More interesting than the party-love-in is whether Vianovo is lobbying for Mexican interests. Great find. Know anything more about them?
I think I looked briefly for more info on Vianovo but I didn't spend much time on it.
I don't recall anything in particular (other than unanswered questions).
Several articles have been keyworded here at FR:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=matthewdowd
And this op-ed was a doozy. Basically, illegal immigration is going to solve itself. And I think his estimates were just a tad bit low on the number of illegals already here.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1454676/posts
The Mexican Evolution
NY Times ^ | August 1, 2005 | MATTHEW DOWD
Posted on 08/01/2005 6:33:44 AM PDT by ShuShu
WITH nearly six million Mexicans living illegally in the United States, some Americans, particularly those in border states, are greatly worried about the costs of illegal immigration and have demanded that more be done to stem it. Modern-day ''minutemen'' patrol the border. Voters pass measures limiting the rights of illegal immigrants, and senators debate legislation to establish guest-worker programs. Certain elected officials and pundits focus on the perils of illegal immigration to score political points.
But chances are that there will be a substantial decrease in illegal immigration from Mexico in the next 20 years, and it won't be because of civilian border patrols, laws being passed, pronouncements by politicians, or as some would like, ''building a wall on the border.'' Instead, the cause will be demographic trends within Mexico itself, trends that have been largely ignored in the debate over immigration.
(snip)
But legislators and government agencies should spend more time and resources addressing the problems of immigrants already here and our direct security needs, and much less time on prescriptive laws aimed at stemming illegal immigration from Mexico. We should be aware of the historic transformations occurring in Mexican society so that we aren't fighting a war that is already ending.
ViaNovo Launched: Leading Business and Public Affairs Strategists Announce Merger
U.S. Newswire. Washington: May 26, 2005. pg. 1
WASHINGTON, May 26 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Four leading international strategists today announced their merger forming a new management and communications consulting firm, ViaNovo ( http:// www.vianovo.com/ ), which provides breakthrough strategies for global corporations, governments and non-profit organizations. The founding partners of ViaNovo are Blaine Bull, Matthew Dowd, Tucker Eskew, and James Taylor. Drawing on their combined 100 years experience -- on the ultimate testing grounds of U.S. presidential campaigns and the White House, as well as with Fortune 500 businesses, coalitions, and governments -- the ViaNovo partners join forces to help clients find new ways to win.
ViaNovo applies its own, new proprietary process -- AIMD (Audience, Insight, Message and Delivery) -- across a range of services, including strategic planning and communications, threat assessment and competitive positioning, crisis communications, brand strategy, media relations, issue campaigns, alliance and coalition building, and grassroots mobilization.
The founding partners of ViaNovo are:
BLAINE BULL. With more than two decades' experience in politics, government, and corporate America, Blaine is an expert in government affairs, media relations, issues management, and public opinion. Prior to starting the strategic communications firm The StratCom Group in 2004, Blaine was a founding officer and shareowner of Public Strategies, Inc., an international public affairs firm. During 13 years there as a managing director, Blaine led dozens of successful international, national, multi-state, and statewide corporate campaigns. Previously, he was legislative director to former U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen (D-Texas) and directed his successful 1988 re-election campaign.
"We're excited about offering our clients a new, proprietary methodology known as AIMD," said Bull. "Campaigns today -- for corporations just as for candidates -- must be built around understanding the changes around us and how they affect what the public wants."
MATTHEW DOWD. Prior to forming Dowd Strategic Consulting last year, Matthew was Chief Campaign Strategist for Bush-Cheney 2004, where he oversaw the campaign's media, message development, targeting and research -- work that earned him the title of Pollster/ Strategist of the Year from the American Association of Political Consultants. Previously, Matthew was Senior Advisor to the Republican National Committee and Director of Polling and Media Planning for the 2000 Bush for President Campaign. In the 1990s, Matthew was President and founding partner of Public Strategies, Inc. While there, Matthew was Texas Lt. Governor Bob Bullock's chief campaign consultant. A contributing analyst for Fox News, Matthew is co-authoring a book for release in fall 2006 that examines the tactics used by two great politicians and a groundbreaking company to thrive in an era of immense change.
"Our name comes from the Latin root for new way, or new path," said Dowd. "With a name that's both classic and contemporary, this firm is devoted to understanding every client's historic framework, and then designing strategies that fit the needs of the fast- changing now."
