Posted on 07/02/2023 12:53:22 PM PDT by nickcarraway
"It's good to have an enemy," says George Birnbaum, one of the godfathers of modern populism. "Very rarely will you find someone who's loved by everybody."
A political consultant for 30 years, he helped Benjamin Netanyahu come to power in a surprise victory in Israel in 1996, and Hungary's Viktor Orban in 2010.
He has clients in many countries, and flits nowadays between New York, Dubai and Harare.
George Birnbaum built his reputation as one of "Arthur's kids" - under mentor and late business partner Arthur Finkelstein, a brilliant mathematician who re-invented the art of political campaigning in the US, helping Richard Nixon to power in 1972, as well as many other Republican leaders.
"One should…try to polarise the election around that issue that cuts best in your direction, i.e. drugs, crime, race in New York State…," Finkelstein wrote in a 1970 memo. "When the opponent seizes the polarisation initiative, then you're in trouble."
The duo scored a dramatic upset with Benjamin Netanyahu's first election victory in Israel, which came just months after the assassination of incumbent PM Shimon Peres's predecessor Yitzhak Rabin.
Voters were electrified by slogans such as "Peres will divide Jerusalem" - in peace talks with the Palestinians.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
EXCERPTS:
Tamás Menczer, the foreign ministry state secretary for external relations, has hit back at criticism of Hungary’s child protection law by Czechia’s foreign minister, saying Hungarians “will do anything for our children”.
He added that children must be protected from “LGBTQ propaganda” and paedophiles. “We have seen terrible examples, we must ensure that they are not repeated,” Menczer said.
“What happens at Czech kindergartens and schools is none of my business. How Jan Lipavský raises his children — if he has any — is none of my business, either,” the state secretary said. “But he should know that in Hungary only the decisions of Hungarians matter and Hungarians have clearly decided that children must be protected. We, Hungarians will do anything for our children, and we will protect them!”
Elections are not won by conservatives when they “Play it Safe”, as Frank Luntz seems to demand of every candidate.
Elections are won by SEIZING on one or two very simple issues, once the opponents steps into it.
That’s exactly how Youngkin won in Virginia. He didn’t ‘play it safe’, he POUNCED on his opponent when he came out in support of Grooming...he was losing before that.
Bush Sr. the same, Dukasis supported US Flag burning, Bush Sr. POUNCED on him by touring a flag factory and never let go of that issue.
Lie, lie, lie some more and win...without your soul...win what?
You lost your soul. Nothing good can you do now.
That’s weird because I remember the Bush DuJackass contest and worked in the GOP campaign offices in Illinois, meeting and talking with all sorts of visitors and making calls for the campaign. Not once did the flag burning issue even get mentioned by voters there. Not on the phone or in the newspaper letters to the editor or in casual conversation. It was a complete non-issue.
Dukakis’ tank ride did get a lot of laughs, though. If anything frivolous did him in, it was that stupid tank photo- suicide by his own PR team.
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