Is American Idol an Object Lesson on American Politics?

I don't watch American Idol, but I'm sure many of you do, so you might find this article by John Podhoretz interesting. J-Pod compares what's been going on in the Idol eliminations with the political primary process, and in the course of the piece explains why odds-on favorite Chris Daughtry was voted off this week.

It's interesting reading for both Idol fans and political junkies. J-Pod closes with his prediction of the final outcome of this year's Idol:

Thus, according to the logic of coalition-building that is at the heart of both American politics and Fox's pop-culture phenomenon, Elliot Yamin will be the next "American Idol."

It's just good politics.

Personally, I couldn't care less, but I'll pay attention long enough to see if J-Pod is correct.


Tags: American Idol, Chris Daughtry, Elliot Yamin, Katharine McPhee