TUCKER ESKEW. PR Week says Tucker has played "a key communications role in some of the U.S.' fiercest political tempests." While leading the Eskew Strategy Group, Tucker served as a spokesman and strategist for the Bush-Cheney 2004 campaign. As Deputy Assistant to President George W. Bush for Global Communications, Tucker headed the development of strategic communications to promote U.S. foreign policy. During the war in Afghanistan, Tucker served in London as the President's communications representative to No. 10 Downing Street. Previously, as Director of the White House Office of Media Affairs in 2001, he oversaw strategy and tactics for "outside-the-Beltway" news organizations. He was Press Secretary and Communications Director to S.C. Governor Carroll Campbell. Tucker began his career in the national press office of President Ronald Reagan's 1984 re-election campaign.
"Our clients face pressures such as regulatory uncertainty, on- demand media and an always demanding public," said Eskew, who heads the firm's Washington, D.C. practice. "ViaNovo brings together culturally aware, plugged-in strategists to solve big problems and reposition leading organizations."
JAMES S. TAYLOR. A leading international strategist, James founded the strategic consulting firm CIMA Strategies Ltd., and was a founding director and shareholder of Public Strategies, Inc., where he created and managed the International Division. Many of James's professional endeavors have been tied to Mexico's economic and political transformation. James continues to advise government and corporate leaders in Mexico and the United States. James was also a presidential appointee to the U.S. International Trade Commission. He served as special assistant to former U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen of Texas, and was the deputy campaign director for Bentsen's 1988 re-election. James was born in Texas and grew up in Ciudad Victoria, Mexico.
"We prepare our clients to cope with continual change at home and abroad," said Taylor. "In today's increasingly integrated world, communications can profoundly affect organizations. ViaNovo works with corporate and government leaders across the Americas, Europe, and beyond, in discovering new ways to succeed in today's complex world."
For more information, please visit http://www.vianovo.com or write info(At)vianovo.com.
http://www.usnewswire.com
(SNIP)Operan a oscuras proyecto NL - TexasCalderon is not alone in talking with foreign consultants.
Roberto Madrazo of the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, shopped around for foreign consultants, talking to several, including James Taylor of ViaNovo, which is based in Austin, Texas, and has offices in Monterrey, Mexico.
"We did have a meeting, and we decided not to participate," said Taylor, formerly of Austin-based Public Strategies Inc., or PSI. Taylor advises Nuevo Leon Gov. Jose Natividad Gonzalez Paras, a member of the PRI.
Aides to Madrazo, a former Tabasco governor, said he is receiving advice from Alex Castellanos, a longtime Washington-based GOP consultant. Castellanos did not return calls to his office.
(SNIP)Consulta Madrazo a asesores de BushEl Gobierno tampoco informa sobre los servicios que recibe de consultores particulares ni de organizaciones públicas como la Oficina de Representación de los Estados del Noreste en Texas, conocida como Nemex-Tex, que le brindan servicio.
James Taylor, socio de la empresa Vía Novo, contratado por el Gobierno como consultor y asesor, explicó que trabaja estrechamente con el Invite y otros organismos como el programa Ciudad Internacional del Conocimiento y hasta el Instituto del Deporte, buscando y anclando las oportunidades de estrechar la relación con el estado norteamericano.
Sin embargo, rechazó informar a cuánto ascienden sus honorarios por el trabajo que realiza en Austin.
(SNIP)Expanden estructura de comandantes para coordinar la campana por la candidatura del PRI
EL NORTE/Mexico
MXICO. Roberto Madrazo pidio asesoria informal a consultores que trabajaron en la campana del Presidente de Estados Unidos, George Bush, y su intencion es contratarlos formalmente no para la eleccion interna del PRI, sino para la competencia del 2006.
Entre los especialistas consultados esta James S. Taylor, quien junto con Blaine Bull, Matthew Dowd y Tucker Eskew, es socio fundador de la empresa de consultoria ViaNovo, que cuenta con oficinas en Austin, Washington y Monterrey.
De acuerdo con la pagina en Internet de la empresa, Taylor ha participado en los ultimos 20 anos en proyectos estrategicos que conllevaron a la transformacion economica y politica de Mexico.
Fuentes del equipo mas cercano a Madrazo revelaron que para la preparacion de la estrategia en medios de comunicacion sostuvieron con los especialistas norteamericanos un primer acercamiento, pero hasta el momento no cuentan con los recursos para poderlos contratar de manera formal.