The Social History of Spin
H. E. Taylor
I have just finished reading 'PR! The Social History of Spin'
by Stuart Ewen. The most interesting idea of the book, for me,
was the change from the Progressive Era notion of politics by
rational argument in a public dialogue to the post WW2 notion
of persuasion by non-rational means -- image and visceral
impact. Many progressives implicitly assume that the way to
proceed is by rational argument. Who knew?
There are some 30 odd paragraphs online here:
http://www.autobahn.mb.ca/~het/paras2.html#SEwen
Meanwhile here are a couple of lines to give you a taste.
"Acknowledging the already considerable power of advertising
in American society; by 1917 [George] Creel was approaching
the conclusion that 'people do not live by bread alone;
they live mostly by catch phrases.' If advertising could
sell soap or face cream or biscuits, he reasoned, why not
a war?" -S. Ewen (Page 112-113)
"Propaganda is the executive arm of the invisible government."
-Edward Bernays quoted by S. Ewen (Page 167)
"There's no doubt that the hand is quicker than the eye in the
world of magic, so in the equally intangible world of ideas,
let's give the eye a hand by dreaming up a good visual to sell
the idea."
-Louis A. Magnanai quoted by S. Ewen (Page 393)
<andiamo>
-het
PS
PR! A Social History of Spin
Stuart Ewen
Basic Books
1996
ISBN: 0465061680
480 pages
hc
--
"Controlling Iraq is about oil as power, rather than oil as fuel.
Control over the Persian Gulf translates into control over Europe, Japan,
and China. It's having our hand on the spigot." -Michael Klare
Iraq War News: http://www.autobahn.mb.ca/~het/terror_war/iraqw.html
H.E. Taylor http://www.autobahn.mb.ca/~het/
Frank Lynch
resembling Cicero, "H. E. Taylor" <h...@despam.autobahn.mb.ca> wrote:
> "Acknowledging the already considerable power of advertising
> in American society; by 1917 [George] Creel was approaching
> the conclusion that 'people do not live by bread alone;
> they live mostly by catch phrases.' If advertising could
> sell soap or face cream or biscuits, he reasoned, why not
> a war?" -S. Ewen (Page 112-113)
> 'PR! The Social History of Spin'
Time is running out.
- Pres. George W. Bush
Frank Lynch
The Samuel Johnson Sound Bite Page is at:
http://www.samueljohnson.com/
alohacyberian
news:fshaev49fi6o37dis...@4ax.com...
> On Mon, 09 Jun 2003 21:07:37 -0700, in a clarity of expression
> resembling Cicero, "H. E. Taylor" <h...@despam.autobahn.mb.ca> wrote:
>
> > "Acknowledging the already considerable power of advertising
> > in American society; by 1917 [George] Creel was approaching
> > the conclusion that 'people do not live by bread alone;
> > they live mostly by catch phrases.' If advertising could
> > sell soap or face cream or biscuits, he reasoned, why not
> > a war?" -S. Ewen (Page 112-113)
> > 'PR! The Social History of Spin'
>
> Time is running out.
> - Pres. George W. Bush
>
"We do know that Iraq has weaponized thousands of gallons of anthrax and
other deadly biological agents. We know that Iraq maintains stockpiles of
some of the world's deadliest chemical weapons, including VX, sarin and
mustard gas. We know that Iraq is developing deadlier ways to deliver these
horrible weapons, including unmanned drones and long-range ballistic
missiles. And we know that Saddam Hussein is committed to one day possessing
nuclear weapons. If that should happen, instead of simply bullying the Gulf
region, he could dominate it. Instead of threatening only his neighbors, he
would become a grave threat to U.S. security and to global security. The
threat posed by Saddam Hussein may not be imminent. But it is real. It is
growing. And it cannot be ignored."
~ Tom Daschle, October 2000
--
(-:alohacyberian:-) At my website there are 3000 live cameras or
visit NASA, play games, read jokes, send greeting cards & connect
to CNN news, NBA, the White House, Academy Awards or learn all
about Hawaii, Israel and more: http://keith.martin.home.att.net/
Flykke~
"Frank Lynch" wrote in message >
> Time is running out.
> - Pres. George W. Bush
The Man Who Chooses the Bush
~film title ( 1975)
hears
Gilded Lies
~film title (1921)
Flykke~
Frank Lynch
As has been pointed out elsewhere, Daschle's comments should not be
treated as validation of Administration decisions (or an indication of
hypocrisy), since Daschle probably did not have access to intelligence
which the Administration didn't want him to see.
