Try to picture Tim Russert interviewing Britney Spears.
Or, imagine him devoting a segment of Meet the Press to who fathered Anna Nicole's baby.
You can't, can you? That's why Tim Russert's death leaves a massive void in American journalism---in an era when the country seems to be suffering from a massive case of ADD, or, more charitably, at least is easily distractable, Russert was never distracted. When he appeared on television, literally every single time, one knew that whatever he would say would be important, and carry the gravity of our last real "news man". Tim Russert wasn't "pretty"; he didn't win any jobs because of his looks, his haircuts, or his suits. Anyone who's worked in television knows that means he must have been damn good.
He was.
When Tim Russert spoke, the country listened; close to five million people on Sunday mornings alone. But they listened not because he covered the popular stories; they listened because they knew that he didn't. Who else in the media could be so consistently trusted to tackle only really, truly important issues? Not a single network anchor. Not Larry King. Not Bill O'Reilly, Anderson Cooper, Shepherd Smith, or Keith Olbermann. Not that there's anything wrong with giving voice to the occasional "light" story---but there IS something missing when there's no one left who brings the conversation back to what actually matters.
Tim Russert was a media giant, and he did it without flash in a society that's blinded by it.
The next time you watch a newscast that keeps veering into the tabloids, remember Tim Russert...and just once, in his honor, change the channel.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Sunday, May 18, 2008
The Senate's Commodus
If you've never seen "Gladiator", you might consider watching it this summer. If you have, maybe another viewing is in order. Yes, it's a terrific film with some great fight scenes and a ground-shaking soundtrack. But more than that, think about the premise: a ruler presiding over a corrupt and deteriorating empire uses sports (in this case, gladiatorial games) to assuage the commoners.
Sports, and all types of competitions, are the great distraction. They are fun, inspiring, and awaken a spirit within us that little else can. I should know, I have devoted my career to them.
Billions of dollars vanishing in Iraq, a disintigrating infrastructure, a home ownership crisis, failing health care, soaring prices...all are problems that need the urgent attention of our elected representatives; those chosen by the people to, ostensibly, provide the most basic rights and liberties to those who elected them.
Which is why it was more than a little alarming to read that Senator Arlen Specter, a Pennsylvania Republican, chose this past week to declare a critical need for congressional hearings on whether or not the New England Patriots were punished enough for filming another team's signals.
That is disgusting.
Despite Mr. Specter's positions of authority and the respect he commands from both parties, he has been a silent (and not-so-silent) party to a great deal of the criminal acts and inexcusable decisions that have nearly bankrupted this country, and left so many of his constituents without work, savings, or hope. He has served in the United States Senate since 1981, and despite a moderate reputation, has, for the last eight years, provided a powerful rubber-stamp (and added credibility) to most of the failed policies of George W. Bush.
As former chair of the Senate judiciary committee, Mr. Specter spoke powerfully about the need to de-politicize Supreme Court appointments and to be very careful about any partisan justices. He then ushered John Roberts and Samuel Alito to confirmation.
Now, in the face of a financial crisis that is crippling his own state, Mr. Specter is using his position as Pennsylvania's most important face in the federal government to stand up and yell that, under his watch, the NFL will (!) be free of a scandal that, in reality, was over in the eyes of the public nearly a year ago.
And if the public considers the "scandal" over, well, isn't that enough? We're talking about football, for crissakes. If the fans don't care, why are we even talking about it? And if the fans DO care, well, so what? At worst, they stop caring about the sport and stop going to games.
Why would that matter to a powerful U.S. Senator?
And, as a supposedly "free-market" Republican, wouldn't that be a problem that, I don't know, the league itself should deal with?
Arlen Specter is up for re-election in 2010, and will quite possibly lose. Congressional hearings on sports make for great TV---who could ever forget Rafael Palmeiro pointing and shouting that he had never used steroids---but they don't solve problems.
They put on a show.
And that's what Arlen Specter wants; his own legislative gladiatorial games to keep the people entertained, and keep himself in power.
After thirty years, that power can be hard to give up.
I'm guessing he hasn't seen the movie.
Sports, and all types of competitions, are the great distraction. They are fun, inspiring, and awaken a spirit within us that little else can. I should know, I have devoted my career to them.
But, to use a sports analogy, don't take your eye off the ball. Otherwise, you might miss the empire falling all around you.
