Let Us Now "Change" The Campaign Rhetoric

Slate's Timothy Noah Says The Buzz Word Du Jour Doesn't Help The Political Discourse

(CBS)  Different though they were overall, the two recent political conventions managed to sound quite similar in one respect. At least, that's the opinion of Contributor Timothy Noah, Senior Writer for the online magazine "Slate":

---

"Change" is this year's political watchword.

Barack Obama, the Democratic presidential nominee, said "change" 15 times in his convention speech. His running mate, Joe Biden, said "change" 20 times.

Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin said in her convention speech that Obama was using the word "change" to promote his career.

But in his convention speech, Republican presidential nominee John McCain said "change" almost as much as Obama - 10 times.

When did obsessive, context-free repetition of the word "change" become the music of American politics?

I date it to 1988. In that year, Michael Dukakis announced in his race against Vice President George H.W. Bush, "I want to be a force for positive change."

At that year's GOP convention, President Ronald Reagan answered: "We are the change."

Good change? Bad change? Reagan didn't say.

In large part, the "change" mantra reflects the decline in Democratic Party affiliation.

That's forced the two parties to compete more fiercely for the votes of political independents.

What do independents want? If you could generalize, they wouldn't be independents! They'd have a party of their own.

In addressing this diverse group of disaffected people, it pays not to promise anything specific. Hence, "change."

Change can obviously be good or bad. Jonas Salk was a change agent when he invented the polio vaccine. Pol Pot was a change agent when he slaughtered nearly 2 million of his countrymen in Cambodia's killing fields.

The store clerk makes change. You change the TV channel.

The mere promise of some undefined "change" would seem a weak basis for choosing the most powerful officeholder in the land.

Our political rhetoric, I submit, needs to, er, um ... become different.

[jmurrieta1]

Well, Tim, this year "change" means change from the utterly incompetent, corrupt, and illegal Bush/Cheney regime.

I suppose you could say that McCain/Palin, who largely mimic and parrot the policies of this same Bush/Cheney regime, represent "change", as the faces would be new, if not the policies.

But if you want an America that can regain some of the many virtues that have been lost under Neocon reign, only Obama offers that option now.

So, those who want change from what the Bushits have brought us should do well to consider how much McCain has fallen in line with the people who own and operate George Bush in his lust and ambition for power.

[jeffc2008]

Dishonest politicians win in America. I wish I had more confidence, but watching Bush in the last 2 elections, it was obvious he would be a disaster and he got elected anyway. McCain historically has supported Bush over and over and could not even recognize that Bush was a looser. He has distanced himself from the policies of Bush now, but that seems a little to convenient based on his voting record.

Unfortunately, I assume he will win and in 4 or 8 years we will again say - "what the heck were we thinking"

[annnort]

jmurrieta1

Never has the present White House been an "incompetent, corrupt and illegal Bush/Chaney regime."

Check out obamacrimes.com on the internet.

Those behind Obama speak to the "incompetent, corrupt and illegal regime" you cite. That includes the so called Rev Wright. Not to mention Sharpton and Jackson. He has them under wraps for now but you had better believe they will raise their heads if Obama is elected. Michele Obama is certainly not fit to be wife of a President.

Have you been safe the last 8 years? Have the terrorists attacked us again? The terrorists WANT Obama in the White House. That is enough for me NOT to vote for him!

Are you a legal citizen of the United States?

[Atze Akkerman]

Yes, I agree with jmurrieta. Obamas message of change is clear. "Change" means dumping the Bush/Cheney policies and ways of governing. If America goes to war, we attack the 9/11 terrorist, not subsidize the oil companies interests with billions of dollars and thousands of Americans soldiers lives in an Iraq war.

The Republican convention showed how much McCain has fallen away from his maverick ways to appease the Republican base so he can be elected. Palin''s past shows "change" comes from lust and ambition for power. Palin is a Bush/Cheney with lipstick on.