ObQuote:
"Ignorance, when it is voluntary, is criminal; and he may be properly
charged with evil who refused to learn how he might prevent it."
Johnson: Rasselas [the character Imlac]
(this is not a comment on the person to whom I'm replying, so much as
on the Administration's intent that we not know the whole story.)
dougk
> "We do know that Iraq has weaponized thousands of gallons of
> anthrax and other deadly biological agents. We know that Iraq
> maintains stockpiles of some of the world's deadliest chemical
> weapons, including VX, sarin and mustard gas. We know that Iraq is
> developing deadlier ways to deliver these horrible weapons,
> including unmanned drones and long-range ballistic missiles. And
> we know that Saddam Hussein is committed to one day possessing
> nuclear weapons. If that should happen, instead of simply bullying
> the Gulf region, he could dominate it. Instead of threatening only
> his neighbors, he would become a grave threat to U.S. security and
> to global security. The threat posed by Saddam Hussein may not be
> imminent. But it is real. It is growing. And it cannot be
> ignored." ~ Tom Daschle, October 2000
We addressed this exactly one week ago in the thread "The War
Movement":
dougk responded:
>>> Without bringing up other, more skeptical comments by Daschle,
>>> this may mean only that he was shown intelligence info that
>>> supported these conclusions.
>>> So, who controlled the compilation of, and access to, that info?
>>>
"alohacyberian" then wrote:
>> God forbid we hold Daschle responsible for his own words in an era
>> where no one should be responsible for anything. KM
>>
To which dougk then responded:
>Of course he is accountable for his words. But if the information on
>which those statements are based is found to be in error, then he
>can, without prejudice, revise or rescind those statements in
> accordance with the current validity of the information.
>
>ObQ:
>Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you mad.
> --Aldous Huxley
>
Care to pick it up from there?
ObQ:
Progress, far from consisting in change, depends on retentiveness.
When experience is not retained, as among savages, infancy is
perpetual. Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat
it.... This is the condition of children and barbarians, in whom
instinct has learned nothing from experience.
--George Santayana
Grace McGarvie
wide the chance won't come again And don't speak too soon for the
wheel's still in spin And there's no tellin' who that it's namin' For
the loser now will be later to win For the times they are a-changin'.
Come senators, congressmen, please heed the call Don't stand in the
doorway, don't block up the hall For he that gets hurt will be he who
has stalled There's a battle outside and it's ragin' It'll soon shake
your windows and rattle your walls For the times they are a-changin'.
(Robert Zimmerman) Bob Dylan
The "right" does not seem to comprehend that they may now be on the way
out of power, as citizens begin to understand they have been lied to -
our trust has been betrayed - spin is only a temporary fix
OBQ
I'm not upset that you lied to me, I'm upset that from now on I can't
believe you. Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche
--
Amazing Grace's Eclectic Quotation Collection
*100,000 quotations, proverbs, by people of all philosophies, ages and
cultures. For more info. or free sample of one category, send a personal
e-mail: gem...@shoesattbi.com ("remove shoes" to reply to me by E-mail.)
. . . Grace McGarvie . . .
. . Plymouth,Mn. 55447 U.S.A.
dougk
> The "right" does not seem to comprehend that they may now be on
> the way out of power, as citizens begin to understand they have
> been lied to - our trust has been betrayed - spin is only a
> temporary fix
>
> OBQ
> I'm not upset that you lied to me, I'm upset that from now on I
> can't believe you. Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche
>
"Forgive you?" Leto's voice was full of sweet reason. "Of course I
forgive you. That is your God's function. Your crime is forgiven. But
your stupidity requires a response."
--Leto II, _God Emperor of Dune_
alohacyberian
news:Xns939677533ADA6tz...@216.148.227.77...
>
I agree completely, but, to date Daschle hasn't to my knowledge rescinded any
of the many remarks he made while Clinton was president. His sudden
about-face on the eve to the ascendence of George W. Bush should make any
thinking person suspicious of his motives. Don't get me wrong, he may have
made some such comments, I began to ignore him when his hypocrisy became so
blatantly knee-jerk. KM
OBQ:
"My favorite thing about the Internet is that you get to go into the private
world of real creeps without having to smell them."
~ Penn Jillette
alohacyberian
If Daschle lacked that knowledge, why was he shooting his mouth off? KM
OBQ:
"Ordinarily he was insane, but he had lucid moments when he was merely
stupid."
