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[infowar.de] Bush's revelation that he does not read newspapers.
Infowar.de, http://userpage.fu-berlin.de/~bendrath/liste.html
-------------------------------------------------------------
Für die Helen Thomas-Fans:
"Bush is spoon-fed the relevant news from his staff. Top aides usually
know the buttons not to push when it comes to bad news. More often they
will tell the president what he wants to hear -- the good news if there
is any."
Das berührt natürlich gleich zwei Aspekte:
1. Den epistemischen Bias, der durch das Vorkosten von Informationen
zustande kommt - ist aber prinzipiell nichts Neues, das gleiche macht ja
auch George Tenet beim morgendlichen CIA-Briefing für den Präsidenten.
Letzteres gab es natürlich auch schon vor Bush.
2. Die Entkoppelung des Präsidenten von der öffentlichen Meinung. Das
ist mehr als Information, es geht da eher um Stimmungen, Trends etc.
Aber auch das wird ja durch einen Apparat von Mitarbeitern erledigt.
Bleibt die Frage: Welche Rolle spielt der Präsident dann
informationstheoretisch (und heisst schnell auch
entscheidungstheoretisch) überhaupt noch? ;-)
RB <- offenbar schon überarbeitet...
---------------
Published on Wednesday, October 15, 2003 by the Seattle
Post-Intelligencer
No Wonder Bush Doesn't Connect With the Rest of the Country
by Helen Thomas, Veteran White House Correspondent
WASHINGTON -- President Bush recently gave an hour-long exclusive
interview to Fox TV anchor Brit Hume, who tossed him a series of
softball questions.
Among them, Bush was asked how he gets his news. Answer: He relies on
briefings by chief of staff Andrew Card and national security affairs
adviser Condoleezza Rice.
He walks into the Oval Office in the morning, Bush said, and asks Card:
"What's in the newspapers worth worrying about? I glance at the
headlines just to kind of (get) a flavor of what's moving," Bush said.
"I rarely read the stories," he said.
Instead, the president continued, he gets "briefed by people who have
probably read the news themselves." Rice, on the other hand, is getting
the news "directly from the participants on the world stage."
Bush said this had long been his practice.
"I have great respect for the media," he said. "I mean, our society is a
good, solid democracy because of a good, solid media. But I also
understand that a lot of times there's opinions mixed in with news."
To which Hume told Bush: "I won't disagree with that, sir."
Bush continued: "I appreciate people's opinions, but I'm more interested
in news. And the best way to get the news is from objective sources. And
the most objective sources I have are people on my staff who tell me
what's happening in the world."
What struck me and a lot of other folks about the interview was Bush's
revelation that he does not read newspapers.
Anyone who wants to stay in touch with national, international and local
events looks forward to reading the newspaper every day. The variety and
breadth of newspaper stories make Americans the best-informed people in
the world. If the president doesn't read newspapers but relies only on
his aides, then I wonder if they told him about Kimberly Requell Mari
Brice, the Landover, Md., 5-year-old first grader who was fatally shot
by her 4-year old brother. Her teacher said Kimberly "always gave me the
biggest and best hugs." The story was in The Washington Post on Oct. 9.
It was a tragic story that made a compelling case for gun control,
something that Bush is totally opposed to.
Busy as he is, Bush would be better acquainted with the daily lives of
Americans if he read his daily newspapers.
I don't know of many brave White House staffers willing to risk the
president's anger by dishing him the bad news.
Instead, Bush is spoon-fed the relevant news from his staff. Top aides
usually know the buttons not to push when it comes to bad news. More
often they will tell the president what he wants to hear -- the good
news if there is any. Or they may just sugar coat the news that is
tougher to swallow.
It's too bad that Bush's reading habits take him out of the information
link that connects us and provides the glue that holds our society
together.
President Kennedy quipped that after he got into the White House he
found himself "reading more and enjoying it less."
An annoyed Kennedy cancelled his subscription to the now-defunct New
York Herald Tribune because he felt the newspaper -- owned by John Hay
Whitney, a wealthy Republican -- played up allegations of impropriety in
his administration and toned down allegations of impropriety in the
previous Republican Eisenhower era.
But Kennedy was aghast when the flap hit the headlines and regretted the
cancellation. His staff later brought him bootleg copies daily.
All presidents rail against the press. It goes with the turf.
Thomas Jefferson, relentless in his defense of the First Amendment, was
fed up with the attacks on his leadership when he served as the nation's
third president.
But Jefferson is remembered for saying he "would rather have newspapers
without government than government without newspapers."
Bush is missing a lot by getting the news filtered by his staff. If he
read a newspaper every day he would be sharing an experience with most
Americans. Otherwise, he's just out of the loop.
Helen Thomas is a columnist for Hearst Newspapers.
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From: "J. Barlow" <salmonvalley -!
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To: <Undisclosed-Recipient:;>
Subject: SVO-10/15/03-Bush's revelation that he does not read newspapers. --
Date: Wed, 15 Oct 2003 17:00:36 -0400
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10/15/03 - "I don't know of many brave White House staffers willing to=
risk the president's anger by dishing him the bad news."
