The Rise of Ma Woo: A Cut Above
Every superhero has an origin story. This one started with a razor blade, a campaign sign, and a spectacular failure of impulse control.
I've driven past political campaign signs that made me want to run them over, set them on fire, or maybe just urinate on them like a dog marking a fire hydrant. We've all had opinions. Some of mine come with special effects. But I've never actually done any of those things.
Why?
Impulse control. Civilized society. Respect for other people's property. And the generally accepted principle that being pissed off doesn't give you permission to behave like an asshole. Apparently, somebody missed that memo.
Palm Beach County Commissioner Marci Woodward shared photos of campaign signs that had been sliced up. Now, I've met Marci a few times at photography events. She's always struck me as genuinely nice, approachable, and good people. And you don't need to agree with somebody's politics to recognize that destroying their property is a pretty crappy thing to do.
Don't like a candidate? Support their opponent. Make your case. Make a meme. Hell, write a strongly worded Yelp review of democracy. Just leave the razor blades at home.
The Birth of Ma Woo
Every superhero needs an origin story. Batman had Crime Alley. Spider-Man had a radioactive spider. Marci Woodward apparently had somebody with a razor blade and way too much free time. Because whoever sliced up her campaign sign inadvertently transformed MARCI WOODWARD into something considerably more interesting.
MA WOO!
Someone in the comments noticed and suggested she should just run with it.
I nearly spit out my coffee. So naturally, I fired up AI and started designing campaign materials.
MA WOO 2026. A CUT ABOVE. CLEARLY.
And suddenly, what started as vandalism had the makings of a pretty entertaining campaign rebrand.
We've Seen This Movie Before
Remember the Louvre heist? We talked about it when thieves used equipment manufactured by German lift company Böcker to help steal priceless French crown jewels. Instead of hiding under the corporate conference table, Böcker turned the whole thing into a brilliant advertising opportunity. Different circumstances, same marketing lesson.
You don't always get to choose what happens to you. You do get a say in what happens next.
Somebody tried to destroy a political sign and accidentally created a superhero alter ego. Somewhere, a political consultant is preparing a $25,000 proposal for what a guy with a razor blade just accomplished for free.
With Great Power Comes Great Impulse Control
Now, Marci's opponent in the November election is Democrat Curtis Calabrese. There's no evidence connecting him or his campaign to the vandalism, and I'm certainly not suggesting otherwise. But it would be refreshing to see both candidates publicly condemn this kind of behavior. Republican, Democrat, independent, whatever.
Surely we can agree that democracy shouldn't require a trip to Home Depot's razor blade aisle. You can dislike someone's politics without destroying their property. You can be passionate without being destructive. And you can disagree without behaving like a jackass.
These aren't particularly revolutionary ideas. We used to call them manners.
Meanwhile, Back at the Batcave…
I'm down here in Broward County, so I don't get a vote in Marci's district. But she's got friends south of the county line, too. And while I hate seeing somebody's hard work destroyed, I love seeing an opportunity to turn stupidity into something funny, memorable, and maybe even useful.
So Marci, embrace Ma Woo. Print the shirts. Make the stickers. Own the nickname. Maybe even thank your anonymous creative director. Just don't hire him for sign installation.
Every superhero has an origin story. This one's a cut above.
Rich Washburn is a technologist, strategist, and Founder & Chief AI Architect of ARIA AI Labs, working at the intersection of AI, infrastructure, communications, and capital. He also serves as Managing Partner and Chief AI Officer at Eliakim Capital.
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