Palin understands what other Republicans are just beginning to get

[phantom power]

Palin understands what other Republicans are just beginning to get, which is that the conservative base is an audience that is post-argument. Conservatism of the 21st century is an ideology built on sand. Its arguments fall apart upon the briefest of examination and the supposed “evidence” for their beliefs are mostly lies and self-delusions. Sticking with the argument and evidence-based structure in the era of climate change denialism and creationism is a fool’s game and Palin knows it. Better instead to focus strictly on emotions and tribal identity, eschewing not just argument but even structuring your speeches to resemble arguments. Imagistic speeches that arouse passions while silencing doubts is not stupid, but brilliant.

And while Palin is the vanguard of this movement, a careful observer will notice that other Republicans are quickly following on her heels. During the sixth Republican debate, for instance, there was a noticeable scramble away from trying to make actual policy claims and promises, especially with regards to foreign policy, and an embrace of this content-free imagistic language...

...

While it doesn’t reach the heights of imagistic riffing that Palin reaches, this does come close a Palin-esque non-argument. Cruz riles people up, because riling people up is good, because they enjoy being riled up, and Obama fails at the task of riling you up (because he doesn’t want to rile you up over a non-issue like this, of course). Issues like diplomatic relations or even effectiveness at getting the soldiers back —places where Republicans are weak — are ignored completely. All that matters is the image and the feeling that it provokes. You are invited to ignore all other questions.

To be clear, emotion is not always or even usually the enemy of logic. In the traditional political speech, audiences are encouraged to tie their emotions to argument. You are angry, here is the solution. You want hope, these policies will provide it.

But Palin, by eliding the argument-based structure of traditional speeches, is getting past this altogether. Anger is turned into hate is turned into more anger, until it spins off, completely unmoored from any considerations like “why” or “how.” Her innovation helps Republicans get over the logic and evidence problems that plague them. And so we can expect her methods to become more, not less prevalent over time.

http://www.salon.com/2016/01/21/palin_wasnt_drunk_and_her_trump_speech_wasnt_stupid_shes_playing_right_into_the_heart_of_twisted_republican_politics/

[joeybee12]

1. I agree, but I don't think she's smart enough to realize what she's doing...

She just does it, and the braindead Repuke base eats it up.

[phantom power]

2. I'm sure it's mostly intuitive. But then, a lot of human intelligence is.

[Mike Nelson]

3. True, but...

...I think Palin is only in it for the money. Wealth and celebrity are her main gods.

[Orsino]

4. Salon's over thinking it.

That Trump and Palin would cross-market each other's next reality shows and ghost-written books was probably inevitable.

I've seen no indication that either has thought beyond immediate attention/financial gain.

[Johonny]

5. She gets what Billy Graham got 60 years ago, the conservative base is ripe for grifting

they hate the government getting their cash, but they'll hand it over hand over fist to any person offering vague things to them like morals, family values, constitution, God, American values, and freedom. There appears no end to the bottomless well of grift so long as you keep it vague and offer brand identity.

[bbgrunt]

6. after reading a couple of books on hypnosis,

I understand that one essential technique for hypnosis is to bypass the rational brain so that the subconscious can be directly addressed and directed. One method of doing this is by presenting the rational brain with nonsensical word salad that distracts it like a shiny object.

I'm no hypnotist but the souls in that party all pretty much seem like hypnotized zombies.

[DaveT]

7. While I agree about how Palin works a GOP crowd,

and the argument fits perfectly with the analysis of communication made by own intellectual hero, Marshall McLuhan, I think she was tipsy in the Trump endorsement speech.

Not a contradiction, really.


The world is transitioning from the Age of Print to the current world of digital communication, and the patience required to make or follow a logical argument is dying. What strikes me most about Trump's rhetoric is not its odious and bigoted content, but its rambling incoherence.

I don't think we are that far down the rabbit hole yet, but before too many more elections, we will probably elect Zaphod Beeblebrox as President of the Galaxy..

[KentuckyWoman]

8. Salon is giving Palin way too much credit.

She understands cash. That's it.

[Major Nikon]

9. They are talking about someone who can't manage to put two coherent sentences together

It's pretty hard to convince me this is somehow brilliance in action.

[MoonchildCA]

10. Basically, she speaks jibberish...

...the crowd gets riled up, so she gives them more jibbery-jibberish.