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McCain has become a Troll
The NYTimes is now running a piece called "Malwebolence: The Trolls Among Us" which will be in the Sunday magazine. It is a profile of several well-known internet trolls and although the ones mentioned are not overtly political the techniques and attitudes they display are similar to the trolls that we see here at TPM.
Shortly after I read that I saw McCain's presser and the latest web ad and the similarity of the methods and attitude is obvious to me. McCain has become a geriatric political troll.
These ads are designed to get a rise out of Democrats and the Obama campaign and stimulate the Republican base. McCain can't energize the wingnuts with issues because he doesn't agree with them on most and he has flopped all over the place on the rest. He has to get the base going with ATTITUDE. And nothing gets a rise out of wingnuts like poking at Democrats until they get a reaction, the bigger the reaction the better. And then hopefully get Democrats so pissed that they say something that will be used against them.
He intends to bring down Obama and the entire process with infectious nihilism. Drag Obama into the gutter and then come out of the Republican Convention and change his tune back to that ole mavericky dude that the press loves so much.
Besides the fact that Obama is on the same side of the issues as most of the electorate, I think Obama is too calm and cool for this to succeed.
Comments (5)
HEY MSM - DON'T FEED THE TROLLS!!!!
HEY MSM - DON'T FEED THE TROLLS!!!!
HEY MSM - DON'T FEED THE TROLLS!!!!
HEY MSM - DON'T FEED THE TROLLS!!!!
HEY MSM - DON'T FEED THE TROLLS!!!!
HEY MSM - DON'T FEED THE TROLLS!!!!
August 1, 2008 6:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
MSM is a haven for the trolls. They're all about the trolls.
It's we, the American public, who must not feed those trolls.
Turn off your TV's and stop buying the papers. Seek out your news from reputable, trusted news sources.
August 2, 2008 1:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think the opposite is more likely to happen -- McCain will get flustered and outraged at some perceived slight, blow up or say something he shouldn't.
We've watched Hillary self destruct while Obama, hardly gaffe free, was pretty cool under fire.
The only caveat: When McCain screws up, the MSM usually covers up for him. Obama has to be perfect, McCain just has to not drool on his shirt.
August 2, 2008 3:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
The only caveat: When McCain screws up, the MSM usually covers up for him. Obama has to be perfect, McCain just has to not drool on his shirt.
Truer words are seldom said.
August 2, 2008 4:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
The article itself was very interesting, and at times scary. When one thinks of the power that some of those "trolls" hold, and the views that they have, it really is a little frightening.
Is it really an issue of freedom of speech? After all, such freedoms have limits on them outside of the internet. Why should such limits not be in place on the internet? I'm not saying I have an answer, but it's certainly something to ponder.
You can find the article here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/03/magazine/03trolls-t.html?scp=1&sq=troll&st=cse
August 2, 2008 5:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
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