Rhetorical Flourishes and Fizzles

Good speakers are rare. Great speakers are rarer, but rhetorical mastery should not be confused with sound principles and good ideas. We all have witnessed the nearly worshipful attention paid to Barrack Obama’s speechmaking skill when he was running for the presidency. Now that he has been in office for almost three years I assume that many of you share my vomit-in-the-mouth reaction whenever he approaches a microphone (usually every day) and engages in one of his repetitive, stammering and “uh-laden” painful addresses. His glaring weakness as a leader and his distorted priorities have demonstrated that eloquence alone is not enough for the leader of the free world---what’s left of it.

One of the more unfortunate aspects of our current political system is that people who speak well frequently say very little. Their verbal skills are directed towards disguising their true thoughts rather than revealing them. They have developed the ability to speak in “sound bite” fashion while failing to provide much detail that could open them to criticism. We citizens are somewhat responsible for the politicians developing that trait because of our short attention spans. We would rather have a brief unrefined answer than face the prospect of a long detailed explanation. As a consequence, some of our political speakers become frustrated by the short-answer format and respond with statements or ideas that may unsettle us. They have complexity and nuance to share, but mass media and our dismal listening habits combine to make their messaging difficult.

With 9 or more candidates vying for the Republican nomination we have an opportunity to compare and contrast rhetorical styles. Also, we have ample opportunities to analyze candidates’ statements for clarity and information. Each of the candidates has some unique attributes, but it is clear that some of them have either been coached or have diligently worked to hone their speaking style for the television/computer age. Others either shrug off the needed alterations for media type speaking or feel the need to thoroughly explain their positions despite the constraints imposed by the media and the audience.

To illustrate how the candidates vary with the rhetorical styles I will attempt to perform a “quickie” analysis of each of the GOP contenders. The two who have the most highly developed delivery styles in my view are Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich. There is a vast difference between them, however, because Romney’s utterances for the most part are designed to minimize potential damage whereas Newt’s are directed towards innovation. Both of them are conscious of time constraints, but Newt’s professorial style sometimes causes him to drift outside the suggested time limit. Mitt’s precise and clipped answers suggest a monumental rehearsal regimen, and he sometimes fails to utilize his entire allotted time. Herman Cain’s rhetorical toolbox is fast approaching the previous two. In the early stages of the campaign he left too many unanswered questions on the table, but as he becomes more comfortable in the spotlight, his answers and statements have been more fully developed.

Rick Perry has a plain folksy delivery, but when he delivers a statement or answers a question, he appears to circle before landing the punch line. Personally, I get frustrated with this approach because I prefer to have more “meat” in the sandwich rather than a lovely garnish with a small entrée. Michele Bachmann has adopted a combative style that seems to work for short bursts of intensity but at times appears to lack thorough substance. Rick Santorum, too, has an intense speaking style that slides into passion when he is particularly concerned about a specific issue. He has not mastered the short answer and appears compelled to filibuster with his passionate delivery.

Jon Huntsman seems to be groping for a rhetorical tool that he can call his own. When he attempts to portray intensity, he appears like a professor. Gary Johnson acts as if he were extremely frustrated…perhaps justifiably so because his positions get very little media notice and minimal face time at the debates. Dr. Ron Paul has the weakest rhetorical style of the nine candidates, but he wastes no words and lacks the slick methods one would expect from someone who’s been in the political arena for more than a quarter century.

Now that I have given you my interpretation of the speaking styles of the various GOP presidential candidates, I urge you to look and listen beyond the words. Parse the sentences and the statements. Are they real, solid and substantive, or are they elegant sounding fluff? Do NOT be fooled by well-coached meaningless rhetoric. We already have one of those in the White House, and we’re trying to get rid of him. It appears that the primary season will be sooner and shorter than it has been historically. That suggests that more people may be swayed by someone who is a “good speaker.” Sound principles, honesty, consistency and integrity are far superior criteria for choosing someone who could be our next president. Go past the words…..to the heart. It is your responsibility.

