One more day and the long election of 2008 is over and done. As the sun comes up over the continent of North America the winner will also be illuminated. Planning to use my 3rd arm to reach out through the mystic fibers of the internet tomorrow, I will be hosting friends at my home for a Clintonian-style (circa 1992) War Room. It has been decided, somewhat reluctantly, I will play the role of Paul Begala, the Future will be James Carville, and Koh will be George Stephanopoulis.
Originally Koh and I were going to be the married couple of James Carville and Mary Matalin, but at brunch yesterday a customer screamed, “Cunt!” in full earshot of families and kids when I brought up the idea of Mary Matalin. I like Mary Matalin, but none of my friends would be safe playing her in my recreation of the War Room sixteen years after 1992. The negativity towards anyone and anything resembling Republicanism has hit an all time high here in Cambridge.
This afternoon I participated in a discussion over at the Washington Post’s website, and actually got a questioned answered by the legendary political columnist, David S. Broder. This happened quite accidentally. Last night (Sunday) I fell asleep on my couch watching, “Meet the Press,” which was still playing over and over on my computer when I woke up fourteen hours later. It must have affected the soft tissue in my brainium that computes political queries and responses. Web surfing this afternoon, I noticed that David Broder was answering questions live, so I quickly opened the form and my mind spilled forth the formation of this question:
Cambridge, Mass.: What is the strategy behind having a campaign’s affiliates go on Sunday morning shows to talk up the idea that their party is going to win in a big swing state like Pennsylvania? It seems to me that doing so would only have the effect of keeping (lazier) potential supporters at home, because they assume that their side will win the swing state.
Surprisingly, five minutes later when I turned my attention away from the Top Ten Best Hip Hop Albums of 1996 or whatever else I was surfing through, back to the Washington Post’s live discussion, David S. Broder and the moderators had chosen my question and he had answered with this:
David S. Broder: My guess is that the Republicans’ goal in talking about their hopes for Pennsylvania was to motivate voters there and elsewhere to believe that John McCain is very much in the race for president. When people believe a candidate is sure to lose, there’s not much motivation to vote.
He’s right everybody. Please continue to check in on 3rdarm.biz over the next twenty four hours as myself and a team of crack talking heads continue with updates through the crucial last day of the Presidential Election. Go vote for Obama and buy me a gourmet turkey sandwich as long as you’re leaving the computer anyway!
hrumph, I didn’t like the ‘lady’ when she commented on my earrings and then asked like a thirsty guppy for more water. I call shenanigans on her and her bad Cambridge hat. As for my upgrade to George Stephanopolous…This is like giving pong an upgrade to Super Mario Brothers 3. I will defer that elite position to Ace since he is more suave than I and take the role of a much smarter, ‘Jane’ the plumber since I will be coming from yoga all wilty. I, like Joe, do not have a license to plumb, or grill, but I do have a lot of ‘hooha’, perhaps some witty banter, a 12 pack of Diet Coke and quite possibly a gourmet offering from the Gourmet Store. We shall see rabbit. We shall see.
-plus, i don’t need to revist that haircut. My Pantene- Moisture Replenishing Shampoo is great for my horse mane.
Pandering pundits, pontificating! America needs a dash of social policy so great I am not allowed to comment on it here at work! Oh 3rdarm, the only compensation of a writer may indeed be freedom, but perhaps its enough.
i’m just sorry i won’t be able to listen to you guys totally stoned….while praying Question 2 passes with billowing clouds of green!
wishing you media darlings well indeed!