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Jet Gorgon

Yep, a big motha fist-punchin stretch, brother.
I woe to see the day that the world greets each other like hoodlums and, ok, basketball players. The new verbal mantra will then likely be "y bro, yu dun good, man, gimmee a pound."
[quote=Bugs;663297]That's coz he don't have no experee-ence, brother, know what I'm sayin? Only a few church and Fannie Mae-linked sets of bones to pick at to date.

Michelle just needs a whole mega course on etiquette. If she's prepping for first lady status, top on the agenda is CLASS. Sit on your hands, mebbe? And get her outta those skimpy streetwalker's clothes. Crikes, tasteless and unsuitable for a potential first lady -- she's also got the biceps of a line backer which really don't suit spaghetti strap dresses. And I just decided to come out with this, but, as I've thought all along, she has way too many teeth for her mouth size, although this does not impede her verbal rhetoric.

Milkman

I don't think BO's wife is being attacked because of his lack of experience.

Look at GWB's experience before running for President in 2000: governor of Texas, which has a weak governor relationship with the legislature.

I think Michelle Obama is the focus, and the focus of attacks on BO, because there is not a lot of dirt on BO himself.

__________________
Military men are dumb, stupid animals, to be used as pawns for foreign policy

Jet Gorgon

^ Dunno, MM. Not got much background there. He's managed to squelsh the Wright and Johnson squawkings, but other issues will come to the fore, as they always do. But look at the libbies taking punches at Cindy. I like her more for refusing to jump to the bait in rebuttals. She just says things like she has always loved her country. She has class.

Milkman

Cindy is playing the "I love my country" and "patriot" card for the low-info, and lessor educated voters, IMO.

The low-info voter is a huge demographic that is needed. "Patriotism," and "love for country" tends to be very effective statistically, according to polling data.

chinthee

With Michelle? Absolutely! With Cindy? NEVER. I can't stand the taste of plastic...and, the interesting thing is, I can't think of any other First Lady apart from Jackie that I would consider that with. So, we can see the comparisons with her and Jackie, though I guess the media is moving off those comparisons and just trying to make her out as mean, nasty, austere and manipulative of her husband. It's the same that's been done to any First Lady who wasn't just a housewife.

Texpat

^^ Did you just make that up Milky?

It sounds like something you just made up.
You don't like anything patriotic. We know. And you're keen to tie anything patriotic with the low-info, lessor [sic] educated voter.

You made that up -- didn't you Milk?

lom

^Hit a nerve, did it?

Texpat

Actually it hit my funny bone. Can't stop laughing at his foolishness.

Anchovy

Are you like - for real? Awesome! Maybe she will do more harm than good to Obamas, like, campaign?

sabang

It's a good thing first ladies weren't so much in the limelight back in Nancy Reagans day. Yuck. It was almost painful seeing her with Raisa Gorbachov.

Jet Gorgon

^ That was amusing. But I did like Gorbie.

Norton

Like it or not, the times they are a changing. The Obama's recognize this and their appeal to the younger generation is testament to this. To inspire, one must speak the lingo (speech and body) of the folks you want to inspire. The success their campaign has had in bringing record numbers of new Dems into the party is testament to their ability to do so. Many will object to her style but Michelle will be an asset to the campaign.

__________________
There is such a thing as a nation being so right that it does not need to convince others by force that it is right.

Woodrow Wilson

Jet Gorgon

^ Ya, but ain't the 40-somethings the ones they all have to win over? Fist punches don't cut it with middle-aged moms.

Milkman

I've been reading political science journals for about 20 years.

I am not making this up. (I cannot go and find the sources at the moment because I read a lot of polling and political marketing data.) I also took a class on it many moon ago.

So, to answer your question: no I am not making this up.

I'll clarify.

Political campaigns are really, marketing campaigns.

Marketing policies.
Marketing values.
Marketing personality.
Marketing "likeability."
Marketing patriotism.

The "I love my country, American flag," and "patriotism" is just one of many concepts - often abstract concepts - that are marketed to the American public.

This marketing and its effects are extensively studied. (I worked at the Republican National Committiee in Washington, DC for a spell. I also have met Pat Caddell.)

Statistically, only 1 out of 10 American voters in general are considered knowledgeable enough to actually be voting. Extensive studies and polling data has been collected for decades about this. Typical voter knowledge about the issues, parties, candidate's positions, and US Constitution is very low.

People commute to work, they have jobs, they have families, they want to watch sports, and do things on the weekend.

These are the "low-info" voters.

They have little knowledge about politics and political candidates - but they vote.

This is why political candidates occasionally interview on People Magazine or go onto Jay Leno, Letterman, and Oprah. They also attend a baseball or football game, too.

There are many pieces of the puzzle that makes up a candidate's image.


Another example is George H. Bush showing off his cowboy boots in Texas.

Texpat

Like the concept of change?

I'm impressed beyond words.

I'm still interested in seeing how you tie: "I love my country" and "patriot" card to the low-info, and lessor educated voters.

Essentially what you're saying is the majority of all voters are low-info and lesser educated. But your personal bias can't help making the connection between the patroiotic and less educated.



You're just making this up.

GooMaiRoo

The recent book Just How Stupid Are We? revealed that only 1 in 7 of the American electorate can locate Iraq on a map and only 1 in 5 are aware that there are 100 US Senators. The sad fact is that many semi-literate voters will vote for a president because he's "one of us". That's why the wives are being thrown into the mix. So who's a bigger liabilty? Michelle Obama, a product of urban black culture who can come off as resentful and unpatriotic? Or Cindy McCain, the vacuous, home-wrecking member of the super-rich who stole prescription drugs from her charity? I guess it depends on which side will be best at throwing mud.

Norton

Interesting choice of words!

Texpat

Wonder what our resident professor of political science would think about their patriotic ratings?

Considering every president, vice president, senator, congressman -- in the history of the nation has considered themselves patriotic, yet dummer'ndirt, it might be an interesting exit poll.

sabang

If American politics focused more on policies and results, and less on this inane, breast beating "Patriotism", which means in practise repeatedly using the words 'America' and 'the American people' (and of course lowering your voice an octave, to sound oh so Sincere ) in mind numbing sucession- I believe the political system would be the better for it.

I have nothing against the US flag, but do we really need to see it hanging everywhere in these campaign rallies? and does wearing a US flag lapel actually make you a patriot, or a fashion douchebag?

__________________
Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.

Texpat

....

You're confusing real American politics for the crap being bandied about on this largely-anti American forum.

Patriotism counts for almost nil -- because everyone in public office considers themselves a patriot -- as they should. MM has a burr in his saddle that won't go away.

Carry on, knower of all things American.