Candidates, speeches, talking points and reality

This article caught my eye the other day. It seems all three candidates fall short on economic policy making but instead of actually debating the issues they try to shout louder that their policies are best. Nobody wants to say the emperor has no clothes on because they themselves haven't looked in a mirror in a while.

Something else that bothers me quite a bit about the modern political campaign is when polititians (or there spokesperson) harp on one statement or idea and try to monopolize it hoping that some of it actually sticks and the public will associate the candidate with the issue/idea. Example, the Bush campaign painting John Kerry as a flip flopper. Because the Bush people were able to ingrain that image into the voters minds early and often, it stuck, rightly or wrongly. I'm starting to see similar tactics with Obama & Clinton attacking each other. Each one trying to attach themselves to vague ideals so that hopefully some stick, no matter what the realities are, the public perception is already formed.

The Fact Checker is a great regular column that also interjects reality into overstating campaign promises and ballyhoo.