As much is I hate to say it, the 2020 campaign was well underway at least 23 months before the election will be held, and the percentage of media time focused on it is already accelerating exponentially. I hate even more to say that “breather” periods in news and entertainment media are a thing of the past — i.e., those brief but refreshing periods when a person could just receive “news” content without every facet of it being expressed in political terms [I usually put “news” in quote marks because all “news” is a mixture of real news and fake news, and the consumer of it must decide which is which.] Even the small amount of network and cable entertainment that does not in its content have indirect if not blatant political undertones is disproportionately sponsored by political ads.
As I’ve heard the statements and remarks of candidates [both announced and not yet announced] in the rapidly-increasing cadre during speeches and interviews, I have developed a valuable screening tool for my my readers. The tool is a lexicon of words and phrases that will undoubtedly be used by many if not all candidates between now and Election Day. I’ll start with a brief description of how this valuable tool can be used to save you a lot of time and frustration, and then present the lexicon itself.
How To Use The Lexicon
This tool can save those who use it a lot of time and frustration if used properly. Simply memorize it or keep it handy in places where you access media. Whenever a candidate is speaking or writing, just watch for uses of words or phrases in the lexicon. If within the first minute or two the candidate uses as many as three of these words or phrases, there is no need to continue reading / listening / watching. The entire speech is a standard, carefully-worded political speech designed to gain support through the “charisma” the candidate and his/her donors believe can propel him/her into the office being sought. This same logic applies to a candidate’s responses to questions in an interview.
The Lexicon
Now, for the lexicon itself. Notes: 1) words and phrases in bold italics are “red flag” items [standard campaign terminology for standard politicians;] and 2) words and phrases enclosed in brackets [<>] are to be filled in by the reader.
| Word / Phrase / Sentence | Meaning |
| We need to put politics and party behind us and work together to solve problems. | Put my party in full power and we’ll get things done — and they’ll be the right things. |
| I’m a <party name> because it best represents our values, but I have demonstrated that I can reach across the aisle to get consensus … | I will make statements in public that present this image, but I will doggedly push my party’s agenda unless doing so would potentially adversely affect my reelection prospects — in which case I may at least attempt to negotiate with the other party. |
| [When asked what they consider a “loaded question …] The real question we should be asking ourselves is <anything to avoid a direct answer.> | I ain’t fallin’ into that trap to give you sound bites that can be used against me, so I’ll use this free media time to pontificate and recite to your audience as many lines as possible from my party’s talking points script. |
| This is not a Democrat or a Republican issue; it’s an American issue. | My party’s position on this issue is the right one, and best represents the interest of all Americans. |
| This not a political issue; it’s a moral issue. | My party’s position on this issue is the right one, and best represents our morals. |
| This is not who we are. | Whatever the other party’s position on this issue, ours is the exact opposite, and our position best depicts who we are as a country. |
| We need to drain the swamp [or we’re not finished draining the swamp.] | Truly draining the swamp would mean getting rid of people like me, too, and that would not be good for the country. What we need is cooperation that leads to consensus. Reaching that noble goal in this election is doubtful, but elect me and I’ll at least try as long as doing so doesn’t jeopardize my party’s agenda or adversely affect my reelection in the election after this one. |
| We are the party of <inclusion, tolerance, healthcare, income equality, fair taxes, the middle class, motherhood and apple pie, …> | We are the only party that espouses these [and other of the noblest] values. Put us in power and you’ll have them in your leadership. Put the other party in power and you won’t. |
| They are the party of homophobes, Islamaphobes, xenaphobes, misogynists, … . | If you are among the victims dealing with these attitudes among “those people,” electing members of my party is the only way you can see them mitigated. |
Well, there you have it. I may write some posts over the next — regrettably — twenty months with updates to this lexicon as the unfolding campaign reveals more items that should be included. Any such updates, as with this initial release, will be at no extra charge 😊, offered as a service to my country ✌️.
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Charles M. Jones
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WOW1 Well done Charles!!! SPOT ON!
But how about a truly revolutionary campaign “lexicon” that has no alternative meaning, that is, “WHAT WE NEED IS A FIFTH AMENDMENT CONVENTION OF STATES”.
Plain talk will do it everytime 🙂
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