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Nimmo and Combs discuss the key role political analysts play, their methods and strategies, and the potential danger they pose to American democracy--by transforming it into a punditocracy which replaces serious citizen debate with discussion guided by show business values.

Table of Contents

Preface Foreword by Robert E. Denton, Jr. Introduction: From Delphi to Democracy: The Sources of Punditry Traditions of Political Punditry The Priestly Caste: Speaking of, with, and for Political Elites The Bardic Tradition in Political Punditry: Speaking of, to, and for the Populace Sages and Oracles: The Pundits of the Larger View Current Trends in Political Punditry The Technician as Pundit: Campaign and Policy Experts The Chattering Pundits: Talk TV and Radio The Critical Eye: Mediating the Realities of Mediated Politics Conclusion: Democracy or Punditocracy? Bibliography Index

About the Author

DAN NIMMO is Visiting Scholar, Department of Political Science, Baylor University. He was formerly Professor of Communication at the University of Oklahoma. He has authored or co-authored more than 25 books, including, with James E. Combs, Mediated Political Realities, Subliminal Politics, and A Primer of Politics. He also co-authored, with Larry David Smith, Cordial Concurrence: Orchestrating National Party Conventions in the Telepolitical Age (Praeger, 1991).

JAMES E. COMBS is Professor of Political Science at Valparaiso University. He has authored or co-authored ten books and numerous scholarly articles.