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
"What about your golf handicap" Wow, what a kooky question, so inventive. You know, I haven't had much time to work on my golf game these past few years because I've been working so hard for the American people to get us out of an inflation spiral started and made worse by Mr Trump over there
America has real problems, Jake, it's true. A lot of folks are anxious about the future. I get it. Every day we're working to correct that, and Mr Trump is working hard to keep you poorer and promise you a future of violence and revenge. He's a fraud and a crook. You know it. Folks at home know it.
So you know what, yes, if you're a billionaire, you're going to vote for Mr Trump. If you're not ... why? He's going to make your life much worse. He's going to crush you. You remember how bad COVID was due to his mismanagement? How we lived indoors, fearing the next tweet? Reject it in November.
We have a chance to make America--to make the world--a better place, for you, your family, your friends, and everyone you know. Or you can choose Mr Trump, a crook and a fraud who promises a world of violence, hate, and retribution. This is a Republic if we can keep it. So let's keep it, together
and bluntly, if your comms people think that's a losing message but rambling about Trump cheating at golf and tax systems is a winning message, you need new comms leads.
I know I'm usually good at this stuff because its my job, but I really dont understand how these people making 5x what I get paid can be so *bad* at it.
Drives me nuts that folks think being on top of messaging is not a major part of what it means to be president, or that it's not a thing you can and need to actively manage
The thing that Biden has always been terrible with is the facts and figures and minutia in public speaking. He has always been at has best, even when is telling a dude in a wheelchair to stand up, is when he is being a folksy dude. When he can swing at someone. He did it like twice tonight.
It's a major thing to be any politician, whether your running for president or a seat on a village board in a town of ninety-two.
You can have a good message and it might not land or resonate, but you won't be helped by bad messages. Countering a Gish Gallop requires strangling it in the crib.
Look if the election was for the most brilliant bts statesman and strategist, that would be a different contest. But this is a performance role! That's at least 2/3rds of the job!
While I think 2/3d is overstatement, I've never heard anyone disagree with this. The ability to communicate is important.
However, Joe has been fine with communications, if that's what you're talking about, eg, the State of the Union speech. Other times, too. He's adequate. He just had a bad day.
Seeing a couple organic blame the comms team takes and want to assure everyone that elected officials and senior staff have their own idiosyncratic views on communications and simply don’t hire or retain people who think differently. The talent pool is not the issue.
The alternative timeline where leaders listen to their comms staff involves something like Crooked Media but 1,000 larger and liberal-aligned ownership of major broadcast outlets. Would also involve a rotating team of elected officials doing non-stop media work for the party. But I digress!
Ultimately, the buck stops with Biden. He needs to know better than to talk about golf. The candidate shouldn’t have to rely on a comms team for pretty basic messaging. People care about issues. Not your golf handicap.
I mean, I think they're still fairly bland, but I'd perhaps start with those and you can make them sharper from there. I think it's more just that the current comms are so completely divorced from values that if anyone writes down a positive values-based vision for the future it comes across starkly
As to another debate, the simple answer is "yes, but after completely revamping their comms and debate prep folks". But they need to do that either way
Yes! Ignore Trump on stage. Was never a debate. Get new comms people who understand how to fight fascists. Fascists are also about emotions.
Fight w the good emotions. Cheerful warrior! 'I can end your worries about an awful future. Vote for me and this lying felon goes away forever!'
Happy happy!
