This election is about values, not policies. It was *always* about values and not policies. This was obvious to anyone with half a brain-cell from the first day that Trump announced he'd be running again. Every single comms person who does not get that should be given their severance and a reference
Every single question needs a pivot to values.
"Why shouldn't we deport all those immigrants?" Great question Jake, because they are people, many of whom have lived here for decades and have lives here. And we don't just deport people, even if they do crimes, or else I'd have to deport Trump.
"What about inflation?" Great question Jake, love the question, it's my favorite. The reason for the inflation is because of COVID, which Mr Trump made catastrophic, and the war in Ukraine, started by Mr Trump's friend in Russia. That sucks! Mr Trump is lobbying in Congress to deny you help.
"Are you too old?" Fantastic question Jake, love the enthusiasm. You know, this country is pretty old too. I love this country. Even though it's very old and a little creaky sometimes, I love it dearly. I think it's future looks bright, and I'm proud to work for all the generations after me
"What about Ukraine?" Great question Jake, love it, my favorite question so far. America is blessed with liberty and safety, and I work every day to keep it that way. But it's our duty to defend liberty and our values overseas too, unlike Mr Trump, who wants to abandon our friends to subjugation
Clickbait headline:
"Joe Biden Knows Illegals Commit Crimes…and Doesn't Care!"
This entire thread is perfectly cogent, but the person who can deliver those lines isn't Biden, no matter the prep or coaching. He would eventually devolve in to his folksy ice-cream shop brain.
All elections are about values at their core.
Policy is just the application of values to the real-world.
Poll-driven ‘median voter’ wonk brain approaches cannot grasp this because they are fundamentally amoral.
particularly grim if your poll-driven consultant-brained comms staff are obsessed with chasing 5 votes you'll never get at the expense of demoralizing 5000 votes who'll sit at home because you've let them down
he's fucked up so badly i'm sitting this one out, as a canvasser, because it's hard to advocate for him when this term's mostly been broken promises
i really fucking hate that! i moved across the country to do politics
whichever fucking dipshit at the WH told him to go with "actually illegal immigrants murdered people under *your* administration" was a good line to take needs to be bundled into a black van and taken to a monastery or something to reflect on their life choices and try and grow a soul
I'm sure Biden's not the first politician to say it, but I know I've heard him say it, "Show me your budget, and I'll tell you what your values are." (Pretty sure he said to Paul Ryan)
All elections are about the values of the oligarchs who pay for them at their core. The candidates’ job is how to trick the voters to vote against their interests.
Honestly, I think Trump 2016 disproves the values thesis. I think historical contingency put him in a position to win the Republican nomination, and as bad as the values already were, they got substantially worse to accommodate Trump.
I'm arguing something similar to the Overton Window. Basically, I think people's values have plasticity, and will deform to protect ego, to fit in, or when under threat.
I hate it but I think you are correct. By and large people care about fitting in and getting on with their community.
Values mold to fit community norms.
What I wanted to hear Biden say:
“You disgust me sir. You are a liar, a cheat, a narcissist. It sickens me to share the stage with a man like you. But I am here because I am here to to ask the American people, the people who love democracy, the people who truly love this country, to stop you.”
Honestly the #1 reason I want Dems back in is out of the decently probable hope that Thomas and Alito die within the next 4 years which I guess could be both a values and policy vote
I mean, this to some extent, but what's really important is what maybe 50,000 voters out of a potential ~250,000,000 think. Which guy do they WANT to vote for?
How do you make them WANT to vote for your candidate?
No one sells dresses by making them "factually better."
I remember as a child watching ABC nightly news doing (probably rather shallow) 'deep dives' into the relative merits of the Clinton and Dole budget proposals.
I can't even imagine that now, in part because one party doesn't even have them.
