John McCain's convention gambit is now a culture war strategy. It depends for its execution on conflict with journalists, and with bloggers (the "angry left," Bush called them last night) along with confusion between and among the press, the blogosphere, and the Democratic party. It revives cultural memory: the resentment narrative after Chicago '68 but with the angry left more distributed. It dispenses with issues and seeks a trial of personalities. It bets big time on backlash.
At the center of the strategy is the flashpoint candidacy of Sarah Palin, a charismatic figure around whom the war can be brought to scale, as it were. In fact the Politico is reporting just that: Palin reignites culture wars.
I have no idea if the ignition system will work; nor do I claim that "this is what they were thinking" when they made the decision to nominate Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. Other interpretations may turn out to be truer than mine. This post is my look at the bets McCain and company seem to be placing. I am not recommending the strategy. I am not predicting it will succeed. I think it was improvised, like my description here....
The storm around Sarah Pailn overtakes the story of the Republican convention and merges with it, like a smaller but stronger company taking over a larger but troubled enterprise. Behind the storm a "wave narrative" builds as her appointment generates headlines on multiple fronts. The irresistible force of fact-fed controversy meets the immovable enthusiasm for Palin as cultural object: charismatic everywoman straight from the imaginary of conservative America.
* The basic strategy is: don't fight the "crisis" narrative. Rather, do things that bring it on; and in that crisis re-divide the electorate hoping to grab the bigger half.
The evangelical wing, and other social conservatives are strongly moved by her candidacy. More and more of their commitment to McCain is vested in him through her. As Andrew Sullivan writes: "The emotions involved -- especially among the Christianist base who have immediately bonded on purely religious and cultural terms with Palin -- are epic."
* The strategy: sell the epic version of her candidacy. Allow her to become bigger than McCain in narrative terms. And let the two mavericks together overawe the Republican party, a damaged brand.
Continued bad news on the investigation front adds further drama, new fact streams and more protagonists to the Sarah Palin story. As more comes out about the decision to name Sarah Palin to the ticket, it's harder to see how anyone on the inside thought it McCain's best choice for president-in-waiting.
* Strategy: Give no ground, pile on the praise for her performance in Alaska, pump up her governor's experience to death-defying extremes, hope for theatrical confrontation with characters in the mainstream media who can star as the cosmopolitan elites in the sudden politics of resentment the convention has been driven to.
Bloggers and open platforms continue to publish riskier--and risque--material, some of it unfit for family consumption, some of it false, salacious and reckless, some of it true, relevant and damaging, a portion of which is picked up by the traditional press.
* Strategy: confound and collapse all distinctions between closed editorial systems (like the newsroom of the New York Times), open systems (like the blogging community DailyKos.com) and political systems, like the Democratic party and its activist wing. Whenever possible mix these up. Conflate constantly. Attack them all. Jump from one to the other without warning or thread. Sow confusion among streams and let that confusion mix with the resentment in a culture war atmosphere.
As more emerges about how the McCain camp made the decision, the appointment looks more and reckless, the decision rushed, the vetting inadequate. This leads to advanced jeering from the left, intense criticism in the press, damaging leaks from within the Republican party, fueling calls from within and without for Sarah Palin to remove herself.
* Strategy: stick with "she was fully vetted" no matter what comes out. People who don't believe it are trying to bring down Palin's historic candidacy; or they don't accept that a conservative woman can be the one to break the glass ceiling. If some establishment Republicans are skeptical or trying to stop her, that's good for the crisis narrative, and good for two maverick candidates.
Sarah Palin under intense pressure then gives a charismatic performance on Wednesday of convention week and wows much of America, outdrawing Obama in the ratings and sending a flood of cash to McCain and the GOP.
* Strategy: bingo, that's your big break. A wave effect is unleashed by a stunning televised performance. It is shock and awe in the theater of the post-modern presidency.
Journalists watching all this keep saying to themselves: wait until she gets out on the campaign trail. Wait until she sits for those interviews with experienced reporters and faces a real press conference.
* Strategy: double down on defiance by never letting her answer questions, except from friendly media figures who have joined your narrative; like Cheney with Fox. No meet the press at all. No interviews of Palin with the DC media elite-- at all. De-legitimate the ask. Break with all "access" expectations. Use surrogates and spokesman, let them get mauled, then whip up resentment at their mistreatment. Answer questions at town halls and call that adequate enough.
Meanwhile, the investigation of her performance in Alaska puts more and more pressure on the Palin appointment as things come out that would ordinarily disqualify a candidate from consideration or cast doubt on her truthfulness in a grave way.
* Strategy: Comes from Bush, the younger. When realities uncovered are directly in conflict with prior claims, consider the option of keeping the claims and breaking with reality. Done the right way, it's a demonstration of strength. It dismays and weakens the press. And it can be great theatre.
Follow Jay Rosen on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jayrosen_nyu
The neocons are dropping bombs now on Pakistan, as we speak, dearie - and, at the same time, we are doing everything we can to provoke Russia into a nasty response to our meddling in Georgia, as we speak. The Republican strategy is to provoke hostilities to a point that American voters will be put in fear again and will support McCain as the best candidate to "defend America" from hostile forces around the world. The Republicans will not cede their political power easily - in fact, they will stop at nothing to win the coming election. As we speak, they are busy disqualifying new voter registrants around the country, primarily in poor, black voting districts. These folks, who love to call themselves "Christians" and "patriots" are in reality just Nazi warmongers with no decency or morals.
