Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive Dissonance is defined as:
contradictory mental state: a state of psychological conflict or anxiety resulting from a contradiction between a person’s simultaneously held beliefs or attitudes
The Washington Post interviewed Mary Beth Cahill, Manager of Sen. John Kerry’s presidential campaign and former chief of staff to Sen. Edward M. Kennedy. In her remarks printed today she said this [emphasis mine]
Martha Coakley will win Tuesday because she will have a superior ground operation in a low-turnout election. But if she does not win, there will be a round of finger-pointing at the candidate and the campaign for the first several days.
Then the Democratic Party will step back and take a look at New Jersey, Virginia and Massachusetts and try to figure out what lessons to draw for the midterm election. Here is one: We will have to provide an answer to voters who think, “What about me?”
Cognitive Dissonance on display. IF Coakley loses THEN we’ll think about the votes who ask “What about me?” Left unsaid: ELSE…it’s business as usual. Mary Beth Cahill is NOT the exception in the Democrat world today…she is in lock-step with 99.999% of Democrat opinions I found this morning while researching this post. They are ALL looking at the mechanics of the campaign, and not the reason a Democrat awaiting coronation to “Teddy’s Seat” is having to [gasp] convince the voters to vote for her! This whole “democracy thingee” is just sooooo icky at times.
The Democrats believe they can foist an abysmal candidate on a restive population, refuse to even meet with the voters (outside Fenway or elsewhere), and return to business as usual if they provide enough literal muscle on election day. Instead of “If…then”, Mary Beth SHOULD have said: “Whether…”
That’s OK, Mary Beth, we’ll say it for you!
[1]
justrand—-
They just don’t get it!!!
They still think that a few right wing nuts are causing them problems and that America is still behind them.
They do not understand the anger Americans have for the far left liberal policies implemented by the Dems this past year.
They do not understand how poorly people rate Reid, Pelosi and Obama.
There in their own little KUMBAYA world.
[2]
From the Boston Herald
Brown now up 5 points
According to the latest Public Policy Poll, Scott Brown is now leading Martha Coakley by 5 points. And it has to be true.
Here are a few examples why we can believe Coakley is collapsing:
1. Overall her ads are negative attacks. Martha is not talking positively about why she should be our next United States Senator. Clearly her team believes the only way they can win is to bring down Scott.
2. On the other hand, the majority of Scott Brown ads are positive.
3. Obama had to come to Massachusetts to try to salvage her failing campaign.
4. The Coakley campaign is calling voters with a negative push poll. I have received numerous calls and emails from voters who have been offended by these negative calls.
5. The Brown campaign is overwhelmed by volunteers. They have had to turn away volunteers because they did not have enough phones.
With one day to go there is no way for the Democrats to stop the Coakley collapse! All of her negative ads and bitterness toward Republicans is not going to change how angry Commonwealth voters are with our elected officials. If there is one word to describe why Martha loses tomorrow, it is ARROGANCE. Before being elected she went arrogant by going on vacation, refusing to debate one-on-one, attending a lobbyist fundraiser in DC, and failing to actually campaign. Usually it takes a month in office before a Democrat becomes so pompous.
Massachusetts voters have had enough of arrogant Democrat officials. What have they given us?
1. An indicted Speaker
2. An indicted bra-stuffing Senator
3. An indicted groping Senator
4. A jailed Senator who claimed it was toothpaste that caused him to have a high blood alcohol level.
5. A failed Governor. He promised to cut property taxes, but instead raised the sales tax 25%. He held a jobs summit and concluded at the end to give small businesses loans which the state already does. Then there was the Marian Walsh job placement incident.
6. A completely clueless legislature. Do you remember the Senator who did not understand that the hack holidays of Bunker Hill Day and Evacuation Day cost taxpayer money? Or how about the Representative who went to New Hampshire to avoid the new taxes on alcohol? Personally I am offended by the ones that don’t file their tax returns.
Tell me what display of arrogance has motivated you to vote for Brown tomorrow.
[3]
MI Conservative: Bingo!
The Echo Chamber repeats their own words back to them and they sound sweeeeet!
