The New York Times: Campaign Consultants for Losers
Here's how you know the Democrats are in trouble: the New York Times is giving them campaign advice.
It's a campaign-year staple, as autumn draws near, that the usual suspects -- the NYTimes, NPR, the broadcast news outfits -- with convene roundtables and publish editorials all wondering, in varying degrees of panic and rage, What should the Democrats do?
They do this because, of course, they're all Democrats.
The New York Times begins its service as unpaid media advisors for the DNC with this nonsense:
In less than 90 days, millions of irritable voters will go to the polls to choose a new House and much of the Senate. If Democrats hope to retain control of both chambers in a year of deep dissatisfaction with incumbents, they need a sharper and more inspirational playbook than the one they are using.
Wait. Digest that. We're "irritable." Like babies.
And now a truly idiotic statement, contradicted by every available fact:
Put most broadly, the Democrats have been failing to delineate the differences between themselves and Republicans...
What? Hello? Is anybody over there on 8th Avenue and 41st Street reading the paper? Democrats don't need to "delineate the differences" with the Republicans. The American voters are doing it for them. And it ain't good news. In poll after poll, the generic ballot swings harder and harder towards Republicans. The smart move isn't for Democrats to highlight their differences Republicans. It's to pretend that their aren't any.
So, before reading on, take a guess. What does the New York Times suggest that the Democrats do? Move to the center? Recapture the great middle? No, no, of course not:
Rather than spend time during the campaign stoking anxiety over Social Security, Democrats should aggressively counter the myth that the deficit is causing unemployment, and advocate using government in ways that might re- inspire voters.
A few suggestions: Using the revenue from reinstating taxes on the rich to put people back to work, rebuilding and repairing the country. Providing robust support for state and local governments, many of which have cut past the bone. Repairing the unemployment system so that it is a real safety net and not a political tool.
In other words, spend more! Defend the fatty, greasy mess of stimulus harder! Make bigger promises!
This advice is so silly, so stupid, so utterly tone-deaf and wrong, that I'm starting to wonder: maybe the editors of the New York Times are on our side?
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May '10
Re: The New York Times: Campaign Consultants for Losers
"Some thoughts on those angry voters. Ask parents of any two-year-old and they can tell you about those temper tantrums: the stomping feet, the rolling eyes, the screaming. It's clear that the anger controls the child and not the other way around. It's the job of the parent to teach the child to control the anger and channel it in a positive way. Imagine a nation full of uncontrolled two-year-old rage. The voters had a temper tantrum last week....Parenting and governing don't have to be dirty words: the nation can't be run by an angry two-year-old." Peter Jennings 11/14/94
Jun '10
Re: The New York Times: Campaign Consultants for Losers
Nobody thinks the deficit alone is causing unemployment. If the government was shrinking, instead of growing, we'd all stop worrying about the deficit. The problem is that it's still growing, with no end in sight. If, on the other hand, Congress was chopping away at the budget, the resulting optimism would encourage job creation. Businesses would stop sitting on their cash and use some of it. But as of now, we're in a deep deep hole and the Democrats just keep digging. First step is, stop digging.
May '10
Re: The New York Times: Campaign Consultants for Losers
Great quote, E.J. Here's another one in the same vein:
"Nations, like men, are teachable only in their youth; with age they become incorrigible. Once customs have been established and prejudices rooted, reform is a dangerous and fruitless enterprise; a people cannot bear to see its evils touched, even if only to be eradicated; it is like a stupid, pusillanimous invalid who trembles at the sight of a physician." -- Jean Jacques Rousseau
It looks like a contempt for the common folk underlies leftism across the centuries.
May '10
Re: The New York Times: Campaign Consultants for Losers
So it's messaging then. Yepper. Messaging. Ain't nothin wrong a little more messaging can't fix. Last time my car went all wonky I had to pull in to a shade tree mechanic. After rooting around under the hood, he pulled out something with splaying wires. "Well, here's your problem, " says he, "your messager's broke."
I thought we were more crotchety than irritable. Unless the NYT is implying some sort of medical condition.
Jun '10
Re: The New York Times: Campaign Consultants for Losers
What should the Democrats do?
According to Rasmussen 45% of Americans strongly oppose the president. I have to conclude that these folks are by now a fixed block in permanent opposition to the president and his party. Numerically speaking this is what minority status looks like. When the time comes, my suggestion is that Democrats do the honorable thing and fall on their swords. Outside the building, of course, because unionized janitors aren't required to clean up blood, fecal matter, or other bodily fluids.
May '10
Re: The New York Times: Campaign Consultants for Losers
Myth: Punching yourself in the crotch hurts.
