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The Axelrod Method
The Wall Street Journal ^ | October 17, 2008 | Matthew Kaminski

Posted on 10/17/2008 7:29:43 AM PDT by St. Louis Conservative

A couple Januaries ago, the first African-American governor of Massachusetts took the oath of office on the State House steps. "Change is not always comfortable or convenient or welcome," he declared. "But it is what we hoped for, what we have worked for, what you voted for, and what you shall have."

The swearing-in ended an improbable journey for Deval Patrick -- and started a painful lesson in political realities for a rookie executive.

His story provides a useful prism to view the current presidential race. The Patrick campaign is the model for Barack Obama's effort, down to the messages of "hope" and "change" and the unofficial Patrick slogan of "Yes, We Can!" The men are friends with similar backgrounds (raised by single mothers, educated at Harvard Law) and electoral appeal (unconventional, "historic" candidacies built around an inspiring personal story). More importantly perhaps, they share an image-maker and political guru in David Axelrod, the strategist who told the New York Times Magazine last year that Obama presidential campaign themes were field tested in Massachusetts.

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Philosophy; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: axelrod; devalpatrick; electionpresident; obama; obamatruthfile

1 posted on 10/17/2008 7:29:43 AM PDT by St. Louis Conservative
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To: St. Louis Conservative

Deluxe Patrick announced at least a 1 billion budget shortfall and pain for everyone 2 days ago.


2 posted on 10/17/2008 7:32:39 AM PDT by AU72
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To: St. Louis Conservative
Obama presidential campaign themes were field tested in Massachusetts.

Which explains so much, namely, why he can't close the deal in this election.


3 posted on 10/17/2008 7:33:35 AM PDT by Harry Wurzbach (Joe The Plumber & Rep. Thaddeus McCotter are my heroes.)
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To: AU72
Deluxe Patrick announced at least a 1 billion budget shortfall and pain for everyone 2 days ago.

"Hope" and "change" are needed now.
4 posted on 10/17/2008 7:34:38 AM PDT by Harry Wurzbach (Joe The Plumber & Rep. Thaddeus McCotter are my heroes.)
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To: Harry Wurzbach

People will hope to have some change in their pockets.


5 posted on 10/17/2008 7:36:58 AM PDT by Army Air Corps (Four fried chickens and a coke)
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To: St. Louis Conservative
they share an image-maker and political guru in David Axelrod, the strategist who told the New York Times Magazine last year that Obama presidential campaign themes were field tested in Massachusetts.

Well, isn't that interesting. The difference is that Deval Patrick sounds like the usual kind of give-it-all-away and please-everybody Dem, while Obama sounds like the long lost cousin of Karl Marx.

6 posted on 10/17/2008 7:37:43 AM PDT by livius
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To: Army Air Corps
People will hope to have some change in their pockets.

Maybe Deval will require people to work?
7 posted on 10/17/2008 7:39:42 AM PDT by Harry Wurzbach (Joe The Plumber & Rep. Thaddeus McCotter are my heroes.)
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To: Harry Wurzbach

Has not the vanguard of the proletariat (Dear Leader Barak Hussein Obama) told us that there will be work, bread, and peace for the workers, peasants, and toiling masses? All shall work as a sacrifice of labour for the State.


8 posted on 10/17/2008 7:45:11 AM PDT by Army Air Corps (Four fried chickens and a coke)
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To: St. Louis Conservative

Deval Patrick ran on the promise of lower property taxes, he has not delivered.


9 posted on 10/17/2008 7:47:17 AM PDT by edzo4 (Vote McCain, Keep Your Change)
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To: St. Louis Conservative

It really seems like the main difference between how Democrats and Republicans run a campaign is in how honest they are about what they’re going to do once they get in office. Republicans tell it like it is, realistically. Democrats tell it like they think people want to hear it. Something that will make them feel good. Obama is saying he’s going to give 95% of the tax payers a cut. That makes people feel good. Doesn’t matter if it doesn’t really happen (as MA saw w/ property taxes, which were high to begin with).

So people get all emotional about hope, afterall who can possibly be against HOPE, and change, of course people want change.

Does anyone remember Pelosi’s promise to make her Congress the “most ethical in history”? It made everyone FEEL good, but hasn’t really shown to be true.


10 posted on 10/17/2008 7:52:50 AM PDT by Jackson57
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To: Jackson57

The Clintons promised us the most ethical administration in history. Instead they had nearly as many scandals as the preceding 41 adminstrations combined.


11 posted on 10/17/2008 9:02:26 AM PDT by Verginius Rufus
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