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Cynicism = Bullshit
Short post. Lipstick, pigs, elderly fish, erotic kindergarten education.
I've seen all the responses that go along the lines of "McCain's attack is cynical", "What a cynical attack" yadda yadda yadda.
I realize bullshit isn't a term that will play on prime time news, but take any statement with the word cynicism and substitute the word bullshit and I think you're much closer to the mark. Joe Sixpack may think getting all cynical is an namby pamby response to being dissed, but he certainly understands what "calling bullshit" means.
I'd love to see Obama in the first debate look McCain in the eye and say "you ran an ad saying I promoted sex education in kindergarten. It's a huge load of crap. Is shoveling crap on all Americans your campaign platform?"
Sorry for the rant, but I'm up to my ears in cynicism today.
Comments (6)
He needs to seriously look McCain in the face and DARE him to say one of those lies to him right in front of him.
September 10, 2008 10:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
I kinda get the feeling somethings about to break very soon. A couple more of the rounds, where McCain's campaign gets disgusting (or with the sex education ad, downright creepy) and Obama reiterates his response that it's the voters who suffer the most from this kind of ridiculous trivialization of our politics, the media may feel motivated to pick it up and run with it. They're sort of soft and dumb and impressionable, aren't they? Republicans know this and use the knowledge for evil purposes. Well, maybe Obama knows it too, and will repeatedly use his own "trivialization of our politics" hammer to get the media to finally make THAT the story.
Repeat something over and over enough, and it finally becomes the truth. Yeah. With this media, that tactic apparently works. I hope Obama keeps hammering away.
September 10, 2008 10:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
They are lying on purpose.
To get people to focus on their lie instead of the real issues.
I know what you mean about the cynicism - but sometimes it's necessary to motivate oneself to be a better, more honest person - to lead by example.
Treat the McCain campaign like a group of toddlers fighting over whose imaginary friend can beat up the others - ignore it.
Don't argue with small children (or small minds), they win by default because you wasted your energy on their bullshit.
For the record I am a Republican, there are lots like me who are frightened about the turn and tact that the far rightwing has taken our party and wishes to take our country.
The Republicans that are like me aren't likely to call bullshit publicly, they will do so in the voting booth.
The Republicans that are like me were born cynics.
To be a Republican - for the most part - means to understand the worst in other people.
The McCain campaign is believing the worst in people: that people are racist, that they are afraid, that they are willing to give up their rights to hand more power to people who aren't honest - who don't want the best for everyone, regardless of political party.
Be a cheerful warrior, even if you have to fake it.
Anger and cynicism usually turn other people off.
The point this time around isn't to win an argument, it's to win an election.
Check out the website for Republicans for Obama, it might make you see people like me a little differently.
September 11, 2008 12:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
"They are lying on purpose."
Is there any other kind of lie?
September 11, 2008 12:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yes.
There are lies born of ignorance. These lies are usually built on misinformation and wrong assumptions. These liars want to tell the truth they just don't recognize it. These are the liars that think everything McCain says is true, well... because he said so. These people are victims, we should pity them - and outnumber them
Then there are informed lies - where the liar knows the truth and chooses to lie anyway. These liars tell informed lies to achieve an agenda. McCain lies this way, and now Palin does to. They believe their lies are justified and have no bearing on their character - these liars are sociopaths and should be marginalized not mainstreamed. They love being called liars, because it distracts from the truth. The truth is their enemy because the ignorant liars might, just might.... believe it.
September 11, 2008 3:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm not in panic mode or anything, just disgusted. I think most folks are waiting to see what the debates will bring. I look at the McCain-Palin rollout and I see what's basically a long Ronco infomercial, and I don't think people are putting that much stock in it at this point.
The polls don't bother me at this point, because things may be "frozen" in anticipation of the debates. In discussions around the water cooler polling has come up often, and the consensus is the polls are off (and have been throughout the campaign) and not to be believed without a LARGE dose of salt. Someone here brought up the point that polling samples are often pulled off of registered voters lists (not taking into account the huge volume of new registrations), use landline phones for contacts (lots of cell only people out there, skewed to younger voters), and getting contacts that are actually home when called (skewing older). It'd be interesting to see what Obama's internals are saying.
McCains dive into grossly negative and fact adverse campaigning smacks of desperation and, I think, will ultimately be a turnoff to the undecided voters still out there. Over the top commercials and outrage can make a difference, but it's usually reserved by a candidate for late in the campaign, leaving no time for fact checking and response, especially by the media.
September 11, 2008 7:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
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