Billions of dollars vanishing in Iraq, a disintigrating infrastructure, a home ownership crisis, failing health care, soaring prices...all are problems that need the urgent attention of our elected representatives; those chosen by the people to, ostensibly, provide the most basic rights and liberties to those who elected them.
Which is why it was more than a little alarming to read that Senator Arlen Specter, a Pennsylvania Republican, chose this past week to declare a critical need for congressional hearings on whether or not the New England Patriots were punished enough for filming another team's signals.
That is disgusting.
Despite Mr. Specter's positions of authority and the respect he commands from both parties, he has been a silent (and not-so-silent) party to a great deal of the criminal acts and inexcusable decisions that have nearly bankrupted this country, and left so many of his constituents without work, savings, or hope. He has served in the United States Senate since 1981, and despite a moderate reputation, has, for the last eight years, provided a powerful rubber-stamp (and added credibility) to most of the failed policies of George W. Bush.
As former chair of the Senate judiciary committee, Mr. Specter spoke powerfully about the need to de-politicize Supreme Court appointments and to be very careful about any partisan justices. He then ushered John Roberts and Samuel Alito to confirmation.
As a former chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, he spoke with authority and gravity about the horrors of the illegal wiretapping conducted at the behest of the White House. He then quietly acted to provide all the culprits with immunity.
Now, in the face of a financial crisis that is crippling his own state, Mr. Specter is using his position as Pennsylvania's most important face in the federal government to stand up and yell that, under his watch, the NFL will (!) be free of a scandal that, in reality, was over in the eyes of the public nearly a year ago.
And if the public considers the "scandal" over, well, isn't that enough? We're talking about football, for crissakes. If the fans don't care, why are we even talking about it? And if the fans DO care, well, so what? At worst, they stop caring about the sport and stop going to games.
Why would that matter to a powerful U.S. Senator?
And, as a supposedly "free-market" Republican, wouldn't that be a problem that, I don't know, the league itself should deal with?
Arlen Specter is up for re-election in 2010, and will quite possibly lose. Congressional hearings on sports make for great TV---who could ever forget Rafael Palmeiro pointing and shouting that he had never used steroids---but they don't solve problems.
They put on a show.
And that's what Arlen Specter wants; his own legislative gladiatorial games to keep the people entertained, and keep himself in power.
After thirty years, that power can be hard to give up.
I'm guessing he hasn't seen the movie.
Ba-rock Star
A tremor could be felt through Bloomington, Indiana. In the last year, Assembly Hall has hosted some 36 men's and women's basketball games, two high school graduations, and concerts by three of the country's best-attended musical acts of all time. Some have sold out, many have not. Tonight's show appears to belong to the former, as hundreds were seen being turned away at the door. In fact, come to think of it, few in Bloomington can remember any event prior to tonight where the arena didn't prove big enough to satisfy the relatively small population of the city, at least not since Bobby Knight was prowling the sidelines in a red sweater. But this is different.
This is big.
So as the thousands in their seats screamed, cheered, and chanted, a parade of warmup acts appeared in succession, all just hoping that some in the audience will remember that they once shared the stage with the headliner. Finally, with everyone---EVERYONE---in the arena standing, and the emotion reaching fever pitch; with the eardrum-shattering decibel level approaching that of the deck of an aircraft carrier, the lights dimmed, and the entrance video played on videoboards.
More cheering, more screaming, even, yes, some crying.
The screen goes black.
The din of the audience reaches another peak.
There he is! There he is! Some in the crowd can barely keep their composure as they point and snap pictures.
"Thank you!" roars the headliner. Then a laugh. "Thank you!" (A pause to let the audience cheer). "I love you, Indiana!"
Then, over the next ninety minutes, the star lectures the audience about withdrawing American troops from Iraq, reforming health care, ending the tax breaks that encourage employers to send jobs overseas...
Wait...huh?
The largest crowd ever shoehorned into Assembly Hall is going ballistic over politics?
Did they know this was what was going to happen?
And...they're not leaving? In fact, they seem even more delerious than an hour ago. More people are cheering a detailed environmental policy, than were present to applaud when Bruce Springsteen sung "Radio Nowhere" earlier this year. What is happening?
Where the ($%* are we?
Finally, with one last "greatest hit" to showcase, Barack Obama dives into a series of challenges to America, followed by the steady refrain of "yes we can."
The crowd reacts with glee, as this is one they all know and can sing along to.
"Yes we can!"
It was conventional wisdom that the days of activism in America were over; that the me-first generation was too interested in Britney Spears' haircuts to care that the country is being looted by corporate criminals.
