2nd Ad by Dems

Here is the new ad... Dr. B was right on about McCain being associated with Bush, and we didn't even have to wait for Hillary to win the nomination. Check out the picture at the end of the ad... they look like best buds!

Really Harsh Attack ad on Obama

Baym, G. (2007). Representation and the Politics of Play: Stephen Colbert's Better Know a District. Political Communication, 24(4), 359-376.

"the segment interjects a measure of political content into a late-night landscape generally characterized by banal entertainment, while offering rank-in-file representatives an alternative televisual venue in which to craft affective ties with a constituency that pays less and less attention to traditional forms of political communication."

" it represents politics as a form of postmodern play, manipulating elements of the real to create a spectacle that calls into question the very logic of representation. Ultimately, though, this study argues that as parody, Better Know a District indulges in the techniques of postmodern spectacle as a way of critically confronting the "aesthetic totalitarianism" of right-wing political communication that privileges affective spectacle over rational argument and actively seeks to undermine the deliberative process."

This is a highlight clip shown on MSNBC that should give you a sense of the ridiculous antics of the show.


This is a HIlarious interview with the representative from DC



This is an example of a full clip with the district profile and all


Here is a link to a site that has all of the better know a district clips.

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Colbert_Report

I think it is hours of entertainment. I can't believe that these interviews happen.
As an academic question related to the discussion for this week let me ask about the article quoted above.
Do you think this increases political knowledge? If so, I'm a bit terrified about what our kids think about the congress.
Do you think this is a satire that parodies the status quo dominance of a rhetorical flourish over rational argument?
That would be awesome if it did either of these things. One thing it certainly does is crack me up.

We Can Solve It

The Alliance for Climate Change, which was founded by Gore, is behind this campaign. The campaign is called "We can solve it." Below are 2 of the ads I have seen so far.







I also found this interesting, especially since these ads make it appear that this is a bi-part issue. In my search to find out about the campaign, I ended up on Newt's page. He had a comment to answer criticism of his participation in the ad. I pasted it below.

Many of you have written to me to ask why I recently taped an advertisement with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for The Alliance for Climate Protection, a group founded by former Vice President Al Gore.

I completely understand why many of you would have questions about this, so I want to take this opportunity to explain my reasons. First of all, I want to be clear: I don't think that we have conclusive proof of global warming. And I don't think we have conclusive proof that humans are at the center of it.

But here's what we do know. There is an important debate going on right now over the right energy policy, the right environmental policy, and making sure we do the right things for our future and the future of our children and grandchildren. Conservatives are missing from this debate, and I think that's a mistake. When it comes to preserving our environment for future generations, we can't have a slogan of "Just yell no!"

I have a different view. I think it's important to be on the stage, to engage in the debate, and to communicate our position clearly. There is a big difference between left-wing environmentalism that wants higher taxes, bigger government., more bureaucracy, more regulation, more red tape, and more litigation and a Green Conservatism that wants to use science, technology, innovation, entrepreneurs, and prizes to find a way to creatively invent the kind of environmental future we all want to live in. Unless we start making the case for the latter, we're going to get the former. That's why I took part in the ad.

First Ad by Democratic Party

I got an email asking me to watch the ad (and contribute) the other day... Here it is. At least the DNC is smart enough to start going after McCain instead of waiting until we have killed each other.

He's back....

Bill is back -- okay gender scholars... what is the impact? Bill calls the "race card" on a radio show and then denies that he ever said it. And, shocker of all shockers, "I'm on the payment schedule Ann Lewis" says that it isn't a big deal... really? When does Bill learn to keep his mouth shut? Has he not made Hil's life unbearable for years now? I guess why would we expect anything different... it is all about Bill.

All bets are on...

Okay... we have under 55 minutes before the first polls close. If you are online, jump in and venture a bet... who wins and by how much?

C'mon.... you have been pontificating all semester -- put the text where your mouth is! Lets see if you have what it takes to put it in writing on the blog! Oh, and we can tell time as well as you can.. the dare is for any strong and willing soul to tell us who will win on the D side tonight... but winners only add a post before the gate opens and the horses run. Do you have what it takes to be a "true" Political Communciation Jayhawk???

MUST READ!!!!

Important news for all:
--Gender and Candidate Communication: VideoStyle, WebStyle, and NewStyle, by
Dianne G. Bystrom, Mary Christine Banwart, Lynda Lee Kaid, and Terry A.
Robertson--
is a must read, according to Caroline Heldman, an Assistant Professor of Politics at Occidental College.
She RAVES: "It is an ideal synopsis of the topic for a graduate course, accessible to
undergraduates, and a bookshelf necessity for scholars of American government"
and insists that "The powerhouse team of Bystrom, Banwart, Kaid, and Robertson" have produced "the most definitive work on this subject to date."

I say we file this article under the category "Duh." I mean, do we expect anything less from the scintillating scholarship of Dr. Banwart?

--just thought you all should know.
Ben
ps, Kelly, did I loan you my copy of this book or have I lost it??? I hear someone wrote about the internet somewhere inside this masterpiece.

The big three doing some comedy

Some famous faces were on the Colbert Report this week:








I thought this would be fun. I read an interesting article about Edwards' hesitation to endorse Obama. I can't remember where it was but my guess is either National Review or maybe Newsweek...anyway it said that Edwards planned to endorse Obama but he was very dismissive about incorporating Edwards' poverty platform and Clinton was very attentive (willing to discuss specific policy proposals, etc). The article said that Edwards was still unwilling to endorse Clinton but has shied away from taking sides.
Here is a recent article on the subject:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23859809/

I now support Hillary

Not to lower the academic tone of the discussion, but I have changed my support. I could explain why, but a picture is worth 1,000 words.

conference in Houston

Hi all: Am at the conference in Houston and heard about this site... are you familiar with it? Thought some of you would love the stats it provides on social networking. Check it out and lets talk about it the week after next!

Dr. B.

http://www.techpresident.com/

http://www.newscientist.com/channel/opinion/mg19726493.800-why-pollsters-are-flummoxed-over-clinton-and-obama.html

Sorry, here is the link. 

http://www.newscientist.com/channel/opinion/mg19726493.800-why-pollsters-are-flummoxed-over-clinton-and-obama.html

Problems with polling

Interesting article about the problems with polling the Democratic election.