Show Don't Tell...
Dec 27, 2014 21:10:05 #
Don G. Dinsdale
Loc: El Cajon, CA (San Diego County)
GOP: Show, Don't Tell
Jonah Goldberg / Dec 26, 2014
Hey, Jeb, Ted, Rand, Marco, Bobby, Chris and the dozen or more others I'm forgetting, here's something to write on your bathroom mirror in 2015 and beyond: The "P" in POTUS stands for "President," not "Pundit."
I understand that the Seinfeldian faux-holiday Festivus is behind us, but I want to get at least this one grievance in for next year a bit early. Republicans have a tendency to tell, not show. They feel the need to explain why they are saying something, rather than work at simply saying what they need to say convincingly. I call it "reading your stage direction."
The first president Bush was probably the worst sufferer of this political malady. The most famous example was when he was running against Bill Clinton in 1992. Clinton was probably the best f**er of sincerity in modern American politics. Sticking with the Seinfeld theme, he followed George Costanza's dictum, "It's not a lie if you believe it." Clinton could convince himself that wh**ever he was saying was the t***h, and that helped him sell himself as the Great Empathizer.
Poor President Bush, a deeply humane man, surely cared as much as Clinton about the plight of the v**ers, but he came from more buttoned-up (and zipped up) patrician stock. And so sometimes he had to tell v**ers what Clinton could show with a bit lip and teary eye. So in Exeter, New Hampshire, Bush literally read his stage direction off a cue card, like Ron Burgundy in "Anchorman," proclaiming "Message: I care." I always wondered if, afterwards, some aide had to tell him, "Sir, you were supposed to convey that message, not literally read it out loud."
My favorite example came a year earlier, when former Ku Klux Klansman David Duke won a Louisiana primary. Bush came out and issued a statement in which he said "We have -- I want to be positioned in that I could not possibly support David Duke because of the r****m and because of the very recent statements that are very troubling in terms of bigotry and all of this."
Rather than express his no doubt sincere disgust for David Duke, he talked about how he wanted to be "positioned."
Bob Dole told an audience "If that's what you want, I'll be another Ronald Reagan." His campaign strategy in 1996 was to "act p**********l."
The low point of Mitt Romney's campaign was when he put on his analyst's hat and told an audience that 47 percent of the v**ers were simply a write-off because they were, in effect, moochers.
And it's not just the candidates. The GOP is infested with anonymous flacks and hacks who get a buzz from talking strategy with the New York Times. They admit they might have to "play the race card" or "go negative." I don't even know what the race card means any more, but if you're going to play it, play it. I've never met a poker player who said, "I'm going for an inside straight." And if you're going to go negative, by all means go negative. Don't telegraph to all the world, "This is just a cynical gambit we don't really believe." Outrage is so much more believable if you don't wink to the audience in advance. Don't worry, plenty of v**ers, never mind pundits, will catch your phony outrage without the advanced warning.
The same goes for optimism. If you want to be the next Ronald Reagan, be the next Ronald Reagan. Don't tell people, "Starring in the role of Ronald Reagan tonight will be..." Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, John Kasich or whoever's turn it is at the podium.
I've heard nearly every 2016 wannabe tell conservative audiences about the importance of optimism. Jeb Bush is particularly high on it these days. He says the nominee must be "joyful." I agree. But stop telling me about the need for joyfulness and start showing me some frickin' joy!
One of the main reasons Republicans read their stage direction, I think, is that they see politics as a game. And, as a game, they don't take it as seriously as those who see politics as an obsession or even a religion.
This speaks well of them as human beings because it suggests that, unlike a lot of liberal Democrats, they don't think politics -- and by extension government -- is everything and all-important. That's a trait I want in a president. But it's a real problem in a p**********l candidate.
Jonah Goldberg / Dec 26, 2014
Hey, Jeb, Ted, Rand, Marco, Bobby, Chris and the dozen or more others I'm forgetting, here's something to write on your bathroom mirror in 2015 and beyond: The "P" in POTUS stands for "President," not "Pundit."
I understand that the Seinfeldian faux-holiday Festivus is behind us, but I want to get at least this one grievance in for next year a bit early. Republicans have a tendency to tell, not show. They feel the need to explain why they are saying something, rather than work at simply saying what they need to say convincingly. I call it "reading your stage direction."
The first president Bush was probably the worst sufferer of this political malady. The most famous example was when he was running against Bill Clinton in 1992. Clinton was probably the best f**er of sincerity in modern American politics. Sticking with the Seinfeld theme, he followed George Costanza's dictum, "It's not a lie if you believe it." Clinton could convince himself that wh**ever he was saying was the t***h, and that helped him sell himself as the Great Empathizer.
