The “echo” effect
Posted : February 8, 2007 at 12:29 am [America/Los_Angeles]
Or the “Swift Boating Effect”. It does not matter what you call it, the fact remains the same - No matter who is putforth by the Democratic Party to run as the next President of the country, these folks and their brainwashed die-hard followers (read, suckers) will never ever ever look at the ideas that the person (he or she) brings to the table. They won’t. They can’t. So, what will they do? Simple. Attack, assassinate and smear the character of the person. And this is what I absolutely detest.
How do I know? Besides living through the 2000 and the 2004 elections and experiencing it first hand, believe it or not, I almost daily try to listen to some of these same guys just so that I can hear them out. However, it’s been seven years since I started following American politics and some of these guys, and while lots of things have changed during this time, these guys and their convoluted sense of “service” to this great nation has not. In the subtle guise of running a “talk show” (as opposed to a real news program), folks like Hannity, Limbauch, OReilly and Michael Savage repeatedly use the same kind of sleazy politics that the cartoon above shares. I don’t think they’re bad people or unpatriotic Americans. I just think they’re being disingenuous more times than not just so that they can promote their party or their ideology. Since when was ideology or Party more important than the country?
So, what do I think about the folks who have already, officially or otherwise, thrown their hat in the ring for the US Presidential Race for 2008? Except for Barack Obama, I find nothing particularly exciting about anyone else. And frankly, the only thing I like about Barack (as of now) is his ability to be articulate when sharing his views. Not that that’s enough of a quality to be the President of the United States. For what it’s worth, let it be said for the sake of record - I don’t hate Senator John McCain or former Mayor of New York Rudy Guiliani or Senator Sam Brownback just because they’re running for the White House on the Republican Party ticket. And I sure as hell don’t think they’re bad people or folks with poor character. Nor do I have any desire to let some bozo in the media (NBC or FNC) tell me how these gentleman are so screwed up as individuals. Why? Cause I don’t think anyone is perfect. And I also believe in second chances. So, no one is going to score many points with me while sharing what some of these gentlemen did when they were five or twenty-five years old. I will listen, but probably care less about it. So what would I care about? What kinda traits am I expecting from the next President of this country? Simply put, I am looking for someone who is passionate, articulate, has a pragmatic worldly viewpoint and demonstrates strong leadership skills. That said, I would also like a certain amount of alignment with my own dreams for America.
Bottomline, let’s keep it civil guys. As a former Republican President once said, “I can disagree with you without being disagreeable”.
- Anand
Category: US Presidential Elections 2008
3 Comments
You think John McCain is not a person with questionable character? He seems like the biggest flip-flopper ever. There are lots of instances where he said one thing and later said something completely opposite and whats more, hes denied that he said something completely opposite in the first place. I realize people can change opinions, but the fact that he doesnt admit that hes wrong is a BIG character flaw. Isnt that the main reason why folks like us are unhappy with the current administration. To see examples, go to http://crooksandliars.com and look up the “John McCain” category.
I do agree that Obama is the best I have seen so far in the race, and you are dead on that his best quality is his being articulate on general matters as well as responses to the attacks on him. It may not be much but its at least making me sit up and pay more attention to him.
Posted by: Chandu at February 14, 2007 @ 9:28 am
Not sure why you thought I was a big fan of McCain, Chandu. For the record, I am not. And yes, I have seen plenty of instances where he has tried to say something just so that he can get the hard-core social conservatives in his Party to rally behind his ticket.
I guess what I was trying to say was that, unlike some bozos on these radio shows, I do not have a personal hatred towards any candidate. I tend to listen to what they believe in and what their ideas are. If I like what I hear, I applaud and if I don’t, I am pissed regardless of what party the person belongs to. That’s all.
Posted by: anand at February 15, 2007 @ 1:49 pm
I read this paragraph that you wrote:
For what it’s worth, let it be said for the sake of record - I don’t hate Senator John McCain or former Mayor of New York Rudy Guiliani or Senator Sam Brownback just because they’re running for the White House on the Republican Party ticket. And I sure as hell don’t think they’re bad people or folks with poor character.
The last line was the one that gave me an idea that you think John McCain is not a person with poor character.
Posted by: Chandu at February 15, 2007 @ 3:51 pm