Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

'Idol' Speculation - Chris Daughtry's Loss Holds a Lesson in American Politics
The New York Post ^ | May 12, 2006 | John Podhoretz

Posted on 05/12/2006 3:24:52 AM PDT by jocon307

As a seasoned political observer with more than two decades of experience analyzing voting patterns and the like, I would now like to explain to you one of the greatest mysteries in the history of balloting - a mystery so profound that people have sobbed and scratched their heads, gasped and cried out in anger, and insisted they would never again participate in the voting process.

Am I talking about the Florida election in 2000? The 1984 controversy over the victor in the race for Indiana's Eighth Congressional District? The race for president in 1876?

No, I'm talking about the elimination on Wednesday night of rocker Chris Daughtry from the list of contenders for the title of "American Idol."...

How could this happen?...

If you want to understand "Idol," you need to understand American politics. And if you want to understand the workings of American politics, "Idol" isn't a bad introduction to the way political coalitions are formed and elections are won....

(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: americanidol; podhoretz; television; votingtrends
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 101-120121-140141-160161-175 next last
To: GraniteStateConservative

maybe if she wins she will have enough money for liposuction a tummy tuck and a nose job... and the much needed personality injection :\


141 posted on 05/12/2006 10:40:16 AM PDT by Echo Talon
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 139 | View Replies]

To: TheForceOfOne
Taylor makes people want to get up out of their seats and dance.

He makes me want to get out of my seat and leave the room. Really, I just cannot stand him.

I don't see a big star in this season's Idol. Not one of them has the talent or lasting power of Clarkson.

Except maybe Paris, who, as Andrea Bocelli said, has a "great instrument." She'll go to Broadway, I predict, and have a fine career. But not as a pop idol. The rest of them will be nothing but dim memories two years from now.

142 posted on 05/12/2006 10:53:33 AM PDT by Veto! (Opinions freely dispensed as advice)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: GraniteStateConservative
Those are all natural funbags.

Looks like I finally found a substitute word for "gazongas!" (LOL)

143 posted on 05/12/2006 10:54:23 AM PDT by freedumb2003 (Any guest worker program that does not require application from the home country is Amnesty)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 139 | View Replies]

To: jocon307

Good analysis. Mandissa had the best voice but she's long gone. Katherine has a well-trained voice, having attended a music conservatory and having a mother who is a voice coach. If voice were the determining factor, Mandissa would have won and Katherine would have been runner-up.


144 posted on 05/12/2006 10:57:09 AM PDT by JoeGar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JoeGar
If voice were the determining factor, Mandissa would have won and Katherine would have been runner-up.

Agree about Mandissa -- but there was no way a big woman was going to go very far.

The last few weeks, Kat has been more screetching than singing. And she has been VERY pitchy. She may have a good voice, but her singing has NOT been good lately. She is making it on her looks.

145 posted on 05/12/2006 11:04:00 AM PDT by freedumb2003 (Any guest worker program that does not require application from the home country is Amnesty)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 144 | View Replies]

To: GraniteStateConservative
Desperate Housewives is a primetime soap opera.

Exactly. And designed to be just that -- for t he ratings, donchaknow. I've never watched it all the way through, ten minutes was enough. What bothers me is that Grey's Anatomy, a smart edgy medical show that comes on after Housewives, is becoming a sleazy copycat Desperate Doctors.

146 posted on 05/12/2006 11:04:29 AM PDT by Veto! (Opinions freely dispensed as advice)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 133 | View Replies]

To: Veto!
He will be the new Idol. There are people like you that don't like him, but there are far more who do. He will do fine after Idol. I'm not a Andrea Bocelli fan, but that doesn't stop him either.
147 posted on 05/12/2006 11:05:45 AM PDT by TheForceOfOne (Free Republic - The pulse of conservative politics, without lame stream media filtration.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 142 | View Replies]

To: Echo Talon
maybe if she wins she will have enough money for liposuction a tummy tuck and a nose job... and the much needed personality injection :\

Even if you want to argue that she added some weight since the start of the show, she'll lose it just like Carrie did. The person who has "bulked up" is Taylor Hicks. He wasn't skinny to begin with like Carrie or Kat, so it'll be really interesting if he can take his AI weight off-- a task made harder by his age. OTOH, his demographic has weight issues, too, so he's probably not going to worry about it.