I think the many issues of change are pretty clear in the Obama''s campaign. The McCain message of change will have to be a generic or safe message or he might loose his republican base and the election.

Atze

What Obama needs to say is, "McCain''s looking to our campaign for a direction, but what I''d say to him is: You can''t import change. Ctrl+C means copy, not change!"

What Obama needs to say is, "McCain''s looking to our campaign for a direction, but what I''d say to him is: You can''t import change. Ctrl+C means copy, not change!"

[sparks224]

The Democrats have the facts on their side.

So in order to level the playing field, the press lets the Republicans get away with lying.

[paulstewart9]

It is clear that Obama is the real McCoy. McCain ain''t chaing. He is attempting to be a chameleon. It won''t work. He is taking Obama''s vision of change but limiting it to shaking up Washington. Let me say very clearly - the change we need is a lot more than Washington. The entire direction and fundamental approach to democracy, to liberty, to fiscal responsibility, to international relations, to war needs changing. And changing Washington, while required will just be a bit of collateral damage in an Obama administration. With McCain, the change will be back to the status quo from his photo op maverick stance of today and moose stew.

[paulstewart9]

atze3 who posted at 01:15 PM : Sep 07, 2008 is obviously a complete idiot. You are entitled to say what you want. But everyone is entitled to decide what is sensible.

[paulstewart9]

More for atze3 - you know what, the terrorists are here. They are running this country now. Don''t you see that?

I am glad so many tuned in to the Republican convention to see what McCain represents. And it makes a mockery of his own mockery of Obama as the vacuous "star".

The Rabbit Hole is a drug. People like Ghouliani and Palin can say anything and its okay! You know, give direction to all Americans to trash Obama and implicitly you and me too. They say the h*ll with real issues of America. Its time to talk character. They are proud of hateful, derogatory talk. Fantasy is lovely and easier to live than reality.

[paulstewart9]

Slowly since 911, America is coming out of the Rabbit Hole. McCain, Ghouliani et al need to put you back in the tank to win. So, new fear sources are created - anything foreign, Iraq, Iran, Obama, liberals. And particularly for eg South Side organizers, and well... anyone not in the Hole.

The message? Fear, fear, fear, fight fight, fight. But not the real enemy! Let him live in his cave and plot again. More for you to fear. The underlying message from McCain? Get back in your Hole - now. Or, you will suffer character destruction, vilification, ridicule and a lot of hate. Maybe death threats too.
What is happening? Is this not God''s country? What would Jesus say about mockery, hate and divisiveness? The personal attacks and vilification? I know - do you?

Americans need to see clearly. If there is a fight, let it be one to get off the reality TV Rabbit Hole show. And then ask, do we really need another couple of secretive, threatening, angry, pistol packing, dangerous Misleaders-in-Chief.

I believe P4 - Pistol Packing Pitbull Palin is McCain''s enforcer. Cheneyesque. So don''t stray from the party line. She will round you up like loose moose. Back deep into the Rabbit Hole where you and your good vote belong.

Welcome to the American Hilton.

[ses22-2009]

annnort: no one is without fault or beyond reproach. And it certainly could be that there have been no attacks on American soil because "we''ve been fighting them over there", but it is a common logical fallacy to assume that because something did NOT happen, that it was somehow PREVENTED. But you cannot prove a negative. We have no way of knowing what might have happened. You cannot assume that because there were no attacks, the actions of this administration had anything to do with it. By the same token, McCain argues that the surge has worked. Well, by some measures there is less violence in Iraq, but one could also postulate that the Iraquis are just biding their time. They know at some point we''ll leave, especially if it looks good over there, and then they''ll have their civil war without unwanted interference. You know what really just drives me crazy, though, is that Bush ran on a policy that was specifically AGAINST "nation building" and yet, here we are.

