Add news
News Every Day |

The Politics of a ‘Vibe’ Campaign

“People have the wildest relations to politicians,” my colleague Jude Russo writes, “Tim Walz is the dad I wanted! Donald Trump is like my uncle who drinks two Yuenglings at Thanksgiving and starts having opinions about Mexicans! Momala! I don’t think that’s particularly normal or healthy, especially in a notional republic.”

He is, of course, correct. Ergo the repeated attempt for generations through every possible means to change the very character of this republic, towards a much simpler, persuadable mass-democracy. True and functioning republics need a republican-minded citizenry, rationalism and skepticism from the guardians of society, and a senatorial class that keeps public passions in check and refuses to give in to the volatility of the times. It is difficult to achieve that perfect blend in an era of a media servile to one side of the electoral spectrum, a powerful and ideological bureaucracy often opposed to the other side, and a section of hyper-emotional, often gullible masses who prefer celebrity to cerebral personalities. 

Watching the DNC has been eye-opening in that regard, and if this cycle does not doom-pill (to use the linguistic habits of the zoomers) one about democracy, I am not sure what might. The forced and contrived “Joy” is in a sense a pastiche of the 2008 “Hope” campaign—except the original had a gifted advocate in Barack Obama. This one doesn’t. No matter. Armed as they are with informational near-hegemony, I am not sure the Democrats need originality, or, for that matter, policy. The pieces will fall into place. 

A few quick observations are in order. Social media (Twitter, now X) is abuzz with the question on why the Democrats do not talk about or debate policy. It’s a moot point. They don’t need to when they can sell a vibe campaign—Joy and Hope against the Trumpian “Fear.” Vibe is all that matters in a democracy, and book eight of Plato’s Republic is vindicated with regard to public opinion and desire. 

The simple point of this election cycle is this. Most governmental systems can be divided into a battle of competing elites. Most true leaders of both sides understand that the majority of the people unfortunately do not care much about debate and policy. The American Founders understood that the masses are susceptible to rhetorical flourish (and therefore the nation needed conditions for a good republican citizenry). That remains true. Most people, on both sides, but especially on the side of those who believe progress is the determining principle of history, frankly don’t care about policy. 

It is futile to ask why Tim Walz lies about everything, from IVF to crime to war records. It is also futile to ask why Kamala Harris doesn’t talk to the media, and when she does, she proposes decades-old failed policies to little scrutiny. It is futile to point out the hypocrisies of your rival. It is futile to elaborate on why liberals seek familial figures as their leaders, and how they arrived at such an emotionally sorry state. The sad reality is that none of that matters much. 

In the recent few major campaigns, a theme is visible. A campaign succeeds when the literary practice of “show, don’t tell” is changed to “make them feel, don’t tell” for our hypervisual age. Nigel Farage managed to do that during the Brexit campaign, with billboards of hundreds and thousands of military-aged African and Arab men crossing over to Europe with the catchy slogan “Take Back Control” (i.e. of the borders). That resonated with the masses. Boris Johnson’s Christmas “Enough” ad was another such successful campaign. Trump’s own 2016 campaign was similar.

This time won’t be any different. There’s no point in talking about Kamala Harris’s failed policies. Talking about the policies per se doesn’t matter to the people, who only appear to perceive the results of those policies. Instead of explaining that Kamala was the border czar, it is easier to just show the effects of the border invasion, from crimes, to rapes, to disorder on the streets. A picture of Tim Walz and the Minnesota riots will be far more powerful than a thousand nuanced explanations of his policies. 

This election is a giant social science experiment. Unlike natural scientists, social scientists do not get to conduct controlled experiments, but only distill the result from uncontrolled ones. This is one such opportunity, where a lot of questions will be answered. If, despite every falsehood, incompetence, totalitarianism, complete corruption of a controlled media environment and total illiberalism in the primaries, the Democrats manage to elevate Kamala Harris as the leader of the U.S., then it is, as they say, well and truly over. 

It will be the greatest blackpill about the chances of electoral democracy in this country, and intelligent thinkers will have to accept that the Democrats have managed to wrest the control of a great power by using public passions as a rhetorical tool, that frankly public opinion or federalism do not matter. The character of the republic will be defined in this election. 

If, however, the Trump campaign succeeds to balance vibe with vibe, doubling down on the vibe of “Fear” and “Despondency” over a contrived and media-amplified “Joy,” and proceeds to win the election—then it will be proven that Machiavelli was timeless in his understanding of human nature. 

Either way, unless the Republicans can manage to instill message discipline and balance vibe with vibe, talking about policies will only get them so far. 

The post The Politics of a ‘Vibe’ Campaign appeared first on The American Conservative.

Москва

Ликсутов сообщил о запуске таксопарка на Кубе с автомобилями «Москвич» в 2025 году

Реклама
The most beautiful beach towns with cheap living

A huge number of people around the world dream of one day breaking out of the daily routine

‘Making a difference together’: Dift helps partners including Accor and BNP Paribas combine social impact with emotional marketing

White House proposes drastic cuts to State Department and funding for UN, NATO and other groups

JD Vance nearly fumbles Ohio State's national championship trophy during White House visit

You can hot swap the battery on Samsung’s new rugged tablet

Ria.city
Реклама
  • ИП Попов А.П.
  • ИНН: 602715631406
Ревматолог: "15 апреля 2024 в г.Колумбус запущена квота"

Каждый человек с больными суставами имеет право получить...






