Don't worry Mr Jenson, you needn't wonder whether you're busting my chops, you are -even if it's unconsciously, lol)- but on the whole, who cares. This is but conversation sir. I'm not one of the modern sissified PC conscripts, who's been indoctrinated with the notion that the least bit of disagreement, or spirited exchange is fearful, or threatening. I'm good with sincere passion. God forbid you follow the Presidents advice and go shopping!

By your count, we're going to have to await 15 Jan to discover whether my 'speculations' going forward, are correct, correct?

"As far as the MSM not covering it " Let me rephrase that, the hinterlands mainstream media.

We in the hinterlands, which is roughly half the nation, and arguably far more given their circulation, do not rely on the Washington Post or NYTimes for our news(nor do many rely on CNN based on their viewership as a % of the available population). Take this evening Dr Paul went unmentioned despite the obvious health of his campaign(based on that little factoid you're ignoring, regarding the sheer numbers who are making small donations/the good Dr doesn't seem to be benefiting from $5000 a plate fund raisers with his Stakeholders). Richardson with 5% was however noted. [I watched or scanned the following broadcasts, WCAX(CBS local), Vermont This Week(local PBS), ABC, CBS and Washington Week] Frankly most of my rural peers don't come in contact with the NYTimes, and besides, we know politics at our level is a fairly well fixed game. Too(as but one example of deduction), ALL of the Presidential candidates would ALWAYS be included in our greatly lauded democratic experiment. Perhaps you don't see, what we understand, when candidates are excluded, or otherwise ignored(wherever possible as the non first tier candidates* regularly are) because principled IDEAS do inspire actual grassroots activity. Meaning the extent of the conversation being limited, is a tell.

I have an observational understanding(that most of my peers, probably including most of the folks on this board), seem not to. The greater portion of local news feeds are prepackaged at the network level. For instance, let's take the hourly radio blurbs heard in spaced repetition throughout ones day. They arrive from network with as many as ten broadcast ready readings to choose from, per story. Each is a slightly different reading, emphasizing or de-emphasizing various elements of the story so the management has some flexibility for local sensibilities(assuming the programming isn't completely managed from afar, which itself is increasingly common these days). Perhaps a local anchor reads the chosen copy, or perhaps not. But that's the extent of most local control. And, have you noticed how much of your local news broadcasts are taken up with network feeds, and network experts and the like? [I would recommend looking into some of the Naomi Wolf vids available in the youTube/GoogleVid outlets. I've no idea whether she is accredited.-) but it seems she might be(for now) given her rather impressive credentials, including being a Rhodes Scholar.]

You make some valid speculations regarding the Paul campaign strategy of announcing their finances. I thought they were just being forthright(a thought I will hold onto while I mull the obvious pragmatics of your speculations). Too, and you may not be aware of this(I don't know), but several people completely unbeknownst to the Paul campaign, of their own accord, were responsible for raising the greater portion of that $19 mil this last quarter.

[I wrote this on Friday evening, but I heard Sunday, that Hil & Paul ran neck n neck last quarter at about $20 mil each. Which seems to be the cause for Dr Paul's increasing visibility on NPR(thanks 405!), or MSN and elsewhere. Two unfortunate truths: before this past quarter, Dr Paul was greatly ignored for someone who won or place second in numerous post debate polls and straw polls, AND, it's sadly telling that he's getting marginally greater coverage, so far, based seemingly on this past quarters collections, as his message hasn't changed and his popularity has surely increased.

I still expect Hil to be President. She's payed her dues.

Btw, what do you think about Fox stacking their Focus Groups with ringers?

And have y'all heard aboutZbigniew Brezinski being on Obama's advisory committee, and I just discovered endorsing Obama http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caeP33025UY That certainly makes Obama an outsider.]

Other than that, I'm happy to converse/debate.

peaceably

* exclusionary branding don't you think, first tier