~ Heinrich Heine
Frank Lynch
resembling Cicero, "alohacyberian" <alohac...@att.net> wrote:
>> As has been pointed out elsewhere, Daschle's comments should not be
>> treated as validation of Administration decisions (or an indication of
>> hypocrisy), since Daschle probably did not have access to intelligence
>> which the Administration didn't want him to see.
>>
>
>If Daschle lacked that knowledge, why was he shooting his mouth off? KM
Daschle probably trusted the Administration.
ObQuote:
Next!
- Jacques Brel
Grace McGarvie
defense - duh
OBQ
Truth: the most deadly weapon ever discovered by humanity. Capable of
destroying entire perceptual sets, cultures, and realities. Outlawed by
all governments everywhere. Possession is normally punishable by death.
Richard Childers
--
dougk
>> > The threat
>> > posed by Saddam Hussein may not be imminent. But it is real. It
>> > is growing. And it cannot be ignored." ~ Tom Daschle, October
>> > 2000
> I agree completely, but, to date Daschle hasn't to my knowledge
> rescinded any of the many remarks he made while Clinton was
> president.
>
A point for clarity: Your original post dated Daschle's comments to
October 2002, though the above has 2000 - might you provide a cite as
to which is correct?
> His sudden about-face on the eve to the ascendence of George W. Bush
> should make any thinking person suspicious of his motives.
>
Trust is earned; neither Daschle nor GW have earned it and I don't
forsee them doing so. And as high a standard as a Senator should be
held to, the President is rightly held to a higher one.
Assuming you mean Daschle said the above in response to GW's rather
isolationist campaign talk, I can only say that seeing Saddam as a
threat not to "be ignored" does not equate to war, though war may have
come about from employing some of the other possible methods - so be
it; no qualms about the right tool for the right job.
ObQ:
Anyone can just go in there and kill someone, but you can't get
information from a corpse.
--Navy SEAL motto
We ain't making no goddamn cornflakes here.
--Col. Charlie Beckwith, founder of Delta Force
Sometimes it is entirely appropriate to kill a fly with a
sledgehammer.
--Major Holdridge, 1994
Frank Lynch
resembling Cicero, dougk <dougbcnu...@attbi.com> wrote:
>>> "alohacyberian" wrote:
>>> > The threat
>>> > posed by Saddam Hussein may not be imminent. But it is real. It
>>> > is growing. And it cannot be ignored." ~ Tom Daschle, October
>>> > 2000
>
>> I agree completely, but, to date Daschle hasn't to my knowledge
>> rescinded any of the many remarks he made while Clinton was
>> president.
>>
>A point for clarity: Your original post dated Daschle's comments to
>October 2002, though the above has 2000 - might you provide a cite as
>to which is correct?
October 2002, according to
http://www.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/10/10/iraq.us/index.html
Frank Lynch
resembling Cicero, Frank Lynch <frank.lync...@verizon.net>
wrote:
>On Tue, 10 Jun 2003 23:09:20 GMT, in a clarity of expression
>resembling Cicero, dougk <dougbcnu...@attbi.com> wrote:
>
>>>> "alohacyberian" wrote:
>>>> > The threat
>>>> > posed by Saddam Hussein may not be imminent. But it is real. It
>>>> > is growing. And it cannot be ignored." ~ Tom Daschle, October
>>>> > 2000
>>
>>> I agree completely, but, to date Daschle hasn't to my knowledge
>>> rescinded any of the many remarks he made while Clinton was
>>> president.
>>>
>>A point for clarity: Your original post dated Daschle's comments to
>>October 2002, though the above has 2000 - might you provide a cite as
>>to which is correct?
>
>October 2002, according to
>http://www.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/10/10/iraq.us/index.html
>
Valuably, the entire speech is at
http://truthout.com/docs_02/10.12A.dash.iraq.p.htm
Some people think it is wrong to ask questions or raise concerns
when the President says our national security is at risk. They believe
it is an act of disloyalty. I disagree. In America, asking questions
is an act of patriotism. For those of us who have been entrusted by
our fellow citizens to serve in this Senate, asking questions is more
than a privilege. It is a Constitutional responsibility.
The American people have serious questions about the course of
action this resolution could set us on. Given the gravity of the
issues involved, and the far-reaching consequences of this course, it
is essential that their questions are answered. I support this
resolution. And for the sake of the American people -- especially
those who may be called to defend our nation -- I will continue to ask
questions.
- Tom Daschle, same speech
David C Kifer
>
> Daschle probably trusted the Administration.
Daschle hasn't trusted a Republican the entire time he's been in Congress.
