2008 -- Your Choice: Empty or Extreme

I have a distinction you won't envy. I saw or heard every presidential debate but one and read all the transcripts. What did I learn? This: For passionate idealism and timely analysis of issues, I'd have been better off watching reruns of Boston Legal.

If you're more into 'character' than issues, you may feel otherwise. The debates were like reality TV shows but with less attractive contestants. On 'real' reality shows, if I may draw that distinction, backbiting is straightforward, as opposed to merely transparent.

Nobody on Survivor: China has spokespeople do their dirty work, nor would they quote something you said in kindergarten as proof of overweening ambition. You have to hand it to the Survivor crowd: they keep it real and they keep it current.

If candidates spent as much time on issues as they spend dissecting each other's alleged character flaws, they'd have figured out not just health care and global warming but world peace, cancer and perhaps time travel.

Instead we got Rudy on Mexicans mowing Mitt's lawn; Mitt on New York; Hillary on Barack inhaling; Huckabee on whether Mitt thinks Satan and Jesus are brothers. What Huckabee really thinks is that Satan and Mitt are brothers, which only seems crazy until you remember that Cheney and Obama are cousins.

Huckabee's approach, like his campaign, slowly caught on. A Hardball tease asked: "Hillary Clinton: She-Devil?" When Chris Matthews interviewed hired guns Joe Trippi (Edwards) David Axelrod (Obama) and Mark Penn (Clinton) the dialogue ranged from childish to demonic, with endless rounds of 'you hit me first' and 'you're a liar.' One wondered where their parents were.

Matthews asked the three Jedis-- with apparent sincerity he called them 'star fighters'--to sum up their messages. Talk about the same old swill. Penn said Hillary's ready to lead. Trippi said Edwards will fight the greedy special interests. Axelrod said Obama will end the Washington "food fight."

Democrats treat debates like Def Poetry Jam, with a prize for whoever spins the best metaphor. I don't care which candidate will 'turn the page,' will be a 'change agent' or has 'the experience to lead on day one.' I want to know who will stop global warming, get us out of Iraq, fix health care and balance the budget.

The debates showcased each party's trademark weakness. The Democrats' is emptiness. The Republicans' is extremism. The Republicans will probably nominate the first candidate to personally shoot an illegal immigrant.

After the Republican CNN YouTube debate, GOP strategists whined that CNN conspired against them by over-sampling gun owners, fundamentalists and conspiracy theorists, thus turning the candidates into cartoons.

The story died within the news cycle because everyone knows the candidates want to be cartoons. To credit Anderson Cooper or Wolf Blitzer for an effect the men on stage work so hard to achieve seemed unfair.

Democrats have an edge on "the future". When Mitt's on message he says words like "hope" "optimism" and "future" over and over, like an animatronic Reagan. But Republicans including Mitt aim to divide and conquer by fear, which undercuts any message about the future not pinned to The End of Days.

The risk for Democrats is that their talk of facing up to problems may remind voters to ask for solutions. Democrats regard solutions as so off message. One can easily imagine voters declining an invitation to a future full of big questions and no answers.

In his 1985 book Amusing Ourselves to Death Neil Postman argued that television by its nature trivializes all public discourse by reducing it to mere entertainment. Today his once novel idea is close to received wisdom. It would matter less if the only effect was on campaigns but it goes beyond them.

You may notice that Congress, that engine of democracy, has lately stalled out. Pick an issue: the national debt, public health. Both parties have plans, or rather bills. If Democrats passed theirs tomorrow, nothing would change. If Republicans passed theirs, things would actually get worse.

The same's true of most issues, as seen in the recent energy bill. Democrats' fuel efficiency standards are great unless you happen to think global warming is real. Republican wins on taxes will actually slow the revolution in renewable energy.

A government eventually becomes like the campaign that gave it birth. What we call gridlock must be seen in this light; the end result of campaigns without substance or mandates. A trivial campaign feels like a mere annoyance. A trivial government is how a country commits suicide.

