viz.

With reports that Mitt Romney’s been practicing “zingers” for two months in preparation for tonight’s debate, and press releases from both campaigns attempting to temper our expectations, I can’t help but post something related to this entertainment. And though I’m dying to ask you, patriotic reader, in light of the aforementioned press releases, whether American politics has actually distended to the point where our Presidential candidates admittedly aren’t our most able communicators, I’ll keep this on the lighter side. Well, actually, one serious question real quickly: If one practices zingers for two months do they actually retain their efficacy? OK, now that I got out of my system…I’m teaching a composition class based around The New Yorker this semester, and just yesterday I had the notion that a consideration of the magazine’s recent political covers might afford a decent summation of the issues currently at stake. I don’t know if I’ll have time to do this with my class anytime soon – we’ve got articles planned through Thanksgiving – but I thought the blogosphere might find it interesting. If nothing else, it’ll be a quick refresher before tonight’s commoditized version of Enlightenment political economy (the debate will make those of us who consume it feel like engaged citizens, even though it’s obvious that both candidates are products of a slightly un-democratic fundraising process).

I’ve always been a fan of the Mitt Romney dog-on-car story. I feel sorry for the dog, of course, and shake my head at Romney’s terrible packing techniques (just because something’s been dry cleaned doesn’t mean it can’t be folded), but that we would deem the escapade this politically relevant is a reminder of how much a vibrant democracy depends upon a critical citizenry. We’re at where we’re at because of the decisions we’ve collectively made, and we’ve got no one to blame but ourselves for the hilarity of our political discourse. Accusing the other side’s voters of making things bad denies one’s own culpability in the process, and is antithetical to the project of an enlightened democracy. I think this is what the cover above is getting at. The “passenger” on top must live with the decision he’s made. One can only guess that if this cover came out after Paul Ryan was announced as Romney’s VP (on August 11^th), Ryan would be up top. This would obviously lead to another set of conclusions.

We’re likely to hear a lot about “Obamacare” tonight. However many of Romney’s criticisms will be meaningful is up for each of us to decide, especially since the structure of the overhaul is modeled on Romney’s work in Massachusetts. The issue of The New Yorker that’s pictured above came out just after the Supreme Court upheld Obama’s primary piece of domestic legislation, and it relishes the opposition’s fear that government will control their healthcare. One could also see this cover and think about the way the Obama administration forced the health care law through Congress, and thus about how Obama made politics work even after it appeared broken. Dr. Obama, Board Certified Acute Legislative Care Practitioner.

Then there’s the cover we got after Ryan was announced as Romney’s running mate. It’s quite funny, isn’t it? The fakeness of their public disposition is contrasted with all the benevolence it would actually take to make those smiles possible. They’d have to enjoy chocolate shakes out of the same glass, fix cars like folks did in the 50’s, play immature tricks on dogs. (Maybe Romney should go for a pet cat if he gets elected?) It’s the hurriedness of their shared excitement that arouses our suspicions. When at rallies and the like it’s as if they’ve just fallen in love. And this is surprising because previously Romney had painted himself as much more of a moderate Republican than the brash Ryan would ever approve of. Of course, there’s the image of Congressman Ryan reading to Romney in bed. Ryan’s reading Atlas Shrugged, and Romney’s out cold. Maybe it’s this dissonance that they want to smile over.

And then there’s this past week’s cover, which is surely a response to the Mother Jones 47% video. It’s preposterous – Romney’s taking a backseat ride on a horse while his butler attempts to jump the Potomac. The casualness with which Romney embraces what would otherwise be a huge leap for the average commuter is in line with the Mother Jones video’s aftertaste. He’s out of touch. Riding a horse is good exercise, and he’s having someone do it for him. Not only is someone doing it for him, but Mitt’s nonchalantly reading what’s likely to be The Wall Street Journal all the while. The first two historical figures I can think off the top of my head of who preferred white horses are Julius Caesar and Napoleon. Do with that what you will.

So there you have it. Tonight you can look for Obama to deride Romney’s decision process and elitism as he celebrates his major policy achievements, and look for Romney to talk about how Obamacare’s going to raise our taxes. Get out the popcorn – it might be better than whatever sitcoms people are watching these days. The ratings will probably be higher, anyways. If democracy is anything more than a commodity, we should spend tonight engaged in our local politics: these will most certainly have more of an impact on our immediate situations, and the world in which our children grow up in.