Are there any folks out there who watch FOX anymore who wouldn't vote for the GOP even if they ran Limbaugh or David Duke as their candidate? The Republican brand is in such peril that even some of its most fervent supporters like Hannity are thinking about switching to third parties.
As was pointed out to me, I should make an addendum to this. I am talking about folks who use FNC as their primary news source, not as a news supplement.
It's a shame that the right can't make their agendas without resorting to the mindless parroting that seems to dominate the sad class of pundits they have been pushing as seen in the now infamous bitch slap laid on wingnut radio host Kevin James on Hardball last week by Chris Matthews. It's becoming less and less possible for even many conservative voters to listen to anything these folks spew without wanting to scream at the television. Having honest disagreements is vital to our political health and intelligent and open discussions with the right make us safer, better informed and honest. This is something that FOX quite simply can't and won't provide. So the question becomes, does FOX News matter this time around? Let's look at this objectively.
After the last several months of watching the MSM cover the Democratic Nomination process the gear shift to the General that Obama vs McBush (or as I have taken to calling him, Senator Dagnabbit) started this week has convinced me that short producing a picture of Obama choking a puppy while simultaneously burning an American flag and kicking an old lady's walker out from under her, there isn't much the GOP can do this time to stop the Blue surge this fall. The last eight years have taught the majority of swing voters that paying attention during a general election is pretty important. So will swing voters be watching FOX this year for election coverage?
The ratings say no. FOX still attracts many viewers but are any of these people folks who would vote for anyone other than the right-wing candidate? Conventional wisdom says no. The vast majority of them are there to validate their own views, not to hear any views that may challenge what they already think. We all know this. No surprises there. But the question still is, does it matter?
The hugely unpopular war, the teetering economy, the seemingly endless scandals and corruption that have plagued the past 8 years have made attention payers out of the centrists. They will actually listen to policy this time out. And guess what? On policy we win. Poll after poll after poll show that the American public trusts Democrats more on every main policy issue. And why shouldn't they? They remember the Democrat years of the 90's where we weren't at war, were prosperous and respected as the last, best, hope of freedom on the earth.
And look at our allies. A British poll found that the people of Great Britain are aching for a Democrat in the White House with a strong preference for Senator Obama. A similar poll in Canada shows our neighbors to the north wishing for the same thing, even after the NAFTA flap. Now our two closest allies on the planet are screaming for anyone but McCain. How will that play out here?
Northern states will go for Obama. The proximity to the very favorable Canadian news market and the generally more Liberal attitudes in the North will put into play states like Montana and North Dakota forcing the GOP to spend their short stack of cash in markets that should be safe. States like North Carolina with large African American populations will also force campaigning in these "red strongholds". And despite the Florida numbers right now, the Sunshine State will also be in play. Now that Obama can campaign there and spend money, we'll see that deficit shrink too.
The bottom line? FOX doesn't matter. People know it for what it is. Limbaugh and the conservative talk radio nuts won't matter either. And if they do start to seem to gain headway, one Hardball interview should fix that as Mr. James found out much to his ego's displeasure. The only way we can lose this election is through complacence. Once this nomination is done it is our duty to get out and register people to vote. DK readers are generally well informed and debate ready. Engage folks. Get them thinking about what this November really means. Remind them that we get the government we deserve and when we don't show up, when we don't pay attention, when we let the screamers hog the stage, we have aided and abetted the forces of ignorance and greed. Get people talking and the screamers and hysterical harpies at FNC can sputter all they want.
This time is different. We are the ones we've been waiting for.