The White House's cagey mistreatment of FOXNews has been telling in more than one respect, and it takes me back to the first time I was privileged to cast a ballot in a presidential election.
Yep . . . the first vote I ever cast was for "tricky Dick" Nixon in 1972 -- the first of many votes that I cavalierly tossed away.
I don't really know why I voted for Nixon -- probably because my friends voted for him, and I just couldn't bring myself to vote for George Wallace. I couldn't even think about George McGovern. I suspect, even today, the influence of those near and dear to us is the same impetus for many a ballot cast by doe-eyed youngsters out to save the world. And it's just as much a mistake today as it was in the days of bell-bottom jeans and pre-medicinal marijuana.
I'm proud to say that, even though they typically and ultimately don't cancel out our votes (although not always!), all three of our children make up their own minds about which candidate will best serve the overall interests of the United States in the White House. They research, they watch, and they listen to the candidates and their spokesmen. Our kids are the generation that lived the evolution of the 24-hour news cycle and the never-ending campaign; they must research, watch, and listen or be left so far behind the machinations of today's political dynasties as to be engulfed, digested, and abandoned in the cattle yard awaiting slaughter.
They are all outraged at the White House's cagey mistreatment of FOXNews, and they all appreciate the amount of courage (and foresight!) it took for the remainder of the "Big Five" to stand up for their "poolmate" when the White House began its mission to ostracize the lone voice crying out against a movement that would, admittedly, "fundamentally transform" our nation and its role in the world.
Smart kids.
Nixon tried the same thing -- to gag the press. At his end, however, he was revealed to be, as he truly was, the naked Quaker Emperor who could turn the air blue with impunity -- when behind closed doors.
The doors still close at the White House. And in the Capitol. The "pool" had better keep a battalion of lifeguards on duty.
i wish I could say I voted for Nixon in '72. I voted for McGovern... and followed up with a vote for frickin' Jimmuh in '76. 'Nuff said, eh?
ReplyDeleteGood on ya for raisin' your kids right, Moogie. Not many seem to do so these days. The outcome of the last election proves my point.