Political spin control is a necessary skill for maneuvering through the ever-changing landscape of partisan politics.
When wielded by an expert politico, s/he can bend the passions of the populace to their will. But when someone arguably unskilled (to the point of it being comical) plies the craft to the point of straining the bounds of credulity, the results are often hilariously absurd.
Indeed, political observers often see the hilarious lengths to which awkward partisans will go to excuse and justify the bad behavior of their political allies; it can be completely ludicrous.
Recent examples emerged from both sides of the political aisle recently.
On the left, news of President Joe Biden's possession of classified documents both at the University of Pennsylvania center that bears his name and the Delaware garage that bears his Corvette is but the latest example of political hypocrisy.
"What were you thinking?"asked Peter Doocy; it was a veiled shot at President Biden's own appalled reaction to news that former President Donald Trump retained classified information within his Mar-a-Lago compound.
Of course, President Biden chose to spin like a top instead of owning the unforced error that he made.
You may also wish to consider, albeit with incredulity, Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga. and his dizzying defense of President Biden which was reminiscent of Hillary Clinton's claims of a vast right-wing conspiracy.
"Alleged classified documents showing up allegedly in the possession of Joseph Biden ... I'm suspicious of the timing of it," Johnson said. "I'm also aware of the fact that things can be planted on people ... things can be planted in places and then discovered conveniently.
"That may be what has occurred here. I'm not ruling that out."
I half-expected Johnson to blame it all on a one-armed man. After all, Johnson is the man who openly questioned in a congressional hearing whether increased troop presence on Guam would cause the island to capsize.
This is the man who equated unionization of workers to, um ... little people fighting a giant. He would later apologize for using the "M-Word," only to use that term again within his mea culpa.
On the other side of the aisle sits newly-minted Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y. Or, at least we think that's his name.
Santos has been embroiled in scandal stemming from discovery of numerous purported lies concerning this claims of education, religion, employment, and even familial matters, is the star of a 2019 video filmed at a "Walk Away LGBT" event.
In the video, he introduces himself as "Anthony Devolder," the supposed founder of an organization called "United for Trump," an organization which, according to the New York Post, does not seem to exist.
Santos has been the subject of much consternation and handwringing within Republican circles. And that was before photos of him in drag emerged! Many, including the party leadership in his home county on Long Island, have called for his resignation.
But on the other hand, others urge Santos to remain, citing the support Democrats lend to embattled politicians as the goose to their gander. Sure, they say: Santos is a buffoon. Sure, Santos has done wrong.
Let's consider also, Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., who was never sanctioned for her own antisemitic remarks. And let's not forget about Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and his missteps representing his purported Vietnam record. He remains in the U.S. Senate.
Meanwhile, Republicans like Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Paul Gosar of Arizona got booted from committees as Republicans stood idly by and let it happen.
Where does it end, they ask? Why should Republicans hold themselves to a standard that Democrats do not? But that's an argument for another day.
The point I want to make is that spin from both sides infects our current civil discourse with a familiar tribal maxim: that there is no truth but power.
In such a dysfunctional setting, the political buffoons emerge from all sides, rendering responsible governance nearly impossible.
Thus, the partisan cycle perpetuates itself: "they" do it, so "we" can do it, and so on until both sides of the partisan divide are littered with nothing but political buffoons who stand for absolutely nothing but their own lust to rule.
Why should "we" all uphold standards when "they" do not?
Because the perpetuation of American society demands it. The devolution of political discourse has more than the latest balance of political power at stake; that's small potatoes in the grand scheme of things.
The political battle of our time is to stop the exponential proliferation of dummies, dimwits, deviants, and dullards from controlling America's destiny. Have we all forgotten the heavy responsibility of the stewardship of this great American experiment bequeathed to us from our Founding Fathers on down to past generations?
To break the "spin" cycle, character must matter again; personal courage must matter again. Or, the spin will continue and we will all permanently lose our way.
Gene Berardelli is a street-smart trial attorney who, through his time as the Law Chair of the Republican Party in Brooklyn, New York, has developed a solid reputation as an election attorney successfully representing conservative candidates. To read more of his reports — Click Here Now.
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