We are the Media's "Echo Chamber" - and we do Drama well.

[Tom Rinaldo]

Remember back when it was "The Drudge Report" people in the main stream media cited when they wanted an excuse to make non news into news? Now more often it's us, "the leftist blogosphere", writing at places like DU and KOS that gets picked up on and used to keep controversies alive. We have a mutually co-dependent relationship with 24 hour cable news that's going strong with no sign of a let up.

Remember back when cable news networks used dead or missing attractive white women to fill up endless hours of so called "news coverage"? There's a lot less of that nowadays, though I suspect there are still just as many dead or missing attractive white women out there now as there were a few years ago. But reality entertainment news programming burnt us out on that focus. It was getting stale and so it was replaced; by politics. Politics defined as who is winning and who is losing, and who is screwing who.

Policies aren't dramatic, though disasters are. Something things like the collapse of the stock market will get air time; but an appraisal of what infra structure unmet needs can generate how many jobs in which sectors? Not so much to put it mildly. So what is there to talk about on the days when bankers aren't jumping out of windows in large numbers? Obama and the Clintons fills that void nicely, almost as well as an O.J. Simpson trial.

If we here at places like this refuse to let go of the hit mockumentary drama series that captivated the nation for so much of primary season, that oh so juicy "political love triangle" featuring Barack Hillary and Bill, lord knows the main stream media won't. They want drama above all else and will use any excuse to keep delivering it to us, both in print and on the screen, rather than discuss something serious, like, say the ongoing repercussions of international trade agreements. Our addiction encourages the drama peddlers. Without that demand the supply would soon dry up.

There is always behind the scenes jostling and sharp elbowed negotiations in politics. That's why "office politics" is called "office politics" and not "office sports". What has changed is the focus of public attention and we are a big part of that change in focus. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are pros at the highest levels of their careers. If they see fit to enter into an agreement AFTER having thoroughly explored all of the ramifications of that agreement, I think they both will work hard to deliver good results from that agreement. Given their respective skills and abilities, I for one will bet that they will pull it off very well should they decide to pull that trigger. And then we and the media will need to go looking elsewhere to get our drama hit.

[Truth2Tell]

1. K&R

But I like the Hillary/Obama drama. I never want it to end, like a kid watching Saturday morning cartoons. Luckily for me, as long as the Clintons are in public life it's not going to end.

[Tom Rinaldo]

2. LOL

Well it can stay as a harmless diversion if we don't take it too seriously, kind of like the fascination with Princess Diana at it's less paranoid levels :)

[joshcryer]

4. So true, nothing is more entertaining. But the OP is 100% correct. It's just entertainment.

Unfortunately some people are going to lose their minds over such trivialities. Me? I don't spend too much time fussing over this crap.

[Tom Rinaldo]

5. I often use politics as entertainment

Over the years it has largely replaced professional sports for me in that way. At my age I can "play" politics now better than I can most sports, and that may have something to do with it.

But in the real world it doesn't matter much if my team wins the super bowl or if my candidate gets unfairly "dissed". What matters is whether I and other Americans can afford quality health care and if India and Pakistan can avoid a nuclear war. Politics is a blood sport played by people with excessively large egos. Toes will and do get trampled on. What ultimately matters are the results and good political leaders don't let their ego wars get in the way of achieving real accomplishments . To play politics well at the national level requires an ability to usually make the right judgment calls regardless of petty emotions that always flare up. It is Barack Obama's judgment call to make whether adding Hillary Clinton to his Administration as SoS will further his goals for our nation and the world. It is Hillary Clinton's judgement call to make whether she can make a positive contribution to our nation and the world by serving in that capacity if asked. These folks are real pros. I will not second guess them on this based on some hypothetical future fears of it not working out best for all concerned.

[DeepModem Mom]

3. K&R!

[Bonobo]

6. You are the best, clearest thinker here, Tom.

Thank you always.

[Tom Rinaldo]

7. Thanks my friend

though I could think of at least a few dozen others here who deserve that title more. My contributions are sporatic at best :)