I spent approximately 300 hours in AP US History. I'm pretty sure they were the best 300 hours of my life, and they started with a lesson on propaganda. It's served me well, both as a reader and a writer, and my favorite part of it -- the part I always remember -- is "glittering generalities." Which is why I can't believe I didn't think of this myself:

I still can't quite get over how creepy the w.ill.i.am* (or however you "spell" it) video for Barack Obama is. (I've embedded it below after the jump.) Aside from utilizing a lot of empty-headed celebrities, it also does a stellar job of using the techniques of propaganda, including: the bandwagon call, the use of beautiful people, euphoria, glittering generalities, intentional vagueness, repetition, slogans, virtue words and gratuitous use of Scarlett Johansson. In other words, it's almost the perfect ad.

That's what it is. I haven't been able to put my finger on what, exactly, makes me so angry about the Obama campaign, but that's what it is. Glittering generalities. I have heard more words -- more undeniably beautiful words -- from Barack Obama than from any other candidate. And yet, until I went and read his plan, I had no idea what he wants to do. The fact that I can spend so much time listening to him and hear absolutely nothing is problematic; the fact that so many people don't find this problematic is distressing.

Of course, the writer goes on to undercut himself by getting all "Kids today! They can't spell!" a full three times about will.i.am (thereby establishing Hillary as the candidate for geezers and Obama as the candidate for change) and floating some doofus idea about Scientology (because when you have a good point, the best thing to do is totally bury it).