[jon2012-2009]

annnort: no one is without fault or beyond reproach. And it certainly could be that there have been no attacks on American soil because "we''''ve been fighting them over there", but it is a common logical fallacy to assume that because something did NOT happen, that it was somehow PREVENTED.
Posted by ses22 at 02:13 PM : Sep 07, 2008

You are quite correct. The other thing I can add is that although there were no attacks on American soil, we still suffered casualties to our troops, about 4,120 of them todate and the war is costing our economy $3 trillion that will be paid for by taxpayers. These costs, in money and lives, exceed 9/11 by far and away and it''s not over yet. So Iraq is just like 9/11 only bigger and we don''t see the bodies all in one place here at home.

[dashortround]

From the Anchorage Daily News:

State Trooper''s union files an ethics complaint against Palin

WOOTEN: Investigation sought into possible breach of confidential files.

By WESLEY LOY
[e-mail]

Published: September 5th, 2008 02:53 AM
Last Modified: September 5th, 2008 08:02 AM

The union representing state Trooper Mike Wooten has filed an ethics complaint against Gov. Sarah Palin and members of her administration charging a possible unlawful breach of Wooten''s confidential personnel and workers'' compensation files.


http://www.adn.com/politics/story/516746.html

[wogerwabbit]

Have you been safe the last 8 years? Have the terrorists attacked us again? The terrorists WANT Obama in the White House. That is enough for me NOT to vote for him!

Are you a legal citizen of the United States?


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Posted by annnort at 01:09 PM : Sep 07, 2008

Hysteria Alert! Hysteria Alert! A simpering coward sells out his country for a little perceived security!

"The terrorists WANT Obama in the White House."

I bet that was from a reputable source.

Hey buddy, Fox News is just propaganda for the weak minded... they don''t do news... don''t quote that trash here, you could cite the National Inquirer with more authority than those wingnut hacks. The mind is a terrible thing to waste... shame on you.

[samthetvcat]

pt 2

To me, change would be a war hawk who would show some signs of realizing that the world is changing and we may have to pick our battles and court alliances. If injecting ourselves into the Georgia/Russia kerfuffle was such an imperative, why were we the only ones to do it? Or change would be a dove who didn''t talk big about going after Bin Laden when Russia is the one wielding all the power these days - what''s worse, he''s not even going to go after Bin Laden. Like ***?!?

In terms of the economy, a GOP that understood that ''laissez-faire'' for business means somebody''s going to have to watch them like a hawk would be ''change'', wouldn''t it? Because people suffer when only business gets bailed out. A Dem that understands that big-business is the engine that drives all else and that competition, aggression, confidence, and pushing profit to the limits is what makes it thrive and therefore wouldn''t be looking to ''punish'' their ''greed'' would be change wouldn''t it?

Like there''s no cross-over of policy, no thesis/antithesis/resolution, no insight or growth, is there?

McCain likes to rebel, and Barack likes to be liked - not the same as seeing the merits of what the other side brings to the table . . .

[samthetvcat]

pt 1

---"What do independents want? If you could generalize, they wouldn''t be independents! They''d have a party of their own. In addressing this diverse group of disaffected people, it pays not to promise anything specific. Hence, "change."---

How many times to I keep getting asked the question ''what side are you on'' . . . I''m not that complicated, but maybe I''m expecting too much of people I don''t know . . .

I look at Barack and McCain and to me they both seem for the most part stereotypes of their party platform. In terms of national security, McCain''s a hawk and Barack''s a dove who''s trying to fake acting like he''s also a hawk because that''s what people want. In terms of the economy Barack thinks of big-business as ''greedy'' and wants to basically do the Robin Hood thing, while McCain is pro-big business screw the ''little people lazy whiners'' who he doesn''t even seem to be trying all that hard to court on economics but rather social values.

[samthetvcat]

PS Also, maybe if you were to ask independents why they''re not on board with either candidate, maybe they wouldn''t articulate their ''cynicism'' quite in the same terms as I just did, but if they''ve lived through cycles of parties coming in and out and in and out of power after promising change but never delivering, then maybe their instincts are leading them to sort of ''sense'' that same stagnation?