Comment:   cearlwriting@hotmail.com

www.littlestuff-minoosha.blogspot.com

Tue. & Wed., 6-7:00pm 1370 WSPD, Toledo  www.wspd.com

    

Littlestuff Weekender-7-9-2011

What a great time to be in Ohio. Fairs and festivals abound. Fantastic food and fun can be found nearby.  Ethnic celebrations, Homecomings and product specific events challenge the taste buds and expand our waistlines, but what a way to go.

We continue to hear murmurs of a debt ceiling/ budget deal. We hear that the GOP will allow some tax increases if the President promises to reduce spending. The rumors may be trial balloons to gauge the backlash for republicans if they were stupid enough to agree to such nonsense. My sense is that a deal will be struck, Boehner will gloat and Reid, Obama and the lefties will cheat. Our path toward fiscal disaster and social upheaval will continue unabated, and millions who naively placed their faith in GOP career politicians will be dismissed once more. Also, they’re discussing $4Trillion in spending reductions for the next 10 years, but if annual expenditures exceed income by $ 1 trillion per year, we add another $6 trillion to the debt in the next decade…if (BIG IF) they stick to the plan and keep their promises.

Personal note: If my father were still with us, he would be 92 on Sunday. I miss him.

It may seem contradictory, but I believe that politicians should be humble. Yes, they must possess a high degree of self-confidence and assertiveness just to seek office let alone hold the post. Humility is an acknowledgement that the person does not have all the answers and is willing to listen, to research and to seek better solutions. The opposite of humility is arrogance, and too many career politicians have it in abundance. Some people may enter public office as humble servants, but the time served and trappings of power seem to transform them into arrogant buffoons who will not countenance dissent. They are dangerous. Almost as dangerous is the empty-headed populist who nods and grins his way through a crowd and votes with the same level of sincerity. Every movement is a calculated political action with no consideration for principle or consequences. Both the arrogant elitist and the populist opportunist represent the type of culture that must be eliminated from our political scene, or we will not have any hope of restoring sensible Constitutional government to our nation.

It seems to me that our national economic situation continues to become more fragile. The only glimmer of good news this past week was that the printing presses at the fed were running more slowly because commercial activity had slowed. Fewer fiat dollars into the system is a good thing because our high indebtedness plus the earlier radical printing and pumping of money lead us inevitably to inflation. The stopping of the presses if only for moment does mean that fewer worthless dollars are floating around.

You may have noticed (or not) that our column is now being written and posted three times (3x) per week (M,W,F) plus the Weekender. I hope that we can maintain your interest as we go forward.

As we noted last week, we are filling our speaking schedule for August through December. Our primary topics are Liberty, Nullification and the Fair Tax, but if you prefer another topic, we can research it and deliver it with adequate advance notice. I always include humor in my presentations because I recognize it as a valuable tool for attention and retention.

The radio show, Eye on Toledo on 1370 WSPD, 6:00pm-7:00pm, Tuesdays and Wednesdays seems to be growing as I encounter people nearly every day who listen. My goal is to examine current issues through the prism of liberty. Sometimes we see a rainbow, and other times it looks like the mirror in the funhouse. As always, I appreciate your calls or your comments to the email address at the end of this column.   www.wspd.com

I’m often asked for permission to repost or print the Littlestuff column. Anyone can post, reprint or forward any column, any time. All I ask is attribution.

Went in for a root canal yesterday afternoon and had a tooth pulled instead, so the pain killers are not working so hot. Have a great remainder of the weekend. Monday’s column will be “Paying for Parties.”

Comments:    cearlwriting@hotmail.com      or     www.littlestuff-minoosha.blogspot.com

Littlestuff Weekender-2-19-2011

Here is our final installment of the enumerated powers from Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution.

To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not

exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the acceptance

of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise

like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in

which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and

other needful Buildings; And

To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the

foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of

the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.

That’s it. For four consecutive Saturdays we have copied short sections of the Constitution that identify what the federal government MUST do, and what its limitations are. You should note that some of the enumerated mandated federal powers are being ignored by the federales (namely controlling the monetary system and border security), and many other powers assumed by the feds are NOT within their Constitution purview. Does the term “out of whack” mean anything to you?

Reminder for all you who are affiliated with Liberty, Patriot, 912, We By For, and Tea Party-type organizations. I am eager to come to your meetings and do a presentation for you. Here are the topics that I speak about most often:

Nullification—VA & KY Resolutions, Tenth Amendment, Ninth Amendment

Principles of Libertarianism—what we share, where we might differ

The Fair Tax-How it changes the dynamic of federal taxation, and how it affects the taxpayers of the U.S.

