_{Reposting this from 2006.}

The world of politics is never pretty and often very ugly.

One of the most ugly features is how the politicians switch facts around to protect their argument.  They determine a conclusion that fits their needs, and then find the facts that support their conclusion, almost an intellectual reverse engineering.

It’s not all that hard, we teach it in every school that has a debate team.  You are assigned a topic, and have to develop an argument to support it.  The validity or accuracy of the facts you present is unimportant unless they are challenged by your opponent.  Preparation becomes the driving factor: are you able to anticipate the challenges and overcome them?  The bottom line is that in the end, the facts don’t matter.  Just the Feel.  Can you offer convincing sincerity?  Confidence?  Can you sway them with an emotional plea?  All powerful weapons.

Now consider that in relation to politics.  Politicians often present information based on how they want us to Feel, without regard to the facts.  The sell us on the emotional appeal.

The Bush administration was soundly thrashed by liberals for what they allege is fear mongering tactics, whether it is Social Security (the SS system will collapse), Al Qaeda (terrorism and 9/11), Iran and North Korea (nukes in the hand of dangerous countries) or countless other examples seen hourly at the Daily Kos.  The Bush Administration provided examples of things that were dangerous, to provide the Feel of security with them at the helm

The Democrats for all their piety are also masters of this game, only their goals are different.  They try to scare us about Abortion (women dying in back alley abortions), taxes (your children will bear the burden tomorrow of the tax cuts today), the war in Iraq (endless examples of a war we cannot win, replete with dying soldiers and civilians) and locally it even jumped into the arena of gas taxes, when politicians and local bloggers told their readers about the death traps on the road, despite the fact their plans didn’t even fix the problems they cited.  To them, the Feel they seek is betrayal of the Republicans and distrust.