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The Republican Race for the Presidency: The Greatest Book-Selling Scam in History

by William K. Wolfrum 12/9/2011 - 10:56 am   |

The race to the GOP nomination has very little to do with actually winning the Presidency, and much more to do with selling books. Just about every GOP contender has a new book, or books out, as well as other Republicans connected with the GOP race.

A quick rundown:

Newt Gingrich: “The Crater” & “A Nation Like No Other”

Callista Gingrich: “Sweet Land of Liberty”

Mitt Romney: “No Apology: The Case for American Greatness”

Rick Perry: “Fed Up”

Herman Cain: “This Is Herman Cain! My Journey To The White House”

Donald Trump: “Time to Get Tough”

Ron Paul: “Ron Paul Family Cookbook”

Michele Bachmann: “Core of Conviction”

President Barack Obama had success weaving his books – including “Dreams of My Father” and “The Audacity of Hope” – into his 2008 run for President. But the Republicans have taken it one step further, with all of them incorporating book signings into their campaigns.

Basically, the GOP field and assorted hangers ons and spouses, have used the Republican Presidential race  as a way to sell books and line their pockets. George Will - “Mr. Cain, who used this as a book tour, in a fundamentally disrespectful approach to the selection of presidents.” – hit the nail on the head regarding Cain. But the fact is, all the candidates are doing it.

This isn’t a political campaign any longer for the GOP. It’s a book-selling scam.

–WKW

Crossposted at William K. Wolfrum Chronicles

I'll be writing a book about this phenomenon, if Genghis hasn't beaten me to it.

by Donal 12/9/2011 - 11:36 am

I have found a different reading list for the Holidays:

55 Ways To Receive Monies From Federal, State and Local Programs That You Will Never Have To Pay Back, By Michele Bachmann.

75 Ways To Use Your Old Governmental Employee ID In Order To Extract Hundreds of Millions of Dollars From Private Corporations, By Newton Gingrich.

95 Ways To Use The Federal Bankruptcy Laws To Split-Up Recently Procured Businesses by Breaking Down Those Businesses into Component Parts, Throwing Employees Onto the Streets and Pocketing Hundreds of Millions of Dollars, By Mitt Romney.

and

Why I Love God and God Loves Me, By Rick Santorum.

 

 

by Richard Day 12/9/2011 - 12:14 pm
And coming soon:

HEY, IT IS TIME WE HAD A MILF FOR PRESIDENT! By Sara Palin

by CVille Dem 12/9/2011 - 8:43 pm (re: Richard Day)

Is this sexist tripe really necessary?

Since when did Palin promote herself sexually for the office?

And isn't it obvious that she was much more charismatic than any of the Republicans running for office last time or this? (or Obama this time around, for that matter)

Or that oddly enough she seems more qualified when on stage than vaunted Rick Perry or Herman Cain?

 

by PeraclesPlease (not verified) 12/10/2011 - 6:22 am (re: CVille Dem)

Though true to this post, she was a master at quick self-promotion, reaping big bucks for herself & daughter, while aligning herself quickly with the Tea Party for results. Her star has faded, but then so has McCain and Newt and a host of other "serious politicians". Imagine if Sarah had shelled out for bling at Macy's in the hundreds of thousands like Newt did, instead of gasp, clothes for campaign appearances. You know those females, they just can't help spending frivolously.

by PeraclesPlease (not verified) 12/10/2011 - 6:25 am (re: PeraclesPlease)

You know those females, they just can't help spending frivolously.

Neither can that blow-dried poof, Edwards, if I recall the arc of scandal past (apparently, that isn't the *only* thing he can't avoid doing frivolously ;)

Your point really doesn't seem to have a whole lot of credibility though. I mean, you learned about Newt's issues the same way you learned about Sarah Palin's. Newt isn't a national candidate yet ... do you think if he becomes one that the issues won't be rolled out center-stage again? And if he doesn't are you really comparing apples and oranges?

Also, don't you think that when someone pops up out of nowhere to stand for the second-highest office in the land - literally, secretly whisked from Alaska and presented at the convention as a first introduction - that EVERY minor detail would (and should) be amplified just because of the small amount of available data and the exceedingly short period of time a nation had to scramble and assemble enough information about who the woman actually was to make an semi-informed choice (and subsequently gage just how fucking insane John McCain must be to select her).

I never got your thing with her. Still don't.

by kgb999 12/11/2011 - 3:28 am (re: PeraclesPlease)

It's simple - the fact that she has a vagina or was a state Miss some years ago is irrelevant. That she used that Miss title as a college scholarship shouldn't be insulted (e.g. did she really exploit her looks so that MILF is warranted? They got the 60+ year old Hillary for showing "too much cleavage" ) That people (including the moronic press) couldn't get straight the basic number of schools Palin went to just shows standard smear tactics. And she did get a degree and achieved reasonable success as a TV announcer.

That every bit of her caretaking of her children was analyzed was basically unfair, as Obama managed to work out of a different state/district than his kids, and no one asked him, "aren't you neglecting your kids?"  That she spent money on clothes during a campaign was again sexist - no one bothered McCain about his expensive shoes, which he needs to be on his feet. Her job was to come out of nowhere and mesmerize people - that takes a lot of support, including the right wardrobe.

