The Volokh Conspiracy

Once you've seen the Bush-Blair Endless Love video, everything pales in comparison.

'Turn and face the strange . . . '

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G980aLrAwoM

" . . . Ch-ch-ch Changes"

Or just change?

http://snltranscripts.jt.org/88/88achangebank1.phtml

I've noticed an interesting tidbit out of political reporting -- reporters are assigned to a single candidate, generally for the whole cycle. Which means they hear the stump speech, day-in and day-out. That breeds a certain...boredom...that seems to find it's way out in their writing. ("I'm sick of talking about the thing the candidate says in every freaking speech. Why won't he change his speech? I'm bored. Let's talk about his hair, or his obsession with 9/11, or his manly scent, or something else").

This video reminded me of that. Most voters don't really follow the candidates as often. Few so much as see a single speech -- and god knows, with the pitiful state of news and political reporting these days, repetition is about the only way to get your message out.

So I try not to give candidates crap for repeating themselves -- whether it's Guiliani's "9/11" or Edwards "Son of a Mill Worker" schtick, in the end most people only hear it once. That's why they repeat it so often.

I think at least some of the craptacular media reporting would clear up if they stopped following the candidates from stump to stump speech. I'm sure Romney, Clinton, and Obama are all equally sick of their own speechs by now -- they're just not being paid to find "new angles" every day on what is, essentially, a total repeat of yesterday.

In the same vein:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXnO_FxmHes

I agree with the argument that politicians need to repeat themselves to get their message out. On the other hand if every single politician in the race has the same "message" I'm not sure how informative the continued repetition is. This seems much more politicians attempting to lay claim to a word that tests well in focus groups.

As for the video itself I enjoyed the change from political statement to musical politics, very nicely done.

I forget. Which poll said voters want change, now?

If I am elected, I promise a chicken in every pot and a change machine on every corner.

Sorry VC but this is old news. Still funny on the 4th view.

I think they should all bank here.