Great article Susan. I'll never get over Hillary's loss and the treatment she received from the Democratic Party. I'll never forgive Bernie Sanders for staying in the race far longer than he should have and for calling her unfit to be president. His supporters that stayed home or voted 3rd party would have gotten her over the finish line. Also, I'm sad to say I have lost that loving feeling for the Democratic Party as a whole and only support my state party and candidates with time and donations. Yes I still vote straight Democrat because they are the lessor of 2 evils but there is no longer any joy in it for me.
I’ll have to finish this another day. It’s too painful. I’ve been a rabid Hillary Clinton fan for decades and I’m also a rabid Susan Bordo fan. Your book is one of the best on any topic. One million Americans might still be alive is she had been elected and that conversation needs to take place immediately since Trump is guilty of mass negligent homicide. That’s the point where I had to put your essay aside, but I promise I’ll get to it later!
Can relate. I can sometimes read only a few paragraphs from the book...and sink my head to the table in exhaustion.
Have you ever read Hillary's Wikipedia entry? Unbelievable what she has done in her life...and even Susan's essay did not mention her stint as Secretary of State...and head of an international foundation, action based.
I list all her accomplishments in my book. They are at the end of the chapter on Bernie Sanders—my point being that this is what he left out when he finally endorsed her nomination. It’s quite an amazing list!
When I think of what could have been... All the oxygen left the room when I saw DJT announced as the next POTUS. It was like living a nightmare. Your book laid out perfectly what led up to that shocking moment. All the people who think we have forgotten her are crazy. Any time she appears anywhere, people wait in long lines to see her.
I adore her and read and watch everything I can about her.
Yes. That night and the following morning were like nightmares. There have been so many since, but nothing with quite the shocking, sinking, surreal quality of that election night.
I think a lot of younger people, groomed by social media to expect novelty every five seconds, couldn't connect with an elderly boomer who came of age in the 1960s. I'm generation X - born in 1980, and even I can understand their frustration with older people - both the Boomers and older X'ers - who are reluctant to cede cultural and political power in society, even though tomorrow won't be their day.
Many (although not alll) younger voters had little interest in achieving a symbol victory for the 1970s second wave cohort of which HRC was a part.
And, voters may be reluctant to tell pollsters they don't like intellectuals or actvists - neither of which are average people or ordinary people - and that they don't have time for well to the left pollitical and social beliefs - but in the privacy and safety of the voting booth they can vote as they think.
Barbara, I think you’re right about the perceptions of many younger people—especially those who supported Bernie (also “elderly,” I have to point out!) but I wouldn’t agree that all those perceptions were correct. I’m of her generation, and I never saw a candidate like Hillary as a “symbolic victory.” She was immensely qualified. But that’s certainly the way Sanders presented it to his supporters. And in the end, perceptions rather than reality dominated that election. So I guess I’m both agreeing and disagreeing with you. Thanks so much for subscribing, and especially thanks for commenting! I’d love to get conversations going here that are as lively and diverse as we’ve had on my FB page.
Susan, you are correct that perception is everything. But, often people act as if self-definition is objective fact when it is not - it how others that define you that matters.
Advertisers know that older people are less influenced by advertising - so the once-widespread "Good Times, Great Oldies" format of 1950s-70s music has largely vasnished from terrestrial radio major markets in the United States and Canada.
It doesn't matter that older listeners have more disposable income or that that spend money.
What matters is that agency research shows that it takes more impressions to make a sale and older people rarely deviate from lifetime brand loyalty and when they do, it's for products they generally did not need until they became seniors. I worked in both commercial and non-comm radio so i saw a lot from the inside.
This kind of surprised me. I’m not doubting it—you worked in the area and know more than I do. But when I think about all the Prevagen and various med ads on the networks that older people watch it looks to me that there’s a thriving industry in products geared toward older people—because we’re living longer but with more need of support (medical and otherwise.) Even on Facebook, there are so many ads now about clothes “tailored for older women.” It’s true though that the algorithm probably has me targeted!!
As i said, having more disposable money doesn't mean responding to advertising. Two different concepts. As we both note, most advertising for older people is about products intended for older people. That does not mean they're any easier to convince based on an advertisement. If you're selling denture paste, put the ad on older demo media. Obviously. But if you have a choice to advertise denture paste vs. teeth whitening products you'd be better off advertising the latter. Those who see the ads will be more likely to respond.
Sorry if upset you. When i worked for an oldies music station whose demos were creeping up, we changed format and i fielded a lot of complaints from the listeners of the previous format. Needless to say, some bad-mouthed us in the press.
