The 2008 election, that is.
Given my predilection for fits of irritated rage, I have largely ignored any and all political news beyond skimming the links at large sites. And the stuff I have come across has only reinforced my belief that you have to be either mentally ill or stupid to want to run for president.
For lo, the parsing has begun. If you misspeak, and then give an excuse that would work anywhere else in the world ("I'm sorry, I'm tired and tripped over my own tongue") you'll be psychoanalyzed. If you honestly aren't all that exercised over a particular issue, and would prefer to focus on other issues, you'll be pilloried by people who can ONLY THINK ABOUT ONE THING ALL THE TIME OMG!, well, until the NEXT THING THEY WANT TO THINK ABOUT, TOO, OMG! comes along. If you belch or pick your nose, an analyst will appear on a cable news network not 20 minutes later to dissect the nuance of your kleenex placement, investigate your ties to the "tissue industry," and debate a member of the "cotton hanky only eco-movement" on your apparent lack of green bona-fides.
Eventually, this scrutiny would probably drive anyone around the bend. Particularly since we've decided that the only break we have from presidential campaigns is a 20-minute pause on Inauguration Day. And even that's negotiable if the election is close--gotta protest and sue, you know.
So is it any wonder that candidates are now actually confusing fantasy with reality? If it's not Mitt Romney quoting a sci-fi novel as legislative fact in France, it's NC's own John Edwards promising to "look into" the claims of a conspiracy nutjob. Dear God, boys. Maybe you should take a break for a week or two. Because the trend of denying objective reality is not one I think you should be looking to get out in front of, no matter how politically expedient it seems at the moment.
My advice for 2008? A bunker.
Posted by Big Arm Woman at May 10, 2007 10:55 AM | TrackBackSociologist Erving Goffman did a study of the rules of nose picking somewhere (I'd like to quote it but can't find it) ; as I recall, it's thought to be an okay activity in private, but if you're picking your nose and somebody comes into the office, you're expected to stop.
Goffman was supposed to be hell to be a friend of, because he ran little experiments all the time, and I imagine this was probably one. He was awful to go out to dinner with.
Presidential candidate nose picking so far is unanalyzed, as to social rules, but I think cameras are like microphones : always assume they're live.
Hmm, where is Bush's a*hole remark .... http://rhhardin.home.mindspring.com/imuscut.ahole.ram testimony to the man's character, by the way, that it wasn't worse, in an open microphone mishap.
Posted by: Ron Hardin at May 10, 2007 07:08 PMI saw my first 2008 political TV ad today, for Mitt Romney. Move over in that bunker, will you?
Posted by: Michael at May 11, 2007 07:47 AMScrew the idea of term limits on incumbents; I want "term limits" on candidates - you start running too soon, your "term" to run expires, and sorry, buh-bye, you're outta here BEFORE the election.
Posted by: ricki at May 11, 2007 10:23 AMWe've been running a theory around the house. If you want to run for an office, that automatically excludes you from being able to run. Only people who want absolutely nothing to do with politics should be in office. Like a draft. Your numbers up, you get to me mayor/representative/senator/president this term.
Posted by: TistedFork at May 11, 2007 10:46 AM*be