It's exceedingly obvious to nearly anyone, anywhere - even outside the United States - that the American public is angry, frustrated, and worried about the future as the November election looms. However, if you're like us, and you pay attention to the details and statistics, you'll see that the American public IS angry - but they don't know WHO to be angry at and who to cheer for.
We pointed out yesterday in our "Notable News" links that, in the latest CNN/Opinion Research Poll, a majority of Americans believe that congressional Republicans are more responsible for America's economic problems than Democrats are. Yet, as Greg Sargent noted, voters say in that same poll that they currently believe Congressional Republicans are also more likely to improve economic conditions in America. This makes ZERO logical sense. Without context, informed & educated voters aren't likely to trust the same group of people they blame for the recession we're still struggling to get out of, to make that situation better. Voters operating from misplaced anger might act in this mystified way, however.
This isn't the only news topic where the normal expectations of Americans are being confused by reality.
Normally, Republican leaders can be counted on to be stalwart defenders of business interests and capital punishment. Yet Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger - one of the best known active Republican governors - recently granted a temporary stay of execution to a California Death Row inmate. More shockingly, in a speech he gave Tuesday, Schwarzenegger blasted Texas oil companies and the Koch brothers - two of the Republican Party's most wealthy billionaire backers - for spending millions of dollars to attempt to buy off California elections, specifically the attempt to repeal California's landmark climate and energy law.
Don't even get Americans started on religion; those who think they're the most devout actually seem to know the LEAST about religion, according to the latest Pew research survey.
Some Americans might think we know who to boo - like Sarah Palin when she appeared on "Dancing With The Stars" on Monday. Those Americans would be wrong. We may find her internet missives inane, or her politics offensive, but if we're going to be civil with each other, we shouldn't be booing a Mom - even Sarah Palin - who is just showing up to cheer on her daughter in a dance competition.
None of this seems to answer the question: for whom should we cheer?
We DO have a solution: In most situations, cheering should be reserved for one's favorite sports team, or favorite singer at a concert.
Responsible politics - and being a responsible citizen - is about caring enough for your country, your region, your state, and your city to research the facts and understand the details before heading to the voting booth. As the President and Vice President have echoed over the last few days, it's time for Americans of all kinds to stop their whining, and get back in the game.
Know the facts on the issues you'll be voting on in less than five weeks - and once you're educated on them, go vote.
At that point, it will become abundantly clear who to cheer for: The informed and intelligent American voter.
Hopefully, that's the only kind of voter who shows up.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Common Sense Still Isn't
As a Daily Felltoon reader, you most likely find yourself involved in political discussions on a regular basis. We frequently communicate and debate with each other on the tactics and wisdom (or lack thereof) of different political figures of nearly every type - and we know our research helps many of you as well.
When a person communicates on a regular basis with powerful bloggers, journalists, and business and political figures, it's easy to fall into a false sense of what is and is not important in such discussions, according to "common sense." We see it all the time in well-known blogs and newspapers, and we hear it on the air from both local and national sources. We also hear it in person, in far too many political discussions, the supposedly "common wisdom" that "everybody knows" some piece of information.
The truth is, common wisdom isn't exactly common.
For example, one of our staffers had a discussion with a political party official last weekend, where the official stated they had never been able to get an answer to the questions our staffer asked. Our staffer reminded the official that no one who wants to work in politics for either major party would ever give a serious answer to someone at that official's level of authority.
Another staffer recently heard from a political contact because of work on the Daily Felltoon. The political contact seemed surprised at the reach of our work. We're not surprised at all. Our staff knows a number of influential people through the country, and even overseas, who read our work, click our links, and enjoy Paul's cartoons - and we'll continue to keep that contact list private.
That we're regularly contacted by influential people like those on Capitol Hill simply proves the "common wisdom" by some of our readers that The Daily Felltoon is just another internet publication, might not be so wise after all.
Blogs and other electronic publications far more famous than ours continue to fight a similar "common wisdom." The media has changed a great deal in the last 20-30 years, and it's likely that it will continue to morph into new forms as we head into the future. Many of these forms will continue to employ more freelancers, and will continue to change the "common wisdom" of how people in positions of authority interact with members of the media.
The difference these days is that those involved in media as we are don't seem to be as heavily swayed by the "common sense" of the traditionally "Very Important People." Maybe it's because, as Paul Krugman mentioned in his own blog Monday, those like us remain professionals, while being a bit more detached.
More detached may also mean less biased, and more honest.
That's a bit of wisdom that's not so common at all.
When a person communicates on a regular basis with powerful bloggers, journalists, and business and political figures, it's easy to fall into a false sense of what is and is not important in such discussions, according to "common sense." We see it all the time in well-known blogs and newspapers, and we hear it on the air from both local and national sources. We also hear it in person, in far too many political discussions, the supposedly "common wisdom" that "everybody knows" some piece of information.
The truth is, common wisdom isn't exactly common.
For example, one of our staffers had a discussion with a political party official last weekend, where the official stated they had never been able to get an answer to the questions our staffer asked. Our staffer reminded the official that no one who wants to work in politics for either major party would ever give a serious answer to someone at that official's level of authority.
