A week totally away from DU and the News.....Readjusting to the shifting Zeitgeist

[Armstead]

I've spent most of the past week traveling and attending a family gathering in Virginia. I left early Wednesday, so I did know that Obama had won a decisive victory in NC and cut his losses enough in Indiana that the conventional wisdom was that he has most likely sealed the deal.

But from Wednesday until today, I was totally away from TV, radio, the Internet (and therefore DU) and had merely glanced at the front pages of newspapers on newstands.

(Maybe this made me more like an average apathetic citizen, but that's anotehr story..)

Anyhow it was an odd time to get away from this all. The zeitgeist has clearly shifted during that time. It seems, from what I can gather, is that the fat lady hasn't sung, but she's warming up. Hillary is still running despite the mathematic and attitudinal odds. I dunno the reasons -- maybe she's hoping for another "game changer" or maybe she's just trying to find a way to save face by leaving with a couple of victories under her belt. Or perhaps she's just addicted to making speeches and shaking hands...Dunno.

Anyway, she seems to be behaving herself, so my annoyance about her has largely evaporated. About all I can feel is a certain amount of sympathy, mixed with a hope that she doesn't go back on the warpath again.

It seems strangely calm. Even here on the GP forum, the flame wars have settled down to a dull dutiful roar. Like Clinton's campaign, it seems more like people are going through the motions. Or perhaps Duers are going through withdrawals and perhaps feeling an obligation to live up to previous expectations....But it seems, well civil is pushing it, but less intense and less divisive.

Meanwhile, Obama is warming up for the Main Event. And as he begins to shift into General Election mode, I prepare to be disappointed as he shifts from "playing to the base" to going after those infamous swing voters. I'm waiting for his distancing himself from those who brung him to the party......It's inevitable..But I remain hopeful that he doesn;t move too far to the right and that if elected he'll represent those who brought him.

And tuning into Faux News, O'Reilly is "beginning to investigate" the fact that Obama comes out of, horrors, Chicago and has said hello to some members of the "far left." And O'reilly promises us "We're just beginning to expose this story and we'll be on it." Gee Bill Thanks....I wonder what Annie the Coultermonster is cooking up.

Anyhew, it was a nice break, and it's tempting to keep this disengaged groove going.

[Armstead]

1. kik

[Window]

2. Yes, thankfully it's become much more pleasant around here in the past week or so.

:thumbsup:

[Barack_America]

3. Welcome back. I too was gone from Tuesday morning until Sunday evening.

I spent much of my time in Canada, so I was completely removed from cable news as well as DU.

How refreshing.

Hope your time away was as enjoyable as mine was.