Due Date: 9/7

Study guide for Best American Political Writing 2009, ed. By Royce Flippin

“Introduction”

1.     According to the author of the introduction (Matt Taibbi), George W. Bush had an “awful effect” on national political journalism. Describe this effect and discuss your response. (pp. xv—xviii).  George Bush contributed to the 24 hour news cycles.  They were constantly making fun of him, or backing up his decisions. The television media had stations that supported him and some did not.  They were most of the time talking about funny, embarrassing things he had done more than policy he had enacted.  Bush made big decisions during his presidency and books were written about the decisions.  Bush contributed to a lot of media because he gave them something to report on.  Obama has so far been less in the news.  He isn’t as awkward in public and rarely embarrasses.

2.     According to the author, how did the Bush administration affect political journalism differently for conservatives and liberals? (xvi).  Bush made networks like FOX popular, because it is a conservative network.  They would talk about Bush in a positive light and debate his actions.  Then the author mentions the Daily Show and The Colbert Report, which make fun of embarrassing things Bush did.  They both were able to thrive during his presidency, because both sides were reporting news stories. 

3.     What was the problem with both conservative and liberal journalism during those years? (xvi).  The author points out that journalism became money driven.  People saw that Bush was making many life-changing decisions and instead of reporting on them, they wrote books expressing their opinions.  This was a change from reporting done during the Nixon administration.

“Battle Plans: How Obama Won”

By Ryan Lizza

1.     According to Lizza, Obama won because of his “finely crafted and superbly executed campaign” (4).  Discuss three of the factors that made it such a great campaign.

The first strategy the campaign stressed was “change.”  They not only wanted to distance themselves from Bush, but they were trying to win the democratic ticket as well.  They needed to craft a message that talked about change and made Hillary Clinton pay the price for her experience.

Aides to Obama believed a crucial moment in the campaign came when Obama said he would meet with leaders of some of the world's most dangerous countries.  They originally thought the best tactic was to go on the defensive.  Obama told them to be aggressive about this statement and not let the Clinton campaign bully them around.

Another key moment in the Obama campaign was the way they chose to raise money for funding.  Obama removed himself from the restrictions of public-service funding.  By doing this, he earned more money and was able to buy more advertisements.  He was buying ad space in states that McCain didn't even have a presence in.  This in turn helped him win more states.

What’s your personal opinion about his campaign? How engaged were you? What do you think?

                  The campaign was interesting.  The way that aides magnified certain statements from Obama and other candidates was clever.  I didn't realize how simple statements can be blown up to sway a campaign for a candidate.  The correct decision making in the campaign seemed like it helped Obama take the presidency away from Hillary Clinton and John McCain.  Obama had the best aides of the 2008 presidential campaign.

2.     According to Lizza, Obama’s campaign turned his vulnerabilities into assets. Explain that statement. (8)  The world knew about Bush and his actions.  They knew a few things about Obama which appeared to be vulnerabilities such as his race and name.  They also knew that he was a senator.  Some of these were thrust into assets, because of the idea of change.  They wanted people to know that this new candidate was separating himself  from Bush.  He would be a new, different president.