Excellent summation of what happened post 2016. It was especially infuriating to me that the Women's March used her words, didn't give her credit and didn't invite her. So shameful. Thank you so much for not forgetting how one of the most iconic woman in our modern history has been treated.
I rented and viewed it yesterday. Terrific cast. I just about had six heart attacks as the truth came out about Palin and her almost intentional cluelessness. The gaff "I can see Russia from Alaska" was not a joke. My first panic attack was when she held that The Queen ruled England. I screamed and hid under the covers. Hussein did 911. Arugh! She didn't know what The Fed was.
And her mental breakdowns matched with her arrogance. We came close...and now have Palin clones throughout our governments.
She really nailed the performance. Looks. Voice, manerisms... she won Emmy for it.
This all got me to wondering ... Hillary and kamala are both brilliant...and nonBernie democrats seem to exalt our intelligent women politicians like Warren, Kathie Porter, Pelosi, AOC...and Liz Cheney.
Republicans seem to relish dingbat absurdities like Boebert, mtg, and Kari Lake. Republicans, we now wish would return, prided themselves on their elite education and debating skills. How did we get here? Oh. Sarah Palin.
I remember reading an article about how she got thrust into McCain as Vp pick. A certain neocon cruise to Alaska in 2007, and how William Kristol and the others were totally smitten. Wish I could find the article about the woo-fest itself...I think she even cooked them moose stew...however, here's an article from 2010 about the ramifications all that, Karl Rove, the Tea Party.
Still not used to the form of these comments. Here is the link. For the second time I was not able to paste a link. And I probably wrote a similar comment elsewhere...went to retrieve link, and my comment disappeared.
The link came through fine. Haven’t read it yet, but if you’re interested in the Palin pick and haven’t read it/seen it yet, check out “Game Change” (book and movie.)
Hmm. Did my description of the movie not post? Julianne Moore and Ed Harris both nailed the Palin McCain parts. Woody Harrelson played the beleaguered election consultant Steve Schmidt.
Great article Susan. I'll never get over Hillary's loss and the treatment she received from the Democratic Party. I'll never forgive Bernie Sanders for staying in the race far longer than he should have and for calling her unfit to be president. His supporters that stayed home or voted 3rd party would have gotten her over the finish line. Also, I'm sad to say I have lost that loving feeling for the Democratic Party as a whole and only support my state party and candidates with time and donations. Yes I still vote straight Democrat because they are the lessor of 2 evils but there is no longer any joy in it for me.
Thank you for your comment. I feel the same way.
Lindy I didn't even realize that's exactly what I'm doing. Exactly.
I’ll have to finish this another day. It’s too painful. I’ve been a rabid Hillary Clinton fan for decades and I’m also a rabid Susan Bordo fan. Your book is one of the best on any topic. One million Americans might still be alive is she had been elected and that conversation needs to take place immediately since Trump is guilty of mass negligent homicide. That’s the point where I had to put your essay aside, but I promise I’ll get to it later!
No problem, Eric. I get it. It’s the reason why so many Hillary-supporters wouldn’t read the book. Some still can’t! You’ve been there from the start.
Your book is such an important book. Thank you!
Can relate. I can sometimes read only a few paragraphs from the book...and sink my head to the table in exhaustion.
Have you ever read Hillary's Wikipedia entry? Unbelievable what she has done in her life...and even Susan's essay did not mention her stint as Secretary of State...and head of an international foundation, action based.
I list all her accomplishments in my book. They are at the end of the chapter on Bernie Sanders—my point being that this is what he left out when he finally endorsed her nomination. It’s quite an amazing list!
When I think of what could have been... All the oxygen left the room when I saw DJT announced as the next POTUS. It was like living a nightmare. Your book laid out perfectly what led up to that shocking moment. All the people who think we have forgotten her are crazy. Any time she appears anywhere, people wait in long lines to see her.
I adore her and read and watch everything I can about her.
Yes. That night and the following morning were like nightmares. There have been so many since, but nothing with quite the shocking, sinking, surreal quality of that election night.
Great piece. Misogyny is the cleverest mushroom zombie that has ever existed and the common infection uniting all nations.
Thanks, Laurie. Yes, so clever…especially when it disguises itself as feminism.
So much to say about this. Yes!!!
Ok, I’m digging this already after a few sentences. Thanks!
I think a lot of younger people, groomed by social media to expect novelty every five seconds, couldn't connect with an elderly boomer who came of age in the 1960s. I'm generation X - born in 1980, and even I can understand their frustration with older people - both the Boomers and older X'ers - who are reluctant to cede cultural and political power in society, even though tomorrow won't be their day.
Many (although not alll) younger voters had little interest in achieving a symbol victory for the 1970s second wave cohort of which HRC was a part.
