Politics 101 (An Introductory Course)

Stories like 'New Yorker gate' are really the only thing that MSM and MSM Jr. can sink their teeth into during the doldrums (this stagnant time between the primaries and the actual confirmation dates in August and September).

Curiously, the pollsters that thrive on these things have recently shown us another thing: nobody (and I mean nobody) cares.

The networks aren't dumb. They know this. Election coverage during the doldrums thus turns into an entertaining soap opera. As Mr. Fiore puts it, people get to tune out from the world being torn asunder and focus on their 'scandal of choice'. All the while, candidates and media consumers alike can enjoy the show, knowing that nothing that happens from now until September really matters.

The problem is that come September(ish) the campaigns drag out the scandal of choice they've been keeping in reserve. Yes, the swiftboaters. They can do this without looking like they've kept the issue in 'reserve' since they've been vigilantly clucking over flag pins and goofy magazine covers for months and, 'quite frankly, we had our hands full'.

Again the pollsters go crazy, because by this time electoral boundaries have been so carefully gerrymandered that the race is in the 48%-52% region and the scandal that 'rocks the nation' just prior to the election does matter. Depending on how well the swiftboaters sling their slime, they can mobilize the idjit voters into a +/-5% swing vote. Ultimately, it's the noble idjits that decide the outcome of the election.

Mr. Fiore has, for years, been trying to inoculate the public from the idjits, but he seems to not understand that... eh... various 'powers that be'... very much like things as they are.

Ah, but this is another topic for another lecture.

Now, grab some popcorn and watch the tears and spittle fly as the fictional America (one where voters actually care) is 'torn apart at the seams' by devastated Muslims and a shocked, tearful Obama. They're putting on the show just for you. 6 P.M. Eastern.

I know, I know. It's driving me nuts too! There will be an embed link very soon-- I'm getting a programmer on it. In the meantime, take a look at this beta version and let me know what you think:
http://www.markfiore.com/embed01/embed_candidate.html

Thanks!

-Mark

Soooon! I'm on it. I know I've said this before, but a smarter-than-me programmer will be setting that up very soon.

Hang in there! And thanks for your persistence,

-Mark

These (Insta-scandal and Third Candidate) are two of your most poignant. Brilliant!

I usually try to send out the link to your web site to my friends and hope they check it before the commentary (can't call it a cartoon) changes.

Glad you will soon have link capability. Any thoughts on how to send them to Congress?