Voter Motivation

Do you think democrats Jim Webb and John Tester won Senate seats last November because of their policy strengths or because the public perceived them to be the more authentic macho American guy? Did they win over independents with their health care arguments or did boots and buzz cuts have anything to do with it? Did red Virginia all of a sudden change its mind about the policies of the democratic party or did voters buy into an image? In addition to Tom Frank's, entire books have been written about the motivations of the American voter. It is not the policy. Voters are not that informed. Typically voters establish loyalty to one political party by age 25 and do not change it for life. The rate of participation in our elections indicates that most voting-eligible Americans do not care enough to even bother to vote. As far as candidates go, it's not the product; it's the salesman. I am not saying republicans are phony and democrats are authentic. I'm saying both parties are phony populists and republicans are better at fooling people. Think John Kerry with a shotgun or George Bush in a cowboy hat. Democrats always get bashed for cozying up with the Hollywood elite, but it's republicans who actually put actors on the ballot (Reagan, Schwarzenegger, Fred Thompson). Could that be because actors are good at acting? Now 17 months away from the presidential election, regular Americans don't care - they'll just wait for the "experts" or their favorite TV/radio personality to tell them whom to vote for. A personal example of this would be my vote for Bush because Al Gore has a lisp and seems kind of faggoty. Like you, I had a limited political awareness until recently (this president's term), and I sure thought those 1990's Limbaugh jokes about democrats were knee-slappin funny. I always get into trouble at my in-laws house when I laugh about Clinton's BJ's in the oval office. Looking back 10 years, I think that was the sum total of my knowledge about his presidency. Another example: the 2004 election was not about political experience, effectively fighting terrorism, or domestic initiatives. It was about windsurfing, "flip-flopping", expensive haircuts, and foie gras. I just think that most people vote with their gut, not their head. The secret to winning elections has nothing to do with better ideas for the country; it is to make the opponent seem like an intolerable choice.