Liberty-what is it? How did we achieve it? Do we have it? How do we preserve it?

MSRP—the price of Liberty

Off on a business trip today, so everything is posted early. Going to Novi, MI, and other stops.

The snow is nearly gone on the little Pat-Ch of Paradise, but we still have ten days of February and all of March to withstand. I suspect we’ll have some more.

Many of you, I’m certain, have been in a store that has a “You break it. You’ve bought it” sign. Shouldn’t that policy be directed towards our politicians and bureaucrats? Problem is, their “breaking” the country, state, local communities and schools has far exceeded their ability to pay. Moral of this insight: Don’t allow the grandkids to play with the expensive stuff.

The way that our jobs and employment situation is playing out, taxpayers should be placed on the Endangered Species List. Until the snail darter and the spotted owl pay “their fair share,” the taxpayers are becoming rarer.

Speaking of employment: You probably know that when someone stops looking for work, he/she is no longer counted as “unemployed.” So, economic theory (the discredited Keynesian variety) projects that as the economy improves, more people re-enter the job market. The result is that unemployment will go higher as jobs become more prevalent. For me, the bottom line is why not show the TRUE unemployment and underemployment figures all the time so that we don’t have to engage in this silly unrealistic numerical massaging so frequently? As you know, the answer is that the government doesn’t want you to know the truth. If you did, you might take to the streets and disrupt their cushy existences.

I’ve said this many times before. I come from an era when being a patriot meant that you trusted your government…you had faith that they would do the right things, the right way. Personally, I’ve lost that faith, and I DO NOT trust the government at any level about anything. Patriotism has been redefined for me as a passion for liberty, a rededication to Constitutional principles and governance, and a desire for this land to be free…from all threats….domestic, foreign and institutional.

Have a great weekend. Buckeye men’s basketball on CBS at 1:00pm tomorrow vs. Purdue (big game), and the women’s team plays at 5:00pm on ESPN2.

We’ll be back on Monday with more Littlestuff-minoosha as we purge ourselves of our political disgust.

Comment:  cearlwriting@hotmail.com   or    www.littlestuff-minoosha.blogspot.com

Face Book:   www.facebook.com/pages/Earl-for-Ohio/

Littlestuff Weekender-1-15-2011

Wow, this has been a week to forget. A loon attacks with murderous intent, and the lefties do the same. While I find…and always have found…their blame game deplorable, freedom lovers’ better wake up and be prepared. Their abysmal behavior is predictable, but there are a whole lot of folks out there who still get all of their news from the MSM. Responses must be timely, forceful and devastating.

Unlimited freedom is anarchy. Over restricted freedom is tyranny.

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There are limits for doing it our way. If we harm others or their property, then we should be subject to restitution and punishment. Freedom is an element that is God-given from the time of our birth…as a baby struggles to be born.

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For a believer freedom is a gift from God. For a secularist freedom is the natural state of humankind. For a statist freedom is an obstacle. The ultimate benefit of true freedom is the right to fail…the freedom to be wrong. When the Big Nanny state wraps us in her womb, we lose our freedom to stumble and fall, and more tragically, we lose our desire to take risks.

At noon today (Saturday) January will be half gone, and only six more weeks remain until March. I’ve had days in March (and April, too) when it felt like the depths of winter. But when we reach the 1^st of March, I begin to eagerly anticipate spring. Don’t know about you, but I’m ready.

When somebody complains about something being fair, hang on to your liberty. What’s fair about the Fairness Doctrine? It distorts the free market. Listeners or viewers will go where they want to go. If government forces artificial constraints just as it did prior to the mid-eighties, broadcasting will avoid risk, and all stations will sound/look alike.

My Golden Retriever, Frosty, can be a politician because he has no brain or testosterone producers plus he’s often seen on wild goose chases and expects me to take care of him.

Just ordered Dr. Thomas Sowell’s updated “Basic Economics.” Looking forward to reading it. Thanks to my beloved offspring for bookstore gift cards. Also a couple of history tomes by Pauline Maier. Now I’m working on selections for my Reader that Pat got me.

