Also, I should note that when it comes to dumbing things down in politics, I've been guilty myself. And that we are trying to give the consumers what they want. That is how we make money.
Finally, this retrofitting idea Clinton spoke of yesterday, is an interesting idea to kill two birds with one stone, as they say:
Clinton also repeatedly referenced a plan to spur job growth while simultaneously increasing energy efficiency and green-energy technology use in America. The plan includes $50 billion for a federal energy fund to speed up research and implementation of solar energy, bio-energy and other environmentally friendly programs. He said energy-cost savings eventually could pay for the program. Retrofitting public buildings with green technology would create many jobs - particularly for builders hurt by the housing slump - that can't be outsourced to another country, Clinton said.
UPDATE 2: I meant to add this earlier. On The Daily Show last night, a guy named John Meeks from NewsWeek (I'm not looking up how to spell his name) was discussing this issue. He said that, if the media has a bias, it's not an ideological one. It's a bias toward conflict. He put that much better than I did. I'm still not looking up how he spells his name.
---
I covered former Pres. Bill Clinton's visit to Macon this afternoon. Honestly, it was a snoozer, and I was surprised. I thought Pres. Clinton was supposed to be some kind of riveting speaker. Maybe that's just when he's talking about himself.
Anyway, some of the national press came down to Macon to cover the visit. The feeling was that Clinton might respond to Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin's remarks from earlier Monday, which seemed to get overblown as a "shot" at Clinton, in response to his earlier "shot" at Sen. Barack Obama.
But Clinton didn't address it. In fact he gave a long campaign speech, focusing on America's problems and what his wife would do about them if elected president. Then he took questions from the crowd for an hour. In short, he did what we always say people should do: He stuck to the issues instead of engaging in political gamesmanship. And I'll guarantee you the event will get far less coverage as a result.
Granted, nothing Clinton said was new, which means it wasn't really newsy, either. Still, it's a shame to see the press in general more interested in a clever retort than a discussion of issues.
If Clinton had ripped Obama today, what would the headline be? Newsflash: Guy doesn't like other guy who's trying to beat his wife at something.
Not exactly news, either.
3 comments:
I wasn't there but heard about the event from some who were, and just watched the debate. C&O did enough jabbing in the debate to keep the dems on the front page. It's true that the wonky policy stuff is not very interesting news, but it's that same stuff that ends up getting us in so much trouble. Bush, for instance, apparently thinks the can negotiate a treaty with Iran, sans congressional approval, to keep us in the region for decades. Wow. Just, wow.
"It's the Horse Race Stupid."
Just ask Georgians if they are better off than they were four years ago:
1) Skyrocketing Insurance Costs, failing State Hospitals, overflowing Emergency Rooms.
2) $5 per gallon Milk.
3) $3 per gallon Gas.
4) Water crisis.
5) Escalating Paper shredder machine costs at the Ethics Commission.
6) State furnished credit card fraud.
7) GDOT in shambles.
8) War, war, war and a veiled terrorist around every corner.
1) Policy: Don't get sick.
2) Policy: Don't drink milk.
3) Policy: More coal burning power plants, Ethanol investment opportunities for legislators.
4) Policy: Form a committee.
5) Policy: Retroactively Pre-Pardon all elected officials.
6) Policy: Keep it quiet until the press finds out.
7) Policy: Decapitate the GDOT Board members who voted for a new GDOT Commissioner. Continue voting for GDOT Board members in silence.
8) Policy: Allow more corporate veils to shield wartime profiteers, retroactively pre-pardon u.s. war criminals.
What a wonderful life, my horse is neck and neck with the other horse...
The Womenfolk are gettin that look in their eyes, they want to talk Health Care Policy:
www.georgiawomenvote.blogspot.com/2008/01/health-care-open-thread.html
Post a Comment