Nov 3, 2006
A week of hope and despair about American democracy
Two stories this week point in opposite directions. Take your pick as to which you think is more telling about American democracy.
Early in the week the substantive debate the country has been having about the Iraq War was blown off the front pages by a silly dust-up involving Sen. Kerry's poorly-worded joke about President Bush. Until he finally apologized the media wouldn't leave it alone. It almost felt like 2004 all over again. Bush v. Kerry. Help!
Later in the week came the NYT/CBS poll indicating that "80 percent said Mr. Bush’s latest effort to rally public support for the conflict amounted to a change in language but not policy.” This was a relief to hear. For once the public wasn't being bamboozled by the White House.
The question is: which of these two is more representative of the state of our democracy?
Early in the week the substantive debate the country has been having about the Iraq War was blown off the front pages by a silly dust-up involving Sen. Kerry's poorly-worded joke about President Bush. Until he finally apologized the media wouldn't leave it alone. It almost felt like 2004 all over again. Bush v. Kerry. Help!
Later in the week came the NYT/CBS poll indicating that "80 percent said Mr. Bush’s latest effort to rally public support for the conflict amounted to a change in language but not policy.” This was a relief to hear. For once the public wasn't being bamboozled by the White House.
The question is: which of these two is more representative of the state of our democracy?