Ersatz Substance Mine Sweeper

In politics, hyperbole is ersatz substance. The Dems are keenly aware of how they’ve been able to bring down one Republican after another. To avoid a similar fate they have created the Mine Sweep division of (GE’s) NBC, patterned after the HRC-Ickes White House damage control unit during Bill Clinton’s two terms. Given the now obvious blurring of lines between industry, the press and government, it is perhaps appropriate that White House damage control functions have now been assigned to the (perceived) private sector.

In any case, the Schultz-Maddow-Olbermann team can expect to find itself busier than a one-armed (wall)paper hanger during the next four years as Obama has been described by some as a walking gaffe machine. His use of the teleprompter has succeeded in blunting the stooge effect somewhat. There has also been a move - admittedly still in its exploratory stages – to have the White House broadcast events and functions on its own dime, without involving the national press corps.

All this expense and effort is in recognition of the fact that Obama is not yet prepared to lead; that he is still in campaign mode and will likely remain that way for the foreseeable future.