The McCain campaign has the political world transfixed on its parade of falsehoods and culture war attacks on Obama. But the overarching theme here is actually outrageousness. By flagrantly, repetitively lying and putting out anti-Obama ads that run 180 degrees counter to reality, the McCain campaign has exploded the etiquette of presidential campaigns. Or, to put it another way, it's violating what were considered immutable political laws -- and amounts to a giant and risky bet that those laws are no longer operative.
It used to be, campaigns had a message. In making their arguments they routinely stretched the truth, but there was usually some slender factual basis for their statements. They tried to get favorable coverage for themselves and generate unfavorable coverage for the opposition. Finally, if your guy were behind in the last 2 weeks of the campaign, you started lying and sliming with abandon -- and attacking the media.
Now McCain has skipped over all the other stuff and gone straight to the last-ditch, desperate phase. I doubt this will work, because it usually doesn't when employed in the last 2 weeks. But of course, by that time it's always too late. Now, maybe not. So who knows?
But there's one law that, seemingly, hasn't changed -- the law of the news cycle. When a campaign does something audacious and outrageous - no matter how objectionable, or for that matter, stupid -- it dominates the news cycle. The idea is, any news is good news. And with this kitchen sink approach, McCain dominates it on several levels beyond the usual attack-response-counterattack. It's not just McCain attacks Obama. There's also: McCain crosses line attacking Obama. McCain goes where even Rove wouldn't go! Is the media covering McCain well, or does it lack a spine? Obama responds lamely. Obama vows to do a better job responding. McCain attacks Obama even more outrageously/dishonestly/incoherently. And the cycle repeats.
But I doubt this can continue for another seven weeks, because of a couple of other iron laws of media. One, the news cycle always changes, especially in a close race. The media get bored, or impatient -- or maybe, in this case, disillusioned and outraged. Real news happens. The polls shift. A gaffe occurs. The other side "finds its voice." The "narrative" changes. If the race remains close, I don't see how McCain can, in effect, keep topping himself. And that's the final iron law: outrageousness gets old.
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Oh yeah, the media wasn't accused of bias toward Democrats for pointing them out.
How can you call yourself a Christian if you do that?
I am still amaze at how many people are stuck on STUPID!
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One, the news cycle always changes, especially in a close race.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>and "media" decides which changes to report AND HOW they get "reported".
The media get bored, or impatient -- or maybe, in this case, disillusioned and outraged.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>and "media" makes sure that THE VOTERS get bored, or impatient -- or maybe, in this case, disillusioned and outraged.
Real news happens.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>and either does or doesn't get reported with whatever SPIN AND BIAS serves the needs of the "media"'s masters.
The polls shift.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>and the "media" decides which "media"-generated polls to highlight and which polling numbers to emphasize.
A gaffe occurs
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>and "media" decides whether or not to report it.
The other side "finds its voice."
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>and "media" makes sure it goes largely unheard.
The "narrative" changes.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>and is driven according to "media"'s biases and objectives.
If the race remains close, I don't see how McCain can, in effect, keep topping himself.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>so he peaks early and stays there for the next seven weeks while "media" keeps shoving it down the voters' throats.
And that's [NOT] the final iron law: outrageousness gets old.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>and voters become disillusioned, apathetic and just plain sick of the whole sordid mess.
THE FINAL IRON LAW OF MEDIA
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THE MEDIA NOW WRITES ITS' OWN "LAWS" WITH COMPLETE DISREGARD FOR TRUTH AND FAIRNESS AND FOLLOWS THEM ACCORDING TO THE AGENDA OF ITS' CORPORATE MASTERS.
An economy failing is no good news to any business in a Depression.
Are the "media" so short- sighted as to ride the McCain bandwagon? What's in it for them except ruin.
Obama has NOT lost focus on the bigger message (as U call it), because as U see, McCain/Palin are copying him on every front. Rather the McCain/Palin ticket has lost its focus, so they try to feed off Obama's message. Don't be suckered; This is exactly what the repubs and the MSM wants U to feel... This race is NOT even close in reality... But then again, there's a difference bethween a real election and a fictional one...
Machiavelli/ Karl Rove
What ever deceitful distasteful tactic one use's blame your opponent for doing the same
They will successfully, or judging by posts, are successfully painting the democrats as being just as despotic and deceitful. Because don't you know every truth spoken about Palin is simply a baseless attack by the so called "liberal Media" doing exactly what has been done by the Republicans. This is the alternate reality in which they live.
Here's a YouTube nightmare to watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wy2u4LpJHF4
The attacks on Pal are all on the Dems. All of it. And it's nasty. They have no room to complain.
There is criticism too. And some of it comes from people like Lowry, Frum and others. All Republican supporters.
OBAMA/BIDEN 08
No comparison, of course, with McCain and his apparent compulsive lying / total detachment from reality.