The Salmon Valley Observer
Published on Wednesday, October 15, 2003 by the Seattle Post-Intellige=
ncer =20
No Wonder Bush Doesn't Connect With the Rest of the Country =20
by Helen Thomas, Veteran White House Correspondent=20
=20
WASHINGTON -- President Bush recently gave an hour-long exclusive inte=
rview to Fox TV anchor Brit Hume, who tossed him a series of softball questi=
ons.=20
Among them, Bush was asked how he gets his news. Answer: He relies on=20=
briefings by chief of staff Andrew Card and national security affairs advise=
r Condoleezza Rice.=20
He walks into the Oval Office in the morning, Bush said, and asks Card=
: "What's in the newspapers worth worrying about? I glance at the headlines=20=
just to kind of (get) a flavor of what's moving," Bush said. "I rarely read=20=
the stories," he said.=20
Instead, the president continued, he gets "briefed by people who have=20=
probably read the news themselves." Rice, on the other hand, is getting the=20=
news "directly from the participants on the world stage."=20
Bush said this had long been his practice.=20
"I have great respect for the media," he said. "I mean, our society is=
a good, solid democracy because of a good, solid media. But I also understa=
nd that a lot of times there's opinions mixed in with news."=20
To which Hume told Bush: "I won't disagree with that, sir."=20
Bush continued: "I appreciate people's opinions, but I'm more interest=
ed in news. And the best way to get the news is from objective sources. And=20=
the most objective sources I have are people on my staff who tell me what's=20=
happening in the world."=20
What struck me and a lot of other folks about the interview was Bush's=
revelation that he does not read newspapers.=20
Anyone who wants to stay in touch with national, international and loc=
al events looks forward to reading the newspaper every day. The variety and=20=
breadth of newspaper stories make Americans the best-informed people in the=20=
world. (Only if they read the world's press - JHB)=20
If the president doesn't read newspapers but relies only on his aides,=
then I wonder if they told him about Kimberly Requell Mari Brice, the Lando=
ver, Md., 5-year-old first grader who was fatally shot by her 4-year old bro=
ther. Her teacher said Kimberly "always gave me the biggest and best hugs."=20=
The story was in The Washington Post on Oct. 9.=20
It was a tragic story that made a compelling case for gun control, som=
ething that Bush is totally opposed to.=20
Busy as he is, Bush would be better acquainted with the daily lives of=
Americans if he read his daily newspapers.=20
I don't know of many brave White House staffers willing to risk the pr=
esident's anger by dishing him the bad news.=20
Instead, Bush is spoon-fed the relevant news from his staff. Top aides=
usually know the buttons not to push when it comes to bad news. More often=20=
they will tell the president what he wants to hear -- the good news if there=
is any. Or they may just sugar coat the news that is tougher to swallow.=20
It's too bad that Bush's reading habits take him out of the informatio=
n link that connects us and provides the glue that holds our society togethe=
r.=20
President Kennedy quipped that after he got into the White House he fo=
und himself "reading more and enjoying it less."=20
An annoyed Kennedy cancelled his subscription to the now-defunct New Y=
ork Herald Tribune because he felt the newspaper -- owned by John Hay Whitne=
y, a wealthy Republican -- played up allegations of impropriety in his admin=
istration and toned down allegations of impropriety in the previous Republic=
an Eisenhower era.=20
But Kennedy was aghast when the flap hit the headlines and regretted t=
he cancellation. His staff later brought him bootleg copies daily.=20
All presidents rail against the press. It goes with the turf.=20
Thomas Jefferson, relentless in his defense of the First Amendment, wa=
s fed up with the attacks on his leadership when he served as the nation's t=
hird president.=20
But Jefferson is remembered for saying he "would rather have newspaper=
s without government than government without newspapers."=20
Bush is missing a lot by getting the news filtered by his staff. If he=
read a newspaper every day he would be sharing an experience with most Amer=
icans. Otherwise, he's just out of the loop.=20
Helen Thomas is a columnist for Hearst Newspapers.=20
=A91996-2003 Seattle Post-Intelligencer=20
http://www.commondreams.org/views03/1015-08.htm
=20
J.H. Barlow
The Salmon Valley Observer
salmonvalley -!
