THE US MEDIA & AMERICAN PRIORITIES

If one's first contact with the US media took place sometime between 8PM Eastern Time last night, and this morning's local daily newspapers, the most likely reaction would be "Huh?" President Obama decided to have a primetime speech given at West Point broadcast to the entire country. In this speech, the President intended to clearly explain his policy toward Afghanistan, and explain simultaneously sending an additional 30,000- 35,000 US troops into the war zone, while also stating his intent to begin withdrawing those troops in 18 months. It appeared that this may have been the first time that this President got both the left and the right to agree, albeit for different reasons - - - many on the right upset because he announced a timetable and was not in this to win; while many on the left upset that this President, who ran, at least partially, as a "peace" candidate was sending more US troops in harms way, when they feel he should be withdrawing from Afghanistan. The most revealing thing about the post- speech reaction was that almost no one enthusiastically supported this plan.
In what was perhaps even more revealing about the US media, however, was the way the NY newspapers handled the front page of this morning's editions. The NY Post had approximately 20% of the front page headlined about the President's speech, but chose to dedicate approximately 80% of the front page to the Tiger Wood's trysts and women. Newsday split their front page differently; dedicating about 2/3 to the Nassau County Supervisor's outcome (one month after the election), and 1/6 each to the Obama story and to Tiger Wood's getting a traffic fine (referring readers to the Sports section). The New York Times dedicated the "above the fold" half of the front page to the President's speech, and to an analysis of Afghanistan options.
Once again, America has become distracted. Once again, a President has come before us and announced his plan to "temporarily" expand our war effort. Once again, the media has predominantly only given this a cursory review, accepting the inevitable. The most revealing thing last night was President Obama conceding that some are comparing this to Vietnam, but then giving his "spin" as to why it is different - - - actually having the audacity to use George Bush's explanation of how the US is broadly supported in this war, supposedly unlike Vietnam; and that the American public understands the dangers in the post 911 world. It is revealing that the President all of a sudden started sounding like a cross between his predecessor and Rudy Giuliani (who is infamous for referring to 911 in every fourth word!). Most revealing is that while some of the media questioned strategic points in the President's plan, there were very few outraged on this Vietnam analogy. What is being missed is the most important similarities between Vietnam and Afghanistan - - - both are un-winable situations; both are very costly in terms of both money and human loss; and both are concerned with a complicated foreign situation at a time when our focus should be on strengthening America.
The fact that our economy shed an additional 169,000 jobs in November, and that our joblessness rate is still over 10% should be attracting most of our attention. The huge federal deficits and lack of economic focus should be what most concerns us! The fact that what the US needs is "domestic nation-building," NOT building other nations, is what the priority effort should be! Emphasize alternative energies so that our dependence on foreign resources is reduced, and more US funds remain in the US! Subsidize job creation instead of supporting companies that use the subsidies simply to make profits for themselves! Emphasize production and manufacturing in the US, especially in industries that our essential to our future. Bailout the American citizens that are victims of this economy!
Nassau County finally announced that all (or most) of the votes have been counted and re-counted and elected a new County Executive. The ousted executive Tom Suozzi appeared popular, and was heavily favored to win re-election. Yet the combination of anger and frustration, voters fed up with high taxes combined with frustration with politics caused a significantly lighter turnout amongst previous Suozzi supporters and energized his opposition. Americans are getting fed up, BUT are not doing anything about!
The US was founded on the right to protest any inequities in the system - - - in the late 1960's and early 1970's enough people loudly protested the war in Vietnam that eventually the US got out of that location, after a huge number of deaths and injuries! And it was NOT the "Peace with Honor" that Richard Nixon promised in his campaign! It's time for us all to unite for what's best for America and change the nation's priorities, and support America - - - in the famous words from the movie "Network" "I'm mad as hell and I'm NOT going to take it anymore."
Let's get America working again!

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