Posts by Billy Vassiliadis, CEO of R&R Partners

Don’t expect residency issue to block Emanuel’s path to Chicago mayor’s office

October 22nd, 2010 by Billy Vassiliadis, CEO of R&R Partners

@nickywg asks “Do you think Emanuel’s residency issue will prevent him from running for mayor?”

No. Rahm Emanuel is too smart and well prepared to venture into a race this big without having all of his ducks in a row. Not only do I think this will end up not being an issue, I think he will be the next Mayor of Chicago. 

Great question, thank you for taking the time to ask it.

Have a political question and would like to get a direct response from the CEO of R&R Partners? Simply follow @rrpartnersgov on Twitter, then tweet your question using the hash-tag #AskBillyV. Ask your question anytime, answers to the best ones will be posted on the R&R blog on Fridays.

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Reid campaign hits just the right spot

October 19th, 2010 by Billy Vassiliadis, CEO of R&R Partners

@jolleytime asks: What’s the most effective political ad you’ve seen this cycle? Post a link.

What a great question. I had to take the weekend to think about this one. I think the most effective ad this cycle has to be “Broken Promise”, from Sen. Harry Reid’s campaign. From the message to the execution, I think this is a perfectly balanced political spot. It’s emotional, hard-hitting and incredibly effective. Here’s the ad:

Have a political question and would like to get a direct response from the CEO of R&R Partners? Simply follow @rrpartnersgov on Twitter, then tweet your question using the hash-tag #AskBillyV. Ask your question anytime, answers to the best ones will be posted on the R&R blog on Fridays.

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None of the above

October 8th, 2010 by Billy Vassiliadis, CEO of R&R Partners

@AxelrodD asks: #askBillyV We’ve seen the public polling. How does the polling in the#NVSen race change when you factor in the “none of the above” option?

Excellent question, @AxelrodD. As an aside, your name sounds remarkably like someone who works in government that I know. Must be a coincidence.

To answer your question, I don’t think it will be as major a factor as I’ve heard some say. I do think it helps Senator Reid a little when you factor in the none of the above option. It gives people who are not happy with the pace of our economic recovery a vehicle to express their anger and disappointment without voting for Sharron Angle. If people are upset, but don’t want to vote for her, it gives them another place to go.

 Have a political question and would like to get a direct response from the CEO of R&R Partners? Simply follow @rrpartnersgov on Twitter, then tweet your question using the hash-tag #AskBillyV. Ask your question anytime, answers to the best ones will be posted on the R&R blog on Fridays.

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Cubs Win!

October 1st, 2010 by Billy Vassiliadis, CEO of R&R Partners

This week, Nevada’s Secretary of State Ross Miller asks Billy two questions:

@rossjmiller: Which will happen first…cubs win world series or meaningful campaign finance reform is passed in NV? 

If we don’t get a Secretary of State with meaningful influence in the legislative process, the Cubs will certainly win the World Series first.

But seriously, Mr. Secretary of State, I think that the last two election cycles, both 2008 and 2010, the voters have been very angry with business as usual and what they perceive to be a government of insiders.  There will be a premium on transparency, full disclosure, and on the sense that the political playing field is level.

@rossjmiller:…what is your voter turnout prediction?

Voter turn-out will likely be 60 percent in Nevada.  What will be more interesting is who turns out.  When people are negative, they are apathetic and don’t turn out.  This year we are going to see a lot of angry voters.

 Have a political question and would like to get a direct response from the CEO of R&R Partners? Simply follow @rrpartnersgov on Twitter, then tweet your question using the hash-tag #AskBillyV. Ask your question anytime, answers to the best ones will be posted on the R&R blog on Fridays.

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Double Dip Recession?

September 24th, 2010 by Billy Vassiliadis, CEO of R&R Partners

@SVONTobel asks: Do you think we are entering a double dip recession?

With the caveat that I’m not an economist, from what I can gather, the answer is no. Part of the challenge for the administration and for the nation’s economic leaders is convincing the media that it’s ok to cover some good news along with the bad. Nationally, we’ve had a number of months of job creation, continuing low interest rates, tax relief should and will encourage further investment, and significant parts of the country have seen increases in both tourism and retail sales. So to avoid a double dip, the great challenge is credibly disseminating that information to grow consumer confidence.

 Have a political question and would like to get a direct response from the CEO of R&R Partners? Simply follow @rrpartnersgov on Twitter, then tweet your question using the hash-tag #AskBillyV. Ask your question anytime, answers to the best ones will be posted on the R&R blog on Fridays.

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Ask Billy V — 9/17/2010

September 17th, 2010 by Billy Vassiliadis, CEO of R&R Partners

@bradleywoodward asks: With Tea Party candidates upsetting Republican candidates what kind of divisions are you starting to see in the Republican party?

 Thank you for your question, Bradley. When Karl Rove, the architect of the Republican base campaign efforts of the 2000s, basically calls the Republican nominee from Delaware a “nut,” you’re seeing division.  I’m not without some empathy; the Democrats went through this in the ’80s, when moderate and conservative Democrats were concerned our party was being defined by the left flank.  Clearly, there is going to be a civil war to determine what the Republican Party is in the next decade.  I don’t recall the last time a Senate leader and Senate caucus lost eight candidates in a primary election.

 Have a political question and would like to get a direct response from the CEO of R&R Partners? Simply follow @rrpartnersgov on Twitter, then tweet your question using the hash-tag #AskBillyV. Ask your question anytime, answers to the best ones will be posted on the R&R blog on Fridays.

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