tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603499.post3860464206824357396..comments2023-11-30T03:44:34.585-05:00Comments on Opinions Nobody Asked For: A Thought on Cultural PanderingJeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683622475941901572noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603499.post-21189976281552150452008-05-23T14:35:00.000-04:002008-05-23T14:35:00.000-04:00For this same reason about the perceived education...For this same reason about the perceived education requirements of someone seeking the presidency, there is probably a bigger argument between the Yalies and Harvards about who should be president. The last few pres's....:<BR/><BR/>Dubya: Yale<BR/>Clinton: Oxford (and Georgetown)<BR/>Bush I: Yale<BR/>Reagan: Eureka College<BR/><BR/>Regan was the last pres not to attend what is considered an uppercrust school for secondary education. Is it any wonder he was nicknamed "The Great Communicator?"The Original Rockerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10304035095743588536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603499.post-8569250800333199942008-05-22T15:57:00.000-04:002008-05-22T15:57:00.000-04:00Cultural panderer might only never stop, it may ac...Cultural panderer might only never stop, it may actually be necessary for politicians. Jeff and I touched on this some in our in-office discussion but I repeat it for everyone unable to work with us. 1. The ultimate objection is to win and if cultural pandering or pretending to like whiskey gets one more vote in Charleston, WV, then maybe it's worth it. 2. I think there will always be a latent (in this country, at least) distrust of a bourgeoisie or ruling class, which is what politicians are: highly educated (typically lawyers) of a non-aristocratic, wealthy upper class. Cultural pandering is an attempt to bring that class division. And last (which Jeff and I debate constantly) 3. the average politician is 100% NOTHING LIKE the average voter. Even Heath Shuler. The average voter is a 46 year-old female (so, the closest is Hillary), makes ~ $60,000 a year (not even close), saw about a year of college (once again, politicians are more educated). So, there's a disconnect problem. Which do you think is the biggest percentage of our population: the latte-drinking, sushi-eating, Birkenstock-wearing, hybrid-driving non-NASCAR supporter? Or the exact opposite? My bet's on the latter. Your argument might be, why does the voter need to vote for someone just like them? For the same reason I chose a priest of my denomination to marry me, an educated woman like to myself to marry, a bar with a certain atmosphere to patronize. We like the things that are like us.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01792534156762012371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603499.post-44226644144210734432008-05-22T13:59:00.000-04:002008-05-22T13:59:00.000-04:00Actually, we know McCain likes espresso. My wife ...Actually, we know McCain likes espresso. My wife used to work at Carribou Coffee in Crystal City and he came in and ordered one a few years back.Matthew B. Novakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00441950586412209361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603499.post-14860451323057942522008-05-22T11:03:00.000-04:002008-05-22T11:03:00.000-04:00I don't understand why you're eliminating the poss...I don't understand why you're eliminating the possibility that there's a correlation (or maybe even some sort of causal link!) between running for president and a love of whiskey/NASCAR.Matthew B. Novakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00441950586412209361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603499.post-59419970828942464382008-05-22T10:49:00.000-04:002008-05-22T10:49:00.000-04:00"Do we really think the white working class is tha..."Do we really think the white working class is that stupid?"<BR/><BR/>Yes.<BR/><BR/>The slightly longer answer would be that you're trying to wedge your way into the mind of someone that goes to the polls and thinks nothing more than "He seems alright." When it comes to minorities of any stripe - racial, economic, demographic or political - you get less bang for your buck trying to pander, and you may interfere with your attempts with the larger demographics.<BR/><BR/>If this is true, then I'd expect to see pandering to the top 2 or 3 groups in the country (the more you add, the more it looks like pandering, so you want to limit it somewhere), and hoping to snare the rest with a dash of policy and ideas.-Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16998205576045100941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603499.post-59640186026083780482008-05-22T10:46:00.000-04:002008-05-22T10:46:00.000-04:00I will be that candidate in 2016. Well, except for...I will be that candidate in 2016. Well, except for the last part about working to make this country better. Because I'm a lazy bastard.<BR/><BR/>Seriously, I've never understood this either. And for some reason (maybe because Hillary Clinton is such a skilled panderer) it seems worse this election year. Oh well. Bob Barr doesn't seem to be doing any pandering at the moment.Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06383789548221247888noreply@blogger.com