Today's the big day here in Florida. While I am not a registered republican and cannot vote in the closed primary, I'm happy today is primary day because that means that hopefully tomorrow the attack ads will stop. The Romney campaign has decided to run a scorched earth campaign against Newt Gingrich, and it ain't pretty. For every Gingrich ad there are three Romney attack ads. I have to say, I'm liking candidate Romney less and less as the campaign drags on. I have no problem with attack ads, but I do require that they at least be truthful. Romney's are not.
Showing posts with label campaign. Show all posts
Showing posts with label campaign. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
STUCK IN THE PAST - Updated
It seems President Obama is now attempting to channel Theodore Roosevelt. Sure, why not? It's amazing how many former presidents he (or the ever-fawning media) has tried to model himself after - it started with the comparisons to FDR and JFK, but continued with quite laughable attempts to connect him to Reagan and even Harry Truman. Now, I have to say, there is a bit of a similarity on that last one, but not the bogus "Do Nothing Congress" angle he's been working for all he's worth. No, the real similarity is that both are responsible for dropping huge bombs that crippled nations - Japan, in Truman's case, and the American economy via Porkulus, over regulation and Obamacare in Obama's. Unfortunately for President Obama, the rising consensus is that, performance-wise, he is a far closer match to Carter than any of the giants with whom he has attempted parity.
Monday, August 8, 2011
WHERE'S OBAMO? Updated
Call me old fashioned, but in times of national crisis I, like many Americans, take comfort from hearing words of wisdom from my president. When the world seems to be on fire or collapsing around our ears, when tragic events unfold, we have always had the calming influence of our appointed leader to guide us through the dark times.
Until now.
Until now.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
BACK TO THE PLAYBOOK
Democrats are apparently going to be foregoing standing on a platform this election cycle, preferring instead to just proceed directly to the mud slinging, an event which is traditionally deployed in the final weeks of the election. Guess they don't have much else in their quiver these days.
According to the Washington Post:
The problem with this strategy is twofold.
First and foremost, voters are highly motivated this year, are issue driven and are paying very close attention. They want to know what the voting record is for the candidates and they want to know their stand on the issues. They won't have much patience for backbiting and mud slinging.
The second problem also lies in the unusual level of voter awareness this cycle. This time, though, what they are aware of is the playbook that is being used. This line of attack is directly, practically verbatim out of Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals, in the "Tactics" section - number four, to be exact:
Perhaps it's time to remind them of tactic number seven - "A tactic that drags on too long becomes a drag".
Stop changing the subject and clouding the debate with mud. It's time to deal with the real issues.
According to the Washington Post:
Jon Vogel, executive director of the DCCC, said Democrats are merely pointing out that some Republican recruits in competitive House races are "flawed candidates."
He added, "We have made this election a choice. . . . They're trying to run this national message in part about fiscal discipline, but they've recruited a number of candidates not credible to carry that message."
The problem with this strategy is twofold.
First and foremost, voters are highly motivated this year, are issue driven and are paying very close attention. They want to know what the voting record is for the candidates and they want to know their stand on the issues. They won't have much patience for backbiting and mud slinging.
The second problem also lies in the unusual level of voter awareness this cycle. This time, though, what they are aware of is the playbook that is being used. This line of attack is directly, practically verbatim out of Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals, in the "Tactics" section - number four, to be exact:
4. "Make the enemy live up to its own book of rules. You can kill them with this, for they can no more obey their own rules than the Christian church can live up to Christianity."
Perhaps it's time to remind them of tactic number seven - "A tactic that drags on too long becomes a drag".
Stop changing the subject and clouding the debate with mud. It's time to deal with the real issues.
Monday, March 8, 2010
HERE WE GO AGAIN Update
Hey, guess what? The Campaigner-in-Chief is on the campaign trail again for ObamaCare.
What a surprise.
As usual, his "town hall" is by invitation only. I wonder if the union member audience is getting paid to sit and listen to him, and do they get a bonus for bringing their pre-printed, SEIU/OFA approved 'handmade' signs, or is this one on the house?
I'd report it if he had something new to say, but, of course, it's the same old talking points. Evil Republican obstructionists, status quo, time to decide, simple up or down vote, blah, blah, blah. I'm surprised he still needs a teleprompter - I could give his speech off the top of my head.