Poor President Bush, a deeply humane man, surely cared as much as Clinton about the plight of the v**ers, but he came from more buttoned-up (and zipped up) patrician stock. And so sometimes he had to tell v**ers what Clinton could show with a bit lip and teary eye. So in Exeter, New Hampshire, Bush literally read his stage direction off a cue card, like Ron Burgundy in "Anchorman," proclaiming "Message: I care." I always wondered if, afterwards, some aide had to tell him, "Sir, you were supposed to convey that message, not literally read it out loud."
My favorite example came a year earlier, when former Ku Klux Klansman David Duke won a Louisiana primary. Bush came out and issued a statement in which he said "We have -- I want to be positioned in that I could not possibly support David Duke because of the r****m and because of the very recent statements that are very troubling in terms of bigotry and all of this."
Rather than express his no doubt sincere disgust for David Duke, he talked about how he wanted to be "positioned."
Bob Dole told an audience "If that's what you want, I'll be another Ronald Reagan." His campaign strategy in 1996 was to "act p**********l."
The low point of Mitt Romney's campaign was when he put on his analyst's hat and told an audience that 47 percent of the v**ers were simply a write-off because they were, in effect, moochers.
And it's not just the candidates. The GOP is infested with anonymous flacks and hacks who get a buzz from talking strategy with the New York Times. They admit they might have to "play the race card" or "go negative." I don't even know what the race card means any more, but if you're going to play it, play it. I've never met a poker player who said, "I'm going for an inside straight." And if you're going to go negative, by all means go negative. Don't telegraph to all the world, "This is just a cynical gambit we don't really believe." Outrage is so much more believable if you don't wink to the audience in advance. Don't worry, plenty of v**ers, never mind pundits, will catch your phony outrage without the advanced warning.
The same goes for optimism. If you want to be the next Ronald Reagan, be the next Ronald Reagan. Don't tell people, "Starring in the role of Ronald Reagan tonight will be..." Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, John Kasich or whoever's turn it is at the podium.
I've heard nearly every 2016 wannabe tell conservative audiences about the importance of optimism. Jeb Bush is particularly high on it these days. He says the nominee must be "joyful." I agree. But stop telling me about the need for joyfulness and start showing me some frickin' joy!
One of the main reasons Republicans read their stage direction, I think, is that they see politics as a game. And, as a game, they don't take it as seriously as those who see politics as an obsession or even a religion.
This speaks well of them as human beings because it suggests that, unlike a lot of liberal Democrats, they don't think politics -- and by extension government -- is everything and all-important. That's a trait I want in a president. But it's a real problem in a p**********l candidate.
Dec 27, 2014 21:22:51 #
Forkbassman
Loc: Missouri
U
That's why after 30 years following politics, I've decided to back wholeheartedly anon- political, non PC man who has leadership qualities and could really turn America in the right direction because he would choose an admin with experience and integrity, which we haven't had in a long time. Carson will probably announce his candidacy soon. How will America react to this man who has a tremendous grass roots following all over the country?
Don G. Dinsdale wrote:
GOP: Show, Don't Tell br br Jonah Goldberg / Dec ... (show quote)
That's why after 30 years following politics, I've decided to back wholeheartedly anon- political, non PC man who has leadership qualities and could really turn America in the right direction because he would choose an admin with experience and integrity, which we haven't had in a long time. Carson will probably announce his candidacy soon. How will America react to this man who has a tremendous grass roots following all over the country?
Dec 27, 2014 21:43:06 #
I agree with the state of the party. We do need a real leader who isnt a career political hack. I support Dr Carson as well
Dec 27, 2014 21:43:57 #
Forkbassman wrote:
U
That's why after 30 years following politics, I've decided to back wholeheartedly anon- political, non PC man who has leadership qualities and could really turn America in the right direction because he would choose an admin with experience and integrity, which we haven't had in a long time. Carson will probably announce his candidacy soon. How will America react to this man who has a tremendous grass roots following all over the country?
That's why after 30 years following politics, I've decided to back wholeheartedly anon- political, non PC man who has leadership qualities and could really turn America in the right direction because he would choose an admin with experience and integrity, which we haven't had in a long time. Carson will probably announce his candidacy soon. How will America react to this man who has a tremendous grass roots following all over the country?
I don't know how America is going to react, but it sure would be nice if he would do something pretty soon. I am getting tired of hearing that he is testing the water to see if it is worth while to run. It sort of seems to me that he is not really serious about running.
Dec 27, 2014 21:53:39 #
Dec 27, 2014 22:45:08 #
Don G. Dinsdale wrote:
GOP: Show, Don't Tell br br Jonah Goldberg / Dec ... (show quote)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I don't believe any candidate is worth anything until they are vetted and don't answer to the banksters and big business....
Until then, NO GAME !
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