have the first clue as to what the Hell you are advertising?

Looks more like you are endorsing the Olympic hopes of someone or some organization called "Rand." Golly Gee, I sure hope Rand makes the team and brings back the Gold for the USA!

How about something simple, that people can understand like, I don't know, maybe "RAND PAUL FOR PRESIDENT 2016?" A little less "branding" and a little more substance, perhaps?

With or without the torch- can anyone tell me what the torch symbolizes?

[LatinsforPaul]

Hillary and Jeb are doing the same thing. You won't see the Clinton or Bush name in their signs either.

[Sola_Fide]

It probably symbolizes liberty or something like that.

I'm actually weirded out because we are going to have 2 "first names" as top candidates. Hillary and Rand.

[libertyplz]

With or without the torch- can anyone tell me what the torch symbolizes?

Liberty I'd assume

[William Tell]

I'm not a fan of the design. Maybe it will grow on me, I dunno.

[libertariantexas]

Hillary and Jeb are doing the same thing. You won't see the Clinton or Bush name in their signs either.

Everyone knows who Hillary is, she's been a national figure for more than 20 years. The Bush's have been a political dynasty for generations.

Rand is a first term senator from a small state. He does NOT have that kind of name recognition.

If he wants some "stylistic" gear, fine, but he should also have some that gives a CLEAR message to the many who don't know who "Rand" is.

BTW, when I was looking up the meaning of the torch (apparently there is none?), I came across this article panning the logo:

http://www.businessinsider.com/desig...n-logos-2015-4

I can't say that I disagree with the article.

Like the author, when I first saw "Rand" and nothing more, I thought about these guys (who I'm quite sure Rand does not want to advertise for):

http://www.rand.org/
http://www.rand.org/about.html

[Jeremy]

It's better imagery for the "brand". Also, it's probably good for legal / practical reasons as well. We have RAND PAC, Rand Paul for Senate, and Rand Paul for President. All of them can be represented by this one logo.

[luctor-et-emergo]

From wiki:

The torch is a common emblem of both enlightenment and hope. Thus the Statue of Liberty, actually "Liberty Enlightening the World", lifts her torch. Crossed reversed torches were signs of mourning that appear on Greek and Roman funerary monuments—a torch pointed downwards symbolizes death, while a torch held up symbolizes life, truth and the regenerative power of flame. The torch is also a symbol used by political parties, for instance by both Labour (from 1918 to 1980) and the Conservatives (from 1983 to 2006) in the UK, and the Malta Labour Party. In the seals of schools in the Philippines, the torch symbolizes the vision of education to provide enlightenment to all the students.

[libertyplz]

Just one more pic as proof that it is supposed to symbolize liberty:

[libertariantexas]

I won't even get into some of the other ridiculous gear (the small percent that is not "RAND and a torch").

Does a Tshirt that says nothing but "Don't Drone Me, Bro" (and nothing else) really help Rand Paul get elected?

On the entire site, I found only 2 items that say "Rand Paul" on them- a baseball shirt that says "Rand Paul" and nothing else, and an "Eye chart" which was the ONLY thing that actually said "Rand Paul for President."

N

[Xenliad]

The torch symbolizes Ron passing the torch to his son.

[Jeremy]

I won't even get into some of the other ridiculous gear (the small percent that is not "RAND and a torch").

Does a Tshirt that says nothing but "Don't Drone Me, Bro" (and nothing else) really help Rand Paul get elected?

On the entire site, I found only 2 items that say "Rand Paul" on them- a baseball shirt that says "Rand Paul" and nothing else, and an "Eye chart" which was the ONLY thing that actually said "Rand Paul for President."

N

A lot of the items are primarily for raising money. Obviously eye doctors aren't going to use the eye chart. Also, the single-name logo makes him look more mainstream, as if voters already know his name and who he is (which will hopefully be true by next year).

[jmdrake]

The "Store" on Randpaul.com is full of gear with nothing but the word "Rand" and a flaming torch.

No last name, no mention of President, no mention of 2016.

Am I the only one that thinks that when the average CLUELESS American citizen sees "Rand" and a torch on a Tshirt he is not going to have the first clue as to what the Hell you are advertising?

Looks more like you are endorsing the Olympic hopes of someone or some organization called "Rand." Golly Gee, I sure hope Rand makes the team and brings back the Gold for the USA!

How about something simple, that people can understand like, I don't know, maybe "RAND PAUL FOR PRESIDENT 2016?" A little less "branding" and a little more substance, perhaps?

With or without the torch- can anyone tell me what the torch symbolizes?

In 2007/2008 did anybody have any doubt what this meant?

[AuH20]

As far as political logos go, this one works. I have no problem with it.

[libertariantexas]

Just one more pic as proof that it is supposed to symbolize liberty:

Okay, maybe it does.

But do you really think that Joe Six Pack or Josephine Soccer Mom who sees me wearing a shirt at the Grocery store with "Rand" and a torch is going to make that connection?

I sure as Hell don't.

