What Will Be The Story Of The 2008 Election?

Paul Waldman has a great post pointing out how the media interprets both Republican and Democratic victories as signs that America is moving to the right.  When the Republicans took Congress in 1994, it demonstrated a major rightward shift of the political landscape, yet when the Democrats retook Congress in 2006 in landslide fashion, it was… a triumph of centrism.

As Waldman points out, Newsweek’s head wanker Jon Meacham is already warning Obama and the Democratic Party not to be so foolish as to think that a resounding electoral victory means that American is not a conservative country.  As if it’s not totally obvious that Republicans getting their asses kicked in two consecutive elections proves that Americans love conservative policies.

Anyway, it got me to wondering what simplistic conclusion the media will draw from this year’s election.  Every election year, the media boils down the outcome into one or two very basic narratives to "explain" what happened.

2000: Fibber McEarthtones vs. Drinkin’ Buddy.  Underlying Message: Democrats effete and insincere, Republicans authentic and manly.

2002: Iraq!  9/11!  TERROR!!!  Underlying Message: Democrats soft on terror and Republicans.

2004: Values Voters, Swift Boat Veterans.  Underlying Message: Drudge and the religious right rule our world.

2006: The genius of Rahm Emanuel.  Underlying Message: Centrism is Teh Hawt!  Pay no attention to those antiwar progressives behind the curtain!

2008:…?

Some possibilities, in no particular order:

1) Obama got lucky because the economy started collapsing two months before the election (Small Picture).

2) Conservatives reaped the richly deserved rewards of an eight-year-long Epic Fail which discredited practically every single one of their core beliefs (Big Picture).

3) Rahm is still a genius!  Centrism is still Teh Hawt!

4) Obama was a remarkably charismatic candidate who ran a brilliant campaign.

5) McCain was a remarkably disagreeable candidate who ran a godawful campaign.

6) Holy jumping fuck, that Sarah Palin is scary.

7) McCain’s ugly smears-and-hate strategy backfired spectacularly, and destroyed the "Maverick" brand which was his greatest asset.

A few days ago, Howard Wolfson wrote that this election marks the end of Nixonland, that after 40+ years, its mean-spirited politics and policies have finally been rejected by the American people (not to mention reality).  I hope he’s right – and if it’s not the end, then at least let it be the beginning of the end.

But if the Nixonian political edifice is finally crumbling, will Villagers like Meacham admit it?  Will Republican political consultants start shying away from character assassination and fearmongering?  Will Democratic political consultants emerge from their defensive crouch and start encouraging their candidates to be full-throated progressives?

Well, no.  At least not yet.  But I can still dream.

Related posts:

1. Election 2009: What Happened in Virginia?
2. Does Obama’s 2008 Campaign Have a Lesson for Saving Healthcare Reform?
3. Election 2009: Election Night Thread #1; Polls Now Closed in VA
4. GOP Fearmongering Succeeds in Casting Doubt on Legitimacy of the Electoral Process
5. Same old story from the same old jerk