It's not the economy, stupid

Famous words from Clinton war room advisor James Carville in 1992. Running against George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton's advisors said they were going to focus on the economy like a laser beam. By the way, that laser beam thing makes the never again list. So, when Carville was asked what the the main focus of the campaign was going to be, he simply said, "It's the Economy, Stupid." They campaigned on it and won because the voters perceived that once in office Clinton would do everything to improve it, get people back to work, a chicken in every pot and pip pip.

Which brings me to my third reason for the recent election results. In exit polls, people said their main concern was the economy. But I don't think they were telling the truth. It's race. And it has been from the moment that Illinois' Junior Senator won the Presidency in 2008.

Many people lie to exit poll questions. Anything that might explain the real reason behind a political moment and people will not be truthful. It's in their nature to be obtuse because that will be their way to fuck with the process. People have a love/hate relationship with process. So after their mailboxes, inboxes, e mail boxes and voice mails are filled to the rim with poitical messages, they've pretty much had it. So a certain segment of the populace doesn't want to admit that they're uncomfortable with a black couple in the White House; maybe even having voted for the guy. But I think it's fair to say that the majority of the AWC* are the ones who aren't comfortable and they probably are also Republican. 

It is my opinion that we face a "Watts" or "Detroit" moment in the near future in St. Louis. That would be terrible but I do not think the Grand Jury empaneled in the investigation of the shooting of Michael Brown will bring an indictment against Officer Darren Wilson. And that is and was on the minds of many voters.

This Anglo Saxon nation is changing color and character. It is becoming more brown, black, purple gay, pro pot and anti establishment. There is an article proclaiming the burning of the old Democratic hold over the state of West Virginia. The leader of the Republican party said that because white democrats were dying off, it was ripe to turn completely red. The entire national election was maybe the last big red statement. That remains to be seen of course, but the change is clear. Whether it will translate to huge future wave elections also remains to be seen.

So let's review my big three causes for the results of this election.

1. Fear (Ebolaisis) and a lot of other things too.
2. The Runaways- Democratic candidates who ran from Barack Obama like he "stole something." ... and paid dearly for it with the voters. And deservedly so.
3. Race, not huge anxiety over the economy. That was the Politically Correct thing to say, but anxiety about race and its cultural serpentine movements and impending explosion is the reason that most people are not willing to speak in real terms about yet. 

*Angry White Community. Or you can substitute Community with Christians.

It's Saturday and it's been a tough week to comprehend. I hope I'm wrong about #3 but I don't think so. 

The runaways

Democrat candidates ran away and they paid for it. Republicans were going to vote Republican anyway. All the people who would normally have voted for you, saw your cowardice and stayed away because they saw that the people who asked them for their vote ran from the leader of their party when he needed them to stand up and say (too loudly) "fuck you. I have my President's back". Shame on you assholes. Losing was was your reward for cowardice. But you still get your pension and your gold plated healthcare coverage, don't you. Ah, what the hell. You'll write a book about your pain or go to work for a lobbyist or a think tank so that when you go on MSNBC, Chris Matthews can interrupt YOU.

This was a really important election and you fucked it up. And people saw you do this and couldn't vote for you. So, while you spend the remainder of your lame duck career lamenting and soul searching, know this. You ran away from a good man. He'll forgive you. I won't.

And you SUCK!!

And look at what you left us to deal with, politically and policy wise. A congress full of angry people with the power to continue to obstruct and say no to every common sense policy that your leader has championed. Proud of yourself?

I had to hold back to make this at least seem reasonable.

Ebolaisis

I explained that something was rattling around in the back of my brain regarding the election and I needed some quiet time to sort it out and do some research.

From October 15th until election day, estimates are that GOP candidates ran negative ads that mentioned Ebola and ISIS and that number exceeded 1000. These ran in all markets and dovetailed nicely into the pre 10/15 staples of laying the evils of the Affordable Healthcare Act, IRS, Benghazi, NSA, lawlessness and the assault on the Constitution upon a man who wasn't  on the ballot. Polling indicated that the economy was number one on the minds of voters, but I don't think so. Too obvious- too easy. No, it was something subliminal that fed fear and anxiety.

Responding to these dog whistles, most of the practicing (and keep practicing, because you need to!) media reported on this late trend, calling ISIS and Ebola the possible "October Surprises". 

The main reason was that Democrats, long known for their vaunted ground game, didn't get their voters out, which didn't really matter because by this time, the exhaustion of the campaign and the coverage had all but guaranteed the subsequent result. 

Anyway, it really doesn't matter. When you win, you have the right to dance in the end zone. But the game itself is long and after the glow of your success wears off, you have to govern. There are other reasons and as time permits, I'll throw a few more out, but for now, my dark choice was Ebolaisis.

See if you agree.

 

The day after

Did you hear we had an election yesterday? Yes. And the results were a little stunning. I just got back from North Carolina last night, where I thought there might be a different result. Nope. May I have a day to soak all this in? I'll post tomorrow, but even people I don't agree with, but talk to rationally anyway are agreeing about the head-spinning/scratching results. Obviously things broke in a dramatic way about 2 weeks ago and the results last night reflected what started to happen. I want to do a little research because I think I know what it is, but it never pays to sit down to post something without having reviewed the circumstances before coming to some conclusion.

But as I leave you for today, a slight correction. The Bears were in a "bye" week so hoping they would go up to Green Bay and salvage their season won't take place until this coming Sunday. Sorry. It's the age thing.

See you all tomorrow.