Etch-A-Sketch Politics Goes Back To Poppy Bush

[stopbush]

Poppy bush was quite open about his believing there was a big difference between campaigning and governing. He adopted a certain rhetoric on the campaign trail and quickly jettisoned the same once elected. Books have been written about this aspect of Poppy's political style.

The only difference is that Poppy had the sense to wait until he was elected to switch gears. Apparently, Romney has the same "say whatever you need to say to get elected, then do what you want once elected" strategy as did Poppy, but his surrogates don't have the sense to shut up about it in the middle of a campaign.

[Mz Pip]

1. Times have changed

Everything a politician said in 1988 didn't instantly end up on youtube and the 24/7 cable news stations. 1988 was a while ago but I sure don't remember there being a gazillion primary debates like there were this time around.

Poppy probably had a much easier time changing his tune since everything he said in the primaries didn't become instant hits on the Internet. You can't get away with stuff like you could back then. Too many people are paying attention.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

2. I can already see the commercial. The Etch-A-Sketch shakes and Jr's face appears. Boom! nt

[randr]

3. Enterprise Institute involvement

I wish I could remember the show I was watching but a guy from the Enterprise Institute was being questioned re: Romney's current campaign rhetoric, his past rhetoric, and how to expect him to campaign in the fall. This guy, and again I wish I could remember who, said none of that matters because he will do what the Enterprise Institute wants.
The very strong implication was that they, the EI, are fully in charge. I suspect they are behind all the legislation across the country re: unions and womens issues.

[MissMarple]

4. Just a bit further than that: Five Thing Cicero Can teach You About Winning Elections

I think people have always done this.

1. Promise everything to everyone. Quintus says that the best way to win voters is to tell them what they want to hear: “Remember Cotta, that master of campaigning, who said he would promise anything, unless some clear obligation prevented him, but only lived up to those promises that benefited him.” As Quintus says, people will be much angrier with a candidate who refuses to make promises than with one who, once elected, breaks them.

4. Flatter voters shamelessly. Quintus warns his brother: “You can be rather stiff at times. You desperately need to learn the art of flattery—a disgraceful thing in normal life but essential when you are running for office.” A candidate must make voters believe that he thinks they’re important. Shake their hands, look them in the eye, listen to their problems.

5. Give people hope. Even the most cynical voter wants to believe in someone: “The most important part of your campaign is to bring hope to people and a feeling of goodwill toward you.” Voters who are persuaded that you can make their world better will be your most devoted followers—at least until after the election, when you will inevitably let them down.

http://www.farnamstreetblog.com/2012/03/5-things-cicero-can-teach-you-about-winning-an-election/

[spanone]

5. in other words 'we stand for nothing, we'll say whatever it takes to get us elected'