("Yes we can!")
We were told that Americans under 30 only cared about "news" for the 12 minutes a day that Jon Stewart focused on current events.
("Yes we can!")
The idea that a candidate for political office could be the hottest ticket, anywhere in America...the idea that everyday people could be so enthralled with a politician for reasons other than scandal...The idea that national pride could still exist was supposed to be a myth; supposed to be impossible.
("Yes we can!")
One more time. The most sought-after performer in America today isn't a band, a singer, or even a standup comedian. The Rolling Stones, Alicia Keys, and Dane Cook could all schedule performances in the same city on the same night as Barack Obama. Would anyone be remotely surprised if Obama out-drew all of them? And even if he didn't, admit it, the possiblity crossed your mind.
Isn't that incredible?
Barack Obama, the first politician ever worthy of a listing on Pollstar.com ...
("Yes we can!")
As signs and flags wave, the candidate leaves the stage.
When fans leave a rock concert, many of them race home to download the band's songs, or order a CD.
As the fans are leaving the Barack concert, most of them make plans to volunteer at a campaign office, to register their neighbors to vote, or to simply start paying closer attention to the issues at the heart of America. More than anything, they leave feeling engaged, feeling uplifted, feeling like this is THEIR country, too, dammit! And they leave with a sense of urgency not simply to hope for some vague notion of "change", but to work for it...something, again, we were told this generation wouldn't do.
Yes we can.
This is big.
So as the thousands in their seats screamed, cheered, and chanted, a parade of warmup acts appeared in succession, all just hoping that some in the audience will remember that they once shared the stage with the headliner. Finally, with everyone---EVERYONE---in the arena standing, and the emotion reaching fever pitch; with the eardrum-shattering decibel level approaching that of the deck of an aircraft carrier, the lights dimmed, and the entrance video played on videoboards.
More cheering, more screaming, even, yes, some crying.
The screen goes black.
The din of the audience reaches another peak.
There he is! There he is! Some in the crowd can barely keep their composure as they point and snap pictures.
"Thank you!" roars the headliner. Then a laugh. "Thank you!" (A pause to let the audience cheer). "I love you, Indiana!"
Then, over the next ninety minutes, the star lectures the audience about withdrawing American troops from Iraq, reforming health care, ending the tax breaks that encourage employers to send jobs overseas...
Wait...huh?
The largest crowd ever shoehorned into Assembly Hall is going ballistic over politics?
Did they know this was what was going to happen?
And...they're not leaving? In fact, they seem even more delerious than an hour ago. More people are cheering a detailed environmental policy, than were present to applaud when Bruce Springsteen sung "Radio Nowhere" earlier this year. What is happening?
Where the ($%* are we?
Finally, with one last "greatest hit" to showcase, Barack Obama dives into a series of challenges to America, followed by the steady refrain of "yes we can."
The crowd reacts with glee, as this is one they all know and can sing along to.
"Yes we can!"
It was conventional wisdom that the days of activism in America were over; that the me-first generation was too interested in Britney Spears' haircuts to care that the country is being looted by corporate criminals.
("Yes we can!")
We were told that Americans under 30 only cared about "news" for the 12 minutes a day that Jon Stewart focused on current events.
("Yes we can!")
The idea that a candidate for political office could be the hottest ticket, anywhere in America...the idea that everyday people could be so enthralled with a politician for reasons other than scandal...The idea that national pride could still exist was supposed to be a myth; supposed to be impossible.
("Yes we can!")
One more time. The most sought-after performer in America today isn't a band, a singer, or even a standup comedian. The Rolling Stones, Alicia Keys, and Dane Cook could all schedule performances in the same city on the same night as Barack Obama. Would anyone be remotely surprised if Obama out-drew all of them? And even if he didn't, admit it, the possiblity crossed your mind.
Isn't that incredible?
Barack Obama, the first politician ever worthy of a listing on Pollstar.com ...
("Yes we can!")
As signs and flags wave, the candidate leaves the stage.
When fans leave a rock concert, many of them race home to download the band's songs, or order a CD.
As the fans are leaving the Barack concert, most of them make plans to volunteer at a campaign office, to register their neighbors to vote, or to simply start paying closer attention to the issues at the heart of America. More than anything, they leave feeling engaged, feeling uplifted, feeling like this is THEIR country, too, dammit! And they leave with a sense of urgency not simply to hope for some vague notion of "change", but to work for it...something, again, we were told this generation wouldn't do.
Yes we can.
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