Cahill’s “If…then” statement is echoed by dozens of Dem pols & pundits. They may indeed retain “Teddy’s seat” through sheer physical muscle and Midnight chicanery. BUT, as you said, they just don’t get it!
[4]
MI Conservative, the Boston Herald editorial is AWESOME…and spot on!
[5]
#1, Yep, on all counts.
[6]
The answer is Liberalism is a Disease. It can be cured like all behavioral diseases but the first step is for the afflicted to recognize they are sick. Unfortunately, just like the alcoholics hanging out in bars, gamblers in the casinos or Tiger Woods near white female golf/fame/money groupies, liberals will not recognize there is anything wrong or take the steps for a cure until they hit bottom. Unfortunately, just as so many lives are negatively impacted by the alcoholic, gambler, or Tiger Woods in their lives…the liberals amongst us will drag us to the bottom unless or until we take the steps to sever them from power.
What are these steps….
(1) Speak the truth — stop being PC and tell the truth about the liberals that they are corrupt racists who look down on the great masses of the population.
(2) Cut the cord – if liberals are showing no progress toward cure we must stop waiting around — stop reaching across the aisle because they are not moving to you.
(3) Stand our ground – The liberals will tell bombard us with all kinds of insults. Their tactics to stop us and regain control will be mental, spiritual, and emotional through verbal attacks, using guilt-trips and manipulation to keep us under control.
(4) Take care of ourselves first.
[7]
Good thread and thanks for the comments.
justrand, I hope you will make a post in the morning or tonight to make our final prediction totals for tomorrow. I’m sure Eph will say “It’s Over”
[8]
I love the picture of the SEIU FOLKS
[9]
These pics are Betternot-kidding/
[10]
Ya know there is one other factor to consider that I don’t see mentioned but maybe once or twice. The voters are tired. Tired of the Kennedy’s and their pack.
There has been a Kennedy doing something to Mass going back to the 40’s. Ted K. been doing so from the Senate for 25. So when the voters look around and see they have a chance to have a real campaign for the first time in a generation, why shouldn’t they not get excited? The fact that I could participate in a real live election race for once would get me pumped too if I lived there.
[11]
excellent pics, MI Conservative…thx!
drdog, just like people called Clinton “The first Black President”, Coakley tried to be “The First non-Kennedy Kennedy”. Oops!
[12]
What can candidates learn from Scott Brown and Bob McDonnell? Stay positive even in response to the negative ads. Deeds offered nothing but promises to support Obama’s agenda and being ugly negative about McDonnell. McDonnell did not go negative. In response to thesis issue McDonnell’s daughters went on the air with positive words about their father. Brown has run a positive campaign and was very positive in his response ad to the Coakley smears.
People are tired of the mud slinging because the independents in the middle generally see both parties as corrupt. If you are going to appeal to independents then you need to demonstrate a positive message.
People are also tired of blaming Bush. I find this the most interesting aspect of the polling questions out there — the number that now regret their vote for ZERO and would prefer to have McCain or Bush back in office.
[13]
MIC, those “SEIU for Brown” pics got me thinking of the bigger implication the represent (though y’all probably already thought of it):
Having active SEIU members working and voting for Brown makes it impossible for the SEIU to have any impact in those areas..and harder everywhere else.
very cool!
[14]
Coakley tried to be “The First non-Kennedy Kennedy”. Oops!
JR, man if that was the mental shtick for C(r)oakley then having Kennedy’s widow stick her nose in it was not exactly smart eh?
[15]
drdog, “great” moment in the campaign was when Kennedy’s widow (Vikki?) was speaking at a Coakley wake/rally and said: “I’m not here to tell you to vote for Martha in the name of Teddy”
Really? Then, uh, why should we listen to you?
[16]
Is it remotely possible that massotwoshiters are not a human sub species after all ? I guess even insanity runs it’s course.
[17]
p.s. I’ll make sure we (someone
) put a “Prediction Thread” up tonight!
[18]
Dr. Ip727…it’s too soon to declare the patient “Cured!”, sir.
[19]
Great justrand! I’ll hold my prediction till then.
judy-I sorta like the mud-slinging. It’s sorta of the American way of politics going back to the founding of the country.
