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I realize that I am a bit more of a news junkie than most of you out there. And for the most part, I'll keep it to myself. No sense dragging you into my obsession. But when it affects you directly, or when it is an issue significant to boomers.... well, that's what this column is for. Or, as Mr. Burnett, my 12th grade English teacher, would have wanted me to put it, that is the reason for which this column is written. No... that is why I write this column. (Messy, isn't it?)
Anyway, last Tuesday the president took a trip down to the heart of the place he loathes (his word, not mine) the most, the Pentagon. There he learned what most of us news junkies have known for years... that bombs alone would not destroy Iraq's ability to make weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Armed with that information, the administration changed its goals in the Gulf. Now all they want to do it LIMIT Saddam's ability to create WMD.
Then the administration did what it does best: conducted a focus group to determine what it should do next. But this time they offered CNN a chance to broadcast it on worldwide television. Bad move; bad move. They could not send the president out to lead this pep rally... that Monica thing might rear its ugly head. So on Wednesday they sent out the administration's policy wonks to Columbus, Ohio for a little tete-a-tete. (Actually "tete-a-tete," when used as a noun, means a private meeting between two persons. But I like the word so much, I thought I would use it here anyway. Forgive me, Mr. Burnett.)
This time, however, something went wrong. Most politicians are accustomed to being asked a question by the press, ignoring it, and answering with a 6-second sound bite. (Money may be the mother's milk of politics, but a 6-second sound bite is the meat and potatoes.) But this time, the questioners, ordinary citizens from "flyover country," wouldn't settle for a 6-second sound bite. This time they wanted real answers. My favorite one was from a young man who asked the Secretary of State why we are taking action against WMD in Iraq and not in other countries. The secretary replied dutifully with the standard 6-second sound bite on a related topic. And then the kid actually had the nerve to say, "Madam secretary, THAT'S NOT WHAT I ASKED" (emphasis mine).
Whoa! Can you imagine that? This kid actually wanted an answer to the question he asked? Apparently he does not know the rules. The national press, having been beaten down by the administration for 5 years, has long since given up. Week after week, I listen to them ask questions on the Sunday morning shows, only to hear a non-responsive, 6-second sound bite. Then they move on to another question. Apparently these journalists were taught to ask "Who, What, When, Where, and Why." But they were not taught to listen to an answer. But this kid from Columbus actually wanted an answer to his question!
Well, it was all over after that. The people could see that the administration was just jiving them with crap; and from there, everything was predictable. There is no way this administration was going to attack Iraq. I could have told you that last Wednesday; the press didn't get it till Sunday evening. Late last week, the administration told the UN Secretary General that it was OK to negotiate an agreement with Iraq; there would be no attack. The focus group was against it. Case closed.
Lemme' give you a little "behind the scenes" info. The UN secretary was not going to go to Iraq unless he was going to be able to come back with an agreement; that was negotiated ahead of time. And there was no way the U.S. was going to bomb Iraq after the UN had announced an agreement. The matter was resolved last Wednesday.
So hurray for you people... or rather us people... out here in flyover country... at least for demanding answers. There may indeed be a valid reason to attack Iraq; that's not my point here. My point is that an administration that conducts policy based on focus groups and 6-second sound bites was caught with its pants down... ah, perhaps an inappropriate metaphor here. They do it with foreign policy; they do it with domestic policy; they do it with everything.
We news junkies are well-aware of this fact. The rest of you should be aware of it when you hear 6-second sound bites such as "vast, right-wing conspiracy," "100,000 new police officers," "52,000 new teachers," "balanced budget," "I did not have sexual relations with that woman," "no controlling legal authority," "I never told anyone to lie," "unfettered access," and yes, even "it's for the children." What's the evidence to support the sound bite? Whenever anyone responds with a 6-second sound bite that does not address the question, you ought to sniff the air; chances are there is a skunk in the bushes. Before you decide how well you think this administration (or any administration) is doing, you ought to ask questions, and you ought to demand answers, not 6-second sound bites.
Comments on this essay? We'd like to hear from you. Click here.
Here's how some boomers have responded:
"You have an excellent point. I am wondering how many of us baby boomers are apathetic to the news and politics, etc? We were raised in groups and learned in groups, and I think we follow in groups. . .do any of us ever think for ourselves? Obviously, some of us do. But we need to get the majority of the boomers behind us so that we can make a difference. in other words, folks, GO VOTE! PV"
"I was just wondering if every week was bash Clinton week or if this just happened to be this weeks topic or what? This guy does not speak for all Baby Boomers and if he talks about Clinton every week then there should at least be another editor who can be Pro-Clinton and let the rest of us hear his remarks. I dont want to hear this guys opinion every week and Im sure other supporters of the Presidents dont either. Remember there was more of us than there were of you both in '92 & '96" - Christy
Editor's note: Since Christy brought it up, no there weren't more of you. In both elections, more people voted AGAINST Bill Clinton than voted FOR him.
Hershel will have something else to say on Monday, March 2; mark your calendar to come back to BBHQ every Monday.
| The BBHQ Album of the Month is "Old Friends Live on Stage (Deluxe Edition) (2 CD/1 DVD)," by Simon & Garfunkel. If you were fortunate enough to see them in concert last year, I do not have to sell you. The concert was terrific! This album collection includes 55 songs, plus their new recording, "Citizen of the Planet," and one of the songs sung by the Everly Brothers during the concert. The DVD was recorded during their concert in Madison Square Garden in 2003. For any S&G fan, this is a must have! But then, you knew that already, didn't you? |
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The BBHQ Book of the Month is
"Vinyl Highway," by
Dee Dee Phelps. You remember her as Dee Dee, of Dick and Dee Dee.
Together, they took a decade long ride on the rock and roll roller
coaster. It was a heck of a ride! Dick Clark, Quincy Jones, the Beach
Boys, Glenn Campbell, Dionne Warwick, Bobby Vinton... Dick and Dee Dee
rubbed shoulders with all of them. This is her "behind the scenes" story.
It's pretty cool.
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Copyright © 1998 Baby Boomer HeadQuarters (BBHQ) All rights reserved.
rev. 11/29/98