Elections 2010

I’ve been pondering the election results since this morning, when I actually shouted at the TV a couple of times during my workout, as I watched Republicans talk about their victories and what it means for country. The dribble coming out of their mouths was all the same – no specifics, only the “big government is bad” and “we’ve got to close the deficit” rhetoric. What exactly is big government? No one ever explains. Reagan was all about smaller government, but if I recall, the government actually ballooned during his tenure. And, frankly, the deficit ballooned under W., too – and nobody thought it was a big deal then.

All I can think is, Rupert Murdoch must be grinning all over. Or maybe he’s totally bummed he didn’t win the Senate. Because he’s the one who paid for all the advertising and all the people (Fox news people, Sarah Palin, and everyone else) to repeat his mantra. They don’t all know what his end game is (I’m pretty darn sure he doesn’t clue them in), but he is paying them all enough not to ask. And that includes the Republicans in Congress. They know they just need to keep up the patter. If not Rupert himself, I’m sure there’s someone from his inner circle participating these days in the deliberations of the Boehner boys. Believe me, the Tea Party would have been nothing without Fox News coverage. Murdoch saw that as an opportunity. Especially because they have no leader. Ideal for his purposes.

Why aren’t we talking about Rupert Murdoch’s influence in this election? Because he’s a very bright man, and bought a media empire, so he could say (or rather, have his people say) whatever he wants under the protection of the First Amendment.

Those are my thoughts.