Slimeball politics.

[Grandpa Shooter]

We are just barely out of the conventions and already the pace of name calling and slurs has escalated.  I can't remember the last time we had an election which was about the issues and NOT about giving offense or claiming to be offended.

Can any of you think of when the last "clean and focused" campaign and election took place?  I remember back to Kennedy/Nixon and can't think of one since way back then.  All that was about was the fear that Kennedy would sell us out to the Vatican. 

[AZRedhawk44]

I can't remember the last time we had an election which was about the issues and NOT about giving offense or claiming to be offended.

Modern lefty candidates can't win if we stick to issues.  You start to argue issues, and you get into rights and political theory, ultimately exposing socialism in their theories.  They then start with the indignant declarations of dirty campaigning.

I'd absolutely eat-up 4 hours of real debate between McCain and Obama.  Let's spend an HOUR debating the future of social security.  Another HOUR talking about state-funded health care.  And so on.

Any time someone veers off-topic, they get cut off by the moderator.  Or some other penalty.  Maybe sharks, with laser beams.  Or ill-tempered sea bass.

Tell me how you'll pay for it (or how you'll cut taxes as a result!).  Use a side-screen visual aide if you need to, or a projector in the debate hall.  Come prepared.  Give them the topics in advance, give each 15 minutes to present a cogent plan, 15 minutes of 90 second point-counterpoint arguments between each other, and 15 minutes of questions from the moderators or other sources.

Call each other commies, fascists, idealists, Randian terrorists, Orwellian uber-pigs, whatever.  Get dirty.  But use the issues.

Frankly, I'd be okay with every vapid, facet-less, answerless politician being dragged to death by an 18 wheeler.  Or a team of horses.  Or mountain rams.  Yeah.  Mountain rams would be good.

[MechAg94]

The last clean and focused campaign.  George Washington?  I think Thomas Jefferson and James Madison both got near unanimous decisions in electoral college.  I think that was the last time.

[Jamisjockey]

We are just barely out of the conventions and already the pace of name calling and slurs has escalated.  I can't remember the last time we had an election which was about the issues and NOT about giving offense or claiming to be offended.

Can any of you think of when the last "clean and focused" campaign and election took place?  I remember back to Kennedy/Nixon and can't think of one since way back then.  All that was about was the fear that Kennedy would sell us out to the Vatican. 

Both candidates are tools who can barely run on thier individual issues as is.....time to fling monkey poo!

[MicroBalrog]

Tell me how you'll pay for it (or how you'll cut taxes as a result!).  Use a side-screen visual aide if you need to, or a projector in the debate hall.  Come prepared.  Give them the topics in advance, give each 15 minutes to present a cogent plan, 15 minutes of 90 second point-counterpoint arguments between each other, and 15 minutes of questions from the moderators or other sources.

See. None of them would DARE to go for something like this. People are scared as hell to debate actual issues.

[Teknoid]

Tell me how you'll pay for it (or how you'll cut taxes as a result!).  Use a side-screen visual aide if you need to, or a projector in the debate hall.  Come prepared.  Give them the topics in advance, give each 15 minutes to present a cogent plan, 15 minutes of 90 second point-counterpoint arguments between each other, and 15 minutes of questions from the moderators or other sources.

See. None of them would DARE to go for something like this. People are scared as hell to debate actual issues.

Ross Perot tried this once. Too bad it didn't work out. There aren't enough people with common sense in this country,  and haven't been for a very long time. All that resulted from his efforts were skits on Saturday Night  Live about his charts and graphs.

[MrRezister]

The sad thing is that those of us anxious to hear debates about the issues are almost certainly in the minority.  When you get right down to it, politics is boring.  Listening to two people on the stage debate about the future of Social Security would probably draw a smaller audience than old A-Team reruns.  Honestly, most of the voters are borderline ADD cases, and you put a political debate on TV and it will not be seen.  So instead, you use the modern tactic of seizing any tiny mis-step by your opponent, and you make a 30- to 45 second soundclip ad about it and put it on as many TV's as you can.  Really, this season it seems like McCain is much worse about doing this than Obama, but he's doing what he has to do to win, frankly.

[ilbob]

Politics has been a dirty business since forever.

I think it was G. Washington that had opponents spreading rumors about him and printing up anonymous pamphlets accusing him of all kinds of stuff.

Lincoln's political opponents savaged his wife (most of what they said was close to the truth though).

[Manedwolf]

Politics has been a dirty business since forever.

I think it was G. Washington that had opponents spreading rumors about him and printing up anonymous pamphlets accusing him of all kinds of stuff.

Lincoln's political opponents savaged his wife (most of what they said was close to the truth though).

Are we forgetting how utterly vicious politics were in ancient Rome?

Cicero wrote a lot about how underhanded the tactics were when senators tried to destroy each other.

[MicroBalrog]

Cicero wrote a lot about how underhanded the tactics were when senators tried to destroy each other.

People need to read the politician's handbook Cicero's brother wrote for him. It's very enlightening.

[Jamisjockey]

The sad thing is that those of us anxious to hear debates about the issues are almost certainly in the minority.  When you get right down to it, politics is boring.  Listening to two people on the stage debate about the future of Social Security would probably draw a smaller audience than old A-Team reruns.  Honestly, most of the voters are borderline ADD cases, and you put a political debate on TV and it will not be seen.  So instead, you use the modern tactic of seizing any tiny mis-step by your opponent, and you make a 30- to 45 second soundclip ad about it and put it on as many TV's as you can.  Really, this season it seems like McCain is much worse about doing this than Obama, but he's doing what he has to do to win, frankly.

Huh, what, did you say something?  I'm sorry, I saw something shiny, and heard that Palin colors her hair.  Oh and Barry is a Muslim.  Oh and Palin is a Christian fundamen....hey! Something shiny!
 

You're right on the money, though.  its easier to wrap a campaign in soundbites than real issues.  This campaign isn't even close to trying to become the exception, rather, both sides are taking it to new heights.

[MicroBalrog]

This campaign isn't even close to trying to become the exception, rather, both sides are taking it to new heights.

ISn't the proper term "depths"?

[Perd Hapley]

We are just barely out of the conventions and already the pace of name calling and slurs has escalated. 

And the problem with that is? 

[Nick1911]

Cicero wrote a lot about how underhanded the tactics were when senators tried to destroy each other.

People need to read the politician's handbook Cicero's brother wrote for him. It's very enlightening.

Link?

[Perd Hapley]

What?  No more whining and moralizing about (gasp) mud-slinging?  Did everyone decide to discuss the issues, instead? 

[agricola]

Cicero wrote a lot about how underhanded the tactics were when senators tried to destroy each other.

People need to read the politician's handbook Cicero's brother wrote for him. It's very enlightening.

Link?

http://www.uah.edu/student_life/organizations/SAL/texts/latin/classical/cicero/depetitione.html

It is worth noting that, for all their much-vaunted political skill, Cicero and his brother were killed by people who were better at politics.  As a result, you may find this book of more use:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Augustus-Godfather-Europe-Richard-Holland/dp/0750929111/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1221270040&sr=8-1

[The Annoyed Man]

"They're counting on image and personalities for victory. "

too funny

[Perd Hapley]

"They're counting on image and personalities for victory. "

too funny

Yeah, she's sounding more and more decided all the time. 

[lacoochee]

Everyone except the Republicans, who lose on the real issues.  They're counting on image and personalities for victory.

"Undecided" thanks for the joke, definitely made me smile.    

[Intune]

They're counting on image and personalities for victory.

That is too funny.  Two words that sink yer entire argument.


 Styrofoam Pillars.