Kung Fu Monkey: Learn to say 'ain't' ...

Kung Fu Monkey: Learn to say 'ain't' ...:

"...something that everyone EXCEPT those people in charge of electing Democratic presidents seemed to understand -- when your party has perceived weaknesses, don't run the guy who's the stereotype of that weakness. Or, as my friend Mark Waid said: 'Why the fuck do we keep nominating Frazier Crane?'

...There are two lessons to be taken from 'Learn to say 'ain't'.' First, the fundamental dynamic in all crowd interaction is us vs. them. Period. It's sad. Oh well. Get over it and win.

Now, the fine line here is that, the audience also always knows when you're being dishonest. That's worth hitting again. When you are on stage, the audience's collective mind can tell when you're not being yourself. And even more importantly, they can tell when you're lying to be one of 'us'. (Like Kerry hunting, or Dukakis in the tank). Changing yourself to fit the audience would be the wrong lesson to take from 'Learn to say 'ain't.'' No, the lesson Boats was teaching me was that there's no problem with relaxing a bit and showing that you're not one of 'them.' He was teaching me that connection is a half-way game -- just extend out a little, and the audience will come the rest of the way. They will extend the boundary of 'us' if you advance toward it. That was the genius of 'compassionate conservatism.'

People will relax and trust you when you're not trying to dazzle them with brainpower. It's okay to be the smartest guy in the room, but that shouldn't be the point of it. This is a liberal weakness, because they often seem to operate on the dual fuels of statistics and sputtering. They foolishly believe that the smartest, most morally equitable, most well-reasoned argument is the right one.

Well, of course it's the right one. It's just not necessarily the one that's going to WIN. And when they point, justifiably, at their idea which is backed up by all the data, all the statistics, and say 'But, but this is the only logical solution', the implication is '... by not arriving at this yourself, you are stupid.' And once somebody thinks you called them stupid, you've lost them forever. 'What's the matter with Kansas?' Nothing, you supercilious fuck, what's the matter with you? Guess who I'm voting for every time you lecture me that you're on my side, and I just have to see that? Yeah, the other guy. Bye now."