Lazy Like A Fox
A lot of folks have been talking about Fred Thompson's campaign - and most of what they are saying is not good. The latest press meme is that the former Senator is "lazy". Others have tried to dispell that notion in the past by rattling off his numerous accomplishments. If you look at what he has done in his life, they are correct - there is no way you can consider him to be "lazy". Now I would offer my observations on the charge.
Most of the people that I have heard making the "lazy" charge, have either been inside the beltway pundits or people who live in the Northeastern US. These "Yankees" are get to the point kind of people. The inside the beltway pundits are driven by the 30 second sound byte. That is what they make a living on. The rest just feel that they don't have time to waste - they have places to go and people to see and they want the information they need now! They just don't have the time or the patience for "southern".
Before I get into the defination of "southern", a little background will help you understand where I am coming from. I am a Chicago native married to a New York boy. I don't do slow! It's not in my DNA. I do, however, understand "Southern". I went to college in Missouri, which is somewhat southern and some of my dearest friends are from "the South"...Georgia, Louisiana, the Carolinas etc and there is a distinct difference in mindset. When I talk to these people, It drives me crazy if I don't check my "Chicago attitude" at the door. That is because nothing that I say or do will get them to "get to the point" any faster. What I consider "getting to the point" my friends from the south consider "rude" and "un-neighborly". What I consider "slow" is deliberate and well thought out to them. That's just the way we were raised.
"Southern" is a different way of life. "Southern" is more laid back. They stop to appreciate the finer things in life - including a well thought out, reasoned, deliberate approach to the issues. "Southern" does not give a fast answer to a question that needs a nuanced answer. "Southern" will give you the answer to the problem and not just a promise to "act in an appropriate manner". "Southern" gets to the meat of an issue and comes up with workable solutions. They troubleshoot the problem which is why I "get" Southern....I like to troubleshoot problems and fix them which is why I got into a technical field of work. They are expert listeners (something we northerners need to work on) and will only offer advise if the advise will indeed work to solve your problem.
Fred Thompson is, first and foremost, a product of the South. He is deliberate in his actions and speech. He does not say anything that he has not put a lot of thought and consideration into. For a serious politician that is a plus. As an actor nothing he says or does has not been pre-scripted for maximum effect. Nothing he does is by chance. That deliberation is what people see as "laziness". Senator Thompson does not speak in 30 second sound bytes and that is what got him pegged as lazy.
There was another Southern boy that the GOP and it's northern supporters "didn't get". He'll never get elected, they said. He's too slow and lazy. That Southern boy, the former Governor of Arkansas, that the GOP took for granted ended up beating the northern insider that they chose to run for President TWICE! My fear is that former Senator Thompson's deliberation will be what keeps him from getting top billing in 2008. There are simply too many voters (in the GOP) out there who don't get "Southern" and therefore will not get Thompson. It's a shame. Senator Thompson deserves a good look as his policy positions are quite good and worthy of the GOP's support.
Most of the people that I have heard making the "lazy" charge, have either been inside the beltway pundits or people who live in the Northeastern US. These "Yankees" are get to the point kind of people. The inside the beltway pundits are driven by the 30 second sound byte. That is what they make a living on. The rest just feel that they don't have time to waste - they have places to go and people to see and they want the information they need now! They just don't have the time or the patience for "southern".
Before I get into the defination of "southern", a little background will help you understand where I am coming from. I am a Chicago native married to a New York boy. I don't do slow! It's not in my DNA. I do, however, understand "Southern". I went to college in Missouri, which is somewhat southern and some of my dearest friends are from "the South"...Georgia, Louisiana, the Carolinas etc and there is a distinct difference in mindset. When I talk to these people, It drives me crazy if I don't check my "Chicago attitude" at the door. That is because nothing that I say or do will get them to "get to the point" any faster. What I consider "getting to the point" my friends from the south consider "rude" and "un-neighborly". What I consider "slow" is deliberate and well thought out to them. That's just the way we were raised.
"Southern" is a different way of life. "Southern" is more laid back. They stop to appreciate the finer things in life - including a well thought out, reasoned, deliberate approach to the issues. "Southern" does not give a fast answer to a question that needs a nuanced answer. "Southern" will give you the answer to the problem and not just a promise to "act in an appropriate manner". "Southern" gets to the meat of an issue and comes up with workable solutions. They troubleshoot the problem which is why I "get" Southern....I like to troubleshoot problems and fix them which is why I got into a technical field of work. They are expert listeners (something we northerners need to work on) and will only offer advise if the advise will indeed work to solve your problem.
Fred Thompson is, first and foremost, a product of the South. He is deliberate in his actions and speech. He does not say anything that he has not put a lot of thought and consideration into. For a serious politician that is a plus. As an actor nothing he says or does has not been pre-scripted for maximum effect. Nothing he does is by chance. That deliberation is what people see as "laziness". Senator Thompson does not speak in 30 second sound bytes and that is what got him pegged as lazy.
There was another Southern boy that the GOP and it's northern supporters "didn't get". He'll never get elected, they said. He's too slow and lazy. That Southern boy, the former Governor of Arkansas, that the GOP took for granted ended up beating the northern insider that they chose to run for President TWICE! My fear is that former Senator Thompson's deliberation will be what keeps him from getting top billing in 2008. There are simply too many voters (in the GOP) out there who don't get "Southern" and therefore will not get Thompson. It's a shame. Senator Thompson deserves a good look as his policy positions are quite good and worthy of the GOP's support.
Labels: 2008, Fred Thompson
posted by The Lady Logician at
11:40 AM
1 Comments:
Thank you for the very good analysis of Fred Thompson and "Southern" people. I agree with you that many people don't get the deliberate style for answering questions and speaking. He is refreashing. I hope that more people in the GOP look and listen to Fred's plans.
By
Anonymous, at 1:03 PM
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