What's this 'permanent campaign culture' bullshit mc LIE-len keeps referring to?

[Philosoraptor]

To hear him talk, the so called 'permanent campaign culture' is the worst thing that happened in the bush jr. administration, 'i got caught up in it myself', he says, what the fuck exactly is a permanent campaign culture? Is it a buzz phrase used to minimize scotty's guilt from all the dead soldiers and Iraqis?

I couldn't help it, we were all swept up in a permanent campaign culture. Sounds like something the 'good Germans' said after the holocaust.

[Mist]

1. I agree he relied too heavily on that phrase. I think he means it was

more important to control the message, do well in polls, constantly harp on the shortcomings of one's opponents, etc. The sort of hyperventilating rapid response to criticism that occurs in campaigns, rather than settling in and taking more time and discussion to determine policy. Of course WE all know Bushco was never interested in bi-partisanship, and the hyperventilating panic they spread was always part of their plan. Keep everyone off balance, see enemies everywhere, etc. Scottie hasn't dealt with the fact that this is precisely part of the modus operandi of Bushco.

[randr]

2. I would not excuse Scotty's inaction

but his recognition of what he calls the permanent campaign culture is a good description of what now passes for government in America. Discussion and analysis have taken a back seat to political infighting and posturing. We can thank Faux and the like for turning our political process into "American Idol"
Scott will never be a real hero in all of this but I suspect he may be operating out of an inner sense of actual moral fortitude. Something rarely seen from a Republican.
Apologist or not, the country needs to listen to his take on his sojourn in hell.

[eShirl]

3. it didn't happen to the bush administration, it emanated from the bush administration

the reign of the mayberry machiavellis

[KharmaTrain]

4. It's A Problem With Democrats As Well

I've long been a critic of the permanent campaign culture...it's the one that many of us are witnessing with the Democratic primary. No sooner is one election done, then the money raising, the pandering and the pundit pablum begins. It's generated a cottage industry of consultants, talking heads and "journalists" who do nothing but speculate and postulate about the elections...since this is their bread and butter. It's a culture where candidates need to be constant fundraisers and are more and more beholden to those who give the bucks.

While I find plenty of fault with things I'm hearing from McClellan, this isn't one of them. I wish for the days when campaigns were confined to the six months before an election.

[Echo In Light]

6. Keeping people mired in "the GAME" mindset distracts them from dire issues

[KharmaTrain]

10. Bingo...

It also creates a self-importance for the people who work in the campaign industry. All you have to do is look at the McAulliffe's and Wolfsons and Davis'...have you heard any of them talk issues? It's all about "The Game". And then there's Mark Penn...

I'd love to see this country adopt a similar campaign season as the British have...90 days start to finish. Shortening also would take a lot of money out of the process...but also out of a lot of pockets.

[Gman]

5. I believe it was part of the plan for the permanent Republican majority

To me there was never a time when they weren't campaigning up until 2006 when it blew up in their faces.

Rule #2 of politics is once you win on election day, celebrate. Then you start running for reelection the next day. They follow all the rules well.

[lunatica]

7. It's the constant show they put on

Bush traveled all the time giving speeches. Remember his carefully vetted audiences? And don't forget the ubiquitous backdrops! "Mission Accomplished" on a ship they turned around so they could catch the good light and open ocean feeling, flying in with the sock in his crotch (Tweety had orgasms over it!), the backgrounds with the same words repeated again and again, and alternately having the audiences sitting behind him, especially when they were military. Visiting the children's classroom on 9/11 where he claims he was worried about the children so he didn't react to the attack. What the hell is the President of the United States doing in grade schools during working hours anyway? Couldn't he send Laura? And his fly-over after Katrina which they then decided he should make an appearance on the ground so he could congratulate Brownie. He was busy that entire weekend going to McCain's birthday party and strumming the guitar.

It was a permanent campaign. Even when he was on vacation clearing brush with his manly chainsaw. We saw his face every single day and he was busy catapulting the propaganda every single day. I bet we'd be shocked if we found out the hours he spent on Airforce One and the amount of fuel that was used. Hell he flew all over the place on 9/11, you know, "getting out of harms way".

They made sure we saw his ever present face every day on the TV while we never saw Cheney's, nor did we get to know where he was or what he was doing. And when things got a little testy for him they always sent Condi and Laura trotting out to support him.

It was all a 'tale told by fools, signifying nothing'. It was all a permanent campaign.

[kskiska]

12. Karen Hughes had a script written for the whole next year

utilizing various meaningless "themes" since things were going so well for them. Days before 9/11 * was to embark on a "Cities of Character" campaign. Remember the bit about hugging your neighbor?

Even after 9/11 Hughes began concocting devices for maintaining the public's interest in the war - like concerts and other events. I think the backdrops began about that time.

[lunatica]

13. Let's not forget Laura's fixing of the inner city problems!

They only needed one photo op for that useless piece of propaganda and it soon fell into the black hole of MSM memory, never to be seen again as it got sucked up like the real news and the truth.

[kentuck]

8. It means that...

Everything becomes a political issue. The war, you are for us or your are against us. It is about dividing America along partisan lines. Nothing is measured on its merits - only whether it is a Repubican or a Democratic idea. Briliant Nazi strategy.

[blondeatlast]

9. Bush is the ideal example; get elected, then start campaigning for re-election immediately.

It's dangerous as hell because it reduces the governance of this country to sound bites and photo-ops.

Love him or hate him, McClellan has the media wags talking about these things and thus the non-political wonks are becoming aware of what we've known for years.

[mmonk]

11. The permanent campaign culture creates a "good German" populace.

[sinkingfeeling]

14. I agree that this administration has acted like it was campaigning for its entirety.

It's had a pressing need to 'make their own reality'. The constant photo-ops, stage settings, and refusal to 'speak off the cuff', pre-selected audiences, lies to enhance Bush's 'image' are all stuff of campaigns. Once elected, I expect them to govern. To erase the 'competitiveness' and work for the mutual benefit of America. To be willing to speak to any group or individual without requiring a 'loyalty oath'. That still has never happened with this group.

[Sundoggy]

15. Huh? Perfectly clear to me

Instead of winning and then governing, he immediately began doing everything in as partisan a manner as possible, hell bent on establishing the Permanent Republican Majority. What's not clear?