The Decline of the rallies

Political rallies only serve to count the number of attendees and, if they go to the organizers accounts, that figure overwhelm their opponents.

So elated were yesterday attending the central rally PSPV-PSOE as first involving swords Calabuig, Alart and Zapatero, and leaving repeated like a mantra than 15,000 attendees of the event provided by the organizer.

What is said at meetings, however, entirely irrelevant: first, tediously repetitive in character, and secondly, because no one thinks comply and, finally, because the only aim is cast in the television cuts that clever phrase or slogan that those who want to stay the staff and they have been introduced, albeit with forceps, in the tangle of the cumbersome electoral speeches.

Yesterday, in the case of Jorge Alart, that was the constant litany of dignity: they vote for the Socialist Party are worthy, and they do the PP of Camps and corruption, no, came to say.

But nevertheless, the absolute star of the act of the Plaza de Toros was Canal Nou, that drew the ire of both public and disparaging references to the three speakers. This will put the egg on television that Lopez directed Jaraba, which came after the incident in great detail, as if to say "see if I am informed plural even when they insult me," while hogging all the news information to the detriment of other more fundamental political messages.

Before television had been invented, however, the meetings were essential to meet political leaders and their programs. Without them, during the Republic had not reached the head of government charismatic characters like Gil Robles and Alexander Lerroux. Also during the political transition was needed so that, for example, an unknown Felipe Gonzalez could seduce their countrymen.

Now, however, the majority of parties to organize rallies unless you like going to the dentist, among other reasons because there is no way to mobilize a staff that would rather see Belén Esteban Deluxe Save me bored with the predictable rant the politician in power.

Hence the concern of plumbers in La Moncloa on the eve of yesterday's rally. "Would not it be better to move to the Fonteta, like other years?" Asked the envoys to Valencia, eager to avoid another puncture his chief assistance as it did in the last 6 León. "Do not worry, it will be successful," he replied, convinced Alart men.

Lacked only add that the last act in the pavilion of the Fuente de San Luis was attended by the Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates, and that the mere possibility of associating the figure today to Zapatero is already a catastrophe.

For all these contraindications, the rallies have ended up being reduced finally to a display of political muscle by the militants, including mutual recognition and reinforcement of its full membership of the party. We, as a liturgy or mystical communion of cult members. The day after tomorrow will be the turn in the same place, the acolytes of Camps and Rajoy.

What about the other parties?

The other, in the absence of the powerful political machinery of the largest, well done with tricking go and give thanks to God or the devil, that there are social networks. "With a good campaign on Facebook and Twitter can go as far as Barak Obama," seem to think. Well, God or the devil, I hear.