I guess the point of this post was that once upon a time trivialities were basically everything. I didn't like that, but I ran with it, because that was how the game was played. I don't think things are quite as bad, at least along those lines, as they once were, so I think perhaps fighting against this dukakis in a tank, kerry-windsurfing, Al Gore invented the internet, zomg Obama said arugula stuff generally, by pointing out that it is not important, is a better way to go.
I get that if you want to push a Paul Ryan is a big fat liar narrative then things like that can be the hook, but I'd prefer to focus on the important lies.
...adding, I don't mean this in a self-righteous way. I mean it in a "how best to improve outcomes" way. I've played the game.
