It's gonna be a corker!...For us, not you.
In my long career as a political correspondent I honestly can't remember more buzz and excitement than that currently being generated by this looming election campaign.
What's that Marr, I hear you say,
have you finally lost your mind? -Well, no, I haven't: I'm not actually talking about you lot, the much put-upon general public - the buzz to which I refer is the buzz created, maintained and enjoyed by us: the newspaper and television correspondents! Yes, we, the humble servants of the media-behemoths are positively salivating at the prospect of live debates between the three major parties . Can you imagine the amount of airtime we will spend, carefully analysing and breaking down those bland, carefully-rehearsed answers the three leaders will give to our inane and carefully-vetted questions?
And make no mistake, although you, the general public have never before felt quite so apathetic, quite so cynical, and utterly detached from the political scene - we, the mass media have never felt so juiced and close to the action. I say, hoorah! -That has got to be great news for everyone! -Every one of us in the media that is!