It's all about the swing states, right? About the indepedents, the undecideds, the uncertainties, the ambiguities, the unknowns, the little enclaves that can make or break your bid to the presidency.
Obama seems to be cashing in on those, if my months of trying to understand what I never understood about the American democratic process has taught me anything. Recently, four "key" battleground states; Michigan, Colorado, Minnessota and Wisconsin, have apparently swung widely to his favour. If you trust the polls.
Am I the only one who is struck by the futility of following every little itsy bitsy particule of event, that seems to send the polls rolling? This time, its McCain's "ineffective leadership" during the financial crisis. And what, exactly, could McCain have done to display effective leadership? What defines effective leadership when the Dow Jones commits suicide, and Mr. Charles Dow himself is probably having seizures in his grave. Dont get me wrong, I dont approve of McCain's little stunt to pause campaigning, but at least he was entertaining, since there was really nothing he could do.
Anyways, so here we are. I guess the economy is the "single most important" issue for voters in the four battle ground states. Im just having a hard time believing it doesnt have more to do with Tina Fey. Tina Fey, top coverage on CNN: NO BODY thinks thats WEIRD? Well I do. How is that news? Only in America are comedy skits routinized as political discourse. Im not hating on the fact that Tina Fey is shaping the destiny of America and the world, except I dont really like her except on 30 Rock: thats a good show and Ive seen Alec Baldwin in person, so Im biased.
Thats what I'd like to see in the polls, to what extent is American political opinion governed and influenced by SNL, and whether the hell thats a good or bad thing.
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6 comments:
'And what, exactly, could McCain have done to display effective leadership?'
well for starters could have tried to look presidential ie cool, calm, collected and not to mention poised. instead of the raging hot mess he made himself out to be. and there's no need to recount it as we've all witnessed it being played out on the national stage.
but my favorite mac moment is:
woman: i've hear some things about him---he's an arab!
old mac: Sen. Obama is a decent person and a person you don’t have to be scared of as president of the United States
translation---- we've established the fact that arabs are the lowest of the low when it comes to the dregs of society, and how dare you call him that he is a decent man!!!!!
poor mac is losing it fast!
How is Tine Fey single-handedly shaping the destiny of America? She isn't making up information. If Sarah Palin wasn't so moronic to begin with, then comedians wouldn't have new material coming along every time she opened her mouth. Many news plugs reported how McCain, Sarah Palin, and Hillary Clinton are each made fun of by TV way more than Obama. Excuse? Apparently Obama doesn't give them much to use.
I doubt that Americans think "So what do I base my vote on... the economy? Nah, health care? No no, that ain't important. Tina Fey? YES!"
You're arguing that the media shapes our opinions either consciously or subconsciously. That is correct, however, it isn't necessarily negative unless the information is untrue or bias. Saturday Night Live satirizes reality - what it can do is point out the stupidity behind politicians. And as far as I remember, SNL ridicules Obama as well, however the skits aren't as popular as the Palin-Fey ones.
In the end, that still doesn't "change" the voters' decisions.
ticknad: good point, my friend.
No man,
I didnt say that was negative, please note my last sentence "whether the hell thats a good or bad thing"- actually for me, its just striking and confusing that SNL makes news headlines, im not targeting the PAlin skits, im talking about what is normalised into the election discourse. im sure it has benefits, the fact that you can ridicule political figures, but what im pointing out is that in america, unlike any other country in the world, it DOES have an impact, it does get recognized on high profile election coverage and i believe it DOES shape voter opinion. maybe not single handedly, granted that was an exaggeration for dramatic effect, but every single political coversation im hearing these days will have a Tina Fey reference! its positive, surely, negative, probable, but doubltlessly, its uniquely American.
ya wad ya bta3 uniquely American inta.:) When did you learn to write so sexy?
i used to peak over your shoulder in fifth grade.
loool @ the last 2 comments ;)
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