Negativity begats more negativity. It doesn’t take rocket science to know that. Try being around someone who sees the glass half full all the time, and soon, you can’t see anything in the glass at all. It also is a way to play to people’s fears so the person using negativity can try to manipulate the process.

This campaign is no exception to manipulative negativity in political ads.  In a recent commentary on negative campaign ads, Darrell West of the Brooking Institute notes:” Attack ads broadcast in recent months have twisted the truth, lied about personal background, taken statements out of context, and clearly sought to manipulate voter sentiments.” Read the rest of this entry »

Who’s On First? Tonight’s the Night! This blog (and my other blog at www.ericksonblog.com/blog) have discussed many times the disconnect between the media and the public, especially as it comes to the election of the next president. Polls conducted by various media outlets have McCain in the press more than Obama (et tu brute?); and even the first presidential campaign, except for Bob Read the rest of this entry »

I don’t pretend to be a political activist or more knowledgeable then those that are. I am a mere mortal who happens to be a woman (so don’t accuse me of gender bias when discussing Palin), a Hillary fan (and Palin is not Hillary!), a former nurse, a marketer for health services within the leading group of senior housing and health, a mother, a grandmother, a daughter. And not since Al Gore lost his winning presidential election have I been so interested in the presidential campaign and election. I look to experts to provide me facts and figures and report them and refer to them in this blog. Read the rest of this entry »

Hillary Clinton is a class act and she knocked it out of the park, or convention, last night. She spoke with heart and passion and was very classy. I watched CNN. I can’t watch MSNBC anymore due to that Bill Reilly wannabe Chris Matthews. The night he said on the air that the only reason Hillary was getting votes was because her husband was unfaithful to her was the last time I watched MSNBC.

Chris Matthews, to me, is representative of sexism and gender bias at its best. Read the rest of this entry »