Uncivil wars

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Politics is communication. Campaigning during the Iraq War -- Politics and political power -- The role of communication -- The U.S. Presidency -- The outline for this book -- My goals for this book -- The long campaign. The role of political parties-- The role of special interest and lobbying groups -- Gender politics -- An expanded role for political consultants -- Mass-mediated politics -- Political socialization. The role of the family -- Schools and civic education -- The relationship of church and state -- The mass media -- The formation of ideology -- Crafting political images. Creating an image -- Dimensions of image -- The power of public discourse -- How the news media shape political campaigns. The primary sources of political news -- The agenda-setting function of the news media -- The campaign news environment -- The content of campaign news -- Planting seeds of cynicism and doubt -- Political advertising. Parades, banners, and buttons -- Newspaper display advertisements -- The advent of radio -- The television campaign -- Direct mail advertising -- Telephone advertising -- Advertising strategies -- What political advertising can achieve -- Negative attack-style advertisements -- The consequences of negative advertising -- Telling the people what they want to hear : the importance of public opinion polls. The history of political polling -- The polls and campaign strategy -- Let the consumer beware -- Conducting the polls -- Interpreting and reporting the results -- The costs of anonymity -- The mandate of public opinion -- The impact of new communications technologies on political campaigns. The internet -- The internet and political campaigns -- Accessing news online -- Cyberspace and the public sphere -- Televised campaign debates. Are televised debates "real" debates? -- The effects of debates on voter knowledge and voting behavior -- The "spin" -- The "appearance of rationality" -- Financing campaigns : the relationship between money and politics. Campaign contribution controversies in recent campaigns -- The bipartisan campaign reform act of 2002 -- Politics as usual -- Only the wealthy need apply -- Campaign finance reform -- Campaigning and governing. Campaigns breed cynicism -- Contemporary political practices may result in flawed policy making -- Divisive political discourse undermines attempts to achieve national unity -- Lobbyists and special interest governance -- The politics of character and the search for scandal -- The legacy of the politics of scandal -- Conclusion -- The crisis in American democracy. Political cynicism is common -- The causes of political cynicism -- Liberty, civility, and trust -- Reinventing politics in America -- Finding your voice -- Suggested political reforms -- Conclusion.