Next week I’ll be in Kenton on Monday (Jitterz, 7:00pm), Tiffin on Thursday (Camden Falls, 6:30) and on Monday, January 31^st, we’ll be meeting with the Upper Arlington 9-12 group at 6:00pm in the MCL Cafeteria at Kingsdale Shopping Center. For Kenton and Tiffin, I’ll be discussing the Fair Tax, and in Upper Arlington, I’ll present the principles of Libertarianism. If you can come to any (all if you wish) of these gatherings, please do so….and stop by to say “Howdy.”

In February we’ll be traveling as we go to Flint, Michigan on the 5^th and 6^th where we’ll address the Michigan Libertarian Party at their LibertyFest. On the 10^th through the 12^th we’ll be in Washington D.C. for the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). We’ll be writing our daily columns from there as well as collecting material for future ones. All in all, there will be about 10-12 thousand people there and some dynamic speakers from the small-government/liberty side of reality.

We are booking speaking dates for after February 15^th. We will study and address any issue or topic that you desire, but our strengths and preferences are Libertarian Principles, Nullification or the Fair Tax. Also, if any of you on the email list are forwarding the column or know of someone who may want to read it, just send their emails to me, and I’ll add them to the original list. Thank you. Back on Monday.

Earl4sos@gmail.com                        www.littlestuff-minoosha.blogspot.com

Littlestuff Weekender

Some notes and observations from the campaign trail:


We often drove several hours for a candidate forum whereupon we were allotted 2-3 minutes to sway the audience. Those time constraints required that we develop something memorable to catch the attention of the audience. Here are a few of our attempts to impress the people.

- “There are three reasons that you should vote for me—I’m old, I’m crazy and I’m angry!”

The “old” description was used to flashback to my previous service in the Legislature, adding how many of the people that I served with remain in politics, and emphasizing that things haven’t gotten better in the last quarter century.

The “crazy” descriptor was my justification for running statewide as a third/minor party candidate who believes that principle trumps party.

Finally, the “angry” highlighted my passion for cleaning the stable and restoring Constitutional government to Ohio.



- “Hi, I’m Charlie Earl, and I’m a radical extremist!”

I am radically ticked off that our career politicians, so-called public servants, have allowed the fiscal structure of our country and our state to drift and slide towards bankruptcy.

I am extremely angry that they have spent the wealth of future generations while expanding the Nanny State in an attempt to control our lives.



- (Usually a closer) “Remember, if you’re angry with career politicians, E.A.R.L., Earl is a four-letter word!”





We cherished the opportunity to travel our amazing state “all at once.” Like many of you, I have, over my lifetime been to many venues in our remarkable state, but to see all of it in 9 months was an eye-opener for me. While the Cinci-Dayton corridor and the Columbus-Delaware County areas appear to be doing quite well, the remainder of Ohio is hurting. I can recall driving along SR 104 and observing several rural homes “for sale.” Many of these were of modular construction, with a small shed or barn, and sitting on a 2-acre plot. They represented someone’s dream—a little country home with some room for the kids to roam. A dream that had gone sour.



As an advocate of free markets, I do not embrace the “bailout/debt-forgiveness” strategies of the left. I firmly believe that one of our greatest freedoms is the freedom to fail—to learn and to try again. In order for us to have ample opportunities to recover from our lapses, government must get out of the way, and stay out of the way.



Maybe I’m a Neanderthal, but it seems to me that the more helpful that government is, the less self-reliant the people become. As we observe the monstrous fiscal crisis that is on our doorstep, we wonder if three generations of government intervention have weakened the will, and the ability, of the people to fail, to learn and to try again.



It is my goal to continue my efforts to be an “Evangelist for Liberty” in the months ahead. If any of you need a speaker for your Tea Party, 912, Liberty or Patriot groups, Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions or Chamber of Commerce, please contact me. I promise you a stirring and uplifting message. Although I generally prefer to concentrate on Ohio, I will travel to Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Illinois. I will, in fact, be addressing the Conclave of the Michigan Libertarian Party on February 5th.



You can respond to this blog or schedule a speaking date by emailing:

Earl4sos@gmail.com

cnpearl@woh.rr.com