Under the microscope
Watching “Meet the Press” this morning, I finally figured out something that’s been bugging me about this presidential primary season. Howard Dean and the others have to criss-cross the country, speaking to countless crowds and journalists about their campaigns for months on end. They have to appear on pundit shows and defend their positions, like John Kerry’s dance over the Iraq war this morning. They have to justify every utterance they’ve made in their lives, like Dean’s comments about the Iowa caucuses four years ago. They get poked and prodded like an alien abductee for more than a year.
Meanwhile, President Bush can sit ensconced in the White House, never say a word to the public, and talk to the press only when it’s absolutely necessary – and only in highly-managed situations. Then he comes in at the end, runs a few ads involving the flag and smiling, doesn’t stab a child in the neck during a televised debate, and has a huge advantage on election day.
Not the way to run a railroad, in my estimation.
Once again, you’ve hit the nail on the head. Suddenly, access to Dean’s sealed gubernational records is more important than the secrecy of Dick Cheney’s energy meetings or finding out who leaked the name of a covert CIA agent, something that may have a bearing on national security. I’ll admit the sealed records thing bothers me a little (and I’m a Dean supporter), but it is nowhere near as signficant as the doings of Bush & Co. Major, obvious difference: Dean’s term as governor is over, fini, done — and Bush is still in office.
It was my impression that Bush’s records from his term in Texas are sealed up with super industrial strength glue as well. What’s the bitching about? I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.
It’s my understanding that Dean is going to let a judge decide which of his gubernatorial records to unseal.
From a CNN.com story:
“Clearly our campaign can’t review the documents, because nobody would believe that we weren’t doing something political,” he said. “So let an independent third party — and I think the Judicial Watch suit gives us the opportunity to let a judge go through every single document.”