I like watching these campaigns and the accompanying melodramas and comedic bits almost as much as a favorite television show.
Don't you see that lending your attention to this pop-culture-ization of our politics is precisely what fuels its continued prevalence?

People need to reject flag pin soap operas and demand to know why the hell our inflation adjusted incomes are declining for the first time in many generations.

You're older than most (all?) of us, and much closer to relying on retirement income to support yourself. Doesn't it worry you that inflation is increasing at least double the rate that social security payments are being adjusted for inflation? Doesn't it worry you that exactly zero (0) of the three candidates for President are talking about this honestly or competently?

They can do it because we allow them to dodge the real issues, more interested in what our news has become: "Entertainment Tonight - Election 2008"

Jon Stewart had it right:

aFQFB5YpDZE

Don't you see that lending your attention to this pop-culture-ization of our politics is precisely what fuels its continued prevalence?

People need to reject flag pin soap operas and demand to know why the hell our inflation adjusted incomes are declining for the first time in many generations.

You're older than most (all?) of us, and much closer to relying on retirement income to support yourself. Doesn't it worry you that inflation is increasing at least double the rate that social security payments are being adjusted for inflation? Doesn't it worry you that exactly zero (0) of the three candidates for President are talking about this honestly or competently?

They can do it because we allow them to dodge the real issues, more interested in what our news has become: "Entertainment Tonight - Election 2008"

Jon Stewart had it right:

aFQFB5YpDZE

Our candidates are talking about what polls tell them to address, and answering the questions from the media that the media honchos allow to be asked. When someone is able to get an honest question out during a town-hall meeting, more often than not it is met with a rehearsed answer because to actually engage in a dialog about the economy would bore most people to tears. Quips, one-liners and anecdotes are better received by an electorate with an attention span better geared to "Entertainment Tonight".

The melodramas and comedic bits I refer to are such as: McCain stating that the Iranians are training AQ in Iraq; or, Hillary inventing a story about being under sniper fire; or, Obama denying a senior aide had told the Canadians that Obama's stance on Nafta was just for the campaign, before bothering to check with the aide, and later having to mop up after the mess.

Each candidate, being human, is going to have gaffes occur; and, it is how those gaffes are handled (and learned from) that can show an even better picture of the candidate than all the speeches and handshaking.

As for me, I think I have demonstrated here that I can put sentences together and ask questions. When I have serious questions regarding my future (or present) or that of my family, I know where to send the letters asking them.

Whose responsibility is it to reject the poor quality coverage, if not ours? As long as we keep buying it, the media will gladly keep selling it. If they won't ask meaningful questions, then change the channel.

Polls are no different. Pollsters are handsomely rewarded to create as much bias as they can in polls. Honestly, would your life be worse if you never saw another poll again? Do you really need a pollster to tell you what's correct to think?

We need to individually reject this entire paradigm, one piece at a time. Otherwise, we're only going to continue getting worse and worse off, with no one to blame but ourselves.

Like you've argued before, people don't have much time to devote to this stuff today. Every minute they waste on insipid issues like flag pins is a missed opportunity that hurts us all.

I do agree about the pithy one-liners though. Those are clearly the most effective means of communicating an idea, regardless of medium or era. I don't have a problem with that method of communication. I have a problem with the topics chosen to communicate about these days.

Whose responsibility is it to reject the poor quality coverage, if not ours? As long as we keep buying it, the media will gladly keep selling it. If they won't ask meaningful questions, then change the channel.

Polls are no different. Pollsters are handsomely rewarded to create as much bias as they can in polls. Honestly, would your life be worse if you never saw another poll again? Do you really need a pollster to tell you what's correct to think?

We need to individually reject this entire paradigm, one piece at a time. Otherwise, we're only going to continue getting worse and worse off, with no one to blame but ourselves.

Like you've argued before, people don't have much time to devote to this stuff today. Every minute they waste on insipid issues like flag pins is a missed opportunity that hurts us all.

I do agree about the pithy one-liners though. Those are clearly the most effective means of communicating an idea, regardless of medium or era. I don't have a problem with that method of communication. I have a problem with the topics chosen to communicate about these days.

I never take part in polls regarding candidate preferences, but I will sometimes voice opinions on such topics as: school levies; property taxes; the recent Minnesota transportation bill which raised gas taxes (for the first time in about 25 years) and rescinded the Ventura license registration tax reduction with monies designated specifically for road and bridge repair and construction, and so on. (I say yes to it)

As far as raising the bar on the level of political discourse, just about the only method I can think of offhand is some serious, nationally organized boycotting of the sponsors of those media outlets (television networks, news magazines, etc) that insist on tossing the softball crap instead of getting to the nuts and bolts of this country's needs from an elected leader. Or, to turn that around, make it known to a major Fortune 500 company (like Walmart - excuse me while I puke) that they will be the main recipient of your shopping dollar if they will sponsor media that cuts through the bullshit and asks the serious questions of our candidates. These campaigns are about money, so using money is most likely the only way to enact any change in the process.

LOL loved Jon Stewart in the clip. It seemed like he was joking in the beginning but wow the Crossfire hosts seemed to be quite offended at some parts.