The Discipline of Political Messages in an Unruly Era

Presidential elections are considered decisions on politicians’ virtues and reflections of public values. On an ongoing basis, polling data and snap punditry engorge the body politic between elections. Taken together, these judgments on leadership and partisanship — on statecraft and stagecraft — lie at the core of democracy today. Tucker Eskew explores the permanent campaign(s) of the last ten years. What is “message discipline” in an era of atomized opinion leadership — a necessity or a fool’s errand? Are the parties inevitably devoted to different styles of communication, and is this era’s favored approach inextricably the domain of the new Administration? Can unfettered dialogue, as an expression of freedom, be a pure benefit to society, or is “Fire!” being texted in a crowded coffee house? Consistent with his conservatism, Eskew will have firm answers to some of these and other questions. Reflecting his consulting firm ViaNovo’s “new ways”, he will welcome dialogue on all.