A Brokered Convention‽
Eric Alterman had a bit about a brokered convention from The Note [like The View, but not as serious] and then I started hearing Repub concern trolls talking about what a terrible disadvantage it was to only have two months of campaigning left after the convention in August, while John McCain is the Republican nominee now.
First off, in most of the civilized democracies on the planet the elections are six weeks, from start to finish. Second, normal people aren’t is paying any attention until the last two weeks of October. Third, no one has the money to run ads for the entire 8 weeks, much less longer. Fourth, a real convention will generate a lot more coverage and media time than a coronation. Fifth, this thing has been going on so long now, what in hell can anyone say about any of the candidates that hasn’t already been said?
Think about it. The Repub race is over, McCain won, why cover the non-race. On the Democratic side there is still competition, so fire everyone who was covering the other Republican candidates, and only cover the Democratic story. McCain drops off the shows and disappears, and it’s all Democrats all the time among the talking heads.
What exactly is the down side?
6 comments
That thought occurred to me. With both Hillary and Obama still in our race, there’s plenty of media-grabbing action. With McCain, one wonders if there was ever any action in the first place. (Sorry; as an old man myself, I shouldn’t make bad jokes about the GOP candidate who is older than Reagan was when he started his run. But I can’t help myself. See the skippy quote in my banner.)
OTOH, a Texas political operative mailed the CEWDEM list today with a lot of observations, one of which was that the media looooves McCain, so that in essence he gets free air time almost as much as he wants. I am not ready to say this one is in the can yet.
He’ll probably get Sunday play, but it won’t be the coverage that the Democrats get and the convention coverage will be totally different because there is no story at the Repub coronation.
There’s no denying that the media loves John McCain and never takes a critical look at the guy, but that’s a role for the ‘Net.
The Republican party will be a house divided against itself, and will not stand for John McCain.
This, I think, isn’t a bad thing…
John McCain, however, must be planning to go down with the ship at this point.
First off, in most of the civilized democracies on the planet the elections are six weeks, from start to finish.
yeah. imagine what life would have been like if these people stayed in washington, working to filibuster immunity bills or to overide schip vetoes instead.
Fourth, a real convention will generate a lot more coverage and media time than a coronation.
i’m keeping my fingers crossed. i may even go out and spend part of my economic stimulus on a tv if it comes down to this.
The Repubs have been held together with bubble gum, baling wire, and fear for some time. I think they are writing off this election based on the almost non-existent fund raising, and planning for 2012. They aren’t dead, just crawling off to lick their wounds.
Don’t bother, Hipparchia, save it for MREs and water as it occurs during the hurricane season.