And, voters may be reluctant to tell pollsters they don't like intellectuals or actvists - neither of which are average people or ordinary people - and that they don't have time for well to the left pollitical and social beliefs - but in the privacy and safety of the voting booth they can vote as they think.
Barbara, I think you’re right about the perceptions of many younger people—especially those who supported Bernie (also “elderly,” I have to point out!) but I wouldn’t agree that all those perceptions were correct. I’m of her generation, and I never saw a candidate like Hillary as a “symbolic victory.” She was immensely qualified. But that’s certainly the way Sanders presented it to his supporters. And in the end, perceptions rather than reality dominated that election. So I guess I’m both agreeing and disagreeing with you. Thanks so much for subscribing, and especially thanks for commenting! I’d love to get conversations going here that are as lively and diverse as we’ve had on my FB page.
Susan, you are correct that perception is everything. But, often people act as if self-definition is objective fact when it is not - it how others that define you that matters.
Advertisers know that older people are less influenced by advertising - so the once-widespread "Good Times, Great Oldies" format of 1950s-70s music has largely vasnished from terrestrial radio major markets in the United States and Canada.
It doesn't matter that older listeners have more disposable income or that that spend money.
What matters is that agency research shows that it takes more impressions to make a sale and older people rarely deviate from lifetime brand loyalty and when they do, it's for products they generally did not need until they became seniors. I worked in both commercial and non-comm radio so i saw a lot from the inside.
This kind of surprised me. I’m not doubting it—you worked in the area and know more than I do. But when I think about all the Prevagen and various med ads on the networks that older people watch it looks to me that there’s a thriving industry in products geared toward older people—because we’re living longer but with more need of support (medical and otherwise.) Even on Facebook, there are so many ads now about clothes “tailored for older women.” It’s true though that the algorithm probably has me targeted!!
As i said, having more disposable money doesn't mean responding to advertising. Two different concepts. As we both note, most advertising for older people is about products intended for older people. That does not mean they're any easier to convince based on an advertisement. If you're selling denture paste, put the ad on older demo media. Obviously. But if you have a choice to advertise denture paste vs. teeth whitening products you'd be better off advertising the latter. Those who see the ads will be more likely to respond.
OK. Now I get what you were saying. Thanks for clarifying.
Sorry if upset you. When i worked for an oldies music station whose demos were creeping up, we changed format and i fielded a lot of complaints from the listeners of the previous format. Needless to say, some bad-mouthed us in the press.
Excellent summation of what happened post 2016. It was especially infuriating to me that the Women's March used her words, didn't give her credit and didn't invite her. So shameful. Thank you so much for not forgetting how one of the most iconic woman in our modern history has been treated.
You’re welcome!
I rented and viewed it yesterday. Terrific cast. I just about had six heart attacks as the truth came out about Palin and her almost intentional cluelessness. The gaff "I can see Russia from Alaska" was not a joke. My first panic attack was when she held that The Queen ruled England. I screamed and hid under the covers. Hussein did 911. Arugh! She didn't know what The Fed was.
And her mental breakdowns matched with her arrogance. We came close...and now have Palin clones throughout our governments.
She really nailed the performance. Looks. Voice, manerisms... she won Emmy for it.
This all got me to wondering ... Hillary and kamala are both brilliant...and nonBernie democrats seem to exalt our intelligent women politicians like Warren, Kathie Porter, Pelosi, AOC...and Liz Cheney.
Republicans seem to relish dingbat absurdities like Boebert, mtg, and Kari Lake. Republicans, we now wish would return, prided themselves on their elite education and debating skills. How did we get here? Oh. Sarah Palin.
I remember reading an article about how she got thrust into McCain as Vp pick. A certain neocon cruise to Alaska in 2007, and how William Kristol and the others were totally smitten. Wish I could find the article about the woo-fest itself...I think she even cooked them moose stew...however, here's an article from 2010 about the ramifications all that, Karl Rove, the Tea Party.
Still not used to the form of these comments. Here is the link. For the second time I was not able to paste a link. And I probably wrote a similar comment elsewhere...went to retrieve link, and my comment disappeared.
https://militarist-monitor.org/standard_operating_procedures_how_the_neocons_are_co_opting_the_tea_party/
The link came through fine. Haven’t read it yet, but if you’re interested in the Palin pick and haven’t read it/seen it yet, check out “Game Change” (book and movie.)
Thanks . Only $3 rent on amazon
Hmm. Did my description of the movie not post? Julianne Moore and Ed Harris both nailed the Palin McCain parts. Woody Harrelson played the beleaguered election consultant Steve Schmidt.