148 posted on 05/12/2006 11:08:40 AM PDT by GraniteStateConservative (...He had committed no crime against America so I did not bring him here...-- Worst.President.Ever.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 141 | View Replies]

To: Samurai_Jack

It's between two porksters and gomer. Idols, I don't think so!


149 posted on 05/12/2006 11:12:37 AM PDT by Sonora
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: freedumb2003
Looks like I finally found a substitute word for "gazongas!"

They're not the same. Gazongas should only be used to refer to "exotic" boobs.

150 posted on 05/12/2006 11:19:21 AM PDT by GraniteStateConservative (...He had committed no crime against America so I did not bring him here...-- Worst.President.Ever.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 143 | View Replies]

To: GraniteStateConservative
Gazongas should only be used to refer to "exotic" boobs.

I learn something every day here on FR!

151 posted on 05/12/2006 11:24:35 AM PDT by freedumb2003 (Any guest worker program that does not require application from the home country is Amnesty)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 150 | View Replies]

To: freedumb2003
I learn something every day here on FR!

It's like how the Eskimos have about two dozen word roots describing snow or things related to snow. Some things are worth subtle examination.

152 posted on 05/12/2006 11:45:36 AM PDT by GraniteStateConservative (...He had committed no crime against America so I did not bring him here...-- Worst.President.Ever.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 151 | View Replies]

To: GraniteStateConservative
Those shows aren't at all similar.

I'm told that they all share being popular. I'll take your word on the rest.

153 posted on 05/12/2006 12:28:45 PM PDT by SampleMan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 133 | View Replies]

To: Always Right

Chris got tossed because there is only one female left.

I think he was tossed because everyone thought that he was the winner and voted for whom they perceived to be the underdog. Therefore, he had a low number of votes.


154 posted on 05/12/2006 5:50:03 PM PDT by dandiegirl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Paco

I think McPhee sounds like someone who could be on Broadway.


155 posted on 05/12/2006 5:56:51 PM PDT by dandiegirl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 65 | View Replies]

To: JoeGar

Mandissa had the best voice but she's long gone

I totally agree. She was my favorite and left way too soon.


156 posted on 05/12/2006 6:05:14 PM PDT by dandiegirl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 144 | View Replies]

To: Bones75

Check your latest IQ.


157 posted on 05/12/2006 7:22:56 PM PDT by Paulus Invictus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 136 | View Replies]

To: Echo Talon

>. if the people wanted him they would have voted for him its pretty simple. They wanted the fat, dumb chick that can't sing instead.<

I think you missed the strategery that went on, here. Fans of one of the other guys (Taylor, I think), voted for the girl, because they know she's not about to beat their guy on the last go around.

They eliminated Chris, the powerhouse, and they planned it via the fan message boards.


158 posted on 05/12/2006 7:28:02 PM PDT by Darnright (You knew the job was dangerous when you took it, Fred.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: DustyMoment

And I've never seen fit to watch it. What does he mean?


159 posted on 05/12/2006 7:32:02 PM PDT by BunnySlippers (We want our day: A day without hearing SPANISH ...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Echo Talon
Katherine's probably got a couple of extra inches around the waist and upper hips - which is much more obvious on TV than it would be in person. Carrie Underwood looked exactly the same last year, and now she's thin as a rail. Presumably, Katherine will be assigned the same personal trainer if she wins. ;)

Right now she appears to be suffering a little from nerves (and from trying too hard) on the show, because all of the guest stars love her voice in practice but she hasn't delivered on the big stage for several weeks.

160 posted on 05/12/2006 7:39:32 PM PDT by Mr. Jeeves ("When the government is invasive, the people are wanting." -- Tao Te Ching)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 102 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 101-120121-140141-160161-175 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson