Reply #9: It may be because of what happens when they do let JK on as one of the Democratic voices

[karynnj]

I have never seen JK and any Republican end up as a Republican win - and it often - even on Fox - ended up a clear Democratic win. You would think the Republican counterpart to JK is McCain, who is everywhere. But there is a major difference, the Democrats have the Presidency. I wonder if that could be that the media is balancing the Obama administrations with Republicans. (Note that Schumer has always tried to get media is rarely there either - same with Durbin and Reid.)

It might also be that the real target of JK speeches is his fellow legislators, the administration and the beltway pundits. It might be the media/voting public see the government as an administration versus its opposition as the story - and getting power being the "game" to follow, where serious policy, vision and goals are something to relegate to (the now almost non-existent)serious news.

Now it could also be that JK himself is on the amount of time that he wants. If so, it may be a balance between working and being available for the comments. I don't think that he has been seen at all since the talk show he did a few Sundays ago. It could be that he is still quietly in the Middle East - or it could be that he is taking a well deserved week of vacation.

As to Gingrich, in fairness more time is also given to any potentially viable Presidential possibility. But, I do think the cable stations have given far more time to Gingrich and Palin - than they did to Kerry in 2006 before he opted not to run. The wonderful Fanueil Hall speeches got nowhere the coverage of the former half term governor's fund raiser soon after the 2010 elections.

So, I do think there is an overall bias to the Republicans, but I also think it possible at this point that JK did not - for whatever reasons - make himself available in the last week. (op-eds and statements canbe done from anywhere) It could even be that with Obama and Clinton now taking almost exactly the position that JK spoke of nearly 4 weeks ago, that the media would be pushing the question of whether they were slow. At a point where things are clearer, JK is well positioned to blow that away - as Obama/the world was getting the support that JK spoke of wanting - and they acted on the verge of the point JK said he would engage - to stop a catastrophe.

It could be that to JK, having had the position that Obama ultimately went to on Egypt and than Libya, being a successful last resort diplomat in some areas where the administration had problems, and having several key domestic agenda pieces as his efforts, he is comfortable being lower profile on a national level. He knows he is powerful and influential.