Solution to a headache: Punch yourself repeatedly in the crotch. Not only does it not really hurt, but it's bound to cure your headache eventually. Sure, it's failed to help for coming up on two years, but there's every indication that a few more sharp blows will make things better. Wait...I have it! Don't use your fist. Grab that lead pipe over there, the one marked "Insane Tax Increases" and use that. Paul Krugman says it will work, which means it's a dead solid fact.
May '10
Re: The New York Times: Campaign Consultants for Losers
Wow. Maybe the layoffs have cut so far into the newsroom at the Times that Pinch is actually doing some writing.
Jul '10
Re: The New York Times: Campaign Consultants for Losers
Many states have cut past the bone? Tell me that when every last state has dismantled it's outreach programs to lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and trans-gendered school children.
Jul '10
Re: The New York Times: Campaign Consultants for Losers
Rob, your post above is hilarious, but everyone should click over and read the entire editorial. I was doubled over, I was laughing so hard. Not only do the editors at the NYT apparently misunderstand the difference between "irritable" and "irritated". Where else but the Gray Lady can you get gems like these:
"…the significant accomplishments of the last two years — health care reform, the stimulus package, the resuscitation of the auto industry, financial reform — were savagely attacked by the right and aggressively misrepresented as the hoof beats of totalitarianism. Most of those efforts were actually highly diluted to draw centrist support…"
"President Obama has become uncharacteristically combative…"
"Republicans…seem to be spoiling to hold hostage middle-class tax cuts in order to preserve tax cuts for the rich."
What a hoot! It's like some sly prankster over at The Daily Caller wrote a spoof NYT editorial and somehow managed to get it posted to their site! Good stuff, kids!
Re: The New York Times: Campaign Consultants for Losers
I dunno, Paules. I get all misty-eyed when I hear our friends to the left tell us that the answer, after all, really is more taxes and higher spending. At least it marks a return to honesty.
Jul '10
Re: The New York Times: Campaign Consultants for Losers
The Democrats would be better advised to learn from Aldous Huxley. In his Brave New World, the elites calmed the irritable drones by spraying clouds of euphoric Soma gas, while crooning, "Dear friends, whatever is the matter? Good night, dear friends..."
Look for armored vehicles with spray nozzles outside a polling place near you.
May '10
Re: The New York Times: Campaign Consultants for Losers
So how long until a commenter snaps up the nic Hoofbeat of Totalitarianism?
Re: The New York Times: Campaign Consultants for Losers
Following their logic, Rob, Jimmy Carter would have won re-election if only he had sharpened the difference between him and Ronald Reagan by, I dunno, offerring the Soviets an "invade one country, get the second country free" deal. If Walter Mondale had not been so much like Reagan, perhaps he would have won sommething other than Minnesota. If John Kerry hadn't emulated George Bush so closely, he could have docked that yacht in Washington DC!
Yessiree, and if that little electric car had pulled out in front of my 18 wheeler today instead of waiting his turn, he'd be at his destination by now, right? Wrong. Fortunately, he had an attack of good sense and didn't test the laws of physics, otherwise it would have ended badly. Likewise, there is a large convoy of voters taking direct aim at the left in November. All the politicians have to do is keep taking advice from the New York Times.
May '10
Re: The New York Times: Campaign Consultants for Losers
Hoofbeats of Totalitarianism would make a great band name.
May '10
Re: The New York Times: Campaign Consultants for Losers
Some guy--Rob Something-or-other--suggested in his NR parody a while back that Dems start targeting voters with attack ads. We're gettin' there.
Jun '10
Re: The New York Times: Campaign Consultants for Losers
Dave Carter: "Yessiree, and if that little electric car had pulled out in front of my 18 wheeler today instead of waiting his turn, he'd be at his destination by now, right?"
Not exactly. My buds in the car biz tell me that the little suckers bounce like basketballs when hit at speed. Picture in your mind a rubber ball flying down ten lanes of I-270 during rush hour. At a minimum the driver will get a ticket for violating the HOV lane. Destination unknown: somewhere between Springfield, Virginia and Breezewood, Pennsylvania by my best guess.
Jul '10
Re: The New York Times: Campaign Consultants for Losers
"Repairing the unemployment system so that it is a real safety net and not a political tool."
What on earth does that look like? Means testing? Timelines? No ludicrous handouts for favored (union) interest groups? Count me in.
Jul '10
Re: The New York Times: Campaign Consultants for Losers
Think of it as editorial-assisted suicide.
Jul '10
Re: The New York Times: Campaign Consultants for Losers
Back in 1994 - when talk radio was still young, and Romney was distancing himself from the Contract with America - There were a couple of Jokes told by republicans.
1) If you're driving down the road and you see a man parked on the side with his wallet out throwing money at one of his tires, don't worry, that's how a democrat fixes his flat.
2) If you are headed someplace important, never let a democrat drive. Because if he takes a wrong turn, and you tell him, his solution is to speed up.
That pretty much sums it up.