×
- The last time liberal branding came up was during the 2004 election, when the left was hanging on every word of George Lakoff, who, while not completely wrong, wasn't able to translate his advice on "framing" into something Democrats could use to win elections. And that's simply because framing is just a more sophisticated form of campaigning, which doesn't on its own make or break elections. This year, for instance, Republicans are going to win big not because of their message but by being the out party in a midterm when the economy is in the tank. And no amount of liberal rebranding is going to change that.
- It's probably less accurate to say that "cable news is changing the electoral landscape" than it is to say that candidates are simply availing themselves of a media environment that is both fragmented and offers more opportunities to speak directly to constituencies. I've long been convinced that cable is a terrible source for news, but I'm not too concerned about it being a tool for candidates. After they win their primary, they still have to make a pitch to the general electorate, which is not what partisan media caters to.
- I'm going to assume that the Republican/Tea Party candidate for New York governor's strong belief that homosexuals are less than human in God's eyes means that he believes the entrapment and torture of homosexuals in New York is just part of God's plan. Perhaps I'm being unfair, but once you start declaring the "natural" order of things, shouldn't you take action to ensure it as well? Or perhaps the candidate is simply clueless in addition to being a sniveling bigot.
- Weekend Remainders: Being over 50 percent is not the magic number for incumbent re-election; the declining relevance of Charlie Cook; Ezra Klein talks about hysteresis; the shadowy puppet master of the left wing in America abdicates his puppet master duties for this cycle; and feel the power of Santorum 2012!
-- Mori Dinauer
