Posted on 10/31/2012 11:57:39 AM PDT by Tublecane
I was watching poor souls sob out their sorrows to Gov. Christie on Fox. What the hell? Is he Oprah? I won't blame the criers for spilling their emotions on tv; maybe they didn't notice the cameras, thought it was the only way to talk to the Man (not that the have to), were overcome by emotion, or just don't know better. This is not even about bucking up and taking responsibility for overcoming misfortune. My question is why this is what we expect from politicians.
It's all propaganda, I realize. But does it have to take this particular form? As if their job is to play therapist for individual citizens whenever something bad happens. Why not send real Dr. Phil's, if nothing else.
I realize people cry, and I don’t gave a problem crying on camera even, though I wouldn’t. But why does Christie have to be on site so they can cry to him like he’s Oprah? Why is that a governor’s job?
“They’re in shock and their emotions are raw”
Okay, something seems seriously to have gone wrong on this thread. It’s not about the people themselves. I wouldn’t gave posted in the first place to co.plain about them. If they want to cry to some random reporter in front of millions of viewers okay, though I wouldn’t join them.
This is supposed to be about Christie and why it appears now to be the governor’s job to play therapist on tv. If it’s anything other than the basest sort of pandering I’d like to know.
“If you’ve never lost everything, you can’t understand how these people feel”
Again, it’s not about them crying. It’s about doing it to Christie and it being broadcast to the masses.
“When you’ve lost everything, what ail you do?”
Whattya want me to say? Run to the governor? In my case it’s Mark Dayton, so no thanks.
Anyway, let’s say I did go cry on Dayton’s shoulder. I wouldn’t want to do it on camera. And even if I did it would be he and the media at fat if you found the whole thing distasteful, not me.
My TV has an “off” button. If its hard for you to watch misery, don’t.
For some, it’s inescapable and will be for a long time.
Sometimes leadership means showing concern and treading through the ruins. Remember how the British leaders, king, queen, and PM, rallied their nation by staying in London during the Blitz and inspecting the rubble come daylight?
Same principle today, just not man-made disaster.
“Sometimes leadership means showing concern and treading through the ruins. Remember how the British leaders, king, queen, and PM, rallied their nation by staying in London during the Blitz and inspecting the rubble come daylight?”
Ah yes, that is actually the best thing that our politicians today do!
“I guess Pres Bush with the bullhorn at ground zero was grandstanding”
Duh!
The thing is, since grandstanding is inherently a part of a polotician’s job and a certain amount of propaganda is acceptable to pretty much the entire population, how much is to much? Or rather, what sort of PR stunt is appropriate? For me, acting like Oprah is inappropriate.
“if he had stood on the Jersey shores and proclaimed that we would overcome...”
I wouldn’t have complained. It’s still be grandstanding, just of a more appropriate kind.
It’s called a leadership function. I guess you had a problem with Bush doing the same thing after 9/11? These people obviously never lived through anything like this before.
“Lost and broken souls gravitate to strong men”
Or maybe just to men surrounded by cameras, or men they’ve seen on tv.
“This is real life, not politics”
I am willing to stipulate that it is real life on the sad people’s side. It is pure politics on the governor’s side and entertainment on the camera’s side.
I do believe that you have it right on the money! Yes, it is real life and the politicians try to take advantage when they can. That makes it real life - unfortunately!
Yep. Harmless. We’re better off when they’re not in Washington.
More hugs!!
“If is hard for you to watch misery, don’t”
This is always the weakest argument on thus issue. Would you say forbid me saying it’s inappropriate for Fox News to air hardcore pornography on the basis that I can easily turn the channel? Does the appropriateness of the spectacle, Christie’s being part of it, or Fox airing it have anything to do with me personally watching it?
By the way, I have to see it first to be able to turn away. I didn’t watch for very long just so you know. I want now to discuss whether what I saw was a good thing and whether Fox and Christie should be doing it. I’m not collecting online signatures to repeal Fox’s FCC license for annoying me.
“Remember how the British leaders...rallied their nation by staying in London during the Blitz”
Please show me the old newsreel where George VI pats old ladies on the head, saying “There, there, tell papa all about it. You’re in a safe place now.”
Didn’t they have a whole thing about stiff upper lips and such?
“It’s galled a leadership function”
Really? Giving an impromptu speech to a crowd with a bullhorn, okay. It’s a PR stunt, but okay, that’s the sort of thing politicians do. But eavesdropping in on what sounds like a therapy session with individual people? Since when was that part of being a leader? I could have imagined that’s what politicians do when they turn up on the scene. But do we have to hear it?
After Ike, the Mayor in Galveston (a lefty lesbian), kicked the media with their drama out of the city during the emergency. She was too busy trying to restore services and helping the clueless, to mess with the mediaidiots.
During a disaster, everyone suffers and it’s terrible. Wailing and weeping for the cameras is not recovering and healing. Really, there is no time for that.
Everyone has to come to grips with the reality that the mess is there and they have to sweat out the emotions of loss while working hard to recover their losses and pre-disaster lives.
Some people come out stronger and wiser. Some come out nervious, broken and bitter. Disaster is where your world view comes into life like a head-on collision.
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