In the small window of time between pickups from school and a research meeting, I am reading the many articles on Deep Throat and the Watergate overviews.
Watergate was one of those pivotal events in American politics. The presidency and the media were forever changed by Woodward's and Bernstein's article on the Nixon coverup of the bugs in the Democratic headquarters. Their finger prints are found all over Monica Lewinsky's blue dress, the guns given to the Contras, and Gary Hart's boat, "Monkey Business." We no longer look at the president as a hero, as royalty. The president's power has been curtailed, and his prestige forever tarnished.
After Watergate, the journalist became the hero. He comes in the shape of Robert Redford or Dustin Hoffman and works tirelessly to provide ordinary Americans with THE TRUTH. THE TRUTH is usually that American politicians have feet of clay and that major world events are hatched by small groups of shadowy characters with little concern for the common man.
Blogging has provided a new chapter in the post Watergate world of politics. The NEW TRUTH is that journalists have feet of clay and that major world events are hatched by small groups of shadowy characters with little concern for the common man. At least among the conservative bloggers, there is a resuscitation of the old image of the royal president.
Nixon grins.
The NEW TRUTH ought to be that everybody has feet of clay, which is the whole reason we have checks and balances instead of just somebody on top with the power over everybody else.
If this system is invaluable for government, why not for media (and blogs) as well?
Posted by: fling93 | June 01, 2005 at 02:45 PM