How Politics Should Be Viewed By Chris Matthews

“The Candidate” is a prime example to the inside of a campaign and the inside of an election. Elections do not only include the candidate themselves but the campaign manager, the supporters, the nominee’s family and the media crew. During “The Candidate” democratic nominee John McKay uses many strategies in order to “not” win his election for senator of California. Going into this campaign McKay was in hopes that he would not win the election, as time passed his view of the election changed as did his strategies.

Before I started reading the book Hardball, by Chris Matthews, I had a preconceived idea of what the content of this book would be. From the title of the book I drew the conclusion that Matthews would write more about the darker side of politics and how it is 'really' played. I don't really know much about politics, and frankly, I don't care much for politics. However, when I hear the word hardball in the context of politics, I think of blood shed. I think of dirty tricks and blackmail and money changing hands in dark places. I even think of the mafia to some degree when I hear the word hardball. Perhaps my notion of hardball was a bit more than what Chris Matthews describes in his book. After

In his book Hardball, Chris Matthews discusses the useful strategies for getting ahead in politics that he observed during his time working in Washington, D.C. He breaks up his observations into chapters with different lessons. Three of the most important lessons are “It's Not Who You Know; It's Who You Get to Know,” (Chapter 1) “All Politics is Local,” (Chapter 2) and “Dance With the One That Brung Ya.” (Chapter 4). These chapters illustrate how important making and keeping connections and relationships is in Washington. The “game of politics” is played by using these relationships to gain favors, votes, support, etc. According to Matthews, the people who get ahead are the ones who make and keep these important connections and relationships with other politicians and the public.

The best politicians out there, are often not the ones that have the best ideas, but rather the ones that can trick and then steal the hearts of their audiences. The people of the world will often support and vote for the candidate with the story that impacts them the most. The stories the candidates say may often not be true, this is what Hedges’ meant when he said that “the most essential skill…. Is artifice.”

In today’s society, the subject of politics is not always met with great approval or admiration. Therefore, it is important that analyzing Mann’s emphasis of Political Education that we understand what it refers to. The idea of politicians and political parties and the riffs between them must be put aside when thinking of Political Education. The important part, the part that Mann emphasized, is the understanding of the Constitution, and consequently the rights of every citizen of the United States. Once an average citizens knows his rights, he will have more just power as a citizen. Not only will he be able to defend himself if wrongly accused, but also will know what is appropriate and within his rights when making decisions on his own actions. Learning how

The author, V. O. Key, states the results of a survey that shows that voters tend to vote for people who vote for candidates that will help them financially. He also states that people tend to vote for a certain party’s candidate because of their ties to the party. Key then declares that one can predict a person’s vote based on their personality and attributes. Key also shows that although these behaviors show strangeness, the voters have great importance to politics. Key says that the voters’ behavior has importance as it helps candidates discover the nature of the voters’ interests to try gain an advantage. Finally, Key states that voters behave as well as possible, considering the possibilities of other

This political maxim shows that people do not mind to give favors and are always looking for a way to get involved. If they are not taken for granted, they do not mind offering help and contributing to the effort. Therefore, it is to the benefit of the politician to ask for a favor from these people. When one receives something, there is often a bond that is formed. This bond is especially beneficial to the receiver. The giver is more likely to help out again down the road. Also, when the giver

Hardball by Chris Matthews is an interpretation of what many know as “hard-politics”. The book describes the skill of playing the game in Washington and how to be successful at it. The book is a guide that teaches a series of maxims that would be in favor of politicians to learn in order to be successful. The different tactics provided in the book hold a lot of knowledge that would make the life of anyone following these strategies much easier when trying to get ahead in life. Matthews describes a countless number of examples of successful politicians that rose to the top. Those politicians are the ones who learned how to play hardball in Washington.

Based on Hedge’s iconic statement that “the most essential skill… is artifice”, one can infer that politicians use narrative as a strategy to increase their following. This causes controversy among the audience who may only decide their candidate through a subliminal message therefore empathizing with the candidate rather than voting based on their intellect and opinions. While it may seem as regular propaganda, it is a tool to deceive the viewer. Although it may be a compelling strategy, artifice creates a barrier between the politician and the audience making the politician unable to connect with his followers.

Politician and the author of the book Hardball: How Politics Is Played, Told by One Who Knows the Game Christopher Matthews is well renowned as a leading figure in explaining the inner workings of American politics. His book Hardball is a nonfiction he wrote about his experiences in politics and boiled down succeeding as a politician into fourteen maxims. He bases these maxims off of his own real experiences in politics and others’ who have both succeeded and failed. For you do well in the game of politics you should make sure to follow at least these two maxims: “All Politics is Local” and “Keep your Enemies in Front of You.” However, you must be aware that Matthew’s maxim “Press is the Enemy” isn’t necessarily true.

With Mark Strama stepping down from his seat in Texas’ House District 50, it called for a special election this past November. With a seat now open in the House and a Democratic incumbent, three different Democrats and a Republican campaigned long and hard for the seat. Almost a century later, we can still assess Max Weber’s Politics as a Vocation and find connections in his analysis to contemporary politics. Working as a campaign intern during the three months before the election for Jade Chang Sheppard, a successful businesswoman and mother of two, the connections to leadership, an appeal to followers, and challenging power instincts still remain prevalent characteristics of a modern-day politician. Looking to Jade’s own successful and

Chris Matthew’s Hardball consists of four different parts containing different themes and policies on how the political world is run. All four parts: Alliances, Enemies, Deals, and Reputations contain personal anecdotes, historical context of Presidents’ careers, and rules Matthew’s has formed throughout political experience. The beginning of each chapter starts off with a quote that foreshadows the subject of each chapter. Although Matthews does establish important rules to follow as a politician, I disagree with some of his points even though I am a democrat like him.

This same level of humanity can effect how journalist portray a certain candidate to their readers. Knowing the strict line between friendly and professional is also very important. This is an overlying theme in the book as it follows the 1972 presidential campaign trail. Though the book is titled “The Boys on the Bus,” these individuals were often on a plane accompanied by the candidate. During these long rode trips, not only was a bond build between reporters, but they also got to know the

“The world talks much of sovereigns and great ministers, and if talked about made one powerful they would be irresistible.” Private people are sought out to be the ones who rule the world because they hide away and don’t become the eye of society like politicians, celebrities, and famous .They are well known for being true to their self. For Instance, in today’s world we know the work of many men but fail to know the name of men, they are hidden and the famous are seem coming to the limelight claiming more power and fame. Power and Fame are limited and sojourned, it will only last for so long. Like as a president may have power over a country for 4-8 years a while celebrity may have fame for a life

Stephen Medvic in his book, “In Defense of Politicians: The Expectations Trap and Its Threat to Democracy” reflects the problems of policies that affect the majority of society’s democratic contemporary: the discrediting of the class policy. As a reaction to the continuous vilification of the politicians, the author defends the hypothesis that much of the arguments condemning the policy professionals are unfair and undeserved. Although there are example of politicians corrupt or lacking in ethics, establish generalizations is wrong and is totally unjustified. Likewise, the book highlights the danger posed by this cynicism toward the political class for the legitimacy of democracy. And is that, despite that blind obedience not is positive, the figure of the political deserves respect and is necessary for the good functioning of those societies democratic.