More thoughts on the press 

More thoughts on the press

The press coverage of the California Recall election is just a preview for what we can expect for next year's presidential elections. So much attention is being paid to the wackiness of it all, particularly as it surrounds "Arnold" that there is little time or room left to focus on issues. They must exist, right? Am I wrong in supposing that maybe rather than focusing on the personality quirks that led these people to run for governor the press could better serve the public by finding out what they have to offer the state if elected? I don't really care if Arnold passed on his father's funeral. I would like to know what his plan is to fix the state's budget problems, though. And let's face it, that's the only issue that matters in this election. So let's find out, how are all of these people going to approach that one problem? If they don't have a plan, right now, we don't have to pay any more attention to them. They simply are not relevant to us. That alone ought to whittle the field down to just one or two dozen candidates. Is it asking too much for the "serious" press to go to work on this?

It won't happen, though. It's too hard. It would require more educated reporters than the networks and print press have on hand. They would actually have to think, to use reason and logic. Much more fun, and easier, too, to focus on personalities. That's how elections have been covered and that's the only way the press corps knows how to cover them.