random thoughts about this whole election thingy

Please find a collection of random thoughts about the role of the media in the election.

U.S., that is.

There was also a recent federal election in Canada. Funny thing is that the entire process, from dropping of the writ to final tally, took less time than even the nomination process for either major U.S. party... How does that happen?


The maturation of the internet within the electoral cycle:
Former Democratic Party presidential nominee Howard Dean may have started reaching out to the electorate using the internet back in 2004 but it has greatly matured in these intervening years. Online donations have become a major source of campaign financing and will only develop. Also, creating a database of voters/potential voters grew in sophistication. From now on, any candidate looking to win a major political office at any level will need to have a serious strategy to elicit funds and find potential voters. I am unsure how fundraising strategies will significantly improve from the present - there is only so many ways, and so many times, you can get people to open their wallets. But tracking people to elicit as much information as possible, and get-out-the-vote developments, will only improve.

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The rapid response unit:
Campaign strategists have exponentially increased the speed with which they spread information about their candidate (flattering), the other candidate (unflattering) and responses to perceived misinformation (using flattering information to put their candidate in the best light after being made to look unflattering by their opponent, usually by making the other candidate look unflattering).

And repeat.

The 24-hour-news-cycle mandates almost instantaneous response to any accusations. Both parties put a premium on answering as quickly as possible so that any rumors could not gain traction. For the most part, candidates were able to define themselves and not let the other party do it for them.

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Hillary's flame out:
Carol Moseley Braun was the first, and only, African-American woman elected to the U.S. Senate. She also briefly ran for the Democratic presidential nomination.

I can't find the quote, but I believe it was Ms. Braun who said she faced more difficulty being a woman than a person of color in politics. (If you find the quote, please please please let me know). After Hillary's shoddy treatment during her campaign, and even Governor Palin (please see “Clothes Shopping Spree Scandal”), I believe that is still true.

Sure, you could make a pretty convincing argument that Obama organized the pantsuit off Hillary's team. However, her entire time in political life has been an endless parade of chauvinistic sentiments rationalized through the idea of gender equality/neutrality. She has been a veritable lightning rodham for criticism that has just been too angry in tone and too negatively gendered given the realities of the situation at hand. Whether it was criticism regarding her efforts in the health care reform initiative (Bill 1.0), the Lewinsky scandal fall out (Bill 2.0), the "could have stayed home and baked cookies and had teas" comment, or even her hearty laugh (for the love of God can you please stop!) (2008 Democratic Nominee Campaign), the press has been a little to eager to pounce at even the slightest mishap or hiccup. We simply need more females working in politics and this kind of stuff needs to end. Why any sane person would run for public office these days is beyond me.

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Sensical Springer:
I saw a tidbit on television the other night where Jerry Springer spoke eloquently about the need for universal health care and education as well as the importance of the middle class. When a sensationalistic talk show host is saying some of the sanest policy statements during an election campaign, you know things are messed up.

Next thing you know, we will be seeing Secretary of Defence Steve Wilkos.

"What?!? Secretary Wilkos wants us to replace all military rifles with folding chairs from his show?!?