An American Quilt

Most pundits still treat the November midterms as any other similar election cycle; when, in fact, previous metrics are no longer relevant. The November midterms will not hinge on anything as flimsy as accusations of scandal. In normal times, scandal, smear, and innuendo even, could turn elections - as could race, looks and/or a glamorous trophy wife, cute kids and a dog. November will bring on recycling day in America, when we put all our stuff considered crap out to the curb. Inventory will have been very carefully taken.

To appreciate the difference this time around you only need look at the media. Nobody is paying much attention to the media anymore. In fact, major media endorsements - like POTUS himself - have become a liability. People will read fawning puff pieces in the NYT about the vaunted Cuomo legacy, for instance; and that will be enough for people to vote against square-jawed Andrew (formerly of HUD). Similarly, they will read scathing attacks on Tea Party candidates in the same elitist, left-leaning, partisan rags; and that will be enough to make up their minds.

Scandals are no longer to be believed. These are seen as petty smear contrivances that are usually effective only against Republicans. We are now in a post-partisan phase. The ‘anybody but Bush’ crowd has been swept aside and replaced with ‘anybody but Obama’ types. The media will do its best to paint both as one and the same.

Strangely enough, the country is now as unified as it ever was. It has become accepted that Obama occupies the extreme fringe of our American quilt. The people will not rest until this fringe is severed from power. The anti-Bush mania was only a warm-up; a dry-run based on late night frivolity. This time it’s serious, however. The question remains: Will normal methods suffice in abnormal times?

http://pkoelliker.blogspot.com/