Sunday, October 01, 2006
Slow and Stupid part II.
Since I've started the theme, might as well carry it into today's Big Story, Mark Foley flirting with the boys.
Slow and Stupid: perfect description for Republican leaders.
Down to the basics. "What can I get away with?" is a question any human can answer by about age 3. Even dogs and cats can determine the answer to this question easily, when the punishment and rewards are consistent enough. And in this case the punishment and rewards have been totally consistent since about 1975. The media have been punishing Republicans for every hint of dirtiness, especially sexual dirtiness, without exception for thirty years. And the Republican elite STILL hasn't figured it out. I have no idea what goes through their heads: do they believe reporters are their friends? Do they think the Golden Rule applies? In either case, they are simply stupid. They are clinging to an idea that has no basis in reality.
Yes, the Dems can get away with anything.
Yes, that's terribly unfair.
No, it doesn't help you to point out the unfairness.
You're supposed to be leaders.
If you can't figure out a dozen ways to turn this constraint into an advantage, you don't deserve to be leaders.
The advantage is obvious even to a non-leader like me:
"We're the clean party."
This is important to many voters, but you can't make the claim unless your behavior confirms it. It's also important on a more basic level: Clean leaders can't be blackmailed, thus clean leaders are free to speak and act in controversial directions when needed.
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Footnote: When I say "clean leaders" I'm really saying "Mitt Romney".
¶ 11:50 AM
Slow and Stupid: perfect description for Republican leaders.
Down to the basics. "What can I get away with?" is a question any human can answer by about age 3. Even dogs and cats can determine the answer to this question easily, when the punishment and rewards are consistent enough. And in this case the punishment and rewards have been totally consistent since about 1975. The media have been punishing Republicans for every hint of dirtiness, especially sexual dirtiness, without exception for thirty years. And the Republican elite STILL hasn't figured it out. I have no idea what goes through their heads: do they believe reporters are their friends? Do they think the Golden Rule applies? In either case, they are simply stupid. They are clinging to an idea that has no basis in reality.
Yes, the Dems can get away with anything.
Yes, that's terribly unfair.
No, it doesn't help you to point out the unfairness.
You're supposed to be leaders.
If you can't figure out a dozen ways to turn this constraint into an advantage, you don't deserve to be leaders.
The advantage is obvious even to a non-leader like me:
"We're the clean party."
This is important to many voters, but you can't make the claim unless your behavior confirms it. It's also important on a more basic level: Clean leaders can't be blackmailed, thus clean leaders are free to speak and act in controversial directions when needed.
-----
Footnote: When I say "clean leaders" I'm really saying "Mitt Romney".
¶ 11:50 AM
