(no subject)
Politically tinged blah blah blah ahead...
I've been perusing the Frank Luntz Republican Playbook, and I have to say, I give the GOP a lot of credit for learning to frame their platform. I wish the left-wing could get it more together. I discussed this very thing with my friend Lushie the other day, about whether the right wing has been gaining so much momentum in the past few years because of the effectiveness of their presentation or the actual substance of their message.
Well, they sure as hell have the "presentation" part down pat. Just look at the helpful hints in the appendix. I have to admire advice like this:
NEVER SAY: Outsourcing
INSTEAD SAY: Taxation, Regulation, Litigation, Innovation, Education
When you use the words of your oppositions you are basically accepting their definition and therefore their conclusion. We should NEVER use the word outsourcing because we will then be asked to defend or end the practice of allowing companies to ship American jobs overseas. Rather, we should talk about the "root cause" why any company would not want to hire "the best workers in the world." And the answer: "over-taxation, over-regulation, too much litigation, and not enough innovation or quality education." Because it rhymes, it will be remembered.
Never say old white men can't be taught the persuasive power of rap.
*****
I don't pretend to think the mainstream media is going to report much on this, or that the average American cares that it reveals that much of the Republicans' emotional appeals to their patriotism and 9/11 actually stemmed from a political strategy carefully crafted by consultants in order to frame an argument meant to bolster their economic policies:
4) September 11th changed everything. So start with 9/11. This is the context that explains and justifies why we have $500 billion dollar deficits, why the stock market tanked, why unemployment climbed to 6% and why we are still in a rebuilding mode. Much of the public anger can be immediately pacified if they are reminded that we would not be in this situation today if 9/11 had not happened, and that it is unfair to blame the current political leadership or corporate America for the consequences of that day....
Without the context of 9-11, you will be blamed for the deficit. The deficit is a touchy subject for both Republicans and Democrats - your supporters are inherently turned off to the idea of fiscal irresponsibility, and Democrats see nothing but hypocrisy. The trick then is to contextualize the deficit inside of 9-11 and the war in Iraq, which Republicans sometimes do, but not early enough in the answer.
*****
Mostly, this all just makes me tired of politics and politicking. When all the public receives are consultant-approved sound bytes and insincere arguments from both sides pandering to their baser emotions, it's no wonder only half of eligible Americans even vote. I'm not even sure what I care about in politics anymore.
I've been perusing the Frank Luntz Republican Playbook, and I have to say, I give the GOP a lot of credit for learning to frame their platform. I wish the left-wing could get it more together. I discussed this very thing with my friend Lushie the other day, about whether the right wing has been gaining so much momentum in the past few years because of the effectiveness of their presentation or the actual substance of their message.
Well, they sure as hell have the "presentation" part down pat. Just look at the helpful hints in the appendix. I have to admire advice like this:
NEVER SAY: Outsourcing
INSTEAD SAY: Taxation, Regulation, Litigation, Innovation, Education
When you use the words of your oppositions you are basically accepting their definition and therefore their conclusion. We should NEVER use the word outsourcing because we will then be asked to defend or end the practice of allowing companies to ship American jobs overseas. Rather, we should talk about the "root cause" why any company would not want to hire "the best workers in the world." And the answer: "over-taxation, over-regulation, too much litigation, and not enough innovation or quality education." Because it rhymes, it will be remembered.
Never say old white men can't be taught the persuasive power of rap.
*****
I don't pretend to think the mainstream media is going to report much on this, or that the average American cares that it reveals that much of the Republicans' emotional appeals to their patriotism and 9/11 actually stemmed from a political strategy carefully crafted by consultants in order to frame an argument meant to bolster their economic policies:
4) September 11th changed everything. So start with 9/11. This is the context that explains and justifies why we have $500 billion dollar deficits, why the stock market tanked, why unemployment climbed to 6% and why we are still in a rebuilding mode. Much of the public anger can be immediately pacified if they are reminded that we would not be in this situation today if 9/11 had not happened, and that it is unfair to blame the current political leadership or corporate America for the consequences of that day....
Without the context of 9-11, you will be blamed for the deficit. The deficit is a touchy subject for both Republicans and Democrats - your supporters are inherently turned off to the idea of fiscal irresponsibility, and Democrats see nothing but hypocrisy. The trick then is to contextualize the deficit inside of 9-11 and the war in Iraq, which Republicans sometimes do, but not early enough in the answer.
*****
Mostly, this all just makes me tired of politics and politicking. When all the public receives are consultant-approved sound bytes and insincere arguments from both sides pandering to their baser emotions, it's no wonder only half of eligible Americans even vote. I'm not even sure what I care about in politics anymore.