Wednesday, March 5, 2008

SNL Bounce and more

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder! I am suffering post traumatic stress disorder. Or, maybe it is battle fatigue. I am so ready for this nomination process for the Democratic candidate for President to be over. I was ready yesterday. I wanted Obama to put the stake through Hillary's heart. But, it was not to be.

Wyoming is Saturday and a sure win for Obama. It is a caucus state and Obama has the ground game down pat. I heard yesterday that in Harris County, Texas, Obama had 9000 volunteers to Hillary's 39. Sounds ridiculous, but it does fit the pattern for her campaign. Phew! Enough of this stuff.

So, what is happening. Everyone, except for Hillary voters, have read Malcolm Gladwell's Tipping Point. I think there was a tipping point for Hillary and it came with the settlement of the writer's strike. It is unfortunate that the writer's strike didn't continue throughout the spring. If it had, then the lemmings in the media would have continued on their hapless way, and Hillary would not have enjoyed what I am calling the "SNL bounce."

Everyone knew that Obama was doing better with and was better liked by the media than Hillary. That was no secret and no surprise. The media folks like to be cool and hip. Fear and loathing on the campaign trail is all about hip. Obama is hip. Hillary can't even imagine hip.
With the settlement of the writer's strike the trend setting television shows got their groove back and could, once again, be players in setting the tone for the cognoscenti dialog.

So, with writer's unblocked, Saturday Night Live struck with a hilarious bit on the Democratic debate between Clinton and Obama with a slavish press hanging on every Obama word. In that one moment, the press was found out. And, in a phrase, Tina Fey gave cred to being a bitch.

There was only one response for the media. They had to now eagerly pick up and run with Hillary's ever negative campaign and go on the Obama attack to prove the SNL perception incorrect. The press never likes to be found out. They only report. They never like to be exposed as active participants.

In addition, the SNL bit gave Hillary a throw away line in the next debate when she wondered if they should ask Barack is he needed a pillow. And, for the first time, it provided a characterture of Obama. SNL transformed him from a elegant patrician striding across the stage to a big-eared dweeb.

So, there you have it. A press back on its heels providing ink to Hillary's increasing negativity and giving voice to her campaign's come back kid charade; a female candidate secure in her bitchdom; and an classy gentleman made into a feckless dweeb. A tipping point.

I don't know if any of it matters, but my Obamaniacs are sure stirred up. And we are suffering battle fatigue. It is a little bit like the hangover from too much alcohol and too many drugs after a big rock concert weekend. Any of you remember those?

No comments: