Tom Rinaldo: 2008's Second Season

[Adelante]

We don't see much of Tom here lately, so I thought I would post the latest from his blog. As always, an interesting take on things.

America’s omnipresent attention deficit disorder is again on an annual collision course with the lazy hazy crazy days of summer. With more temptations calling our attention than sun drenched hours fill a day; few among us have the patience to sit still for 3 long months of Reruns. Catering to our need for novelty, TV moguls years back bit the bullet and introduced TV’s “Second Season”, alive with new characters, new plot lines; and compelling new reasons to tune in for an enhanced summer lineup.

So what’s in store for 2007? Some new Presidential candidates for us to follow, of course. In an era where networks fail to distinguish between their news and entertainment divisions, politics becomes another genre of “Reality TV”. “The Race for the White House” may be a popular hit, but its cast of characters hasn’t changed in six months. That’s far too long without new blood. There is a real risk of the ratings falling well before the scheduled Fall roll out of “Rounding the Final Corner.”

I write the above as a parody of sorts but the truth is too close for comfort. Media buzz can make or break a political candidate, and the media craves new personalities to promote, as well as classic conflicts to exploit. And so too does the public, which burns through new Reality TV shows like there’s no tomorrow. Even the most popular stand bys depend on new wrinkles to stay topical. As political reporting edges closer to center stage with the first 2008 primaries little more than six months off, those dueling political love triangles that the media has obsessed over continually are starting to lose their luster. Look, it’s still Rudy, John and Mitt mixing it up in the right corner, while yonder over left Hillary, John and Obama are still going at it. Is that all there is? Is that all there will be for six more months? Somehow I doubt it.

http://www.aleftturnforclark.com/2007/05/2008s_second_season.html#more

[tishaLA]

1. K&R

[Tom Rinaldo]

2. LOL - Thanks WesDem

There is definately a significant enough yearning for new political blood in the 2008 Presidential race, and a significant enough level of disatisfaction with the current options in both Parties, to open up a second window for additional candidates to announce this summer.

Turnabout is fair play. To support the above contention I point readers to an entry made by you to your blog:


"Iowans not so happy with Democratic field for 2008

Neither am I.

Here are bits of a few different articles on the May 2007 Iowa Poll in which Edwards took 29%, Obama 23%, Clinton 21%, Richardson 10%.

But:

A new Des Moines Register poll suggests that Iowans likely to participate in the January caucuses aren’t entirely satisfied with the list of declared candidates.
Here is the question asked:

(Asked of Democratic caucus-goers) I’m going to mention some people who are not currently running for president. For each, please tell me if you would like to see them get into the race, or not.

Retired General Wesley Clark. Former Vice-President Al Gore. Massachusetts Senator John Kerry. The Reverend Al Sharpton.


The answer: Gore 44% Kerry 23% Clark 20% Sharpton 6%"
http://www.awesclarkdemocrat.com/2007/05/iowans_not_so_happy_with_democ.htm



I myself will point out that the combined totals in that poll, of those currently supporting Edwards, Obama or Clinton for the nomination, are exceeded by the combined totals of those who still want to see Gore, Kerry or Clark enter the race for it. While that doesn't directly translate into the latter three having as much or more current active support as the present three announced front runners, it does indicate that substantial fluidity still exists at this stage of the Democratic Presidential contest, in Iowa at least.

[Tinksrival]

8. CLARK 08

Hi Tom! I'll help you kick WesDem! ;)

[Tom Rinaldo]

3. No one can say that I'm kicking my own thread

No they can not. I'm simply kicking WesDem's thread here.

[Texas_Kat]

4. Lemme give you a bit of help

Two of my favorite posters.

[Cameron27]

5. As usual, a thoughtful and well written by Tom

that I agree with. I'm patiently waiting for Clark's announcement.

K&R

[BootinUp]

6. nice articleTom.

I agree that a Clark or Gore candidacy is still viable and hoping one or the other takes on the challenge for the same reasons you point out.

[FrenchieCat]

7. Very timely!

Thanks! :thumbsup:

[lyonn]

9. Yup, we need new blood, the repubs have that old movie star

strongly hinting he will run and the media is all over that story. Soooo, why not get Clark to get his "exploratory" team exploring and collecting dollars?

[David Zephyr]

10. Thanks for posting this.

Tom's a great writer and thinker.

I think Al will run.