Post-Election Period = Pundits At Their Lowest Influence

[stopbush]

The pundits build up every election like it's the end of the world. Now that it's over (and most of them have
been proven wrong), they're jamming the airwaves with talk of '08. They're trying their best to pick fights between
the incoming Ds and the out-of-power Rs. They're talking as if they will set the agenda for the Ds, from immigration
to "watching out that (whatever) doesn't backfire!"

But like the day after Christmas or the week after the Super Bowl, the public has already lost interest. The public has backed
their horse, they've gotten the result they desired, and they're moved on. They'll be ready for politics again in about 16 months.
Until then, they'll get on with their lives and allow the system to work (or not) before tuning in for the next round.

Only incurable political junkies and those whose livelihoods depend on the horse race/inside politics/etc give a goddamn about what's
happening in DC right now. So do yourself a favor and allow most of the pundit water to pass under the bridge for the next few months.
You'll feel better about yourself and your country...and little if anything will change in the meanwhile.

[Tigermoose]

1. Good advice.

kick for common sense.

[Kagemusha]

2. Great point. I watch this stuff closely and I can just feel it...

"Real people" DO NOT CARE about the maneuvering going on right now. The system's on autopilot and the people who care - like, politicians with a personal stake - are taking care of it. The People have spoken, and the People have retired for the political winter. Take the remarks by Olmert to Bush praising the occupation of Iraq as having brought stability. Yes, the Dems are grumbling, but the voters DO NOT CARE. They aren't listening to what some foreign leader is saying to a lame duck President who's been largely tuned out in his own country.

Let me repeat this to pound it home...

People are tuning out pundits and the President because the President that the pundits have been arguing over for six years is being seen as a LAME DUCK. Good thing to keep in mind.

[SharonAnn]

4. My friend said this "I feel like a babysitter now that the parents have

come home. I don't have to deal with this unruly bunch of kids any longer. At least, not until the next time."

[jazzjunkysue]

3. All true. It's chicken little time. But the sky already fell. No one told the pundits.