The Endless, Self-Referential Circle

As we anxiously await the polls closing, make those GOTV calls, and read the reports from the field by dedicated Kossacks, I want to take a break to offer a charming little rant.

I Heard it!  I actually HEARD IT!!

Last night on the Chris Matthews' Show, Mr. Matthews looked straight into the camera and said, "The people are facinated by Rev. Wright.  Our ratings prove it."

Now.  Let me get this straight...

We are in the midst of the single most important election in a generation.

We have the only 2 moderately reliable news source covering the campaigns, showing live events and footage of speeches, and giving Americans who care about this country the only daily information they can get.  I, like many of my contempories, a lot of office workers, and most of the political class, keep my TV tuned into one of these channels all day.  I pay attention when there is something of political interest, and tune them out when they cover bare bellies or anything of burning interest to the sub-adult set.  In other words, the TV may be turned on, but nobody is watching for long stretches.  This includes watching the endless stream of commercials for products designed to treat discomfort, that we are warned may cause death.

In other words, if what is being shown is not serious, they get no respect.  And they certainly get no attention.

Now mix in the following:

An angry Old Black Man starts yelling about things that, with a couple of notable exceptions, are true.

There is a Black Man Winning the Democratic Primary.

Somewhere in the bowels of the TV studios, someone makes the decision to endlessly loop the OBM's rants and start insisting the BMW take full responsibility for everything the OBM has ever said.

After a few hours of this, people stop paying attention.  The TV is still on but no one is watching.  We saw it.  We heard it. And, it didn't change any minds among well informed voters.

But, the TV is still on!

Both of the TV news channels that smart people watch are only available through satellite, or cable service.  Everyone has a black box on their TV that is in constant 2-way communication with the source of the signal they are receiving.  That source keeps careful records of every program being transmitted into every home, office and school, in America.  If your TV is on, the station you are receiving is being recorded, 24/7.

Now, we pretty much know that the "suits" have demonstrated no real understanding of technology.  When the satellite and cable companies report that CNN or MSNBC had 6 million eyeballs on a given day, is it possible that they really think we are hanging on every word?  Do they believe that everyone is sitting in front of a set, breathlessly watching every iteration of every repetition of the OBM rant?  Can they really be that stupid?

If the cable and satellite news programs cost any candidate this election because they are so deluded as to think that monitoring a news program is equivalent to heart clutching demands for more, more, more, I think it's time to wise them up.

So, NO, Tweety.  The "ratings" do not show that America has the same hard on for OBM as you seem to think.  A TV set that is turned on is really not the same thing as a TV set that is being watched.

But, if you continue to show OBM footage everytime you cover one candidate, eventually those who are not paying much attention will think that this is important.  And you will deliberately cause the crash and burn of the most impressive candidate we have seen in my life time.

Climb down off of that Ego Stick and look around.