That seems like a fair amount, and they can easily afford to do it.
***
Election season is always fun. I feel like Buffyverse monsters on Halloween - people who have don't pay much attention to politics any other time suddenly come out as experts. :) If nothing else, it does make for some reading - and helps me keep in touch with how things are being intrepreted. I can usually tell when FOX or MSNBC (insert source here) has made some big comment, based on how often I see the same sorts of comments popping up, and who they are from. :)
I appreciate the people out there who actually do some research and in particular those who check out "the other side", to try to understand where the actual disagreements are and where the rheotric, from all sides, is just getting in the way.
For my money (all $5 million of it), being able to get into the head of people who don't share your beliefs, and realizing that they are (for the most part) the "good guy" of their own narrative, is a really good tool for a writer to have.
***
The new topic is up: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/867839.html
and there is a Work Room, where you can bounce around ideas: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/867882.html