What I don’t like is flat out lies in that mud-slinging.
[20]
Coakley must be NUTS
[21]
WOW! I just read the article at your link, MIC…and again: WOW!
There’s a scene in “The Verdict” (coincidentally set in Boston) where Paul Newman hands out his business cards at a funeral, asking the widow to contact him if she wants to sue!!!
Coakley’s plea for votes at a memorial to Martin Luther King went over just as well, apparently.
Brown’s comments afterwards were perfect!!
[22]
Matthews Plays Religion Card: Reminds Voters Brown Protestant, Coakley Catholic
By Mark Finkelstein
January 18, 2010 – 10:03 ET
How panicked is the MSM at the prospect of a Scott Brown victory tomorrow? So much so that Chris Matthews has stooped to seeking to use Scott Brown’s Protestant religion against him in heavily Catholic Massachusetts . . .
The Hardball host made his despicable pitch during a Morning Joe appearance this morning.
CHRIS MATTHEWS: But this election’s interesting. I don’t even know what religion–religion seems to play no role in this election, which is so unique in Massachusetts. Brown is a Protestant. Nobody’s even mentioned it—I guess I just did. And Coakley’s I guess a Catholic, although I don’t think that she sort of squares away that way in terms of her politics. So I mean it’s just so interesting: it’s sort of post-tribal.
As his nasty little laughter indicated, Matthews was acutely aware of what he was up to: attempting to appeal to “tribal” instincts. Can Matthews and the MSM sink much lower? Can you imagine the howls of liberal protest if a Republican pundit tried a similar stunt?
[23]
WE ARE DEMOKRATS WHO KNOW WE DONE WRONG,
PLAY OUR DEATH MARCH AS YOU CARRY US ALONG,
OH BEAT THE DRUMS SLOWLY,AND PLAY THE FIFE LOWLY,
WE HAVE FINALLY STEPPED ON OUR COLLECTIVE SCHLONG.
[24]
Great Video on why not to vote for Coakley
[25]
Ya know there is one other factor to consider that I don’t see mentioned but maybe once or twice. The voters are tired. Tired of the Kennedy’s and their pack.
~~~~
I think the good Dr. has a GREAT point here. Who in their right mind could oppose Ted Kennedy in Massachusetts? It’d be like, say, well, calling Curt Schilling a Yankee’s fan. Just Couldn’t Happen.
But Teddy’s death broke those chains. If I lived in Massachusett(e)s, and I wasn’t a die hard Dem, I’d be turning cartwheels that the seat opened up…to more than Dems and Kennedys.
Free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty, Free at Last!
ok. Don’t want to sound too mean to Kennedy, or to be sacriligious, either…Can’t speak ill of the dead and all that….
[26]
Collective schlong???
ip- you slay me!
[27]
ip, you slay us all! Bravo!
[28]
Jake Tapper has a pretty good read on the Scott Brown race….
And a stellar example of cognitive dissonance from the ZERO himself is found with this line from his speech…
This from the guy who has spent over 24 months if not longer demonizing President Bush and to be sure getting elected on the effectiveness of this demonization.
One of the defining characteristics of ZERO is that he believes he is the smartest guy in the room. The trouble is that in order for ZERO to believe this he must also believe that the rest of us are stupid. ZERO will soon discover that the American people are not what he thinks.
[29]
judy, I missed that Obama quote. you’re right, that’s an even better example of cognitive dissonance!
“I refuse to engage in name-calling, like that Red-neck son-of-a-bitch I’m running against!”
[30]
I thought I saw an article earlier, which I cannot find now, with a poll that indicated that only about 35% of registered Mass. voters plan to go to the polls tomorrow.
[31]
morning bc, How’s life in the SE part of the state?
BY William Kristol
January 18, 2010 10:11 AM
A Republican tracking poll shows—amazingly—a slight uptick for Scott Brown over the weekend. He leads—amazingly—outside the margin of error in virtually every turnout model. The “rape” charge seems to be backfiring among independent women. While there is some increase in partisan Democratic intensity, Democratic intensity still trails—amazingly—that of independents, who continue to break overwhelmingly for Brown. The internals of the poll all look okay.
Can it happen? Yes, it can.
