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Monday, October 27, 2008

The Pre-Post-Mortem

posted by on October 27 at 12:25 PM

This is one of my favorite journalistic genres of the moment, and it comes about because of facts such as this:

RCPOct27.jpg

The general themes of the genre: Obama has run a strategically and tactically brilliant campaign, McCain’s failures could fill a book (and surely will), and woah, check out the Republican circular firing squad. If you, like me, can’t get enough of this type of story, here are a couple of pre-post-mortems (and, related, a couple of pre-post-election-predictions) that are worth checking out:

• Robert Draper in the New York Times on “The Making (and Remaking) of McCain.”

• Adam Nagourney on how Florida began to slip away.

• Ben Smith on how the Palin pick has led to “rogue” behavior and Republican recriminations.

• Ben Smith on David Axelrod’s post-election role.

• And John Heilemann in New York Magazine on “The Next new Deal.”

RSS icon Comments

1

On the New Yorker article: I have kept saying that why do you want Obama to be the next JFK? He needs to be the next FDR and apparently he has taken up the mantle; and frankly he may be the only Democrat since FDR to do so.

Will Obama do what FDR did in 1932? Run as a moderate and then lead the country to the left? I hope he does, FDR literally created the middle class in the United States and made possible the saftey net that the Republicans and yes, BILL CLINTON tried to destroy over the past 30 years.

So here's the deal if it looks like Obama is doing well at the start of his second term we have to repeal the 22nd Amendment to the US Constitution..... you all know why.

Posted by Cato the Younger Younger | October 27, 2008 12:28 PM
2

how dare you show any sort of optimism eli.for shame. fooooorrrrrrrrrrrrr shaaaaaaaaaaaaame.

Posted by Bellevue Ave | October 27, 2008 12:28 PM
3

STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT!

This kind of "pre-post mortem" is exactly the kind of chick-counting-before-they're-hatched that will jinx Obama and should be the #1 Red-alert in your article about paranoia stories. Take that map down! Take it down! Fine if it lives on 538's website or whatever, but don't infect Slog. He has NOT won yet.

Posted by onion | October 27, 2008 12:47 PM
4

onion. go fuck yourself you libvag.

Posted by Bellevue Ave | October 27, 2008 12:48 PM
5

To quote the chant from the anti-war rallies circa 2002:

THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE.

Posted by Suze | October 27, 2008 12:48 PM
6

You left Skippystalin off your list, and you're depriving yourself of some great train-wreck watching pleasure when you do that.

Although I don't share a lot of political views with most of you here, I do share the desire to see McCain lose massively. That's why everyone should be getting all of their news from Skippystalin. He loves stupidity the way Michelangelo loved man-ass and his tributes to it are similarly important works of art.

http://www.skippystalin.com/?p=1531

Posted by Luke Baggins | October 27, 2008 1:01 PM
7

Um say hello to blue states Arkansas, North Dakota and Montana while your at it.

Posted by Andy | October 27, 2008 1:16 PM
8

It is considered bad form to critique the Fat Lady's performance before she has given it.

Posted by flamingbanjo | October 27, 2008 1:25 PM
9

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/

bookmark that sucker.

Posted by bobcat | October 27, 2008 1:45 PM
10

Ya know, every time I see a map like that, I want to start a movement to officially ban the phrase "the nation's heartland" and replace it with "the swath of stupidity".

Posted by Whooooooooooosh | October 27, 2008 1:52 PM
11


Don't count yer chickins.

Posted by gk | October 27, 2008 2:07 PM
12

@11 dont be a pussy

Posted by Bellevue Ave | October 27, 2008 2:21 PM
13

hey whats up with Bellvue Ave today? Kinda grumpy?
all in good fun, and heck, I thought an author like Eli, you know, would um sort of relate to that sentiment.
"fuck" and "pussy" in your posts today, wassup, you miss Hump! or something?

if you are gonna say "hey lets think positively" then it might make more impact if you, you know, express it with a positive attitude.

Posted by onion | October 27, 2008 2:28 PM
14

I'm just tired of the concern from people when we are in a position to really stick it the republicans this year. Take your dick out and whip a republican with it.

I'm counting my chickens cause I want to enjoy this longer and more than any of the cautious people out there.

Posted by Bellevue Ave | October 27, 2008 2:45 PM
15

I love that map because:

a. Obama has more than double McCain

b. The land mass is usually mostly red despite the vote total, but this map looks like it could be close to even.

Posted by sepiolida | October 27, 2008 4:57 PM
16

Obama may possibly get Georgia, Arizona, West Virginia, and even Texas as well. If we really push to get out the Democratic vote, he may win with over 400 votes in the Electoral College.

Posted by Boleslaw | October 27, 2008 10:53 PM

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