How Bad Rhetoric Makes For Political Weakness

In 'dog whistle politics' politicians craft speeches
designed to appeal to the easily displeased,
to make sure they get a strong public response.
Less 'Grab 'em by the pussy', more grab them
through the hot air time of the hyper-media world.

What this politics does is integral to the art
of sustaining the appearance of useful activity
by the journalists who operate the 24 hr news cycle,
through which the politicians prove their popularity,
and seek to validate their relevance,
whatever it costs and regardless of their values.

When their speeches become more
about what can be inferred from them,
than what can be plainly declared
their arguments are bound to generate
more heat than light. And the art
of skilled popular oratory is surely dead,
killed by what can't be said-which politicians
decide is all the public ever want to hear.