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Best of the Web Today - April 21, 2006 By JAMES TARANTO
Our president, in a time of war, terrorism and nuclear intrigue, will likely remain in office for another 33 months, with crushingly low approval ratings that are still inching lower. Facing a similar problem, voters had a chance to quickly toss Jimmy Carter out of office, and did so. With a similar lengthy period left on his White House lease, Richard Nixon quit, facing impeachment. Neither outcome is at hand this time.
So what exactly is the crisis here? The president will finish his term, as the Constitution provides. If the polls are to be believed, a significant portion of the public is unhappy with him at this moment (though who knows what they'll say tomorrow?). Big whoop. Our system of government is designed to insulate our elected representatives from the momentary passions of public opinion. If people aren't happy, they can let it be known at the ballot box in a little over six months, and again in a little over 2 1/2 years.
Again, what's the problem? Well, here's more Mitchell: Many Republicans fear their president's image as a bumbler will hurt their party for years. The rest may fret about the almost certain paralysis within the administration, or a reversal of certain favorite policies. A Gallup poll this week revealed that 44% of Republicans want some or all troops brought home from Iraq. Do they really believe that their president will do that any time soon, if ever? . . .
No wonder so many are starting to look for a way to shorten or short-circuit the extended crisis period. Republicans demand a true shake-out at the White House. This week at Vanity Fair online, Carl Bernstein is calling for a Watergate-style congressional probe of possible high crimes and misdemeanors. . . . I don't have a solution myself now, although all pleas for serious probes, journalistic or official, of the many alleged White House misdeeds should be heeded. But my point here is simply to start the discussion, and urge that the media, first, recognize that the crisis--or, if you want to say, impending crisis--exists, and begin to explore the ways to confront it.
The elements of the "crisis" Mitchell describes are twofold: (1) Iraq isn't Vietnam--i.e., a war the press helps lose for America; and (2) the Bush administration hasn't produced a Watergate--i.e., a corruption scandal in which the press helps bring down an administration. This isn't a crisis for America. For most Americans, Vietnam and Watergate were tragedies, and we'd rather not repeat them, thank you very much.
But it is a crisis for the press. For journalists of a certain age, Vietnam and Watergate were triumphs that they are eager to repeat. It doesn't look as though that's going to happen. Our advice to newsmen? Pray. "Lord, grant me the courage to change what I can, the serenity to accept what I cannot, and the wisdom to know the difference."
Amen. Now stop crusading and report the **** news. |
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