goofyfish
11-25-02, 05:06 PM
Watching one of the great heroes of American journalism on TV last week, I found myself wondering if I had tuned in to a remake of Invasion Of The Body Snatchers.
Bob Woodward certainly appeared to be a changed man from 30 years ago when, along with Carl Bernstein, he broke the Watergate story.
Those Watergate exposés and the resulting congressional investigations — which ultimately led to the resignation of U.S. president Richard Nixon — were among the high points of U.S. democracy, showing that a vigilant press and Congress could effectively curb the excesses of presidential power.
So it was particularly striking to see this icon of journalism and press freedom on CNN's Larry King Live reduced last week to a state of almost childlike wonder as he painted a picture of U.S. President George Bush as a fearless, resolute, decisive, humanitarian leader. (Full text here (http://www.torontostar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar%2FLayout%2FArticle_ Type1&c=Article&cid=1035774744264&call_pageid=968256290204&col=968350116795))It has, for some time now, been my opinion that Woodward was never the wild-eyed lefty some of his admirers have imagined; he was always a "good boy" from a privileged family who enjoyed an Ivy League education. Graduating from Yale, and tapped for the secret Book and Snake society, Woodward is, and always has been, deeply conservative.
He is part of the Establishment, and has been for a long, long time; he socializes with the same people he is supposed to investigate, and therein lies his corruption and downfall. The once-great Woodward quickly and willingly, became the official court stenographer to whoever was in power.
Having lived through Watergate, I remember the shock and indignation of the average American, the sense of betrayal that our government could be so deceitful. How naive we were! In this jaded time, Watergate would barely be a blip on the radar. The few of us who are angry with that are told to get with the program, or some other such cliche platitude.
Nixon was clever, sneaky and paranoid. Bush is stupid, sneaky and paranoid. Both are deadly in a world leader.
Peace.
Bob Woodward certainly appeared to be a changed man from 30 years ago when, along with Carl Bernstein, he broke the Watergate story.
Those Watergate exposés and the resulting congressional investigations — which ultimately led to the resignation of U.S. president Richard Nixon — were among the high points of U.S. democracy, showing that a vigilant press and Congress could effectively curb the excesses of presidential power.
So it was particularly striking to see this icon of journalism and press freedom on CNN's Larry King Live reduced last week to a state of almost childlike wonder as he painted a picture of U.S. President George Bush as a fearless, resolute, decisive, humanitarian leader. (Full text here (http://www.torontostar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar%2FLayout%2FArticle_ Type1&c=Article&cid=1035774744264&call_pageid=968256290204&col=968350116795))It has, for some time now, been my opinion that Woodward was never the wild-eyed lefty some of his admirers have imagined; he was always a "good boy" from a privileged family who enjoyed an Ivy League education. Graduating from Yale, and tapped for the secret Book and Snake society, Woodward is, and always has been, deeply conservative.
He is part of the Establishment, and has been for a long, long time; he socializes with the same people he is supposed to investigate, and therein lies his corruption and downfall. The once-great Woodward quickly and willingly, became the official court stenographer to whoever was in power.
Having lived through Watergate, I remember the shock and indignation of the average American, the sense of betrayal that our government could be so deceitful. How naive we were! In this jaded time, Watergate would barely be a blip on the radar. The few of us who are angry with that are told to get with the program, or some other such cliche platitude.
Nixon was clever, sneaky and paranoid. Bush is stupid, sneaky and paranoid. Both are deadly in a world leader.
Peace.