Fooling Enough of the People Enough of the Time

President Bush has a lead, and there are less than six weeks left in the campaign. But the situation in Iraq is falling apart. What's an incumbent President to do?

Lie about it. Tell everyone we are on the road to democracy, and that your critics are not interested in making America safe.

It doesn't matter whether you are blowing smoke. Most Americans don't know what is going on in Iraq, and they believe exactly what the media tell them. The media is too busy worrying about fonts on selectric typewriters and other trivialities, which have sucked all the air out of public discourse. Nobody's looking. Nobody's going to hold you accountable. Just Lie.

Repeat a few simple phrases that suggest that you are confident that the country is on the right track, and you can coast to victory. It doesn't matter if you can't offer any persuasive details to justify your assertions. In today's world, people like simple statements and simple answers. They like confidence. They want to be reassured.

Be Relaxed. Be Confident. Say reassuring things. It doesn't really matter if they are true. People don't know and don't care about the truth. They can't handle the truth.

Scare people and then tell them everything will be all right if they stick with the devil they know. Do this repeatedly. Scare and reassure. Scare and reassure. Tell people they are in danger from forces they can't control, and that you will keep them safe. Tell people that everying is going fine and that you will stay the course. You don't have to say anything substantive. In fact, it's best if you don't. You are manipulating people's emotions, not appealing to their intelligence.

Just keep it up for six more weeks, and then you can do anything you want. You'll win, and the mass media will fall all over themselves saying what a great leader you are.

The Democrats will wonder why they picked such a bad candidate for President, and the self-immolation of the Democratic Party will begin.