Man asks for 15 minutes of Obama's time in ad

[sabra]

Source: WTOP

WASHINGTON - A retired government worker has spent $9,000 of his own money to get the attention of President-elect Barack Obama.

Melvin Cooperman took out a full-page ad in USA Today asking for 15 minutes of Obama's time to pitch a plan he says would address the country's problems.

Cooperman's ad reads:

President-Elect Obama
Among your top priorities are energy, jobs, global warming and pollution.
I have an approach to generating electricity that addresses these priorities.
You have asked the public to participate in fixing our nation's problems.
I have tried several times to contact you but have not received a response.
At 0200 today, I sent you (change.gov) my phone number and address.
Will you or Steve Chu give me 15 minutes to brief this approach?

MC


"It takes about 15 minutes. I want to brief them on it, so they can take a look at it, and say 'Yeah, this is great,' or 'No, it's not," Cooperman tells WTOP.

Cooperman says he's sent several emails through the Obama transition team's Web site, but hasn't gotten a response.

"I would expect them to have their own scientists and own engineers look at it, and give it an initial evaluation that the invention does have merit or it just doesn't."

Read more: http://www.wtop.com/?nid=25&sid=1564881

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. I bet it's some fucking loony bin crazy nutshit like "We can pull electricity from crystals

that we spray into the atmosphere, and it will generate unlimited electricity that needs no wires to get into people's homes and it'll last forever and be free!!!"

:eyes:

[bigworld]

2. Someone didn't think this through

If you're paying the money for a full page ad, why not just address the issue you want to address in print in the ad? I guarantee it'll make its way to the President-Elect.

He's either a nut, or just looking for attention.

[No Elephants]

9. It's not "either or." Anyone who pays nine grand for attention this way is also a nut.

[sandnsea]

15. Or direct the ad to a URL

If you don't have that much common sense, I doubt you've got the solution to the nation's problems.

Of course, he's got $9,000 to blow on an ad and I don't -- so who am I to judge.

[zogofzorkon]

4. Electric Eels

<http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/10/21/electric-eel-energy.html>

[knitter4democracy]

28. "You know what that is, Princess?"

Couldn't help the random Princess Bride reference. Sorry. :)

[RoyGBiv]

5. The only byproduct ...

... is pie.

[meegbear]

3. USA Today??!1?

Listen bucko, it's the New York Times or nothing.

Fah, be gone!

[No Elephants]

6. How does this guy know someone from the Obama camp is not looking at his plan? And who are "their

own scientists and engineers?" Doesn't this shlub get Obama is not President yet?


This guy just better thank his stars that Obama wants to save Social Security and Medicare, 'cause I smell disabily pension.

[high density]

7. If it's a great invention then go ahead and make money off of it

I don't understand how this affects Obama, other than this guy sounding a bit like a kook who wants attention..

[nebenaube]

23. unfortunately...

Unfortunately, many great ideals are never brought to market due to lack of capital/access to capital. Sometimes great ideals are suppressed if substantial investments have already been made in alternate technologies. Simple ideas are always abandoned even if they work because they are too easy to replicate. If you do find funding to develop an idea, then the vultures (angels, in their mind) want all of the return for their assistance.

[Tempest]

8. Where's the beef?

If he can afford a full page ad, the least he could do is outline his plan.

I wouldn't meet with him. For all we know, he plans to assassinate Obama.

[Wickerman]

10. Obama already knows what he is thinking

:tinfoilhat:



/sarcasm

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

11. Wouldn't we all want just 15 minutes of his time? (nt)

[NashVegas]

12. It's Cheaper Than a $20,000 Seat at a Charity Dinner Table

Not a bad idea.

[onehandle]

13. Bigfoot on a treadmill? nt

[gratuitous]

17. Generators on teen-age boys' dominant arms

Energy crisis solved overnight.

[Haole Girl]

14. Interesting

I wonder if Obama will meet with him. Then, though, wouldn't he have to meet with every citizen who tries an unconventional approach to get his attention?

:shrug:

[newscott]

16. Is this technically illegal?

Buying access and all?

I know that's how the game is played, but not how I phrase my sentence: game and play being the operative words there. You can't just reach out like that can you?

[jb5150]

18. I'll sue....

if it's cars powered by rubber bands, that was my idea.

[Juan_de_la_Dem]

19. Sales is sales. It is all about getting a buyers attention.

If he gets the 15 minutes - even by phone, he wins. Maybe he has some good ideas. I want to hear what he has to say kooky or not.

[Blue State Bandit]

20. Everybody is so quick to whip out the tinfoil...

when someone tries to get their views heard over the chattering and chastising. Nobody knows what this guy is trying to push; their may be good reason for him to believe it necessary to obfuscate in public.

The suppression of clean energy tech is widely documented. He may have good reason not to tell the world. He may be acting on the behest of another scientist, or a group of scientists. Maybe the technology has military applications that morally prevent him/them from making public disclosure? What ever his intentions are, he was willing to bet $9,000 that it is of use. It may not even be a specific technology. He is a former government employee. Maybe he knows of some method to minimize waste in the exercises of our government's bureaucratic duties? Who knows?

I'm just sad to see the suppression of ideas is alive and well in the commentors' postings to this article. Is this who we are? I thought we beat the "sci-deniers" in the last election?

Another interesting story by Sabra. Thank you.

[bigworld]

21. This guy may very well have a kickin' solution

... trouble is, there ARE a lot of nuts out there who think they have the answer as well. You can bet that someone in the forthcoming administration is already onto this guy and will figure if he's legit long before the President-Elect gets to meet with him (as it should be).

[newscott]

30. If it's so damn good why didn't he just put it in the ad?

[Dover]

22. Well....if the likes of Exxon and other huge energy companies can get 15 minutes...

why not 'Joe The Inventor' (whose motives are probably more selfless)? Heck...let's let him write our
energy policy too!!

If this guy actually has something valuable to offer, wouldn't it make an amazing story if his
ideas were heard AND implemented? Maybe we should be creating ways to channel civilian talent
through more direct routes (and around large special interests?).

[DUlover2909]

24. What about paying the jobless to peddle bikes to generate power?

Would that be economical? Probably not, but I've often wondered.

[olddad56]

25. great idea, ranks up there with feeding the homeless to the hungry.

[RoadRage]

26. T. Boone Pickens just has an alias...

Seriously - why is everyone slamming this guy? He's just doing on a much MUCH smaller scale what T. Boone Pickens has been doing for the last year.... a commercial every 10 minutes about the great energy plan he has.

I guess if this guy ran 1000 ads, he'd be more legitimate? Maybe he is bat-shit crazy.. but frankly, lets figure out what he has to say before you squash him.

In today's environment.. money talks - and this guy has the money.

[Princess Turandot]

27. Perhaps Scotty has contacted him from the Spirit World..

with the secret formula for dilithium crystals.

"But he's dead, Jim!"
"Sorry, Bones, but so are you."

[truthisfreedom]

29. Novel approach, and good writing... I think he stands a chance at getting his 15 minutes of fame.

8^)

[Cha]

31. Rec'd! That's quite an investment for

Cooper..I hope Obama Team gives him a chance.