Maybe I'm Missing Something...

I've been laid up with the flu for a few days (laid up as in asleep for about 48 hours), and for the few days before that I was more or less chained to my desk, so I'm catching up late to the blog-o-sphere's fixation on this poll and the imminent demise of Christmas. To address them in turn:

There isn't a whole lot of mystery to me about why the support for the Iraq War (going there in the first place, versus finishing the job now that we're there) has dropped precipitously since the election. For the months leading up to the election, coverage of the war was limited more or less to its political ramifications. What would Bush say and do about it? What would Kerry say about it today? Tomorrow? With the exception of the Alqaaqaa flap, specific coverage of how the war in Iraq was going, exactly, and the mighty cost of Bush's bungling of it, was diffuse. By and large, we got to see Bush's macho patriotic certainty - in what, it wasn't entirely clear, but it was certain that he was certain - and Kerry's flailing. Strong beats weak every time, regardless of which side is right - we went with Bush and his gung-ho version of the war.

Now the election's over, and Bush is still bully on the war, but the news is no longer about how he and his erstwhile opponent feels about it, but how it's actually going. We're hearing more about the massive casualties - in lives and grievous wounds - and it's a little harder to be gung-ho with him. I'm a believer in Occam's Razor; I must be missing the need for complicated answers (like the usually astute Josh Marshall's explanation of voter anomie, more or less).

On the imminent threat to Christmas, I'd just offer this: I wonder if any of those worried about its demise in America bothered to walk outside today. I wonder if maybe they tried to go shopping. Or the to doctor. Or accomplish anything at any state or federal entity. There is one national religious holiday, and it is Christmas. You may disapprove of the way America chooses to celebrate it (whether your criticisms come from the left - too much commercialism! - or the right - not enough public Jesus!), but America celebrates Christmas, and is in no danger of changing that anytime soon. Again, maybe I'm missing something.