Like every single time Republicans come into power, there''s a bank failure crisis. Every single time Dems come into power they start talking about the government taking over healthcare, and expanding social security and medicare and they want to tax corporations to do it.

The world changes, but has the government? Shouldn''t it? Can it? I don''t know . . .

That''s why I''m just going to vote for the girl! Go Sarah!!!!! :)

[caldwellptr]

Have you been safe the last 8 years? Have the terrorists attacked us again?

Terrorists have not attacked the United States since September 11th, 2001 - about 8 months after President Bush took office. Seven years after the mass murders that was committed on 9/11, Osama Bin Laden, accused of plotting and implementing the attach, has not been captured.

[caldwellptr]

Have you been safe the last 8 years? Have the terrorists attacked us again?

Terrorists have not attacked the United States since September 11th, 2001 - about 8 months after President Bush took office. Seven years after the mass murders that were committed on 9/11, Osama Bin Laden, accused of plotting and implementing the attack, has not been captured.

[jea1012]

This is getting to be ridiculous. What McCain and Palin have done equates to plagiarism. They have stolen the theme of Obama''s campaign. If they were so impressed by the Senator''s ideas, then why don''t they just vote democratic. The idea that McCain and Palin are agents of change working to help "regular" Americans like myself is a joke. Regular Americans like myself are the community organizers they joke about. They use dirty tactics, personal assaults, and plagiarism to launch themselves into the White House so they can keep the status quo, maybe even improve the lives of the already overly wealthy corporate America. And "drill baby drill" is a frightening chant which every person who cares about the environment should be concerned with.

[jea1012]

This is getting to be ridiculous. What McCain and Palin have done equates to plagiarism. They have stolen the theme of Obama''s campaign. If they were so impressed by the Senator''s ideas, then why don''t they just vote democratic. The idea that McCain and Palin are agents of change working to help "regular" Americans like myself is a joke. Regular Americans like myself are the community organizers they joke about. They use dirty tactics, personal assaults, and plagiarism to launch themselves into the White House so they can keep the status quo, maybe even improve the lives of the already overly wealthy corporate America. And "drill baby drill" is a frightening chant which every person who cares about the environment should be concerned with.

[jea1012]

This is getting to be ridiculous. What McCain and Palin have done equates to plagiarism. They have stolen the theme of Obama''s campaign. If they were so impressed by the Senator''s ideas, then why don''t they just vote democratic. The idea that McCain and Palin are agents of change working to help "regular" Americans like myself is a joke. Regular Americans like myself are the community organizers they joke about. They use dirty tactics, personal assaults, and plagiarism to launch themselves into the White House so they can keep the status quo, maybe even improve the lives of the already overly wealthy corporate America. And "drill baby drill" is a frightening chant which every person who cares about the environment should be concerned with.

[samthetvcat]

The difference between a Democrat and a Republican is when Dems are losing they start going on about ''real change'', ''first change'', ''plagiarism'' and ''dirty tactics'' and ''personal assaults'' . . . Dems the self-proclaimed party of ''women''s rights'' who became total animals the second they actually had to compete with one, act as if they''re so pure.

If Dems thought like Repubs, they''d fire Biden and replace him with Hillary - you win, it''s DONE. That''s really all there is to it.

Life''s not just about ideas, ideals or even merit - it''s also about power. If you Dems truly believe this election is so important that you''re willing to fight for it, then why don''t you?

[messiahx4eve]

IF mccain/palin win, then the psychology of Short Term Memory is very, very, VERY real. The republican party is doing, along with the very support of Korporate Amerika, the very thing we feared the most, FIXING the election so that their puppets win. I am by no means a big fan of obama, but he is much better than mccain will ever be. mccain pledges more war, more death, more taxes, more hardships for the American people. Did anyone learn from EIGHT YEARS of bush/cheney regime, did we all forget that? Republicans are DEATH MERCHANTS, hellbent on fulfilling that self-prophecy of ruling the entire planet and for what ends and means? Wake up people, you are losing your country with every breath you take and every step towards this years election.

[ofbyfor2]

Have you been safe the last 8 years? Have the terrorists attacked us again? The terrorists WANT Obama in the White House. That is enough for me NOT to vote for him!

Are you a legal citizen of the United States?

Posted by annnort at 01:09 PM : Sep 07, 2008

Whose watch did the 9-11 attacks occur on? Who ignored the ''Bin Laden Wants to Attack on US Soil'' report simply because they were too arrogant to accept intelligence from the previous administration? The only reason we haven''t been attacked again is because the Bush administration finally woke up and did the job they SHOULD have done from the beginning. Unfortunately, it was too little, too late. If they had been on the ball, 9-11 would never have happened to begin with! Now you think we should thank them for doing the job (finally) that they refused to do at the beginning?

To say that the terrorists want Obama is the worst kind of scurrilous slander.

And you betray your bigotry when you question the citizenship of another poster simply because they post a point that disagrees with yours. Sounds a bit un-American to me.

[demsts]

This election is a WAR to keep the patriarchal corporate Republican rulers in power vs 80% of us US citizens who believe the country has take the wrong course.
Democrats started the process of change in the 2004 election to change the country into a democratic democracy bottom up, sideways and top down.
They have succeeded brilliantly all across America from an elected dogcatcher to control of Congress.
Obama himself has been working on this election for 18 months (as long as Palin has been a governor--who may be impeached) to establish his democratic WAR party.
Both Clinton and McCain failed to understand what the American people were saying and what we want.
McCain''s new, smart campaign manager does understand and how dangerous that is to his bosses'' interests. He has just made a cunning guerilla strike to steal the word and add the silly ''maverick'' word and a ''hottie mommy'' star celebrity to divide and divert attention.
Does he own the word now? Rubbish.
Does either McCain or Palin understand what the word means?
Hardly, and it does not matter. Both are opportunists who will change their identities to suit.
Can they deliver change? A change of a Washington face and gender is all.
They have no interest in delivering anything except winning the WAR.

[demsts]

Why don''t you have a counter so that people don''t waste their time?

[mitch5511]

McCain even plagiarizes Obama''s "Change" message.

McCain/Bush are interchangeable!

[noloyalisti]

Remember that McSame vote the same as McBush 90% of the time. Ask yourself if you are better off than you were 4 years ago. My business is down about 30% compared with one year ago. I am about to take my 3rd week off without pay due to lack of work. We laid off one of the 6 staff in April and are still struggling to find enough work. Oh yeah, I just filed an appeal to drop my property tax 25%.

[armysgt5]

noloyalisti,

Thanks for the info about your business, what are you earnings since January 2001?

[b711717]

and the only time so far to demonstrate change McCain chose Palin and Obama chose Biden figure that out.

[b711717]

never mind 4 years ago everything was great until 2 years ago when control of congress changed

[samthetvcat]

---"Ask yourself if you are better off than you were 4 years ago."---
Posted by noloyalisti

I just don''t think Barack''s a strong enough a candidate to pull of a win by riding a wave of anti-Bush. I mean look - he''s losing in every poll.

The reason I think he needed to put Hillary on the ticket is that she brings along with her Bill, and as all sides have conceded the only people who have the experience to be President are past Presidents. With Hillary on the ticket, McCain becomes the risk and Obama/Clinton would have been the party of reassurance - you can''t get that just by ''using her'' on the campaign trail, which is liable to boost Palin''s numbers as it reminds women how Hillary got passed over.

Also, his debate performance might not be as good as people think because Barack''s got trouble appealing to diverse groups of people at the same time - all the strange flip-flopping, double-talk, curt answers, and ''above his pay-grade'' doesn''t inspire confidence. His ''new'' answer wasn''t any better than the first, and he''s had like a month to think about it.

[samthetvcat]

PS And the standard for Palin gaffes isn''t as high as the pundits would like to think I don''t think. If people don''t really understand the machinations of Fannie and Freddie, they''re not going to hold it against her if she doesn''t either if they''re inclined to like her because she''s made a connection.

