This post from the 538 blog on the New York Times exemplifies the difficulty of covering a topic which is as constant as politics. Even in the midst of a huge crisis, with the possibility of a government shutdown, there is still an urge to look ahead to the ramifications in the next legislative "battle" and the next election cycle.
This particular blog is very blatant in this approach. The final paragraph unabashedly makes use of a game metaphor:
"That’s assuming, of course, that both sides play the “game” optimally, which is far from assured. If Mr. Obama is a good poker player, he’ll know not to disregard Mr. Boehner’s earlier rhetoric, which gave away the vulnerability of his hand. And he’ll recognize Mr. Boehner’s more recent and more confident rhetoric for what it is: the oldest “tell” in the poker book, a show of strength betraying the ultimate weakness of his position."538 is not completely mainstream, as it caters to a politically involved audience, but as part of the New York Times website it's definitely accessible to a broad audience. Although in many ways it is fair to cover the strategies which are inevitably a part of politics, it shouldn't be at the expense of substantive policy coverage.
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