A brief excerpt from What Happened:
Washington has become the home of the permanent campaign, a game of endless politicking based on the manipulation of shades of truth, partial truths, twisting of the truth, and spin. Governing has become an appendage of politics rather than the other way around, with electoral victory and the control of power as the sole measures of success...It seems that for all that Democrats and Republicans disagree about, the permanent campaign has bipartisan support.Ironically, much of Bush's campaign rhetoric (in 1999-2000) had been aimed at distancing himself from the excesses of Clinton's permanent campaign style of governing. The implicit meaning of Bush's words was that he would bring an end to the perpetual politicking and deep partisan divisions it created. Although Washington could not get enough of the permanent campaign, voters were seemingly eager to move beyond it.
Former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo once elegantly noted, "you campaign in poetry and govern in prose." The current presidential candidates should probably be asked if they know the difference.
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Comments
"Former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo once elegantly noted, 'you campaign in poetry and govern in prose.' The current presidential candidates should probably be asked if they know the difference."
That's funny! :D
I appreciate reading articles like this. Specifically, much of modern political journalism doesn't dig into the core sources of problems in our political environment, such as the permanent campaign. To ultimately bring about real change in our spiraling poltical environment, we (citizens, journalists and sincere politicians) need to dig into these core problems, ahead of chasing our tails on campaign endorsements, out of context soundbites, etc.
Thanks Teagan!
Posted by: ProIRV
| May 29, 2008 11:32 AM
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