That she was very good at coming out of nowhere and rousing a crowd was scary (and competent - more competent than Kerry in that regard).

That her handle on issues was tentative and facile was obvious - and should have been easy prey. However, she's very good at memorable slogans/soundbites, and her opponents spent most of their time digging into family trivia than confronting her unworkable.

[The "what is the Bush doctrine" was a "gotcha" question. Was it to pre-emptively attack & invade countries you don't like? Whisk people off to torture? Occupy the entire Mideast for its oil? Move to mercenary military-for-hire tied to large corrupt sole-source contracts? Support the rich by unsustainable tax cuts? I'm still not sure.]

That she quit her job as governor and has been a total flake in ditching her "presidential bus tours" should be bashed as many times as needed. And while her attempt at latching onto the Tea Party has been relatively successful, she should fail by the same standards where the Tea Party fails. Of course many Dems can't seem to figure out the Tea Party is still winning even while theoretically losing. It's depressing.

 

by PeraclesPlease (not verified) 12/11/2011 - 6:33 am (re: kgb999)
Sara Palin -- qualified? She was and is an ignorant person, who has perhaps a better memory than Rick Perry, and a smoother delivery than Herman Cain. "Sexist tripe?". If Sara looked like Angela Merkel you would not know who she is because she would still be sitting in Wasilla, trying to see Russia from her front porch.
by CVille Dem 12/10/2011 - 8:06 am (re: PeraclesPlease)

If Mitt Romney looked like Ross Perot, he'd be nowhere near the presidency.

Does that mean we talk about fucking him now?

by PeraclesPlease (not verified) 12/10/2011 - 9:17 am (re: CVille Dem)

Perot is WAY hotter than Mitt.

Hot: Perot, Perry, Cain, Dole, Huntsman, Putin, Sarkozy.

Not: Gingrich, Santorum, Romney, McCain, Cameron.

by Rootman 12/10/2011 - 9:52 am (re: PeraclesPlease)

Aaargghh, should have known this incantation would bring you out of your den.

Back on your pole, dude, back on your pole. Now I've got Sarah & her Hot 7 dwarves/giants dancing through my head.  Plus Ross' dobermans as a DVD extra.  (hmmm, McCain could be a stunt double there. And perhaps a free bag of Santorum with every purchase?)

by PeraclesPlease (not verified) 12/10/2011 - 10:01 am (re: Rootman)

You're insane.

I'd fuck Romney.

by Qnonymous (not verified) 12/10/2011 - 12:46 pm (re: Rootman)

Nobody said you wouldn't.

by Rootnonymous (not verified) 12/10/2011 - 2:18 pm (re: Qnonymous)

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah manlove. hahahahaahahahahah

You ever notice how the grey in his hair just highlights his....

OH NEVER MIND!

by Richard Day 12/10/2011 - 8:15 pm (re: Qnonymous)

Manlust ... total walk of shame territory.

by kgb999 12/11/2011 - 2:57 am (re: Richard Day)

Totally depends on personal taste. The Mittster has the all-American white bread Arrow-shirt guy thing, with cool reserve and no baby fat. You know, Robert Redford as Jay Gatsby character. Some are known to find that type very hot.

You know W's famous "Mission Acccomplished" photo op? if Hollywood were doing it, they would hire a Mittster look alike, no?  Like President Whitmore, the former pilot in Independence Day.

by artappraiser 12/10/2011 - 4:25 pm (re: Rootman)

Dole? Wait. Wut?

by kgb999 12/11/2011 - 3:31 am (re: Rootman)

Well, I would certainly nominate her for most winktacular vice presidential nominee I've personally observed.

And Rick Perry? Ok. But at some point it became a valid question if the man has had a stroke or something ... bad flashbacks to the later years of Regan, IMO.

Herman Cain I would place as her exact equivalent in every way that matters for a candidate ... with the exception that he had not had the opportunity to demonstratively abuse the powers of an elected office before unleashing his buffoonery upon America.

by kgb999 12/11/2011 - 3:15 am (re: PeraclesPlease)

Depends on which abuse of powers - the tanning room she paid for.

by PeraclesPlease (not verified) 12/11/2011 - 6:38 am (re: kgb999)

Oh Jesus forgive me I know not what I do...

But I hereby render unto CVille the Dayly Line of the Day Award for this here Dagblog Site, given to all of her from all of me. hahahahahahahah

by Richard Day 12/10/2011 - 8:13 pm (re: CVille Dem)
Thank you, DDay!!!!!!! This is my second such award from you! (The first was over at TPM). I am honored!!!!
by CVille Dem 12/11/2011 - 9:51 am (re: Richard Day)

No Democratic candidate would ever do anything like that.

{Edit: in case the distinction between this book the other two Obama titles mentioned isn't clear, this title was released in what can only be described as a marketing approach fully positioned to capitalize on what was a foregone decision to make a run for president (pretty much like Herman Cain's). And, while I'm not knocking Obama's tender thoughts regarding his daughters ... he even released this book from the White House (possibly donating proceeds to a cool charity?). Now, this might be misconstrued to be implying that indeed Democrats are no different than republicans. But upon deeper inspection, not necessarily so, it seems perhaps equally plausible that Barack Obama is, deep-down, 97% republican.}

by kgb999 12/11/2011 - 2:45 am

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