OH-Sen 2022: So you’re telling me there’s a chance

[Ferguson97]

Imagine actually believing there is anything anti-Semitic about Ryan using that picture

If you think there isn't an entire team whose job description includes collecting images that can be "unflattering" - both consciously and sub-consciously - then guess again. The brain's image processing centers are powerful: a split-second glance across such an image when scrolling through social media or elsewhere is going to tickle a part of certain people's brains that intrinsically invokes the word "Jew" on some level. I'm sure they have many others to invoke other descriptors when targeting on-the-fence voters as well.

I did an experiment with this image, trying to see where and if it showed up in Google images (incognito/neutral search). I couldn't find it (without scrolling forever, at least) with a simple "J.D. Vance" query. When I looked for it as "J.D. Vance TPUSA", I still had to scroll through several dozen images to find it - and not before finding several equally unflattering images (based on posture, facial expression, etc) at the same event. Besides that, there are (I'm sure) hundreds of other "negative" images of Vance from all over that could have been chosen in lieu of that one that would have served any other universally-acknowledged purpose!

No, I definitely believe that this image for this occasion was chosen purposefully from a portfolio of "questionable" images already on file with the campaign, many of which exist to "other" Vance in multiple different ways. And if you really want to get upset with me, then let me make it clear that I endorse such actions, which are both smart and invaluable when used for a wide variety of negative psychological messaging tactics (particularly for a Democratic campaign facing an uphill battle in a Republican state). GOP campaigns have been doing such en masse for ages, and who knows the cumulative impact it has had in their benefit (when true plausible deniability exists & it doesn't overtly cross the line, anyway).

yeah, this is a reach

[Ferguson97]

The latest poll shows Ryan has “an impressive 23-point lead among self-ID independents.”

In the latest poll, Ryan is at plus 25 favorable with independents while Vance, a venture capitalist and author, is at minus 32.

I am skeptical of this, but if it's true... holy crap.

[Ferguson97]

https://twitter.com/ccadelago/status/1578390683500544003

[Ferguson97]

https://twitter.com/ccadelago/status/1578390683500544003

Not one of his better ads imo

Disagree, I think it's just cheeseball and sincere enough for the average person to like it

[Ferguson97]

In a D+0.5 to R+4 year there is no way a Democrat is going to
come that close nevermind win in a state that is R+2 to R+9

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_United_States_Senate_election_in_Missouri

Elections are about actual people, not numbers.

...The 2016 Missouri Senate election is your argument against the idea that Tim Ryan has a serious shot in November?

[Ferguson97]

https://twitter.com/7im/status/1584961989935525890

"If I had a nickel for every time a 2022 Republican US Senate candidate killed dogs, I'd have two nickels. Which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it happened twice."

[Ferguson97]

https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1587576495333167106

[Ferguson97]

https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1587573282609381376

LOL Republicans are nuts

[Ferguson97]

https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1587573282609381376
LOL Republicans are nuts

LOL Inflation, crime and the economy are the issues on the voters mind and they're talking about a hour long riot almost two years ago.

It's tone deafness with the voters.

Ryan isn't bringing it up on his own, he's answering a question. What should he have said?