one of the reason why folks do not seem too alarmed by the media playing king maker is because of the narrow political discourse accepted in this country. This is why somebody like Dennis Kucinich is painted as a radical... never mind he is truly center left (when you look at a table of political discourse). In fact, a real socialist, or communist would not be able to run in this country. Why? Never mind most Americans don't know the difference (and yes there are differences between a classic marxist, a neo-marxists, a Socialist, a green socialist and a Communist... I think I covered all of them) they would simply be run out of town on a red scare.

Regardless, Progressives in the US are only allowed to be slightly left of center, to be able to participate in the political discourse, and even that is with limits. There are reasons for this, and the corporate structure who CONTROLS the access to the means of communication, will close those airwaves to anybody who is critical of them... hence why they weeded out populists, consitionalists and foreign policy experts, leaving a narrow band of candidates that ARE pro corporate and neo liberal in nature, best case, plain out fascist worst case.

But until Americans learn more about political systems and do not allow the media to plain out scare them from liberals (I will remind you them founding fathers were not only liberals but radicals by the standard of the age), nothing will change. People will continue to happily play along in the narrow political sand box determined by those who benefit from empire and corporate rule. Oh and yes, it does have a definition, given by one of the masters of the art... fascism... and it is as right wing as you can get without falling off the table.

By the way, when does American Idol (or one of the multiple clones) start? We cannot forget the role of bread and circuses in this, first described by Cicero, two thousand years ago.