Posted by: Brent James on February 18, 2008
The only thing new about modern political ads is the improvement in production values. Other than that, they are just electronic sandwich boards. People we don’t really know, make promises that are often forgotten by the time they take office. Often, those promises are not in their power to fulfill, but ultimately reliant upon the consent of the governed.
That’s no reason to tune out, however. We should listen well, because political ads present the subtle “between-the-lines” kind of candidate information not found in most other sources. Our questions should be, “How is this idea or promise going to affect America? How will it then affect me or my family?” “How does this candidate’s pitch square with my values?”
Take a look at John Kennedy’s classic political ad from 1960. Rather tame and polite by today’s standards. He was running for president and had strong ideas about the affordability of senior healthcare. Sound familiar?
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Posted by: Brent James on February 17, 2008
How does a caucus differ from a primary? And what’s the difference between a delegate and a superdelegate? How are delegates awarded? What else should I know?
If you’re feeling a bit a bit rusty on this whole political primary thing, take heart, its not everyday we have need to grasp presidential election jargon. Being familiar with the terms and conditions, however, will help you understand this incredible process that is now in full swing. Sometimes fascinating, sometimes irritating, this slow turn in to the homestretch is certainly a bumpy ride.
Take a look at this instructional video nicely covering the election basics.
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