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DEL.ICIO.USNothing like an over-active neural synapse to turn an election on its head
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Drew Westen, the Emory University professor of psychology/psychiatry turned political consultant, has a piece in the New Republic in which he says Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are handing John McCain a gift beyond measure.
Says Westen:
“With their nomination process in suspended animation, the Democrats are in danger of employing the best strategy for losing in November: Waiting until the Democratic primary contest is over to start a full-fledged branding campaign against the presumptive Republican nominee.
Not only is this stupid on a strategic level, but it makes no sense neurologically, he says. Really. Westen writes:
”Much of our brain consists of networks of associations — thoughts, images, ideas, memories, and emotions — that become connected with each other over time, so that activating one part of a network activates the rest (including the gut-level feelings associated with a candidate that ‘summarize’ voters’ judgments about the candidate and are among the best predictors in the voting booth). The more times a network is activated, the harder it is to change, for reasons both physiological and psychological….
“That means that the more times voters hear John McCain described as a war hero and a strong potential commander-in-chief — instead of, for example, a man with such poor judgment on national security that he would support an endless continuation of an ill-fated war much like the one he suffered through despite his own personal experience — the harder it will be to deactivate that network and inhibit those neural links.”
Westen calls on Democrats to unleash their 527s while Obama and Clinton mop things up.
Comments
By bubba Snmasw
March 17, 2008 7:42 PM | Link to this
cnlnclkdc
By Galoco_lee
March 17, 2008 9:58 PM | Link to this
And where is John while the banks are failing???
By Pattersoncheatedtoo
March 17, 2008 10:39 PM | Link to this
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By Churchill
March 17, 2008 11:15 PM | Link to this
Somebody just broke news on the AJC…. *Patterson, the new Democrat Gov. of N.J., admitted to cheating on his wife. *For years? This stuff is too good to be true. Race war in the Democrat primary, Democrat Govs aborting themselves from office because of sexual scandals, and now the prospect of actual riots in Denver at the Democrat Convention. It is too good to be true. Peace, Libs!!
By Will Jones
March 18, 2008 2:34 AM | Link to this
Throwing away one’s jet, whether for vainglory or a deathwish, rather than safely returning the gov’t issued equipment to to his aircraft carrier, does not make McCain a “war hero.” Married to the Mob and following the Bush Crime Family in their false war, seemingly blind to their having committed 9-11, makes John McCain a fellowtraveler/traitor in Rome’s Fifth Column.
By Gulf War Vet
March 18, 2008 5:02 AM | Link to this
The Wheels have come off the Democratic party and everybody but Hillary knows it.
Unless she capitulates right now and Obama makes her his running mate , the Democratic party will be so divided , fractured and unable to mount a cohesive campaign against Sen. McCain , the Presidential race will be all but decided come November.
I’m a die hard Republican and I do not want to see this happen.
I would much rather see a competetive Presidential race of McCain/running mate vs. Obama/Clinton , starting right now.
By Bitter EX democrackkk
March 18, 2008 6:19 AM | Link to this
SO, will Obakarama and the Preacher take the blame for the upcoming RIOTS in Denver? Cant wait! Its time Denver pays some dues for being a stinkin ‘sanctuary’ city for ILLEGALS! I hope they TEAR it UP! And that silly lookin airport too!
But WE LOVE, L O V E, all the inside democrackkk fightin! And then there’s Nancy Pelosi, current queen bee who H A T E S H I T L A R Y !!! They ALL are NASTY A$$!!!
By Copyleft
March 18, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this
Nice to see the Republicans hoping and praying for violence to strike in America. But then, that’s what they’ve been saying if America dares to vote for a Democrat too—that “I hope you enjoy the terrorist attacks we’ll get!”
Now, just WHO’s trying to tear down America again? (snicker)