Which is fair enough, no Republican has trusted Daschle, either. At least
half the people in the intelligence apparatus were put there by previous
Democratic administrations, Daschle has all the connections he needs to
get the information he wants, if he wants it.
obq:
So trust is not a matter of probabilities. Statistics can't handle a sample
of one. Trust is an act of faith. Trust is the gateway to either heaven or
hell-and the gate is unmarked.
Damn few have gone through.
--Donald Kingsbury, _The Moon Goddess and the Son_
--
Dave
"Tam multi libri, tam breve tempus!"
(Et brevis pecunia.) [Et breve spatium.]
alohacyberian
> >> "alohacyberian" wrote:
> >> > The threat
> >> > posed by Saddam Hussein may not be imminent. But it is real. It
> >> > is growing. And it cannot be ignored." ~ Tom Daschle, October
> >> > 2000
>
> October 2002, though the above has 2000 - might you provide a cite as
> to which is correct?
>
"Look, we have exhausted virtually all our diplomatic effort to get the
Iraqis to comply with their own agreements and with international law. Given
that, what other option is there but to force them to do so? ... The answer
is, we don't have another option. We have got to force them to comply, and we
are doing so militarily."
~ Senator Tom Daschle, 1998, of Clinton's airstrikes
"We do know that Iraq has weaponized thousands of gallons of anthrax and
other deadly biological agents. We know that Iraq maintains stockpiles of
some of the world's deadliest chemical weapons, including VX, sarin and
mustard gas. We know that Iraq is developing deadlier ways to deliver these
horrible weapons, including unmanned drones and long-range ballistic
missiles. And we know that Saddam Hussein is committed to one day possessing
nuclear weapons. If that should happen, instead of simply bullying the Gulf
region, he could dominate it. Instead of threatening only his neighbors, he
would become a grave threat to U.S. security and to global security. The
threat posed by Saddam Hussein may not be imminent. But it is real. It is
growing. And it cannot be ignored."
~ Senator Tom Daschle, October 2000, repeated October 2002 as Senate
Minority Leader
Frank Lynch
resembling Cicero, "alohacyberian" <alohac...@att.net> wrote:
>"dougk" <dougbcnu...@attbi.com> wrote in message
>news:Xns9396A4839EA0Btz...@204.127.199.17...
>> >> "alohacyberian" wrote:
>> >> > The threat
>> >> > posed by Saddam Hussein may not be imminent. But it is real. It
>> >> > is growing. And it cannot be ignored." ~ Tom Daschle, October
>> >> > 2000
>>
>> A point for clarity: Your original post dated Daschle's comments to
>> October 2002, though the above has 2000 - might you provide a cite as
>> to which is correct?
>>
>"We do know that Iraq has weaponized thousands of gallons of anthrax and
>other deadly biological agents. We know that Iraq maintains stockpiles of
>some of the world's deadliest chemical weapons, including VX, sarin and
>mustard gas. We know that Iraq is developing deadlier ways to deliver these
>horrible weapons, including unmanned drones and long-range ballistic
>missiles. And we know that Saddam Hussein is committed to one day possessing
>nuclear weapons. If that should happen, instead of simply bullying the Gulf
>region, he could dominate it. Instead of threatening only his neighbors, he
>would become a grave threat to U.S. security and to global security. The
>threat posed by Saddam Hussein may not be imminent. But it is real. It is
>growing. And it cannot be ignored."
> ~ Senator Tom Daschle, October 2000, repeated October 2002 as Senate
>Minority Leader
I ws able to find the 2002 version online easily. Can you provide a
source for the 2000 version?
Flykke~
"alohacyberian" wrote in message
> If that should happen, instead of simply bullying the Gulf
> region, he could dominate it. ~ Senator Tom Daschle
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Jerry, Newman and I are engaged in an epic struggle for world
domination. It's winner take all. People cannot be trusted."
"Don't look at me."
"Oh, I'm looking right at you, Big Daddy."
~ dialogue, Seinfeld, 'The Label Maker' [Kramer, Jerry and Newman,
discussing a game of Risk]
Flykke~
Heidi
> > Daschle probably trusted the Administration.
>
> Daschle hasn't trusted a Republican the entire time he's been in
Congress.
> Which is fair enough, no Republican has trusted Daschle, either.
At least
> half the people in the intelligence apparatus were put there by
previous
> Democratic administrations, Daschle has all the connections he
needs to
> get the information he wants, if he wants it.
_________________
Here in AQ I have learnt that you can't trust Democrats
and you can't trust Republicans. You can't trust Radicals or
Conservatives. You can't trust Saddam and you can't trust the
President. And you REALLY can't trust the French.
