That's what we were all expecting tonight, wasn't it? When Jane Hamsher came out with a pretty well-linked post about it yesterday, followed by high-profile appearances on both non-agitprop news channels the next evening, you could be forgiven for the audacious hope that something awesome was about to happen. Things were looking good when Tim Tagaris basically announced shit was gonna go down, when suddenly:
[UPDATE 8:17 PM] And ... nary a mention. Next stop for Edwards, CNN in a few minutes where he is supposed to speak about it. We shall see. And ... nothing on CNN. Maybe tomorrow?
My question is, why not tonight?
Anyone who reads MyDD or Open Left with any regularity is aware that one of the main demographics in play right now between the candidates are those who self-identify as very liberal. While this group obviously doesn't simply overlap with the blogosphere, many of our causes célèbres resonate most fully within its bounds. On top of this already tempting fruit, Edwards is already surging in South Carolina, trailing Clinton by 4 points, 39-22-18 in polling data collected yesterday. Obviously the debate has had an impact, and maybe even a window of sorts has opened for Edwards to take 2nd in SC if he can keep rising at this pace. And Obama folks will probably agree that even if all that comes out of Barack's monster lead in the state, we're all gonna be unusually happy come Saturday night. (sorry Clinton folks i guess you won't be unusually happy my bad yikes)
As for the rest of us who want to see a real race continue after Super Mega Godzilla Cthulhu Tuesday, especially if it's a race that has been helpfully pushed to the left a bit, this scenario is gold. Hell, if Edwards goes through with this, he's got my California ballot easy as that. The impact of an Edwards second place finish in SC over Clinton will absolutely jar the punditry's serene stupor and not just bring much-needed attention to this urgent concern of FISA, but change the dynamics of the presidential race into a post 2/5 mentality as Clinton undoubtedly takes a hit and Edwards, perhaps more than Obama, reap the rewards.
This is why I'm baffled that John Edwards missed out on going all in with a call to action for the two frontrunners on KEITH OLBERMANN of all people. The highest rated progressive-leaning talking head nationwide, period, with a particular taste for this stuff on top of that. I don't know if the same media-wide impact can still be had before the election, or before Reid steamrolls immunity through the Senate, but if I were Democratic presidential candidate-who-wants-to-win John Edwards, I'd get my shit together and sure as Hell try. None of this "vaguely worded short snippet for the blogs to chew over" while simultaneously ignoring the subject when standing on a huge soapbox. I just don't dig it, man.