I'm really somewhat surprised at a couple things tonight:
First, the state of the Democratic primary, especially the role of Bill Clinton...and, second, the marked difference between how people are talking about the horse race versus the actual primary results so far.
Let me explain...
First, I think the most remarkable thing bar none, is how the Clinton campaign has
a) sucked up all the media oxygen with Bill
b) spun the actual results after three contests into a renewal of the "Hillary is inevitable" theme
Yes, the Clinton's comeback in New Hampshire was historic for multiple reasons, here, however, were the final results.
Yes, the Clinton's campaign in Nevada turned back a powerful labor endorsement, but the actual results in Nevada were hardly a knock out blow.
And, now, with the South Carolina primary upon us, even the New York Times seems to have decided to play what has proven the fool's game of this high turnout primary season and preempt the actual voting...and subsequent interpretation of the actual voting...in South Carolina with their annointment of Senator Clinton.
Of course, it is possible that the CNN results page will tell a different story on Sunday...but I guess that doesn't matter when the results have been spun before they have even...registered in reality.
I mean, who needs elections when you've got spin?
If you read the hints being dropped wherever media and blog CW accumulate, like brackish backwaters whenever people stop paying attention to the real flow of events, the Clintons are once again inevitable and are surely headed for a third term in the White House.
::
Wait a second.
I'd say the first thing we need to do is step back and look at the bigger picture.
There's record turnout in Democratic primaries and caucuses. That's a good thing. But why is that? Who are the new people showing up at the polls and which candidate(s) are they supporting? That's a pretty big story that's just been dropped by the wayside here.
I wonder why.
John Edwards is resurgent in South Carolina. He's doing pretty well after the debate. But the media is so busy talking about Bill that there's nothing much to say about that.
I wonder why.
And, yeah, we're all getting to know William Jefferson Clinton a whole lot better in his third run for the White House in 2008. It's pretty amazing...I didn't realize that the "Obama people" were determined to take the election away from the voters...I guess it took Bill to show us that sad reality:
Bill's great at sucking up attention and saying "Shame on you, Shame on you."
I wonder why.