As we run out of money, energy, water and time, candidates argue over who's manly enough to get us into the next war or whose health care plan best mimics real reform. It's just another show until one day, you can no longer change the channel.

Comments

[raptor]

Once upon a time, America had a very strong House Speaker, Thomas B. Reed. He shunned contributions. So his party ran another candidate and, with the help of early advertising techniques, we got President McKinley.

[lovethesinner]

I couldn't agree more strongly with Bill Curry's conclusion, that these campaigns are degrading our democracy. But, until we do away with the electoral college, the most we can hope for is wity banter. The only thing our government currently represents is apathy and mistrust.

[Tellmethetruth]

For those who are totally sick of the media's Obama vs Hillary and the trivia pursuit of either of them as this article implies - the empty choice may I suggest another alternative. Vote for Joe Biden and you can get the most experienced person who is running for President.

Also if you want a nice chuckle before Christmas, read this article. Nothing is humorous unless there is a grain of truth in it. Enjoy!

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_rev__rob_071217_the_hillbama_factor_3a.htm


The Hillbama Factor: Hillary vs. Obama " Democrats Shouldn't Vote for Either

"With only weeks to go to the January 3rd Iowa causes, can it be true that Democrats are about to nominate either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama, their two worst candidates? It could be true.

The 24 hour news cycle that America has become fixated with over the past decade has led to coverage, not of issues and political views, but of horse races and celebrity. In turn, the news organizations are a slave to ratings. If the most popular candidates receive most of the coverage, then the rating will be higher, or so their logic tells them. As a result, they"ve invented a "Hillbama" persona that is mass marked to the country every night.

Seldom have democrats stopped to think, "Maybe Clinton and Obama aren"t the best choices." The few who have realize quickly that any of the other national candidates are better for America, for the world, and are better qualified to perform the duties of the job....

To read on - follow the link - it is entertaining and insightful.

[goofy2]

I've been disappointed that the main press has focused on the "horserace" issues and personal behavior without any attempt to contrast positions. The whole race has been dumbed-down, which plays right into the Republicans' playground. Only Biden tries to keep the race on-track by trying to discuss issues in depth to the eye-glazing of the public. He only gets press attention with a pithy soundbite. Shame on the media, and shame on us for letting this go on. The only way the Republicans can avoid a real sweep is to keep the focus off the real issues and contrasting solutions for them. Democrats often accept being charicatured by falling into it themselves.

[thatvisionthing]

The highlight of every Dem debate has been Mike Gravel's fleeting moment. Whenever he was included, he was always given a moment on the talk clock, and he was so clear and sane and so outside the other candidates' mostly crazy box that he's the one who had me jumping up and cheering. The last Dem debates have been so dull because Gravel was disappeared by the media gatekeepers, probably to protect Hillary, their girl. PLEASE get Gravel back. He challenges the fog and makes us think sanity is still possible and is something we can still vote for.

[LyricalLexicon]

I believe that John Edwards is our best shot at taking back power from the corporations. Granted he doesn't have years of experience in politics but Biden, Dodd, and Clinton all claim decades of experience and they were still fooled by Bush over the Iraq issue. I believe that out of the top three, Edwards will work the hardest to end the war, improve the economy, improve education and take the power back from the corporate interests.

[RAMHaiti]

The Republicans are going to choose a good ol' boy. Period.

The candidates that don't get involved in all the crap are Biden, Dodd and Richardson. And, if they really wanted the Presidency, they 'ld be throwing mud pies too.

So, through all the smoke and mirrors, you have to decipher for yourself who's the most qualified. To me it's obvious. Hillary Clinton.