The reports on yea or nay votes has been varied and confusing, but I think it's safe to say they just don't have the votes yet. After all, if they did, you know Pelosi would call for a vote immediately, no matter the time or day, just in case someone came to their senses. This is a very fluid situation, however, and you just never know who is going to flip.
Pelosi has even, according to Rep. Massa (D-NY), resorted to making up scandals in order to toss out 'no' votes and bring herself closer to the magic number. That whole mess is a head scratcher all the way around - it's just generally unsavory and the morals and ethics of all parties involved are questionable, at best - but the point is that, whether artificially engineered or not, it does bring her one vote closer to victory.
Whether the bill passes or not, I, for one, will be permanently scarred by the imagery of Rahm Emanuel viciously dressing down Massa with 'Little Rammy' swinging in the breeze. Ugh. It all just makes me wish even more for an end to this "debate". Could it possibly sink any lower than it already has?
We have nine days to kill this thing for good, provided Obama actually sticks to his deadline of March 18th (I'm not holding my breath on that). Well, hopefully it can be killed - this thing has more lives than a cat. Actually, that is doing a disservice to cats. This thing is like Ryan Reynolds' character "Deadpool" at the end of the X-Men Origins: Wolverine movie. Just when you think you've killed it and the end credits are rolling, suddenly its laserbeam eyes open and its headless body rises again. And, much like the movie version of Deadpool, this legislation is sure to disappoint.
I'm not surprised that some democrats might be changing their vote - even I sometimes wish they would throw in the towel if it would make this nightmare end. Luckily, horrific visions of life under the legislation snap me out of it right quick.
Enough already, people - aren't there more pressing items that need attention?
UPDATE: Here's a fun game for you (via KeithHennessey.com). I got ten right - how did you do?
What a surprise.
As usual, his "town hall" is by invitation only. I wonder if the union member audience is getting paid to sit and listen to him, and do they get a bonus for bringing their pre-printed, SEIU/OFA approved 'handmade' signs, or is this one on the house?
I'd report it if he had something new to say, but, of course, it's the same old talking points. Evil Republican obstructionists, status quo, time to decide, simple up or down vote, blah, blah, blah. I'm surprised he still needs a teleprompter - I could give his speech off the top of my head.
The reports on yea or nay votes has been varied and confusing, but I think it's safe to say they just don't have the votes yet. After all, if they did, you know Pelosi would call for a vote immediately, no matter the time or day, just in case someone came to their senses. This is a very fluid situation, however, and you just never know who is going to flip.
Pelosi has even, according to Rep. Massa (D-NY), resorted to making up scandals in order to toss out 'no' votes and bring herself closer to the magic number. That whole mess is a head scratcher all the way around - it's just generally unsavory and the morals and ethics of all parties involved are questionable, at best - but the point is that, whether artificially engineered or not, it does bring her one vote closer to victory.
Whether the bill passes or not, I, for one, will be permanently scarred by the imagery of Rahm Emanuel viciously dressing down Massa with 'Little Rammy' swinging in the breeze. Ugh. It all just makes me wish even more for an end to this "debate". Could it possibly sink any lower than it already has?
We have nine days to kill this thing for good, provided Obama actually sticks to his deadline of March 18th (I'm not holding my breath on that). Well, hopefully it can be killed - this thing has more lives than a cat. Actually, that is doing a disservice to cats. This thing is like Ryan Reynolds' character "Deadpool" at the end of the X-Men Origins: Wolverine movie. Just when you think you've killed it and the end credits are rolling, suddenly its laserbeam eyes open and its headless body rises again. And, much like the movie version of Deadpool, this legislation is sure to disappoint.
I'm not surprised that some democrats might be changing their vote - even I sometimes wish they would throw in the towel if it would make this nightmare end. Luckily, horrific visions of life under the legislation snap me out of it right quick.
Enough already, people - aren't there more pressing items that need attention?
UPDATE: Here's a fun game for you (via KeithHennessey.com). I got ten right - how did you do?
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
CAMPAIGN MODE
Barack Obama truly is the permanent candidate.
For a few months after the inauguration, he stayed busy glad-handing the DC social set and 'thanking' major supporters, with an occasional directive coming down to Congress from on high, but when the going got tough, Obama hit the trail.
