From the Inbox, this morning, Jim Geraghty’s Morning Jolt:
It does feel like there’s now a paint-by-numbers formula for giving a speech that garners media raves:Â My parents/grandparents/great-uncle Iggy came from humble beginnings. They struggled to give me a better life. Here is my focus-group-tested anecdote of my childhood. From this humorous event, my elderly, or preferably deceased relative/mentor figure, who will be played by Morgan Freeman in the movie, told me this valuable lesson: Only in America can you find opportunities like this. Only in America can you find opportunities like the ones I, and millions of other Americans, enjoyed! These opportunities are endangered by the policies of our opponent. But they are strengthened by the policies of our nominee! And I will not give up upon this majestic dream of a better future that is America! I will not give up and neither will you! We will do this together! Si se puede! Thank you! God bless America!
From what polls have been showing, the partisans are already lined up for this November, and that includes the people who call themselves independents, but generally lean one way or another. The rest is aimed at reaching the low-information voters who are still undecided. In fact, the election will hinge on how the people who barely pay attention fall.
And people wonder, and often lament, why our founding fathers had a healthy distrust of democracy, and did their level best to check it.
“And people wonder, and often lament, why our founding fathers had a healthy distrust of democracy, and did their level best to check it.”
I can’t be a hypocrite and pretend I never said anything similar/identical myself, but, that also enables me to say it sounds like the cry of someone who does not expect an election to yield the outcome they want.
It is sort of like the U.S. choosing to define as “democracy” only those elections in foreign countries that yield the results the U.S. desires.
Of course, that makes it not one bit less true. There’s a reason the Constitution was written so that only the House was elected directly by the people.
The Progressive Era was the deathblow to the republic as our founders knew it.. Income Tax, people electing Senators… Prohibition…
Actually, the partisans are NOT lined up. The Democrats have been screaming to get their base fired up, a sure sign that they’ve given up on fighting over the unaligned middle and are trying to just get their people into the ballot box.
“they’ve given up on fighting over the unaligned middle and are trying to just get their people into the ballot box.”
I’m told that is the final phase of the campaign process, anyway. A pundit commented several weeks ago that the Republicans had begun it even then, pre-convention, which was surprisingly early. I guess it all depends on your interpretation.
(Just repeating what others have told me.)
In my experience, the parties turn out machines ramp up starting the weekend before the elections. Then it’s about turnout. You’re done trying to sway the undecided at that point.
Wisconsin recall election appears to have been a dress rehearsal for the GOP election strategy and democratic counter-strategy.
Well, here’s something to think about. I just got a Robocall from the Ohio Lt. Governor (a Republican) “informing” me that I will be receiving an Absentee Ballot Request Form from the Ohio Secretary of State (a Republican). I was then urged to Fill it Out and Vote Early, so that “to ensure that MY Vote will Count!”
So in Ohio, the “Turn Out the Republican Vote!” Machine is up and running as I write this. I don’t know what the Democrats are doing, however, but I expect similar efforts after Charlotte is over and the Dems Party Leaders come home.
Looks like the old days of “Full Speed Ahead!” during the last week is going away, at least here in Ohio.