Comments on: This just in: Obama is a Banana Republican, McCain is a lemon

By: mollypriesmeyer

mollypriesmeyer — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 10:05:28 +0000

Oh please. Clinton going on Arsenio Hall was not what energized the youth vote. “Good politics” is actually focusing on the issues that matter to a younger generation and then following through with the promises. His appearance looked silly then, and it looks silly today. Your anecdotal evidence (you have a t-shirt?) is not evidence that a single appearance delivered a message.

By: wabbit

wabbit — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 14:32:35 +0000

That sax filled visit to Arsenio was a very important one to Clinton. It was used to energize the youth vote, and by any measure was successful. I have a t-shirt depicting it with the slogan, “Clinton, the cure for the blues”.

Just because something happened 16 years ago doesn't mean it should be ridiculed like this. Every generation has their various things, but the central aspect of the politics is important. In this case, the message was “I can relate to the new generation”. By not taking himself so damned seriously, Clinton appeared to be a new generation of leader. He appealed to Gen-Xers at the core of their cynical selves.

Don't pay attention to the generation-bound substance – that's very shallow. Pay attention to why this was good politics at the time, which it was. Whatever Obama does now will also look silly in 16 years, which happens all the time in politics. It's 90% corn no matter what you do. But masters like Clinton at the top of his game know how to do it up. The message was delivered.

By: mollypriesmeyer

mollypriesmeyer — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

By: wabbit

wabbit — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Just because something happened 16 years ago doesn’t mean it should be ridiculed like this. Every generation has their various things, but the central aspect of the politics is important. In this case, the message was “I can relate to the new generation”. By not taking himself so damned seriously, Clinton appeared to be a new generation of leader. He appealed to Gen-Xers at the core of their cynical selves.

Don’t pay attention to the generation-bound substance – that’s very shallow. Pay attention to why this was good politics at the time, which it was. Whatever Obama does now will also look silly in 16 years, which happens all the time in politics. It’s 90% corn no matter what you do. But masters like Clinton at the top of his game know how to do it up. The message was delivered.