Where do folks come up with these things? I can see a group of folks hanging out at the local watering hole, or the back deck, just jawing away when they start a discussion that results… in the beer factor. The really crazy thing about these kinds of insights and discussions, is that I think that they hold a lot more truth to them than a lot of the socio ecomomic, psycological, psuedo scientific stuff that is actively published and marketed.
I will refer you to Castle Argghhh for the details (I’m surprised that Monty Python let’s them get away with the blog title, but I do love it).
On to the more fun excerpts…
In 2004, besides Bush’s “security moms” and the “evangelicals”, one of the touted reasons for Bush’s win in the election was what I like to call “the beer factor”.
The “beer factor” is that certain something that tells the electorate that, yeah, actually, they could feel comfortable to a sit down, drink a beer and shoot the breeze with the candidate. They could talk to him (or her) and he (or she) would be interested in what they had to say. More importantly, since the candidate was “like them”, they believed he or she would govern like the electorate would want.
….
“Uncle John” McCain: He’s that slightly cranky uncle that gets invited to all the family barbecues. “Uncle John” drinks Budweiser. Out of can. He likes to tell his war stories. Over and over and over. Everybody loves him, but nobody wants to get stuck sitting next to him at the table. Some of the family gets uncomfortable when he gets cranky, but you nearly shoot your beer out of your nose when you hear him tell “Uncle Harry” “go f*ck yourself!”
….
Psuedo-Professor, Professional Community Organizer Obama, MA, BS: Yeah, he’s just that ostentatious when your star struck sister introduces him. You have no idea if he has any other name because she’s always going on about “Obama this” and “Obama that” for the last year. You hardly know the guy and he already pisses you off just hearing his name.
….
“Uncle Joe” Biden: He’s that uncle that married into the family. You don’t know why or to whom he was married, he’s just been around a long time. He’s kind of creepy. He has a tendency to hug all the women too long and give them that extra squeeze at the end. He’s like the persistent used car salesman that has had his teeth whitened too much and wears a bad comb over. Every time he shows up it seems like he’s trying to convince you to join him in another stupid @$$ deal that is supposed to make you rich over night. Of course, you know, his fancy car is leased and he sub-leases that condo.
…
“Cousin Sarah” Palin: You didn’t even know you had a cousin Sarah until Uncle John introduces her. Okay, yeah, he did mention something one time about a second cousin, three times removed who lived in an igloo with a bunch of kids, sewed moccasins out of moose hide from a moose she tracked ten miles through a blizzard while simultaneously running the entire state of Alaska, but you never thought you were actually going to meet her.
Wow! She is smokin’ hot. Except she’s got that husband who won the Iron Dog something or other four times. You’re not sure exactly what that entails, but anything with the word “iron” in it makes you try to keep acting like you’re not looking at her while you chug your Miller Gold…
Now then get your butt over to Castle Argghhh! and read the whole thing. It might change your view on this whole presidential thing… or it may just make you laugh until you piss your pants.