Sizzle or substance ?

An old advertising adage says:  "Don't sell the steak;  sell the sizzle."

That's what the Republicans are trying to do.

First of all, they see the election as a manipulative selling job.  Second, they dare not present the substance of their policies, because they would lose the election.   When presented with what the policies would actually do in people's lives, as opposed to just talking points and slogans, people don't want what they're sellilng.

They also dare not let everybody vote, because they would lose the elections.  Thus, the spate of voter ID laws, registration list purges, and shortening of early voting periods -- all of which affect likely Democratic votes more than Republican.

So they've got to count on the sizzle, on demonizing their opponent, and manipulating the vote.   That's the only way they can win, not on substance.

In Ryan, they've got some sizzle -- at least for a while.  He's young, attractive, vigorous, manly but gives the appearance of being sensitive as well.   He's also a policy wonk when it comes to budgetary matters (he's dead wrong about some things, but that's a different discussion).   And he has a compelling life story -- admirable and honorable.   It's just that he's bought into the wrong-headed ideas about economics and budgets.

So the Democrats' task is to fizzle the sizzle by exposing the spoiled meat they're trying to sell.

Ralph