Monday morning quarterbacking is the lifeblood of the political industry.
In the 2012 presidential campaign, the political industry raised $2.23bn, and $763.3m of it was spent on media.
JONATHAN BERNSTEIN pointed out yesterday that for players in the political industry, such as partisan pollsters, political-advertising firms, political-action committees (PACs) and contribution-seeking candidates themselves, the shutdown fight is good for business.
So why is "theatre" so consistently used as a byword for "fakery" by a political industry that relies so heavily on its techniques?
This year, the political industry is spinning the money before it is spent, ordaining mega-fund-raising as the sine qua non of a credible candidacy.
Then again, inflating and deflating reputations in the bread and butter of the perpetual presidential campaign that feeds America's unique political industry.
Advances in the speed of computers and constantly improved software have created, in just over a decade, the development of a new political industry, nanotargeting — microtargeting to the nth degree.
But as Mr. Obama prepares to take office, there is one area of the political industry where partisan lines seem to be falling, and bipartisanship has become the rage: political consultants who are giving advice to corporations, nonprofits and advocacy groups trying to navigate a new Washington.
Deeper changes will happen, however, for the entire political industry.
But the defence/aerospace industry is a political industry, because governments tend to be by far the largest customers.
