"John McCain has to win in New Hampshire. There is no path to the Republican nomination without a victory in New Hampshire." –- Chuck Todd, NBC News Political Director

"Mitt Romney has spent a fortune, has a home in New Hampshire, was the governor of the neighboring state of Massachusetts and lost Iowa. So, he too must win New Hampshire." –- Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, USC Political Analyst

And that’s what’s wrong with the political process in 2008.
It’s not the process, it’s the people TALKING about it. Analyzing it. Blogging it. Dissecting it…like taking one little Cheerio and cutting it up to have for breakfast, lunch AND dinner.

Those two quotes were soundbites from a Kelly O’Donnell report on NBC Nightly News Tuesday evening.
I’m sure Chuck Todd and Sherry Bebitch Jeffe are very smart people who are very good at what they do.

But after Iowa and DURING New Hampshire, one is declaring that John McCain absolutely, positively has to win…and the other leaves no doubt that Mitt Romney absolutely, positively has to win.
After only Iowa and New Hampshire? That’s it? Just two little (but adorable nonetheless) states???

AND THEY SAY IT WITH SUCH CONVICTION ON NATIONAL TELEVISION!

It’s not just those two experts, it’s ALL of them, on both sides and on all networks.

Well, McCain won and Romney will press on.
And as I write this, Clinton leads Obama which, based on the reportage and analysis of the last several days, now qualifies as a MAJOR upset. (NBC and the A.P. just called it for Clinton.)

Maybe…just maybe…the good voters of New Hampshire are telling all the experts, “I’m smart enough to vote for the candidate of MY choice, not the one you've anointed."
Or maybe they’re just saying, “Stick it.”

I’m good with either one.