Dwight,
Agreed that the Office of the Presidency itself cannot be debased. However, the perception of the Office can be debased. This brings us to the question of whether something is what it is or is it what it is perceived to be?
What is currently happening in the Office of the Presidency and what happened during Watergate, coupled with all the various Senate Hearings and other televised political events, does our our country, ergo the Office of the Presidency, no good and much harm. So far, to my way of thinking, no issues of a material nature have been offered up to public or media scrutiny. But, what the hey, these nonevents made to appear to be events sell ads and airtime.
Whether or not the President looks good on TV is probably the biggest reason Nixon lost to Kennedy in 1960, the first presidential campaign waged almost entirely on television.
Sadly, I must agree that the average citizens have little concern for the big or global picture, until their particular oxen are being gored (no pun intended) or their soap boxes are being hosed. The media do little to remedy this sorry mess and much to perpetuate it, in my opinion.
Holly |