[rwe]

I totally agree with you in that our debate,caucus,primary system is just a media beauty pageant of sound bites and sarcasm that needs millions if not billions $$$ and a stable of writers... Get the league of women voters to host a debate on PBS . And no monologues or speeches before each question, no snowmen or plants and all legit candidates get equal time.AND keep them in their seats and off the dance floor. They have more moves than some of the dance with the stars contestants

[realitytrumpsbull]

I still want the Independents to stand up
and turn out. DNC/GOP=good politician, bad
politician, and no real drastic changes
that might disrupt the flow of government
doughnuts. And, that's the problem: No
matter who gets elected, money talks.
If I walk into Sen. Lardbody's office
with a suitcase full of money, I get what
I want. The only group that stands any real
chance of staving off the influence of
Big Money are the Independents. That is,
until they get bought and sold...I think
our representatives AND the voters need
to be like the Borg, constantly adapting,
and not blindly believing in the integrity
of three little letters, more with the questions
more with the facts.

[letsgetsmart]

It is hard to disagree with a lot said here. I do think that we need a reminder that the MSM plays a big role in this whole situation. I used to listen to the three main news channels to get all available info on a subject. These days you don't get info you get persuasion. What they want you to think and who they want you to think about. It is not surprising that Joe Biden gets no traction because they want to steer you elsewhere. It is the media that chooses the questions and the moderator. Gone are the days when public influence got us Jim Lehrer. These days the moderators are celebrities not good journalists. As to the projected image of each party debates, keep in mind that republican advocates want to project slashing cutting and thrusting warriors with a heavy dose of fear thrown in. While the democrats are smart enough to realize that the media has a republican preference and are like a shark feed just waiting to pounce on anything that they say. An empty image is the result of this. It's like the coach that reveals his game plan days ahead of the game. Do you think the other team might prep for this? And the spies of strategy are all working for one team.

[Rocketmind]

The blog posted tho too lengthy did elucidate the meaninglessness of the political theater, the cowardly avoidances of 1.recognizing that mere coincidence of opinion does not equate representation, 2. elections are rigged, 3. the dictator has no intention of leaving, and 4. our constitution, rights, and normal avenues for redress of grievances or citizen control of 'our' government is history, as is sovereignty liberty & peace- so long as we tolerate greed, corruption and fear of using the One Word that can change more than all the candidates running for office within this corruption: TREASON Dare to Call it treason, USE THE WORD everyday and see what happens- the power of TRUTH!

[TommyMcCarthy]

I'm a Democrat, and have for years resisted this idea that there's no difference between the parties (of course there is), a pox on both thier houses,etc. etc.

Having said that.... Bill Curry correctly points out that on the recent energy package.....Congressional Democrats once again "waved the white flag" on the MOST important language in the bill:...that regarding tax incentives for alternative energy sources....For my money, this was THE most important thing we should be doing to simultaneously address energy independece and climate change........sigh

"QBear" has an excellent suggestion on this post....that if nothing else the congressional Democrats could put thier useless asses to work for the people by sitting on the steps outside and denying the Repugs. a quorum in which to wreak more havoc.

I'm not far from waving the white flag myself....and admitting that, in Congress, there really IS little difference between the parties.

Curry says correctly, as is true of SO MANY issues......
"....both have a plan...the Democrats' would do NOTHING...the Republican's would actually make things WORSE"

Maybe w/ a Democratic president, and a few more seats in both houses (which looks likely) things will be different...(better?)......Sigh.......lets hope so. Could they get worse??...... Merry Christmas..................tm

[ednadumpling]

Everyone agrees people want change except for the Congressional democrats who seem to be the only people listening to Shrubco and their enablers the Congressional goopers.

The only candidate for president who has demonstrated leadershi on a current issue is Dodd.

[poopdeck]

Sir, you are to positive about the Democrats. Emptiness is at least something. They don't even have emptiness. They no longer exist. Pity the person who becomes their presidential candidate, let alone our next president.

[brooklyncitizen]

This is one of the best summaries of the current political lansdcape for the run for POTUS.

As the days go by it seems more and more dismal....I liked Obama and still do well enough, but his current voting record is disturbing.

Kucinich comes the closest to representing decent values, his electability is rather nil..

Hillary with her lame health plan is as much a turn off as any of the Republican candidates, who btw are tragically comical.How do they do it? how do they manage to be such complete caricatures? There must be a factory in China minting these guys (it started with Darth Cheney).

But the laugh is on us. Sigh.