Реклама
  • ИП Попов А.П.
  • ИНН: 602715631406
Ревматолог: "15 апреля 2024 в г.Колумбус запущена квота"

Каждый человек с больными суставами имеет право получить...


Реклама
  • ИП Попов А.П.
  • ИНН: 602715631406
Ревматолог: "15 апреля 2024 в г.Колумбус запущена квота"

Каждый человек с больными суставами имеет право получить...

Read also

Cleland On Winning U18 Player Of The Year!

Imee Marcos on Sara Duterte’s support: Not a ‘reward’ | The wRap

Sam Thompson’s mystery woman revealed – and she’s married

News, articles, comments, with a minute-by-minute update, now on Today24.pro

News Every Day

Phillips 66 and activist investor Elliott face off on a classic conglomerate quandary: Are the pieces of a huge company worth more together or broken up?

Today24.pro — latest news 24/7. You can add your news instantly now — here


News Every Day

Phillips 66 and activist investor Elliott face off on a classic conglomerate quandary: Are the pieces of a huge company worth more together or broken up?



Sports today


Новости тенниса
Вероника Кудерметова

Кудерметова разгромила Эррани и вышла в основную сетку турнира в Штутгарте



Спорт в России и мире
Москва

Компания «КЕНГУРУ.ПРО» осуществила первую поставку спортивного оборудования в Беларусь



All sports news today





Sports in Russia today

Москва

Компания «КЕНГУРУ.ПРО» осуществила первую поставку спортивного оборудования в Беларусь


Новости России

Game News

Гайд по уровню интима в Girl Wars


Реклама
The most beautiful beach towns with cheap living

A huge number of people around the world dream of one day breaking out of the daily routine

Реклама
The most beautiful beach towns with cheap living

A huge number of people around the world dream of one day breaking out of the daily routine

Реклама
Top 6 nutrition questions men should ask themselves after 40

To maintain health and remain full of energy, men will be helped by this

Russian.city

Реклама
Top 6 nutrition questions men should ask themselves after 40

To maintain health and remain full of energy, men will be helped by this


Москва

МосОблЕИРЦ пояснил порядок перерасчета платы за вывоз мусора и другие коммунальные услуги


Губернаторы России
Владимир Путин

Владимир Путин регулярно выходит на лед: любимое хобби президента России


Июнь уже распланирован: большинство россиян уже решили, где они будут отдыхать в первый месяц лета

Высокий гость: как проходит визит генпрокурора Краснова в ОАЭ

По следам выступления Игоря Игнатьева в авторской радиопрограмме Татьяны Межановой на "Маяке"...

Таланты в сердце Чечни: впервые в Грозном пройдет отборочный тур благотворительного детского фестиваля «Добрая волна»


Певец Серега считает, что трек «Черный бумер» стал самостоятельным брендом

В Москве пройдет премьера мюзикла по песням Розенбаума «Вальс-бостон»

Одиннадцатый этап культурно-образовательного кластера «Город мастеров» успешно завершился в Псковской области

Розенбаум рассказал, что недавно спас человека


Карен Хачанов пробился во второй круг турнира в Барселоне, одолев Кэмерона Норри

WTA расстроила Зарину Дияс после победы за Казахстан

Рублев победил де Йонга и вышел во второй круг турнира в Барселоне

Александр Бублик потерпел тяжёлое поражение в первом круге турнира в Мюнхене


Реклама
Top 6 nutrition questions men should ask themselves after 40

To maintain health and remain full of energy, men will be helped by this


89-летнюю годовщину со дня образования президентского полка отпраздновали в Воронеже

Таланты в сердце Чечни: впервые в Грозном пройдет отборочный тур благотворительного детского фестиваля «Добрая волна»

Таланты в сердце Чечни: впервые в Грозном пройдет отборочный тур благотворительного детского фестиваля «Добрая волна»

Одиннадцатый этап культурно-образовательного кластера «Город мастеров» успешно завершился в Псковской области


По следам выступления Игоря Игнатьева в авторской радиопрограмме Татьяны Межановой на "Маяке"...

Прослушивания Яндекс Музыка. Увеличение прослушиваний в Яндекс Музыка.

Лавров прокомментировал переговоры с США по вопросам стратегической стабильности.

«Авторадио» отметило 32-летие в Кремле грандиозным шоу


Трех поставщиков лекарств заподозрили в картеле

Место расправы дочери над отцом в Москве попало на видео

Убитый 15-летней дочерью в Москве отец был игроманом и избивал родных

Голый белорус бегал по улицам Варшавы, забрался на крышу авто и устроил ДТП


Реклама
The most beautiful beach towns with cheap living

A huge number of people around the world dream of one day breaking out of the daily routine


Путин в России и мире
Реклама
Top 6 nutrition questions men should ask themselves after 40

To maintain health and remain full of energy, men will be helped by this



Реклама
The most beautiful beach towns with cheap living

A huge number of people around the world dream of one day breaking out of the daily routine



Реклама
The most beautiful beach towns with cheap living

A huge number of people around the world dream of one day breaking out of the daily routine



Реклама
Top 6 nutrition questions men should ask themselves after 40

To maintain health and remain full of energy, men will be helped by this

Персональные новости Russian.city
Виктор Цой

Художник Яковлев готов восстановить памятный портрет Цоя на Арбате в Москве



News Every Day

‘Making a difference together’: Dift helps partners including Accor and BNP Paribas combine social impact with emotional marketing




Friends of Today24

Музыкальные новости

Персональные новости