The Marketing of the American Presidency

How long can one election go on? In the future, will elections begin at birth and end after the next life? I am serious. Even I, who am not a political junkie, already know-no, I can predict-the favorite words, phrases, slogans of each candidate. This is political theatre at its worse and I must ask: What kind of person does this, day-in-day-out, year after year, traveling from city to city, from one television studio or stadium to another, getting up at dawn, never stopping? Only actors, models, musicians-and politicians. By now, everyone, including the politicians, consider themselves entertainers.

We, the people dutifully watch our leaders duke it out as if they were gladiators and we a bloodthirsty Roman mob. The most gravitas on display last night was Tom Brokaw’s gravelley voice and face which increasingly looks as if it is carved out of stone: very Mt Rushmore-y but he is only a media actor. That’s another problem: The media keep interviewing each other about the candidates as if they and they alone are the real experts and not merely well paid actors…Continue reading on Chesler Chronicles >>