Love of indirections

[jducoeur]

So the headline that just zipped past on Google Desktop was "Giuliani Set to Announce Formal Campaign for Presidency in 2008".

And, y'know, *think* about that. It's an announcement, of an announcement, of a campaign, to actually start doing something in about two years. And the worst part is, that's the way these things are normally done nowadays.

Surely that says something about how screwed up modern politics is...

Comments

[dkapell.livejournal.com]

Modern nothing, the concept of the Pseudo-event has been around since 1962, and the actual thing has been around for longer, of course.

Its great stuff, and his book was the most fun thing I read in my brief anth minor days.

[goldsquare.livejournal.com]

Do bear in mind that some of this is in relationship to money and the FEC...

[peregrinning.livejournal.com]

I'd say it shows how screwed up our modern media are.
1. You have to have some way to say "we need to find a way to tell you of a future announcement before our competition does."
2. The 24/7 news cycle needs feeding. What do we have at the bottom of the barrel?
3. Press announcements are the best way to get stories without having to write anything ourselves...

[dlevey.livejournal.com]

One of the joys of an open election system coupled with an exploding news media that is both hungry for content and anxious to differentiate each outlet one from another.

We've got rules like exploratory committees and filing deadlines, and these milestones are transparent to anyone who knows to ask the questions (as news organs do). Back when there were three national networks and various newspapers, there was only so much conent that could be pushed to the fore. Now, with more networks, 24-hour cable news, and on-line news presences from both conventional media and political bloggers, filing a form becomes news. Add to this that an event like a campaign announcement requires planning just from a logistical standpoint (gotta rent a room, get caterers and security, etc) and *someone* feels it is necessary to report it. Out of fear that there will be a scoop in there somewhere, the rest jump on that wagon and report it too. There are no surprise candidates anymore; at least not for parties/offices that "matter".

[umbran.livejournal.com]

It's an announcement, of an announcement, of a campaign, to actually start doing something in about two years.

Reality check - it is now February of 2007. The election is in November of 2008. If the campaign "starts doing something in about two years", it'll start after the election!

[alethea-eastrid.livejournal.com]

I think by "to do something" he meant "to be president", which would in fact start in about two years. Though one might wish to give credit for transition planning.

[jducoeur]

No, no -- I don't count the campaign as doing anything, really. (Certainly not anything meaningful.) If he wins, *then* he gets to do something...