And you can't trust men (they *look* at you funny) and you can't
trust women.
And some people say you can't even trust God.
So, who *can* you trust?
obq
Never trust anyone who wears a beard, a bow-tie, two-toned shoes,
sandals or sunglasses.
~Michael Caine , The Times (1992) [quoting his father's advice]
____
Heidi
Frank Lynch
resembling Cicero, "Heidi" wrote:
>Here in AQ I have learnt that you can't trust Democrats
>and you can't trust Republicans. You can't trust Radicals or
>Conservatives. You can't trust Saddam and you can't trust the
>President. And you REALLY can't trust the French.
>And you can't trust men (they *look* at you funny) and you can't
>trust women.
>And some people say you can't even trust God.
> So, who *can* you trust?
But you gotta serve somebody...
- Bob Dylan
ObQuote:
You can trust your car
To the man who wears the star
The Big Red Texaco STAR!
Robert M. Wilson
"Heidi" <AlP...@chariotXCAPS.net.au> wrote in message
news:3ee7bc00$1...@news.chariot.net.au...
> "David C Kifer" <wrote in message
>
> > > Daschle probably trusted the Administration.
> >
> > Daschle hasn't trusted a Republican the entire time he's been in
> Congress.
> > Which is fair enough, no Republican has trusted Daschle, either.
> At least
> > half the people in the intelligence apparatus were put there by
> previous
> > Democratic administrations, Daschle has all the connections he
> needs to
> > get the information he wants, if he wants it.
> _________________
>
> Here in AQ I have learnt that you can't trust Democrats
> and you can't trust Republicans. You can't trust Radicals or
> Conservatives. You can't trust Saddam and you can't trust the
> President. And you REALLY can't trust the French.
> And you can't trust men (they *look* at you funny) and you can't
> trust women.
> And some people say you can't even trust God.
> So, who *can* you trust?
Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors
of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.
-- 'Micah' 7:5.
All these [craftsmen] trust to their hands: and every one is wise in his
work.
--'Ecclesiasticus' 38:31.
Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase,
set not your heart upon them.
-- 'Psalms' 62:10.
Put not your trust in princes.
--'Psalms' 146:3.
His trust is a spider's web.
-- 'Job' 8:14, RSV.
'Carpe diem, quam minimum credula a postero.'
Seize the day, and put the least possible trust in tomorrow.
-- Horace, 'Odes'
Trust, like the soul, never returns once it is gone.
-- Publilius Syrus
A wise man does not trust all his eggs to one basket.
-- Cervantes, 'Don Quixote'
Trust not the physician.
-- 'Timon of Athens,' IV,iii,438.
There's no art
To find the mind's construction in the face:
He was a gentleman on whom I built
An absolute trust.
-- 'Macbeth,' I,iv,11
There's no trust,
No faith, no honesty in men; all perjured,
All forsworn, all naught, all dissemblers.
-- 'Romeo and Juliet,' III,ii,85.
Trust none;
For oaths are straws, men's faiths are wafer-cakes,
And Hold-fast is the only dog, my duck.
-- 'Henry V,' II,iii,51.
Love all, trust a few,
Do wrong to none; be able for thine enemy
Rather in power than use, and keep thy friend
Under thy own life's key. Be checked for silence,
But never taxed for speech.
-- 'All's Well That Ends Well,' I,i,68.
Trust everybody, but cut the cards.
-- Finley Peter Dunne
Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do.
-- Dr. Benjamin Spock
SteveMR200
<AlP...@chariotXCAPS.net.au> wrote:
>Here in AQ I have learnt that you can't trust Democrats
>and you can't trust Republicans. You can't trust Radicals
>or Conservatives. You can't trust Saddam and you can't
>trust the President. And you REALLY can't trust the French.
>And you can't trust men (they *look* at you funny) and you
>can't trust women. And some people say you can't even trust
>God. So, who *can* you trust?
Trust no one . . . . Nothing is what it seems. . . .
Everything is a test.
--Walter Burke (Al Pacino)
(In the film _The Recruit_ [2003],
directed by Roger Donaldson)
--
Steve
SteveMR200
<be8mevs8i3ceshu66...@4ax.com>:
That is what is at the core of the intelligence officer's
world--betraying another person's trust in you.
--Aldrich Ames (1941- )
(A former CIA operations officer who spied for Moscow.
Quoted in Pete Earley's _Confessions of a Spy: The Real
Story of Aldrich Ames_ [1997])
--
Steve