A picture that says it all about the Media that were at the DoubleTree hotel and a story from a Grok friend who had been making the rounds.
Everybody needs a break from time to time and having been through the DoubleTree (when it was a Radisson) hotel during previous FITN’s (First In The Nation Primary), I’ve always known that the Big Three and cable networks were generally located in the Armory room on the main floor (go in the front entrance and go Left – appropriate in this case) and made it clear that they were “in the house” in having studios just behind the glass so passerbyers could see who were flapping their gums for commentary and news.
This year?
Not so much. Everything was hidden from view – it’s almost like they didn’t want to show their faces.
But instead, along that glass wall was an “un-network” in terms of TV – was the the AP (Associated Press, known more for print media). And they had some vertical banners inside and outside their area. This one was right up and front in being the first sign. And it says a LOT about, not just the AP but all of the Democrat mouthpiece media:
Almost a badge of honor, it seemed to me but that could just be me but for me, it was emblematic. Which brings me to the second snippet – also about the media.
Long term Grok acquaintance “L” (along with a friend) stopped me outside the Radio Row room in which we had been put. Her story is that this year was different than most years in which she had been wandering around.
Sidenote: Not being from Manchester and only being in the hotel during shorter duration events, I did not know that it was a “thing” that locals would stroll the area to see what was going on in and outside the hotel – who knew?
Most years, the media was outgoing and interested in talking with anyone walking by. A lot of “man in the street” interviews happened – journalists actually trying to find out what “regular folk” were thinking and what was motivating them in terms of soon-to-be cast votes. It was fun, from what she said, to “do the walk” and interact.
This year, not so much. I had noticed it a bit but she REALLY noticed it – the media cloistered itself within itself. Journalists were talking to other journalists – and not many others. Inward looking (dare I say inbredding?) only. Added in was that most seemed rather dour, gloomy, and just walking through the motions.
It was just a job and, it seemed, a job they weren’t all that motivated in doing. Just a place to be, write or speak something, and then move on.
Almost like they knew something the rest of us don’t. Well….
The kicker was when L said (paraphrased):
One of them let the cat out of the bag – they all know what the outcome is going to be and there’s nothing they can do to change it.
Trump is going to win.
I wasn’t sure what to say at that point other then “REALly…”.
Even having thought about it for a week, I’m not willing to start jumping for joy or in anticipation. Who knows if it will be true – what kind of black swan event could throw that to the winds (like Bloomberg promising, contra the ever-dinning by Democrats of getting money out of politics, to spend up to $2 Billion to defeat Trump)? That said, if that is what the media is really thinking and believe, my only suggestion is this (via Glen Reynolds of Instapundit):
Don’t get cocky!
