Political geeks totally miss the power of pop culture, that is why Palin may well be the next

[CK_John]

President.

The political pundits (real ones and DU pundits) think its all about government,issues,leadership, the common good,etc. They have bypassed the influence of pop culture and don't even try to understand it or its role in getting people elected.

The focus of the current culture is best summed up by reality TV shows. The pop culture glorifies stupidity, wannabes, and easy solutions to complex problems.

Right now pop culture knows it doesn't know what is going on in the world, is fearful of economic ruin, feels guilty for enjoying soft porn, want to be cared for, and above all don't make me think it hurts my head.

That is why they love Palin. She is hot, mouthy, doesn't think, hates science and math, and doesn't give a shit about anyone but Palin. She is them.

Palin knows this and will milk it for all its worth (right now 7 million and rising) and will run in 2012 and probably win, unless the pop culture shifts or is shifted to serious concern for themselves and the planet.

The only good news is fads and pop culture come and go quickly usually 4 or 5 TV seasons.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. I haven't been so concerned since Mike Ditka considered that senate run.

:eyes:

[Bill McBlueState]

2. "they love Palin"

The data I've seen indicate that Palin hurt her ticket. Why do you think that might change in 2012?

[customerserviceguy]

10. That simply is not the way they see it

Even the whole turkey pardon fiasco is seen as boosting her in the eyes of the people who think that they're superior to "city folks". I moved from a Seattle suburb to a small town in the timber country of the Olympic Peninsula in 1990, and I was quite aware of the "you citified folks don't know nutthin' about real life" sort of attitude.

It does not surprise me that Palin's star is rising with these people, we should encourage it. President Obama will be able to get a solid landslide in 2012 if we're lucky enough to have Caribou Barbie as the Rethug nominee.

[EconomicLiberal]

3. I think you are right, to a point.

In order to become a viable presidential candidate, it is not so much about what your stance on the issues is. It is more based on what your image is, and how you project that image. It's the same strategy that got GW elected twice.

[crispini]

4. Yeah, but a significant number of folks in that pop culture are making fun of her.

I don't agree that "the pop culture" is as monolithic as you say it is. That said, I do have a mild bit of concern -- but only a mild bit.

[RaleighNCDUer]

5. OTOH, pop culture turns on its idol with surprising ease -

just look at Lindsey Lohan and Brittney Spears.

If they really fuck up (and Palin will REALLY fuck up, with the cameras on her) the public scorn is astounding.

She's only attractive as an unknown. To know her is to laugh at her.

[sufrommich]

6. You must have missed the millions of "pop culture "fans

pointing and laughing.

[NJmaverick]

7. Think the Ice Queen will attend?

[WiMu]

8. In 2012

She will 48 and her looks will have faded away, all those guys that supported her because she was such a MILF will be moved on to the latest Republican hottie. That is pop culture for ya, you don't have the looks we don't want to know you.

[BlooInBloo]

9. Whoa. There are still people who are "concerned" about Blithering Idiot. That's hardcore.

Oh well... back to...

We're doomed.

[ebdarcy]

11. Nope. She's a fucking joke. Either her or one of her kids will end up on a

reality show and that'll be it. No way she wins a national election.

Plus, she will never win the female vote. She will alienate way more women than she'll ever be able to win. The only women she'll consistently win are republican kool-aid drinkers and bitter, insane women. Palin is the type of woman that women don't like. She makes us look dumb, skanky, and bitchy. No way she wins enough women to win a national election.

[Thrill]

12. Palin is considered an idiot and a laughing stock by the so called 'pop culture'

Her only appeal is to far right conservatives. Which is why she will NEVER be President

[scheming daemons]

13. The "Power of Pop Culture" loses its effectiveness during serious times....

It only works when times are good.

[ecstatic]

14. will she be hot in 8 years? Hot and stupid works

Old and stupid... not so much.

[mitchum]

17. "Old and stupid" didn't seem to hurt Reagan in the marketplace

[awoke_in_2003]

29. I don't think she is hot now...

when I think hot I think more along the lines of Scarlet Johanson, not some 40+ woman with 5 dream killers. Attractive, maybe, but not hot.

[okieinpain]

15. truly I would fucking leave the country if that were to happen in this

or any alternative universes.

[VADem11]

16. I don't think so

This year, pop culture reveled in mocking Sarah Palin and that image won't be going anywhere soon.

[Egnever]

18. LOL

another post full of nonsense have you ever got anything right?

[Alter Ego]

19. The base loves her--everyone else hates her.

And the base doesn't win you elections.

[Drunken Irishman]

20. For all she gains, she loses.

What I mean by that is she may gain support, but it's costing her support among mainstream America. Above you discussed how she appeals to rural America and that may be true, but that could be said universally for most Republicans. The Democrats haven't been able to win rural white voters since Roosevelt and that isn't going to change, Palin or not.

Where Palin HURTS her chances is with moderate, city & suburban folk, who make up a bulk of the voting electorate. Presidential elections aren't won or lost in rural areas anymore, they're won and lost in cities and suburbs and that is where Palin really hurt McCain. That is how Obama was able to dominate in states like Indiana, Virginia, Ohio, Florida and North Carolina.

But her shtick gets old quick among moderate and left-leaning voters. It might galvanize the right, but you can't win on that alone. You have to tap into the moderate-wing of the Republican Party and the center of this country. And how many moderate Republicans did you hear say they weren't voting McCain because of Palin? A great deal. She probably is the biggest reason why Obama won Florida and if she thinks she can fix that in four years, she's wrong and no Republican is going to win the White House without Florida.

[dkofos]

21. There are only 50000000 stupid people in the country. We got that beat.

She doesn't have a chance.

[leftynyc]

22. The reason that Obama cleaned

mccain's clock with Independent and moderate voters can be directly attributed to Caribou Barbie. I have no doubt that she's very attractive to the religious right.....they can't win with just those people.

[AllentownJake]

23. She's a fundie nut bag

So are you saying forced teenage weddings are coming back into style?

[leftynyc]

24. Isn't Bristol due soon?

When is the blessed event supposed to be? And how soon will we see her in white walking down the aisle?

[scheming daemons]

25. The next time CK_John has a prediction turn out right will be the first time

[shanti]

26. arnold schwarzenegger, jesse ventura

nothing further needs to be said.

[camera obscura]

33. Ventura only won because people hated the other two candidates and made a protest vote.

Everyone hated him after the first couple years of his governorship.

[Cali_Democrat]

27. LOL!!!

nt

[cali]

28. Palin has no appeal beyond the repuke base

she's a distraction.

[TexasObserver]

30. True. She's the Sanjiya of politics.

You don't have to be good. You just have to have stupid people like you.

There's a lot of stupid people out there.

[and-justice-for-all]

31. That is why they love Palin...

"She is hot, mouthy, doesn't think, hates science and math, and doesn't give a shit about anyone but Palin. She is them" and that is why she can NEVER EVER be president or even set foot on the HILL EVER!

[camera obscura]

32. That could have worked for the first few days before Tina Fey came in.

If Palin is mentioned in the gossip magazines Fey's impression always comes up. And God knows YouTube and NBC have made it easy for people to post the SNL skits (along with Palin's "greatest hits") all over Facebook and MySpace.

If anything, pop culture has made it harder for Palin to get a foothold.

[FrenchieCat]

34. I don't know what pop culture you are hanging out with.....

but the pop culture that I know will want Obama for 4 more years in 4 years.....because by that time, the pop culture will be more intelligent for having had a President Obama in office for 4 years. That's what you call progress....look for it, cause it is coming.