[32]
I thought I saw an article earlier, which I cannot find now, with a poll that indicated that only about 35% of registered Mass. voters plan to go to the polls tomorrow.~~bc3b
Not to worry,the others will still have their ballots counted one way or the other, whether they vote or not.
[33]
Could I ask everyone’s opinion? And I’m serious.
What happened two weeks ago that caused Scott Brown to go from -30 to +5 in polls?
[34]
William Kristol has his amazingly thick head crammed so far up his amazingly tight butt,that it is amazing he can still breathe.
[35]
Obammer overload finally broke the camels back.
[36]
17. Thanks Just, I was wondering about that.
[37]
ip- You silver tongued devil. Even your descriptive sentences play like music to my ears! You can even imagine putting your words into pictures. You make Stephen King sound like an amateur.
[38]
33. Great NE GOP candidate + Awful DEM candidate
[39]
[40]
Two weeks ago two polls came out. Boston Globe still had a +17 for Coakley.
Rasmussen out of nowhere had it + 9 but statistically even with likely voters.
Did Scott Rasmussen pull a fast one and tilted the coverage with one poll? After that everyone started doing polls. Coakley was forced to talk and show her stupidity. She did not have a lot of mistakes until the debate and then she had diarrhea of the mouth and her decline started.
I’m sorta wondering about that Ras poll and it being a tipping point out of nowhere.
[41]
40. ITS RAS’ FAULT!!!! LOL
[42]
Interesting with the latest polls.
Almost all of them have Brown over 50% and Coakley stuck in the mid-40s.
Not a good sign if you are a moveon-Kos reader.
[43]
Eph, I can’t wait for your election prediction when that post goes up!
[44]
43, MIC,
I’m looking to forward to posting my predictions as well!
[45]
Let us not tempt fate, it ain’t over untill the fat lady sings.
[46]
what happened? The Perfect Storm!!
Brown NEVER stopped campaigning over the holidays…while Coakley took 10 days off (with minor appearances). Brown even worked the crowd at the exhibition hockey game at Fenway (something that later haunted Coakely)
as IP said: “Obammer overload finally broke the camels back.”
as EPH said: “Great NE GOP candidate + Awful DEM candidate”
Those three things forced Coakley out of the safe cocoon she had snuggled down into. And then she opened her mouth…
[47]
Coakley Phone-Bank this morning (actual video…no kidding). Hattip RedState:
[48]
#33 Its called CrappyCare and the reality of the D cramming down everyone’s throats hit hard about dec 15 when it became clear every D in the Senate would rollover on this…..
I think at that time a whole lot of people came to the same conclusion as I did – a Brown win was the only realistic way to block it as the D werent going to listen to the public short of full rioting in the street….
Even in MA, CrappyCare wasnt popular…..
Wisely, Brown made stopping CrappyCare the centerpiece in the campaign…..add to that all the rest – weak on terrorism, 10% unemployment, defiecet and high taxes everywhere, arrogance/abuse of power….and Brown is a decent guy and a good politican
Then you have the most remarkably arrogant and inempt politican to ever run for major office thats been seen in a while…..
In any case, that the best “rational” explaination I can come up with….
More or less, I am looking at it as devine intervention cause if a R does win in MA IS a MIRACLE LOL
[49]
WEC…I’m moving the “Justrand Meter” to “Cautiously Optimistic”!
Tomorrow may indeed by the “Scott Heard Round the World”, as some have dubbed it!
[50]
Don’t tell Martha, but the nonexistent Taliban just attacked Kabul.
(sorry to link MSNBC)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34916730/ns/world_news-south_and_central_asia/
KABUL – Taliban militants struck in the heart of the Afghan capital Monday, launching suicide attacks at key government targets in a clear sign the insurgents plan to escalate their fight as the U.S. and its allies ramp up their own campaign to end the war.
[51]
#44 I might just have to change my mind and agree with you if Brown wins – CrappyCare might be dead lol
Course the allure of massive power has the D still looking at having Nancy push thru HarryCare without changes as I posted last nite to avoid another Senate vote altogether…..
