Dick Morris's election map

[angus]

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I don't go in for these map predictions much the way some posters do, or some analysts do.  I haven't made one here and I haven't clicked on the link.  But I will say that I agree with what Morris wrote in that excerpt.    It seems to me, looking at the polling data that the attacks on Palin were petty (if I may say that), and it did backfire, yet it also seems that in the past few days folks have worried less about pettiness or who's more uppity, and more about economic indicators, since Obama is rising.  I saw a poll today on the Newshour with Jim Lehrer that showed a five point advantage for Obama.  The same poll last week showed a two point lead for McCain.  I think Morris may be correct in his analysis.  At least I can't find a better explanation for the recent swings.  He's generally a clever guy.  A bit crazy, sometimes.  He suggested that we invade Iran on more than one ocassion, but he is smart.   

[angus]

Seems fox likes to hire pissed off democrats for their viewing pleasure.

Indeed.  And some of the best viewing, imho.  The medium of television, especially the news coverage, is overly sensationalistic and oriented to the short attention span.  But whatever you are, be the best you can be at it, I say.  If you're a nerd.  Be the best nerd you can be.  If you're a jock, be the best jock you can be.  If you're a slacker, be the best slacker you can be.  So if you're an American television news outlet, it goes without saying that you play to the basest instincts among us.  The rubber neck.  The guaranteed-sponsor grotesque.  And one thing that is always a hit is former Democrats ranting against Democrat candidates.  It's not unlike former smokers pushing for tougher anti-smoking laws, or former Republicans ranting against the current GOP agenda, but more interesting.  I find Dick Morris to be one of the most intriguing personalities out there right now.  And I have a very short attention span, by the way, if I do say so myself.  Sometimes he shocks me, of course.  Like, about three years ago he kept going on about invading Iran.  Sure, we have troops in two countries, which border Iran.  (He'd of course name the two countries, deferring to the general geographical ignorance of our culture, but we needn't be distracted by that.)  Why not?  It would only be an extra hundred billion a year.  Bizarre.  Even Hannity would do a double take.  What?  Did you say invade Iran?  I never could tell whether he was serious.  I'm not sure Hannity could either.  But it was always so amusing. 

Last night he was being interviewed by Alan Colmes, and he actually said, "Oh Alan, you're better than that.  Stop it you are embarrassing yourself."  This was in response to some discussion about the hypocrisy of McCain.  It seems that, of all the Foxies, Colmes is the one with no sense of humor.  Somehow I think he's out of the loop.  Like it's big fun and everyone is in on some joke except him.  Anyway, he got defensive.  "hey, that's a very impolite thing to say."  I sort of felt sorry for him, because of course he was right to be indignant.  But you're just thinking, of course McCain is a major hypocrite and Morris knows that, you dumbass, you're meant to verbally bitch-slap him back.  Don't you know anything about ratings, you dolt?  Still, it was fun to watch the exchange.  Morris is very entertaining, imho.  And very smart.  Knows who's buttering his bread, so to speak.