Not sure if I should wait until the web site gets something decent, or go to a supplier outside of the campaign, but I'm not going to waste money on a campaign sure that is vague as Hell.

[jmdrake]

The torch symbolizes Ron passing the torch to his son.

I thought it symbolized his read hair.

[mosquitobite]

All of our local libertarian leaning republicans use the torch in some manner.

Would you rather he use the standard elephant?

[libertyplz]

Okay, maybe it does.

But do you really think that Joe Six Pack or Josephine Soccer Mom who sees me wearing a shirt at the Grocery store with "Rand" and a torch is going to make that connection?

I sure as Hell don't.

Not sure if I should wait until the web site gets something decent, or go to a supplier outside of the campaign, but I'm not going to waste money on a campaign sure that is vague as Hell.

Not sure, hard to tell since I've become more politically involved the last few years. When I see a torch as a part of branding though the first thing that comes to mind is "liberty". If you don't like the stuff on the store I recommend sending them suggestions, from what I've heard they have been very receptive to feedback. They didn't have buttons at first but after some asked for it they added them

[libertariantexas]

In 2007/2008 did anybody have any doubt what this meant?

Yeah, he had the "symbol." But the symbol came with "Obama 2012" and/or Obama's picture and 2012. The shirts and signs also always had BARACKOBAMA.COM on them. It was pretty obvious that the symbol was connected to Obama's Presidential campaign.

He didn't have shirts that had nothing but the symbol and "Bar" under them. No web site, no last name, no date, no office being run for.

[Jeremy]

I don't get how someone has never heard of a torch before. Have you ever seen the Olympics? Have you seen the Statue of Liberty? Probably like a third of political logos have a torch in it too.

[libertariantexas]

Not sure, hard to tell since I've become more politically involved the last few years. When I see a torch as a part of branding though the first thing that comes to mind is "liberty". If you don't like the stuff on the store I recommend sending them suggestions, from what I've heard they have been very receptive to feedback. They didn't have buttons at first but after some asked for it they added them

I'm sure someone will take the initiative to make some decent gear, just like in 2007 when the Ron Paul campaign started out clueless and had effectively nothing available. We ended up going to local printers to make our own "Ron Paul 2008" signs.

So I'll just wait for that, I guess.

Too bad my money will be going to some individual rather than the campaign.

[libertariantexas]

I don't get how someone has never heard of a torch before. Have you ever seen the Olympics? Have you seen the Statue of Liberty? Probably like a third of political logos have a torch in it too.

Like I said, it looks like the shirts are advertising someone's Olympic dreams, not a Presidential campaign.

The torch is fine, if there is something with it to CLEARLY indicate that the sign is for RAND PAUL FOR PRESIDENT, not Rand Corporation, or the Ayn Rand Institute, or the Olympics, or whatever.

[Jeremy]

Like I said, it looks like the shirts are advertising someone's Olympic dreams, not a Presidential campaign.

The torch is fine, if there is something with it to CLEARLY indicate that the sign is for RAND PAUL FOR PRESIDENT, not Rand Corporation, or the Ayn Rand Institute, or the Olympics, or whatever.

Oh well in that case, like I said above, the idea is that everyone will know who Rand is by the time they vote and will know that these signs are for him. It's not something Ron Paul could have ever done due to the media blackout against him. But I think Jeb and Hillary will probably be doing the same thing as someone else mentioned. It's cleaner cut and looks more mainstream.

[mosquitobite]

You could also argue that it is fiscally responsible. WHEN he wins in 2016, the same stuff will be good for 2020 if there are no dates on there. hehe

[William Tell]

I'm sure someone will take the initiative to make some decent gear, just like in 2007 when the Ron Paul campaign started out clueless and had effectively nothing available. We ended up going to local printers to make our own "Ron Paul 2008" signs.

So I'll just wait for that, I guess.

Too bad my money will be going to some individual rather than the campaign.

There are some nice looking Rand stickers, signs and stuff on Ebay, Zazzle, Cafepress and places like that.

[libertariantexas]

There are some nice looking Rand stickers sings and stuff on Ebay, Zazzle, Cafepress and places like that.

Yup, I was just looking, and there are tons of GOOD designs out there at Cafepress and others.

I guess my mistake was in thinking the campaign would have it's stuff together.

Plenty of good (and bad, but at least you have a choice) gear here:

http://www.cafepress.com/+rand-paul+t-shirts?page=2

Until it gets here, I guess I'm going to have to tape "Rand" over "Ron" on my old 2012 gear.

[alucard13mm]

Maybe he doesnt want people to get confused and think he is ron paul by having the last name.

[asurfaholic]

I was looking for something to plop on my car, truck, work truck, wife's car, , boat, and lawnmower... I'd personally like at least a Rand 2016 or something. Some people have no idea what a Rand is, I'd like to at least plant the idea that he is someone to vote for in election year.

[EBounding]

I thought the same thing as the OP.

[sam1952]

In 2007/2008 did anybody have any doubt what this meant?

I knew exactly what it meant...... DOOM!!!



Why the quote resized it.... dunno