Can we turn the MSM/Republican "Triangulation" meme on its ear?

[ruggerson]

This is going to be used against ANY of our candidates, as it's a favorite way for the Republicans and some in the MSM to not-so-subtly toss out the propoganda that Republicans have conviction while Democrats are rudderless.

Could we not do better if we frame this, a la Lakoff, as a "simplistic" way of looking at the world versus understanding "complexity?" That is to say, the Republicans have been pushing a childishly simplistic agenda, that has helped steer America way off its course, and its time for an adult Democrat who understands the complexity of our country and the world.

Our candidates should be calling out the MSM constantly for participating in the GOP inspired campaign to discredit and undermine Democrats, with the media's endless, gotcha "black and white" debate and talk show questioning.

The world isn't black and white. And many of the problems that need to be solved, can't be answered with "yes" or "no" statements. That is a Republican, childish, simplistic world view.

Adult Democrats know that the world is a far more complex place than that and have the vision and intelligence to lead us into a complicated future.

A complicated world demands sophisticated problem solving, not puerile, black and white sloganeering.

[sniffa]

1. there's nuance, and there's trianguLation

trianguLation is taking others' ideas and cLaiming aLL aLong that they were yours. then peopLe backsLap and cry genius.

i've worked with peopLe Like that. i don't Like them either.

[ruggerson]

2. Well one could make the argument that they are interchangable

A nuanced, sophisticated politician is not going to reject an idea, or elements of an idea, out of hand, because it is associated with the opposing party.

[PurityOfEssence]

3. Much of the practical application of the third way is to be in agreement with both ways

A little forthrightness goes a long way.

Yes, the world is mostly grey area, and many questions are designed to trip people up by having them seemingly agree with positions they don't, but this is no excuse for continually being on both sides of so many issues like Senator Clinton does. She's milked this tactic too much, and due to her history, she will be judged differently on this.

Dennis Kucinich, who has been brutally obvious about which side of issues he's on would get a pass here and there if he were to equivocate or dance around a question or two, whereas she's going to be taken to task for it. She should be. Shilly-shallying is more a legislative mode than an executive one. An executive is the captain on the bridge making snap judgments of great import. That's what people want, and to a great degree, that's what the job requires.

Senator Clinton has gotten lots of mileage from this slipperiness, but now it's coming back to haunt her. If she insists on playing the same game, she'll get hammered into the ground like a tent peg because people have seized upon this as a weak point, and it's one that people don't like when their eyes have been directed to it. If she can mend her ways, she can keep her momentum and win, but if she clings tenaciously to what's worked so well for so very long, she could get so completely dismissed as a glad-handing bullshitter that the whole thing could blow up in her face.

Remember this above all else: this is show biz, and a clear story is king. If this can be characterized as such and she doesn't nip that perception in the bud, the sick joy the human race takes in the downfall of the high-flying celebrity will gain an unstoppable momentum that'll be hard to damage-control. This, too, could backfire on her opponents if they ally themselves with the more shrill evocations of this characterization, and it's a very delicate and sophisticated bit of wrasslin' that's in the immediate offing. We shall see.

Personally, I'm sick of the admiration so many have for her deliberate, mealy-mouthed, broad-based favor-currying. It's nothing to admire, but it's part of the American character: the thrill of "getting away with it". That's why people love gangster and crime caper movies, and that's a lot of why Bill Clinton was so appealing to so many: he could wink at us about indiscretions and not quite telling the truth on a regular basis and people loved that he got away with it.

If she can change tactics and hold to it, fine, but if she sticks with the old habits of being all things to all people and claiming to be stronger than others while playing the victim, then the sailing's not going to be so smooth and it shouldn't be.