Letters to the Editor
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Home Audience Tires of Bush's Stunts: Wishful Thinking
The Republican Party, especially with Bush as spokesmodel, is successful because these people know their audience. They know what the Home Audience wants and they deliver that.
The Home Audience doesn't do nuance any more than Bush himself does. The Home Audience wants a good Story. They want a heartwarming saga in which heroes may go through a little hardship and shelling, but the world is put right at the end.
Not a drama--no MacBeth or Julius Caesar, where leaders make arrogant mistakes and receive their just punishment. The Home Audience can tolerate a Story in which only the correct characters learn only the correct lessons. The "bad boy" teenager grows up to become a sober young man and business leader. The book-smart officer is humbled by the homespun practical wisdom of the "simple" boys in his platoon. The patriotic young woman serves near the front lines, is wounded and captured, is rescued, and returns to civilian life. But the leader, the Decider, is exempt from learning. Instead, he demonstrates Strength of Character. He goes through a dark moment but his resolve never weakens, and he brings justice to the world. Thanks to him, evildoers are killed.
The Home Audience understands Story. The Home Audience does NOT understand facts. Facts are confusing and contradictory. They don't fit the Story.
Sidney Blumenthal and many other capable political analysts and writers can point out inconsistencies, lies, and treachery all they want. They can write of young people dying, civilians killed, and prisoners tortured.
But if they want the Home Audience to notice, they'd better start writing a Story.