They are traitors to the American way of life. They are not patriots, nor are they Christian. Jesus would be aghast at their nastiness and immorality, especially in politics.
As a former DC campaigner of the senior Bush, I am horrified by this show of incredibhly bad judgment and highly irresponsible VP choice -- Sen.McCain's self-reported "soul mate", the Political Barbie of our generation, the McCain 15 minute vetting and the lack of concern for our nation's future AND SAFETY. A VP candidate who cannot be questioned by the national press is VERY SCARY.
As for the comparison to Sen. Obama's experience, I strongly recommend that readers check out David Mendell's book, "Obama, from Promise to Power" for meticulous research, warts and all. BO's legislative record, his bills -- those mandated into law and otherwise -- and do some careful comparisons. Ditto for Obama's and Palin's foreign affairs work. Ditto for their comparative knowledge about economics. Ditto for their stances on abortion and contraceptives.
As for his using the POW argument to excuse this 15 minute mysognistic "vetting", take a look at the YouTube site:
I offer you this interesting video of a fellow POW --- who was in the same prison with Sen.Obama --speaking about McCain. Please pass this on if you love our nation and want a safe one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KjsEs46C70
In other news, engage Palin and McSame with chat about what they plan to do about the economy and Iraq, and keep engaging them right up to and including election day. They either toe the Bush mantra---more of the same---or try to sound different. This is where the TRUTH comes into play, for you can remind them about their stances and political record regarding these issues, which is more of the same.
It is. And it's in complete coverup and she's only been around for a week. Her honeymoon with the press didn't last long. She really blew it.
I was saddened to see the McCain ticket project this notion that only Republicans are patriots. Their presentation belittled Barack Obama's service to his nation and those he stands up for through community work and passing important legislation. Palin's speech was divisive and is creating a new war within our own country. When the government's role should be to bring our country together the Republican message is "you are either with us or you are against us". Don't we have enough battles to fight elsewhere?
We need to come together at home before we can help the world and sadly the Republican campaign appears to care mostly about ratings and swaying people to their side - even if their tactics lack integrity and substance.
It's disrespectful to so many of us, especially our soldiers fighting in Iraq. When our country needs to make thoughtful, careful decisions so our military men and women can come home, the Republicans spend their time shocking us with an unknown, poorly vetted candidate, smearing the work of Democratics and sending a hateful message. This is no way to support the people of our land or those fighting for it.
http://beyondthepretty.wordpress.com/
So much for McCain's promise that the election would be about the issues... but then he's flipped on so many issues, one more wouldn't be noticed.
I don't think it will work. Hardcore Republicans in their hubris imagine themselves to be in the majority, but they are not. Republicans thought that Americans wanted Bill Clinton impeached, and they were wrong. They thought Americans would want Congress to interfere with the Terry Shiavo case, and they were wrong. Sarah Palin is too--well, let's call it "unorthodox" for your average suburban soccer mom. Reps will feel good about themselves tonight, but they just lost the election.
Anyone who has a 80% plus approval rating simply outclasses the US Congress (9-20% approval) or any other more real leftist groups. Her only detractors are actually disgruntled public employee state troopers who were removed for just and outrageous cause like tasering a child and abuse of a wife.
She shows that the people don't need the left. They just need good leaders who aren't from political machines like Obama and Biden are and to which those two old-style men are beholden.
Lincoln was right. We can only be destroyed from within. And Sen. Biden was right; this may be our last chance to save our amazing government.
As a former -- ande more naiive -- senior Bush campaigner , I am horrified by McCain's incredibly bad judgment .His silly choice of his self-reported "soul mate", Political Barbie, underlines McCain's obvious lack of concern for our nation's future AND SAFETY. Further, a VP candidate who cannot be questioned by the national press predicts a VERY SCARY ELECTION. .
As for Sen. Obama's experience, I strongly recommend David Mendell's book, "Obama, from Promise to Power" for meticulous research -- warts and all. Check out BO's legislative record, his bills -- those mandated into law and otherwise -- and do some careful comparisons. Ditto for Obama's and Palin's foreign affairs work. Ditto for their knowledge about economics. Ditto for their stances on social issues and education.
As for McCain using the POW argument to excuse this nomination and other blunders", take a look at the YouTube site: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KjsEs46C70
I offer you this interesting video of a POW who was in the same prison with Sen.McCain --Please pass this on to all media.
A military vet with two decorated war heroes in my family. I will never vore Republican again.
Again with the 80% approval rating. She hasn't had that for a long time, that was her post-election approval rating and has been dropping ever since. Nonetheless, Republicans keep citing it like it was a factually accurate statement describing the current reality--sort of like they do with McCain's record, Palin's accomplishments, the situation in Iraq, the economy, and just about everything else.
Finding detractors isn't hard in Alaska, and they aren't just disgruntled former employees. For the record, the trooper you refer to wasn't removed for anything; he's still on the job. The guy she fired was the guy who refused to break the law and fire him at her behest. Fortunately for the Republicans, most Americans can't find Alaska on a map (still looking for it in the South Pacific) and won't see through any of this nonsense. All my family and friends still up there think McCain would have been hard pressed to find a worse choice, and none of them are former state employees.