McCain Up by 5 in Zogby Poll

Reuters/Zogby Poll: McCain Makes a Move, Takes 5-Point Lead Over Obama

Granted, this should be taken with a large grain of salt, since it's a Zogby poll (or just because it's a poll in general), but regardless, it's nice to see. To this point, Obama has been much closer than he "should" have been, but McCain has always seemed unable to actually surge ahead, or open up any kind of lead of his own, possibly indicating that Obama's smaller than expected lead was due largely to his base's dissatisfaction, instead of any kind of support for McCain, and that when it came down to brass tacks in November, the left wing would hold their noses (like so many Republicans will be doing with McCain) and vote Obama. McCain needs to start converting some undecideds, and that's one reason I have no problem with him possibly choosing a centrist as a VP. But that's a separate issue.

But this item also brings to mind another item that's been on my mind for a while now.

Republicans, and I certainly include myself in this group, often seem very akin to the "uncool" kid in high school, outwardly dismissive of the affection of his better-looking, more popular, more athletic peers, seemingly content to exist as an outsider, waiting for the day when the real world will take over and success and popularity will instead be determined by wealth and intelligence and hard work.

Republicans generally are content to be dismissive of the mainstream media, of European opinion, of polls, and particularly of Hollywood, content to believe that our policies are best, that we'll be ultimately be proven right when the real world sets in, and this is often the case. However, there also seems to exist an inclination on the right to fall all over ourselves when finally someone from the popular crowd shows us any sort of affection.

As much as we tend to look down upon the Hollywood crowd and (rightfully) ridicule them when they spout off on things about which they apparently know nothing, whenever one of them comes out and says something that could remotely label them as a fellow right-thinker, we seem to go out of our way to embrace them, to hold them up as some sort of proof of acceptance, like the AV kid that somehow ends up at the same prom table as the star athlete. If it doesn't matter (and it really shouldn't) what David Mamet or Robert Downey Jr. thinks about politics or foreign policy when they're towing the liberal party line, then it should hold equally little water when they "convert."

But hey, it's nice to feel liked :)