Pantomime Puzzle.
Have found a curious coordinated agitprop pantomime by the MSNBC op trio of E. Schultz, K. Olberman and R. Maddow responding to the cheapskate mashing-up of the grandfather classic Daisy ad from LBJ in '64. The cable trio are working dutifully to mock the RNC for taking what was a Democratic smear of Barry Goldwater and turning it into dross. The puzzle is, why does this irk, interest, engage, light a fire under the trio? Their hambone glee is sweaty and leaden. The original (above) was homely, rude, camp, apocalyptic, facile, and altogether hyperbolic. Played just once on network TV (no cable, internet or Battlestar Galactica existed), the Daisy ad was a woozy LBJ strike on an under-financed, underdog Republican campaign that Goldwater launched with the searing lines in his nomination acceptance speech, "I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice." LBJ was running on the momentum of the JFK tragedy, the civil rights machinations, the Gulf of Tonkin falsehoods. It is unclear if the researchers at MSNBC have all this irony under control. Assume that
there is an organizing intelligence. My quick measure is that the Dem ops who maintain mischievous email chats with the shows producers are confounded, even stumped. How could the great GOP machine come to mashing Daisy as a ploy? They are overthinking. Old rule: You must hit the bottom before you begin recovery. Listening to the screeching Gingrich mocking Pelosi, the preening Steele baiting POTUS, the cliched Cheney calling out Wolf, Wolf, long way below.
What if?
What if we all just give it to them? Let them have it and not pay any attention. Our lives are much too complicated.
"Baby, where's "Finding Nemo? I know it was right here!" Joey yelled from the living room.
"Honey, I think I saw "Boo" with it. Check in his room!" Gina answered and continued fixing the Hamburger Helper Mix that was for supper. Reading the directions she realized that they didn't have 2% milk only real Vitamin D milk.
Joey thought to himself as he moved down the hallway, "If she knew the baby had a DVD and was toying with it, why didn't she take it away from him? Dangit!" Under his breath he said, "Sometimes I wonder what the heck she is thinking!"
"Joey, you need to run to the store and get us some 2% milk! Hurry, the macaroni is almost done!"
"You go! I'm trying to find "Finding Nemo"! Ah, darnit! I just hit my head again!" Joey was looking under the bed in "Boos" room when Gina had commanded him to go to the C-Store just to get some milk. He didn't like that about her. And after all, he knew there was milk in the fridge because he had taken a couple of swigs out of the jug just a few hours ago.
"Why does she have to have 2% milk?" he asked himself. Also, he asked himself if he should just maybe try and order her to go get it herself. What should he do?
"Joey! Come here! Didn't you hear me? Ah, honey, how's your head?"
Given MSNBC's market share, does it matter what Maddow and Olberman are in a dudgeon about? Really?
In politics, hyperbole is ersatz substance. The Dems are keenly aware of how they’ve been able to bring down one Republican after another. To avoid a similar fate they have created the Mine Sweep division of (GE’s) NBC, patterned after the HRC-Ickes White House damage control unit during Bill Clinton’s two terms. Given the now obvious blurring of lines between industry, the press and government, it is perhaps appropriate that White House damage control functions have now been assigned to the (perceived) private sector.
In any case, the Schultz-Maddow-Olbermann team can expect to find itself busier than a one-armed (wall)paper hanger during the next four years as Obama has been described by some as a walking gaffe machine. His use of the teleprompter has succeeded in blunting the stooge effect somewhat. There has also been a move - admittedly still in its exploratory stages – to have the White House broadcast events and functions on its own dime, without involving the national press corps.
All this expense and effort is in recognition of the fact that Obama is not yet prepared to lead; that he is still in campaign mode and will likely remain that way for the foreseeable future.