Needless to say, things have really not gotten much better. In fact, the heat is turning up, with even supporters starting to criticize.
Predictably, our Candidate-in-Chief is off fundraising and campaigning. Now that the election cycle is really kicking in, I expect to see more campaign and fundraising events and less governance. After all, campaigning is what he does best, and he needs the affirmation of the adulation. All of the recent criticism must surely be wearing on him, and he seems to be diving into full blown campaign mode with relish.
After all, its not like there is more pressing business to attend to.
Well, except trying to destroy Fox News and cramming overpriced, under servicing health care 'reform' down our throats. At least the economy is great and Afghanistan is taken care of. Amazing how our president is backing away from the fight against the people who masterminded 9/11, and yet is jumping into the Fox News fray with fangs bared. So Presidential.
The Fox News attack actually makes sense, though, when put in the campaign context. Vilifying Fox creates a bad guy the nation can rally against. Obama used Bush to great effect during the 2008 campaign, even though he was running against McCain. Casting Fox as the villain of the 2009 campaign actually serves a few purposes.
First, we are distracted from the backdoor dealings on health care. Second, he rallies his base against big bad Fox. And third, he is able to give the 'Bush is the bad guy' meme a much needed rest. A word to the wise, though, oh Enlightened One - yes, the distraction part is working, and some of the (shrinking) base may be rallying, but people are tired of excuses and are looking for you to lead, so be careful of a multi-pronged backlash from a burned-out public tired of scapegoating and a press who might be irked at being called, yet again, the White House lapdog.
Forget the Fox war and endorse democrats not from the campaign trail, but from the Oval Office when you take a quick break from governing. You know, the thing you were elected to do? Heck, you could film the endorsements with your new White House news crew when you are out in the Rose Garden sneaking a smoke!
Time to get off the trail, Mr. President. Remember, you won.
Oh, and by the way, when you are out on the stump for whatever cause you are speechifying for that day, when you say 'cable news', we all know you mean Fox. Please stop underestimating our intelligence.
For a few months after the inauguration, he stayed busy glad-handing the DC social set and 'thanking' major supporters, with an occasional directive coming down to Congress from on high, but when the going got tough, Obama hit the trail.
Needless to say, things have really not gotten much better. In fact, the heat is turning up, with even supporters starting to criticize.
Predictably, our Candidate-in-Chief is off fundraising and campaigning. Now that the election cycle is really kicking in, I expect to see more campaign and fundraising events and less governance. After all, campaigning is what he does best, and he needs the affirmation of the adulation. All of the recent criticism must surely be wearing on him, and he seems to be diving into full blown campaign mode with relish.
After all, its not like there is more pressing business to attend to.
Well, except trying to destroy Fox News and cramming overpriced, under servicing health care 'reform' down our throats. At least the economy is great and Afghanistan is taken care of. Amazing how our president is backing away from the fight against the people who masterminded 9/11, and yet is jumping into the Fox News fray with fangs bared. So Presidential.
The Fox News attack actually makes sense, though, when put in the campaign context. Vilifying Fox creates a bad guy the nation can rally against. Obama used Bush to great effect during the 2008 campaign, even though he was running against McCain. Casting Fox as the villain of the 2009 campaign actually serves a few purposes.
First, we are distracted from the backdoor dealings on health care. Second, he rallies his base against big bad Fox. And third, he is able to give the 'Bush is the bad guy' meme a much needed rest. A word to the wise, though, oh Enlightened One - yes, the distraction part is working, and some of the (shrinking) base may be rallying, but people are tired of excuses and are looking for you to lead, so be careful of a multi-pronged backlash from a burned-out public tired of scapegoating and a press who might be irked at being called, yet again, the White House lapdog.
Forget the Fox war and endorse democrats not from the campaign trail, but from the Oval Office when you take a quick break from governing. You know, the thing you were elected to do? Heck, you could film the endorsements with your new White House news crew when you are out in the Rose Garden sneaking a smoke!
Time to get off the trail, Mr. President. Remember, you won.
Oh, and by the way, when you are out on the stump for whatever cause you are speechifying for that day, when you say 'cable news', we all know you mean Fox. Please stop underestimating our intelligence.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