Another staffer recently heard from a political contact because of work on the Daily Felltoon. The political contact seemed surprised at the reach of our work. We're not surprised at all. Our staff knows a number of influential people through the country, and even overseas, who read our work, click our links, and enjoy Paul's cartoons - and we'll continue to keep that contact list private.
That we're regularly contacted by influential people like those on Capitol Hill simply proves the "common wisdom" by some of our readers that The Daily Felltoon is just another internet publication, might not be so wise after all.
Blogs and other electronic publications far more famous than ours continue to fight a similar "common wisdom." The media has changed a great deal in the last 20-30 years, and it's likely that it will continue to morph into new forms as we head into the future. Many of these forms will continue to employ more freelancers, and will continue to change the "common wisdom" of how people in positions of authority interact with members of the media.
The difference these days is that those involved in media as we are don't seem to be as heavily swayed by the "common sense" of the traditionally "Very Important People." Maybe it's because, as Paul Krugman mentioned in his own blog Monday, those like us remain professionals, while being a bit more detached.
More detached may also mean less biased, and more honest.
That's a bit of wisdom that's not so common at all.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Recommendations For A Winning Campaign
While we each have our own particular preferences in political races large and small this autumn, there are a few recommendations we'd like to give to legitimate candidates in each of the two major political parties to help them win in November. While we're certain some of what we say will fall on deaf ears, we hope that at least a few of our recommendations will make it through the media haze.
For Democrats: Fear Is NOT Your Friend. Be Proud Of What You've Accomplished.
As the fall campaigns inevitably rev up these last few weeks, the mud, bile, and accusations are as certain to rise as the sun. We think it would be wise if the Democrats kept that sort of vitriol to a minimum this year. Democratic and left-leaning voters need more than anything to be positively motivated this year - and hate won't do it. This year, no one is going to out-hate the Tea Party and the far right - so don't even try.
Democratic candidates should also be proud of the many, many accomplishments their party has begun during the last two years. That isn't to say everything is fixed - and no candidate should say anything like that. Far from it. Many topics important to Americans have moved significantly forward, however, from stopping the hemorrhaging of the economy, to getting out of Iraq, to paying down the debt, to reforming the health care insurance system. Democrats have led on all of these topics, while Republicans have fought them all the way. For Democratic candidates, it's time to be proud of what they've done - because like it or not, there's no time left to change their voting records now.
For Republicans: Be Specific. Accept Reality.
Whether or not you've read the GOP's "Pledge To America" - or any of their many other semi-official plans and pledges this year - the key thing that seems to be missing from most of them is specifics. We're well aware that the Tea Party has many moderate, sensible, thoughtful Republicans a bit scared this year, as Tea Party organizations have garnered a lot more of the media's attention so far.
Governing, however, isn't about just yelling at people, complaining about what's wrong, or making a media scene. Governing - the hardest parts of it - are often about getting the littlest details correct. Some Republicans do have some of those little details correct. They may not be flashy, or get the most media coverage - but if elected, they'll likely accomplish more than any tea party media sensation will.
Part of the way they'll do that is through the wise understanding that the soul of government is compromise. No matter how the elections turn out, it's highly likely the Democratic Party will still have a majority in the Senate - and President Obama is here to stay till January 2013, at least (if not longer). This means that, in order to get anything done, Republicans will have to work with Democrats - like it or not.
Wise Republicans - those worth electing - know the reality that governing in America is never a strictly partisan affair.
For Democrats: Fear Is NOT Your Friend. Be Proud Of What You've Accomplished.
As the fall campaigns inevitably rev up these last few weeks, the mud, bile, and accusations are as certain to rise as the sun. We think it would be wise if the Democrats kept that sort of vitriol to a minimum this year. Democratic and left-leaning voters need more than anything to be positively motivated this year - and hate won't do it. This year, no one is going to out-hate the Tea Party and the far right - so don't even try.
Democratic candidates should also be proud of the many, many accomplishments their party has begun during the last two years. That isn't to say everything is fixed - and no candidate should say anything like that. Far from it. Many topics important to Americans have moved significantly forward, however, from stopping the hemorrhaging of the economy, to getting out of Iraq, to paying down the debt, to reforming the health care insurance system. Democrats have led on all of these topics, while Republicans have fought them all the way. For Democratic candidates, it's time to be proud of what they've done - because like it or not, there's no time left to change their voting records now.
For Republicans: Be Specific. Accept Reality.
Whether or not you've read the GOP's "Pledge To America" - or any of their many other semi-official plans and pledges this year - the key thing that seems to be missing from most of them is specifics. We're well aware that the Tea Party has many moderate, sensible, thoughtful Republicans a bit scared this year, as Tea Party organizations have garnered a lot more of the media's attention so far.
Governing, however, isn't about just yelling at people, complaining about what's wrong, or making a media scene. Governing - the hardest parts of it - are often about getting the littlest details correct. Some Republicans do have some of those little details correct. They may not be flashy, or get the most media coverage - but if elected, they'll likely accomplish more than any tea party media sensation will.
Part of the way they'll do that is through the wise understanding that the soul of government is compromise. No matter how the elections turn out, it's highly likely the Democratic Party will still have a majority in the Senate - and President Obama is here to stay till January 2013, at least (if not longer). This means that, in order to get anything done, Republicans will have to work with Democrats - like it or not.
Wise Republicans - those worth electing - know the reality that governing in America is never a strictly partisan affair.
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