Most of the CW today say they wouldnt dare try it due to the “firestorm” against that……all I can say is, when has the CW been right about HC and since when have socialist lusting for power cared about public opinion over the past year…..but I would not put it past them to try as they are power-mad to the core….
Now I really do think this “firestorm” thing will be a level of anger and action that makes all before it seem like a mild warm up act…..just sayin’
[52]
#49 Me too – I cant get too happy or I screw up the Karma…..not that there is such a thing as karma really lol
Just that, yeah it does seem way too good almost to be beleived……but poll after poll after poll has shown a small but consistent Brown lead so it could happen
[53]
#50 That must be the “vacationing Taliban” as there are no terrorist in Afganistan lol
Marcia is way smarter then us truck driving shleps and couldnt be wrong lol
[54]
MI,
The other thing is C(r)oakly is not an affable ‘press the flesh’ type of candidate. So long as she had a strong lead, 10+, she could afford to let the mechanics run the show and keep her mouth shut. Once the race got under 10 she had to come out of the shadows and start talking. As soon as she opened her mouth she was dead meat.
[55]
47, I love the video. I would love it even more if I knew it was shot yesterday! My moderating observation is most likely there was no school today state wide in Mass. So the NEA office was closed. But that’s good, it means no NEA goons trying to drum up support.
But the video does raise a good question. Everybody is saying the Dims will have a great ground game. But wait! Did anybody plan for it? 2 weeks ago C(r)oakly was a given so why worry about a ground game? Bet everything they are doing right now is slap dash to try and recover. Gut says the Dims have no ground game, they thought they did not need it.
[56]
#54 The funny feeling I have is that if this went on another week it would only get worse for her as you point out……she seems to have lost all connection with reality and the human race……win or lose, I will miss enjoying Marcia’s daily gaff…..I wake up and say to myself, ok what can that lady do today to make things worse…..then I think, well it cant happen everyday can it?……but it does lol…..the gift that keeps giving……
I think thats one think everyone everywhere is in agreement on – that lady is a terrible campaigner…….
[57]
Wylie,
I get a real different sense of things. Piggy P pretty much carried the water for HC and did all the heavy lifting while the WH did diddly. I could see a personality response from her — “Take your suggestion and the pony you rode in on little man and trot it into the Potomac! My way or the highway bub.” Piggy P can’t just wave her hand and its done. She as coalitions to consider that aren’t all on her side in this matter.
[58]
WEC, 56,
Hmmm. Maybe she and Biden could team up and do stand up comedy?
[59]
Those Jihadi tourists are the bomb aren’t they? They fly in, eat all your food, then blow the place up. What a great guest. I wonder if they get extra frequent flyer miles?
[60]
#59 ROFL!
[61]
drdog, Marissa’s point was that they’re NOT “terrorists”…they’re “Freedom Fighters”.
Problem solved. Of course, your Jihadi Tourism angle works too!
[62]
MI Conservative — I think it is that Scott Brown campaigned his butt off and Martha Coakley thought she believed the primary win was her coronation to King Teddy’s seat. Basic human nature is that most people don’t like being taken for granted or used
[63]
judy: “Basic human nature is that most people don’t like being taken for granted or used”
Then how do you explain the Democrat Party, huh?
[64]
47 – The clock in that video appears to read 3am.
[65]
3:45-3:50am’ish actually.
[66]
Justrand…in response I said human … some of the unique traits of human beings include….large brain size compared to body size and expanded planning and problem solving abilities. Reduce the brain to body ratio and the eliminate the planning and problem solving abilities and you will have a democrat.
[67]
judy…well THAT explains it!
[68]
MI
He is an OUTSTANDING candidate, knows how to sell, knows how to market, knows how to persuade
Lovely family, he is positive and optimistic, he is the MODEL for what we need to do, going forward
Imagine if Bush could have marketed like this…???
[69]
Yea… but it will not be long before Brown as the model candidate is twisted by the RINOs, left of center statist light crowd trying to foist more Scuzball type “con”didates in place of strong conservatives.
[70]
Well, he is too liberal. Not for Mass, for the country.
he is the MODEL for what we need to do, going forward
Imagine if Bush could have marketed like this…???
Yeah. We’d have amnesty and be a solid blue one party state.