So, what exactly is the definition of "electable?"

[begin_within]

This is a buzzword that is tossed around so much on the airwaves lately that I think the definition of it needs to be clarified.

[Swamp Rat]

1. It's a word the M$M uses to suppress any support for Dennis Kucinich and his platform for holding

THEM accountable.

[Maven]

2. Probably could be broken down to this:

1) Photo/telegenic
2) Strong speaker / public persona
3) Nondescript policies likely to offend no one

:shrug:

[greenvpi]

3. It means old white man(ntxt)

[kevinbgoode]

16. Thank you. . .

I'm getting real sick and tired of listening to that endless crap about "ONLY" old white males being eligible for election to the Presidency. For this country's entire history, our highest offices have been held by people representing less than 35% of the country's population. Yet we are constantly being told that we MUST continue putting THEM into office because THEY won't vote for anyone else. Well, fu*k that.

I've actually run across people who have claimed that we MUST elect a white male for the presidency because HE will "think of everyone" where a woman or a person of color will pander to their own race. Of course, the moron who said that (and yep, he's a white male) apparently can't put together any knowledge of the history of his own country. Like most con-artist con-servatives, he talks a great game of patriotism, yet doesn't know squat about the tyranny of the minority.

It's time this country get off the toilet and face a stark reality. Either we believe in our Constitution or we don't.

[Jemmons]

4. Its shorthand for "someone that we [the media] will let you know about

and possible vote for".

[leftofthedial]

5. the corporate media means "someone our owners refuse to vet"

Campaign X means "candidate Y"

Campaign Y means "candidate Z"

Campaign Z means "Candidate X"

[McCamy Taylor]

6. I know one thing. I doesn't equal either Huckabee or Romney.

:nopity:

[Breeze54]

7. Electable means agreeing to keep the powers that be happy & wealthy...

ie. M$M, Big Pharma, Wall Street, Energy Co's

:grr:

I like Swamp Rats definition!

[baby_mouse]

8. Teeth. It's all about the teeth.

Good teeth are the key to electability.

[backscatter712]

9. No, you've got to be very tall and have great hair.

Ideally, the hair will turn the right shade of silver as it ages.

Listen to the wisdom of Scott Adams.

[backscatter712]

10. George W. Bush sets the bar for electability.

Even a psychopathic, narcissistic twit with a chimp-like face, addiction issues and a room temperature IQ (in Celsius) can be "electable" if he has the right asshats with money and power pulling all the strings for him.

Face it. Kucinich, even with his quirks, runs circles around Bush. Yet Kucinich is considered "unelectable" while Bush gets the hot seat in the Oval Office.

What does this tell you about who's "electable"?

[Naturyl]

11. Someone that Joe Six-Pack could plausibly vote for

Joe knows little or nothing about politics or the issues beyond a few things he's picked up from TV. Joe doesn't feel strongly about anything in particular except himself and his own family. Joe is not a progressive, an evangelical, a Green, or anything else. He is just a "regular guy," and he wants somebody who looks and sounds pretty much "normal" and who says the particular things he wants to hear (generally the things his family taught him were "right"). He's a moderate Dem, a moderate Puke, or an independent. Sometimes he skips elections.

EDIT: It also has to be someone Joe could "have a beer with." Such a candidate must able to exchange lowbrow jokes with Joe, relate to his his work-a-day life credibly, and not ruin it with too much boring "smart stuff." This is VERY IMPORTANT. Anti-intellectualism is HUGH in this country.

[kevinbgoode]

17. I agree. . .

But I would just...for ONCE...like to see this MSM explain that Joe SixPack is a MINORITY in this country, and that we must pander to that minority in order to elect a President.

[Naturyl]

19. Joe 6 is a minority?

I'm pretty sure that is contradicted by the nature of statistics. The "average" individual is always in the majority, by default. Otherwise, he would not be average.

[kevinbgoode]

21. Joe = generally a MALE name. . .

that would constitute a minority in this country right away. Someone who Joe could have a "beer with" is another subset of that minority. Then, by the time you start subtracting the number of "average" men who know little or nothing about current events, etc., that minority status becomes even more pronounced. Joe is also an Anglo/white name. What image do people have when they visualize the "average Joe Sixpack?" A Hispanic or African-American? An Asian? A woman? A member of the GLBT community?

It seems to me that those "average Joe" cliches are used to subtly perpetrate the claim that the minority which dominates our corporations and our government continues to be the minority which must be pandered to. It makes sense that it comes from a media overly dominated by representatives from that same minority.

[Raine]

12. It's the tallest one

that gets elected so that makes that person "electable" :think: :D

[Naturyl]

13. Nah, Kerry was taller than Shrubby

It's the "have a beer" factor. Anti-intellectualism.

Kerry, of course, was the worst possible choice on this score. The man is cerebral, nuanced, and rational. Horrors!

EDIT: Bill Clinton was a genius too, but he was politcally savvy enough to make sure it was WELL hidden. The beer factor, Big Macs, and the saxophone. Those things are what made the Big Dog "electable."

[Le Taz Hot]

14. The term is irrelavent.

People need to vote their conscience, therefore, electability should never be a consideration.

[Perry Logan]

15. "Able to beat the Republican hack."

[cali]

18. this year it means a candidate who can bring

lots and lots of new voters in which will make it impossible for the pukes to steal.

[Naturyl]

20. Both Edwards and Obama could do that.

Hillary? Meh... not so sure.

[cali]

22. I agree. Both JE and BO could bring in large numbers

of indies- though I don't think JE has the pull with younger voters BO has. Hillary? Just can't do it.

[rucky]

23. If we knew, everybody would be doing it.

I think it means likeable.