Yeah, that's what I'm hearing on the news, guys, sorry to tell ya: McCain's numbers are "on the move", he's a genius for getting his new Rove-like crew going in high gear, and they're just destroying Obama. And of course, since Obama's lead wasn't "as big as it should be" (boy, if I had a nickel for every time I've heard THAT one)--since Obama's lead is all tiny and miniscule and everything, the news guys are saying Obama's slipping. He's off his game, losing his touch, all that sort of stuff. OK, thanks, "traditional media" (good one, kos! Sic 'em!). I think I get it. We're a bunch of stupid losers, AGAIN.
But, you know, it's funny. I keep looking at all these charts with the squiggly lines, like the ones they have over at Pollster, and they keep showing stuff like this:
See, I thought the blue line was Obama--I mean, that what it SAYS--so I thought we were winning, right? But the TV guys all say we're like, tied.
But, you know, of course, it's not all about the big picture. It's about the swing states, right? Those are the states that are really gonna decide this thing come November, and boy howdy, McCain sure is tearing it up in those swing states!
I mean, look at this chart from Ohio--it's like 2004 all over again, for Pete's sake:
And if you thought THAT was bad, look at this one for shades of 2000. I mean, Obama just clearly cannot get ANY traction in Florida:
Yeah. He's FUCKED.
And, of course, wouldn't ya know it, old man McCain is making huge inroads into two states Obama HAS to win, one being Pennsylvania...
...and the other one, of course, being Michigan...
Then there's these new swing states--I mean, as if you can just make up your own swing states at whim! C'mon, we all know there's no way a Democrat is gonna win freakin' Virginia!
And New Mexico...pffft, it'll be so close the Republicans will just steal it again...
I mean, hey, I know we like Obama around here and all, but charts are charts and lines are lines: you can't argue with that. You just can't.
I hate to be the one to break the bad news, but it's clear the "traditional" media is knocking it out of the park on this one--McCain is just thumping Obama's ass everywhere you turn.
I was hoping that maybe looking at some blobs instead of lines would be better, but it's not. I mean, look at this map from FiveThirtyEight today:
I took one of my crayons--the blue one, of course--and I can make a line connecting South Carolina and Idaho while touching nothing but red! I mean, look at the middle! That whole patch from Texas north--nothing but red! Most of the biggest, most rectangular states--nothing but red! Well, except for Colorado, another one of those newfangled, made-up "swing" states.
I mean, look, I'm not trying to be a defeatist or anything, and I enjoyed seeing you guys at Netroots Nation a couple weeks ago even if Pelosi dodged all her questions and Harold Ford did come off like a total pompous ass...but I mean, you can't argue with lines and blobs. You just can't. Lines and blobs cannot be disputed. Period. End of story.
Maybe the DNC can get some of their cash back out of that stadium deal by renting it to the Rolling Stones or something, maybe. You think?