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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: ManyMoose who wrote (344525)	1/20/2010 3:20:07 PM
From: Bill	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 793841

She was a gaffe machine. And did not participate much in retail politics. Easy to run against, if one has a good message.

To: ManyMoose who wrote (344525)	1/20/2010 4:22:09 PM
From: Jan W	2 Recommendations Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 793841

And, IMHO, not to be underestimated is the impact of talk radio. I don't know how it was elsewhere, but I do know that when I was growing up in the Boston area we did not talk politics. At all. Questioning about one's politics was much like asking about someone's religion, salary or sexual preferences! You just didn't do it (outside the boardrooms or union halls of course). We were taught to respect our voting privileges, but that our votes were cast behind a curtain for a reason. It was private. (I'm in my 50's and yet this was actually the first election I got my own parents to tell me who they were voting for!) So I have to give big kudos, actually huge kudos, to people like Howie Carr (and even the WEEI/Sports Radio hosts who gave voice to the sports nuts who also wanted to speak politics these last couple weeks) who have built successful, local talk shows separate & apart from the "morning show" mentality. These local talk show hosts - talented moderators in their own right (as opposed to paid antagonists popular on Air America) - gave people old & young alike a forum to speak to each other. Not only could they hear from the candidate (Scott Brown was on the show every day for the last couple weeks - Martha Coakley refused the offers) but they could share information about appearances, rallies and issues. These shows have broken a lot of the taboo against speaking politics and they're giving a much needed voice to the people. And the voices are, for the most part, clear and coherent about the issues and are reaching far beyond the signal strength of the station. Its finally gotten people to talk to their friends, and their families and really speak passionately about their politics. The internet is great - but just not the same. I listen to Boston talk radio everyday .. as does my brother in Maine and other friends throughout New England who similarly were raised in MA but moved to other states in the area. Many people from NH, ME and CT helped with the effort to push Brown over the top. And I expect the good people in MA will help us do likewise when our time comes around. National talk show hosts are great at raising the larger issues but it's the discussion and sharing at local levels which will get the job done. One state at a time. I hope. .