But a lot more people hear Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart than hear Glen Beck (except for his frequent laughing-stock appearances on their shows).
^^^^^ CB: I didn't know that. But I'm not sure comedy shows are causing vote switches. Also, Colbert and Stewart are causing people to vote Republican. I guess they might create some stay away from the polls.
^^^
Anyway, a rather different view of the Obama noisedive was presented in a pseudonymous comment on the Salon blog:
"Obama got elected on a wave of enthusiasm for "Real Change." He delivered more (and in some ways worse) of the same. He raised hopes and betrayed them. The elections will devastate the Democrats but not because of any turn to the just-as-awful Republicans. The anti-Obama voters of 2008 will still vote Republican. The Obamists of 2008 will stay home. Who can bring them out for a populist independent campaign in 2012? Our grand old man, Ralph Nader? Our real Mama Grizzly, Cindy Sheehan? Some Senator with a bit of Huey Long blood in his veins (Jim Webb?). Stay tuned."
^^^^^^^ CB: Yeah the stay away factor.
I don't think the vast majority of people who voted for Obama thought of "real change" in the way that the left does; nor did they have the unrealistic expectation that Obama could lead big change in this period of time; nor are they ignoring the fact that the Republicans et al. were able to thwart stuff by the undemocratic filibuster institution of the Senate.
On the other hand, something is fueling the drop in the polls...so what's my explanation (smile) ?
I think part of it is that a lot of Obama voters took a big personal step in voting for a Black man; their support was tentative. So , they are vulnerable to the demogogy, easily persuaded by it. However, I doubt that many of this category are watchers of leftish comedy shows. The leftish shows might have contributed to the general, vague sudden reversal of popularity , but not because of the left content of what they say , but just the "anti-O" tone. And the comedy "content" comes through in making jokes and fun, not serious statements of affirmation of left positions.