Just yesterday I was asking people to elaborate on the machinations of the public-serving/private-shareholder amalgam that is Fannie/Freddie and nobody understands it. You think Biden understands it? He''ll know enough to fake it by debate time . . .

[noloyalisti]

Keep in mind Sam that everything that Palin has said on the stump has been a complete lie. She is an utterly useless bimbo and God help us if she becomes pResident.

Of course the right wing war-profiteering mainstream media wants McSame and Failin'' Palin'' because they are more ignorant white trash that can be puppeted around. Touche''

[heartwords]

Barracudas and humans...

Like sharks, barracudas have long had a bad reputation as being dangerous to humans. Barracudas have been observed following snorkelers and scuba divers across a reef, which can make one feel uncomfortable, but they are harmless unless provoked.

Being formidable hunters, they should be respected, as barracudas are perfectly capable of defending themselves against humans that harass them.

Go!! Go!! Barracuda Sarah!!!

If what you (Sarah) and Senator McCain are saying is the truth and you will stand up to the Washington do nothing crowd. Being seperate thinkers able to make positive change for this country and it''''s citizens.

Then I know many will come aboard and support your efforts. Politics has to change and become a helping hand to those in need. Also a hand up to those who are forward visionaries.

We need to set aside petty issues and concentrate on what will bring respect and honor back to the presidency. Other nations are watching and waiting to see what happens in this election. Will we show them our strength (unity) or our weakness (confusion & division).

[taxguydave]

"Just yesterday I was asking people to elaborate on the machinations of the public-serving/private-shareholder amalgam that is Fannie/Freddie and nobody understands it. You think Biden understands it? He''''ll know enough to fake it by debate time . . . "

You must have a pretty low standard yourself. FNMA is a mortgage guarantor. They buy mortgages, bundle them into marketable securities, then collect and distribute the income stream from the mortgages. Like the FDIC and other GSE''s, they are backed by the full faith and credit of the US Government. Like other GSE''s they are a corporation (publicly traded, unlike most GSE''s. For example, the US Postal Service and the FDIC are privately held corporations).

Congress created these mortgage guarantors. I am sure that Senator Biden is quite aware of FNMA and how it works, given that he co-sponsored legislation back in the 80''s that created REMICs, which was one way that FNMA used to securitize mortgages.

[alohaone1]

Keep in mind Sam that everything that Palin has said on the stump has been a complete lie. She is an utterly useless bimbo and God help us if she becomes pResident.

Of course the right wing war-profiteering mainstream media wants McSame and Failin'''' Palin'''' because they are more ignorant white trash that can be puppeted around. Touche''''


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Posted by noloyalisti at 04:46 PM : Sep 08, 2008

If what you said is true , then ,the 83% of honorable folks in Alaka who have known Palin for almost 20 years is wrong ? How can that be ???? I rather CHOOSE to believe the 83% of hardworking Alaskans than to believe an Obama-Kool-Aid-drinking fool like you. What little twisted information you got about Palin is from the internet gossip factories and should never be circulated . For almost 20 years , Palin has been in the public eyes in Alaska , taking care of Alaskans , and given that everyone has friends and foes , BUT how can you explain the 83% favorable rating ??? The fools who circulate rumors about Palin think that Americans are fools and would believe what ever they and their Messiah say . Anyone would pause and ask , ok, she is not perfect , but she must have done something right to have 83% of her state like her , while our congress and our speaker are only able to garner only single digit favor rating ?? It should be a no-brainer , unless you indeed have no brain!

[markangeloo]

YES THE USA LOST THE GEORGIAN WAR TO RUSSIA
Right in front of our eyes during the republican war rally we were treated to an Amerikan defeat.

& of course who said they were in personal touch with the aggressor
Saakashvili, oh yes that "successful ??" military hero John McCain.

[caldwellptr]

Change is so doublespeak.