The Strategy that Always Fails
Remember back in 2004 where John Kerry tried to beat George W. Bush? And he lost! You could wonder why though, cause Bush, let's face it, wasn't doing well, his opinion polls were only going one way, and that was down. But yet he won the election and got re-elected!?
Nah, it is not Bush's fault he won, it is Kerry's fault he lost. He used the old failure strategy "Anyone But..."
Let me explain how it works. A prime minister or president as made some somewhat controversial things during his time in office, but still have the change of getting re-elected. He is a divider of the country, some people strongly agree with him, some strongly disagree with him. It all makes sense. Real world examples: George W. Bush or the current prime minister of Denmark, Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
So what does the opposition do? They use the "Anyone But" strategy. They base their campaign as an alternative to current government. Yes, it is nice that you are an alternative. But don't say you are one, be one! The opposition in Denmark have failed the last two attempts (elections) to get Mr Rasmussen out of office, because their campaign was focused on their alternative, and for a long while, the largest party in the Opposition did not appear to be standing for anything.
In the USA, the Democrats used the same method, at the time the Bush administration had started two wars, and the one in Iraq had been especially criticised. It appear to be the obvious opportunity to throw him off the post. But when you continue to illustrate the leader as "bad", people are going to feel sorry for the man. In fact, the more you try to frame someone, the more likely it is people are going to sympathise with them.
Let me tell you the story of Castro and Cuba. Castro is a dictator, let's face that. Why don't his people revolt against him? Because his military is too powerful? Hardly, they actually like him. Let me rephrase that, they support him. They don't necessarily like him. The USA's constant mocking of Castro and Cuba is what have kept Castro in power. If there had been no trade embargo, he may not have led the country today.
But the problem with the strategy is what makes me think about the current election in the USA, and why McCain may be the president next year. Why? The Democrats are not able to use the situation fully. In fact, the Republicans have managed to mobilise despite the Bush administration giving the a bad reputation in general. The candidates of the Republicans appear exactly what the Democrats should appear as; alternatives. They don't say they are alternatives, but they are. Saying "time for a change" is not saying you're an alternative.
What must Clinton and Obama do? If I knew that, then perhaps they should hirer me as their strategist. But let us see what happens when Super Duper Tuesday ends in a matter of hours.