Kossak atlliberal wrote an excellent diary yesterday called "We are Not Normal".
The lead in was this:
Last summer I went to the DFA training in Atlanta. The first thing they told us is that "We aren't normal" It was very important to understand that up front before learning how to run a campaign, because MOST people don't think like us.
The diarist then goes on to remind us that most folks don't sit around and micro-analyze everything out of a candidate's mouth for some hidden agenda, and that dust ups here are meaningless outside of the circle of political junkies. I've decided to have some fun with this below the fold:
(source)
(side note: the cartoonist is Julie Larson; she lives in Lincoln, Illinois and I just love her work)
Seriously, according to what one crusty old former Illinois House member told me, "most people aren't stupid, but they don't pay attention to politics. That is why you have to keep repeating the same message over and over".)
Also, they just don't have an awareness of everything that goes on in a campaign.
Don't get me wrong; I think it is good to follow the race, the issues and the like. That makes us harder to B. S.
But most are not like us. I propose a little "political trivia quiz for Kossaks" to make a point.
- Who keeps repeating the phrase "rush to war"?
- Who keeps saying: "[he/she] needs to be seasoned and stewed to boil all that hope out of [him/her]"
- What did JRE's father do for a living?
- Who said "you're likable enough".
- Whose health plan has mandates only for children and people under 25 years old living with their parents?
- Who said that raising the cap on social security payroll tax would hurt middle class people?
- Who is pushing for "medicaid for all"?
- Which one was a former mayor?
- Which one(s) have a law degree?
- Which one(s) have a spouse with a law degree?
- Which one(s) have a spouse with a law degree from the same place that they got theirs?
- Which candidate was endorsed by the Culinary Workers Union?
- Which candidate voted FOR the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste storage bill while in the Senate?
- Which candidate voted for the 2005 Energy bill (in the Senate) and which one voted against it?
- Which candidate has run marathons?
- Which candidate gave the student commencement address at their school?
- Which candidate(s) has written at least one best selling book?
- Which candidate(s) grew up as a Republican?
- Which candidate(s) has won an election in a red state?
- Which candidate(s) is a UCC (United Church of Christ) member, which candidate(s) is a Methodist, which one(s) is a Catholic?
- Can you same a state in which voting "present" is an accepted way (as in usual way) to vote "no" while not having to go on record of voting no?
- Which states are the 4 remaining candidates from?
- Can you even name the remaining Democratic candidates (no, Gravel doesn't count)
- Do you know who gravel is?
- About the Republican candidates: which one stars on Law and Order?
- Which Republican candidates were governors?
- Which Republican candidate is against the Iraq war?
- Which Republican candidate is supported by the white power movement?
- Which Republican candidate voted for George McGovern?
- Which Republican candidates ever supported some form of gay rights.
- Which Republican candidate(s) supports gay rights at this time?
- Which Republican candidate(s) have ever been pro-choice?
- Which Republican candidates are pro choice at this time?
- Which Republican candidates accept evolution?
- Which Republican candidate(s) are under fire for not being "anti-illegal immigration" enough?
Ok now, my guess is that all of these questions would be easy for Kossaks; most of you would say "big whoop; these questions are not only easy but are basic knowledge, and many really aren't that important anyway".
But how would the general public do on such a quiz?
Seriously?
One note: one person (who doesn't read these boards) said that she was surprised at how unified the Democrats appear to be as contrasted to how fractured the Republicans are at this moment!
You wouldn't get that impression from reading the postings here. :-)