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In my gut, no.

The snake oil salesman, revivalist preacher type is embedded in the American psych. We know it when we see it. I think there are enough Americans who are just cussedly stubborn enough to do exactly the opposite of any sort of programming attempt. For me, the most powerful phrase in Sarah's acceptance speech was *orders from the government*. I have proved to myself, over time, that I am fairly average in my reactions, so I have hope that the phrase resonated with a lot of us. Americans dislike orders. Americans disobey as a matter of course.

Rationally, it depends on just how much loot people think they will get from zerO. I have noticed that he isn't clear on exact amounts. While married folks with children and a working class income could benefit financially, a large number of those people are real Christians, have military connections and have hopes and dreams that are tied to capitalism.

As I try to read between the lines of the donk bills being drawn as we speak, it seems to me that many programs are not going to be instantaneous. It will have to be tax year 2010 before many can be implemented. Even stimulus checks take 6-8 months. That means we go through an entire winter and into the spring before anyone sees any benefit increase, while many others see worsening personal economics. So, even if, God forbid, zerO manages a win and there is a total donk Congress, they are the ones who will have to answer to their voters. I do not think they can change the election process in two years. The bureaucracy is just too cumbersome, there are too many people furious at the fraud and we still have a judicial system. There will be municipal and state elections in many places in 2009. If we continue on the road we are on, the entire country will be like Michigan by then. There will have to be electoral revolt, IMO.

Another factor I have been wondering about is the vast number of trust kids on the left who have just been informed that the losses in their trusts will mean either a cut in their distributions or the reality that the principal will not survive the distributions for the remainder of their lives. Now, many of these people have worked in NGOs and so, are hoping for administrative positions or green jobs and so will vote for zerO, in their own interest. There cannot, again, be this vast increase in jobs soon enough to absorb all of them and all the college students and all the truly poor. I expect internecine fighting before any government action.

Another aspect is the nature of the cadres on the left. Historically, they fight internally for power and are ruthless. This happens on our side, too, of course, but we have fewer groups and the cadres usually manage to negotiate compromises without purges. An example on the left is the Clintons vs the Chicago Machine. Both need the radicals, who right now are with the Machine. I was there when the radicals began to fracture in the early 70s. I wonder if there will be realignments, again. I think there will. PUMAs are an example of activists who have been alienated by the radicals, but who have similar resources and, importantly, understand the machinations.

It is very complex, IMO. Even if we win this general election, it is far from over. I will not be taking any victory laps. I expect regrouping from the left and renewed media attacks on a GOP administration that will make the campaign seem benign.