THE CURSE OF EXPECTATIONS LOWERING — by Steve Nadis
The Republicans have been playing the “expectations lowering” game for a long time. Why? Mainly because their candidates for the top jobs have generally been somewhat lacking in intellect compared to the Democratic candidates. There’s been one excuse after another–”I’m not an Oxford debater” or “I’m not from Washington,” etc.,etc. Bush relied on this crutch for years; McCain is using it too, and so is his running mate.
The really maddening thing about it is that this strategy seems to work, time and again. As a result, Gore couldn’t beat Bush in a debate, Kerry couldn’t beat Bush in a debate, Obama couldn’t beat McCain in a debate, and now Biden couldn’t beat that hockey mom who was like a high school debater onstage with someone who actually knew what he’s talking about.
Expectation lowering only works for one reason: intelligence lowering.
Posted by
at
01:19:36
The debate has become postmodern, a parody of itself where the participants succeed precisely where they undermine the format most: sideswiping the questions, decontextualizing, defamiliarizing, etc. The one moment of the VP debate that TV commentators have preserved is where Biden got choked up talking about his family. Palin must have ice in her veins because the only way she could respond was to cheer “Maverick!”–or else a permanent, built-in IV of narcotics. Surreal.
the way you describe it I’m glad I didn’t see it… –Snake
I didn’t actually see it either, Snake–although I almost did; I had a ticket to Symphony to see Previn conduct Stravinsky and Beethoven and for a while I was tempted by the idea that the debate may be more entertaining. Then I reduced the choice: Palin vs. Beethoven. Even Biden would have opted out with that choice!
A wise decision, GD. When you put it that way, it’s no contest.