Campaign 2008: The Day After

Here's my one short paragraph analysis of the presidential election:

John McCain had a path to victory that worked like a string of Christmas lights; one bulb doesn't work (Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, etc.) and the string doesn't light up. The financial crisis hit McCain's campaign hard and two issues that appeared to favor the GOP ticket - Iraq/security and energy/oil - faded from voters minds against a Barack Obama campaign that was about as close to perfect as you can prepare and execute.

So, enough for winners and losers of political races. Here's some thoughts on who is getting collateral good news and bad news after Tuesday's elections.

Good News - Rush Limbaugh
Rush's radio audience will probably grow as conservatives and Republicans seek his audio comfort food over the next four years. Rush may be better going after Democrats when they're in power than defending Republicans when they control The White House and/or Congress.

Bad News - Conservative Talk Radio
If Democrats bring back the Fairness Doctrine, it won't hurt Rush. However, it may squeeze some other conservative talkers off the air if stations have to provide equal time for opposing views.

Good News - Tina Fey
Her Sarah Palin impression has done her career more good than her Emmy-winning work on NBC's 30 Rock.

Bad News - Saturday Night Live
The show's first ten minutes has been actual must see TV with their election parodies, but Entertainment Weekly has noted SNL's ratings really slide after the opening segment. And honestly, it takes me about eight minutes to speed through the remaining 80 minutes on my DVR looking (in vain) for laughs.

Now, the election is over.

Good News - Chicago
The city that starts with a C, ends in an O and has a hicag in the middle (joke courtesy Saturday Night Live "Superfans" skit) gets to boast that they're the hometown of the President of the United States.

Good News - Pollsters
They knew Obama was going to win. At least they think they knew that Obama was going to win. They probably won't admit it, but those experts must have let out the biggest sigh of relief after Obama was projected as the winner. I get the same feeling standing over a two-foot putt with the back nine and two skins riding on it.

It appears that Rasmussen Reports and Pew Research had the Obama-McCain nationwide vote margin pegged at six percent in their final polls according to Real Clear Politics.

Good News - Sarah Palin
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is the most powerful Republican in Washington. Palin is the most powerful Republican outside of the Beltway. Many see her as the frontrunner for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination.

Bad News - Sarah Palin
It might be a little early for a 2012 forecast. It was barely a year ago that we thought the 2008 showdown for The White House would be between Rudy Giuliani and Hillary Clinton.

Good News - Newspapers
I figure every copy of every newspaper front page in the country for November 5, 2008 will be grabbed by history-making collectors looking to pack it away or to frame it.

Bad News - Public Financing of Elections
I can't believe either party will allow themselves to battle for The White House again with the kind of money disadvantage McCain had against Obama.

Neutral News - Assessing Obama's Victory
Politico notes exit polling shows Obama "won the largest share of white support of any Democrat in a two-man race since 1976..the Illinois senator won 43 percent of white voters, 4 percentage points below (Jimmy) Carter's performance in 1976."

So was this really a change in the political map or was it a one election trend in a year when it was tough to be a Republican nationally?

We'll see in four years.

Good News - Fred
I've been using Election Day as a marker. Now, it's just nine days to go until Quantum of Solace shows up in theatres.