Thursday, August 28, 2014

BloggeRhythms

Two major problems for virtually all politicians are a constant urge to talk incessantly on one hand, and to continually underestimate the voting public’s ability to think for themselves on the other. One couldn’t find a better example of the overwhelming need to fill the atmosphere with hot air than the incumbent himself.  
 
There are many times, though, where simply standing by silently as events pan out would be a far better political strategy than verbally shooting from the hip, one of which is taking place now.
 
Karen Tumulty and Robert Costa of The Washington Post report that, “Both political parties are in a state of high anxiety about the possibility that President Obama will allow millions of illegal immigrants to remain in the country, fearing that White House action on the issue could change the course of November’s midterm elections.”
 
Democratic candidates in nearly every closely fought Senate race have criticized the idea of aggressive action by the incumbent, understanding full well what a mistake it would be.
 
Nonetheless, Senior Republicans have their own worries about a “September surprise” on immigration, knowing their own “party’s tendency to erupt at such moments — including government shutdowns and impeachment threats — and that the GOP brand is even more tattered than the Democratic one.”
 
The article’s authors conclude that, “A conservative uprising against the administration would pose little risk for safely entrenched Republicans in the GOP-controlled House. But any move toward impeachment hearings against Obama or another government shutdown would cause serious problems for Republicans in key Senate races. They must appeal to independents who already are suspicious about the party’s ability to govern.”
 
However, in this situation, world events and crises being what they are and terrorist threats rising continually in number, size and scope, its highly unlikely that anyone intending to vote is unaware of the risk uncontrolled illegal entry poses.
 
Therefore, the best approach Republicans can take is to let the incumbent proceed on his own uncontested by them. Thereby permitting common sense and the law of averages do the electioneering for them when terrorism crosses the border unchecked and unbridled as it is now.
 
On the same subject, Breitbart.com reports that, “Maricopa Co., AZ Sheriff Joe Arpaio said that he believes ISIS knows the southern border is not secure and that it is “common sense” that they will exploit the lack of border security on Wednesday’s broadcast of Fox News Channel’s “Hannity.”
 
When asked, “Do you believe ISIS terrorists can cross that border and already have crossed that border?,” the sheriff responded, “Of course, anybody can cross the border. They look at CNN and Fox, and everywhere else ... you're trying to tell me they don't know all the politicians running for office saying ‘the border must be secured?’ They know it's not secured. So why not utilize that 2,000 mile border to sneak across? That’s just common sense. So, let's hope that we can do something, especially in foreign countries, and stop them from reaching the U.S. border.”
 
And what’s worse is, that if terrorists didn’t know how porous the border is, thanks to all the discussion in the U.S. media, they surely do now. Even if the White House itself doesn’t know or care about the problem they themselves have created. 
 
Lastly, Emily Smith writes in the New York Post’s Page 6, via Drudge, that “NBC News president Deborah Turness had to apologize after infuriating top execs and talent by announcing the network news organization had been asleep for 15 years.”
 
Turness, who came from Britain’s ITV News last year, said in a New York Times interview on Sunday, “NBC News hadn’t kept up with the times in all sorts of ways, for maybe 15 years . . . I think the organization had gone to sleep.”
 
As a result, “Tom Brokaw, managing editor and anchor of NBC’s “Nightly News” from 1982 until 2004, Turness’ predecessor Steve Capus (NBC News president from 2005 to 2013 and now executive producer of “CBS Evening News”) and CNN chief Jeff Zucker “are apoplectic” over Turness’ remark.
 
One network insider fumed, “Turness is making enemies. Her ‘asleep’ comment is incredibly disrespectful to many of NBC’s top journalists, especially Tom Brokaw and Brian Williams, and her predecessors Steve Capus, Andy Lack, Neal Shapiro and Jeff Zucker.”
 
Another NBC source added, “The comment caused uproar inside NBC. Several people inside NBC News, including execs who report to Turness, complained. It offended everybody who preceded Turness as far back as Neal Shapiro.”
 
Now, obviously, those responsible for putting the network to sleep would certainly be offended by the opinion presented publicly in the Times, therefore their outrage is to be expected. But, the major thing that all their clamor can’t change is that as a media outlet, NBC’s going backward. And her description of the organization, its offerings and talent, is absolutely right.
 
That’s it for today folks.
 
Adios

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