Why is that Paris Hilton’s fake ad includes more substantive talk about energy policy than John McCain’s real ad?
I’ll hazard an answer: Because she’s smarter than he is, and has smarter people working for her. Also, of course, she had no need to trash Britney, as McCain wanted to trash Obama, though she does manage to get some good digs in at the “wrinkly white-haired guy” who’s “older than dirt.” (Steve points out that the Hilton “plan” is actually nonsensical, but that’s a minor point.)
If you think Benen’s claim is hyperbolic, just take a look:
Footnote I’d also missed the Obama camp’s pitch-perfect response: “Whatever.”
Author: Mark Kleiman
Professor of Public Policy at the NYU Marron Institute for Urban Management and editor of the Journal of Drug Policy Analysis. Teaches about the methods of policy analysis about drug abuse control and crime control policy, working out the implications of two principles: that swift and certain sanctions don't have to be severe to be effective, and that well-designed threats usually don't have to be carried out.
Books:
Drugs and Drug Policy: What Everyone Needs to Know (with Jonathan Caulkins and Angela Hawken)
When Brute Force Fails: How to Have Less Crime and Less Punishment (Princeton, 2009; named one of the "books of the year" by The EconomistAgainst Excess: Drug Policy for Results (Basic, 1993)
Marijuana: Costs of Abuse, Costs of Control (Greenwood, 1989)
UCLA HomepageCurriculum Vitae
Contact: Markarkleiman-at-gmail.com
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