Take the Money and Run

Better get used to the idea: John McCain will probably be the next President of the United States.

The fix is in, as it has been in every election since 2000.

This follows from two overarching facts that the corporate media will not report, and the Democrats choose to ignore: (1) The ruling oligarchy can not allow a reformist Democrat to occupy the White House. (2) They have the means to prevent it, as they did in 2000, in 2004, and as they might do again in 2008.

All other aspects of this "election" – issues, personalities, media blitzes – are secondary and perhaps even irrelevant....

[Accordingly], an Obama victory in November is unlikely. But it is not impossible...

To win at all, the Democrats must win big.

** The national media was no longer safely in the pocket of the Republicans. The internet emerged as a significant source of independent political and economic news and opinion. This time there were no "inventing the internet" and "swift-boat" smears from the Republicans, as the attempt to tag Obama with guilt by association with Rev. Wright and Bill Ayers caused no appreciable damage.

** The Republicans managed to nominate two extraordinarily weak candidates which, this time, the media took no great pains to whitewash. John McCain's stumbles and fumbles were duly reported, and Sarah Palin, thanks to Tina Fey, Katie Curic and Palin herself, became a national joke.

** Conversely, the Democrats nominated two strong and attractive candidates, and Barack Obama orchestrated a brilliant campaign. Obama exhibited competence, intellect and eloquence to a public that, at long last, was looking for more in a President than an amiable drinking buddy.

** The public had had enough of Republican lies and incompetence. Bush's approval ratings were in the basement. GOP propaganda had lost its punch: "fool me once..."

** The economy collapsed at the worst possible time for the Republican party and its candidates.

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