- att -
net
=20
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<DIV>
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<TR align=3Dleft>
<TD>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT face=3D"Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><FONT =20=
size=3D2><EM><FONT color=3D#ff0000>10/15/03</FONT><FONT color=3D#00000=
0> - "I=20
don't know of many brave White House staffers willing to risk the=20
president's anger by dishing him the bad=20
news."</FONT></EM></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><EM><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT></EM> </=
DIV>
<DIV align=3Dcenter><FONT face=3DPapyrus color=3D#0000ff size=3D4><U><=
STRONG>The=20
Salmon Valley Observer</STRONG></U></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT face=3D"Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" =20=
size=3D2><I>Published on Wednesday, October 15, 2003 by the <A href=3D=
"http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/"; target=3D_new>Seattle=20
Post-Intelligencer</A><!-- #EndEditable --> </I></FONT></DIV></TD></TR=
>
<TR align=3Dleft>
<TD>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT face=3D"Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=3D5=
><B><!-- #BeginEditable "Header" --><FONT color=3D#ff0000>No Wonder=20
Bush Doesn't Connect With the Rest of the Country</FONT><!-- #EndEdita=
ble --> </B></FONT></DIV></TD></TR>
<TR align=3Dleft>
<TD>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT face=3D"Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=3D2=
><B><!-- #BeginEditable "author" -->by <FONT color=3D#ff0000>Helen=20
Thomas, </FONT><FONT color=3D#000000>Veteran White House Correspondent=
<!-- #EndEditable --></FONT></B></FONT></DIV></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD height=3D10> </TD></TR>
<TR vAlign=3Dtop align=3Dleft>
<TD><FONT face=3D"Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=3D2><!-- #BeginEdit=
able "Body" -->
<P>WASHINGTON -- President Bush recently gave an hour-long exclusive=20
interview to Fox TV anchor Brit Hume, who tossed him a series of softb=
all=20
questions.=20
<P>Among them, Bush was asked how he gets his news. Answer: He relies=20=
on=20
briefings by chief of staff Andrew Card and national security affairs=20
adviser Condoleezza Rice.=20
<P>He walks into the Oval Office in the morning, Bush said, and asks C=
ard:=20
"What's in the newspapers worth worrying about? I glance at the headli=
nes=20
just to kind of (get) a flavor of what's moving," Bush said. "I rarely=
=20
read the stories," he said.=20
<P>Instead, the president continued, he gets "briefed by people who ha=
ve=20
probably read the news themselves." Rice, on the other hand, is gettin=
g=20
the news "directly from the participants on the world stage."=20
<P>Bush said this had long been his practice.=20
<P>"I have great respect for the media," he said. "I mean, our society=
is=20
a good, solid democracy because of a good, solid media. But I also=20
understand that a lot of times there's opinions mixed in with news."=20
<P>To which Hume told Bush: "I won't disagree with that, sir."=20
<P>Bush continued: "I appreciate people's opinions, but I'm more=20
interested in news. And the best way to get the news is from objective=
=20
sources. And the most objective sources I have are people on my staff=20=
who=20
tell me what's happening in the world."=20
<P>What struck me and a lot of other folks about the interview was Bus=
h's=20
revelation that he does not read newspapers.=20
<P>Anyone who wants to stay in touch with national, international and=20
local events looks forward to reading the newspaper every day. The var=
iety=20
and breadth of newspaper stories make Americans the best-informed peop=
le=20
in the world. <EM>(Only if they read the world's press - JHB)</EM>=20
<P>If the president doesn't read newspapers but relies only on his aid=
es,=20
then I wonder if they told him about Kimberly Requell Mari Brice, the=20
Landover, Md., 5-year-old first grader who was fatally shot by her 4-y=
ear=20
old brother. Her teacher said Kimberly "always gave me the biggest and=
=20
best hugs." The story was in The Washington Post on Oct. 9.=20
<P>It was a tragic story that made a compelling case for gun control,=20
something that Bush is totally opposed to.=20
<P>Busy as he is, Bush would be better acquainted with the daily lives=
of=20
Americans if he read his daily newspapers.=20
<P>I don't know of many brave White House staffers willing to risk the=
=20
president's anger by dishing him the bad news.=20
<P>Instead, Bush is spoon-fed the relevant news from his staff. Top ai=
des=20
usually know the buttons not to push when it comes to bad news. More o=
ften=20
they will tell the president what he wants to hear -- the good news if=
=20
there is any. Or they may just sugar coat the news that is tougher to=20
swallow.=20
<P>It's too bad that Bush's reading habits take him out of the informa=
tion=20
link that connects us and provides the glue that holds our society=20
together.=20
<P>President Kennedy quipped that after he got into the White House he=
=20
found himself "reading more and enjoying it less."=20
<P>An annoyed Kennedy cancelled his subscription to the now-defunct Ne=
w=20
York Herald Tribune because he felt the newspaper -- owned by John Hay=
=20
Whitney, a wealthy Republican -- played up allegations of impropriety=20=
in=20
his administration and toned down allegations of impropriety in the=20
previous Republican Eisenhower era.=20
<P>But Kennedy was aghast when the flap hit the headlines and regrette=
d=20
the cancellation. His staff later brought him bootleg copies daily.=20
<P>All presidents rail against the press. It goes with the turf.=20
<P>Thomas Jefferson, relentless in his defense of the First Amendment,=
was=20
fed up with the attacks on his leadership when he served as the nation=
's=20
third president.=20
<P>But Jefferson is remembered for saying he "would rather have newspa=
pers=20
without government than government without newspapers."=20
<P>Bush is missing a lot by getting the news filtered by his staff. If=
he=20
read a newspaper every day he would be sharing an experience with most=
=20
Americans. Otherwise, he's just out of the loop.=20
<P><I>Helen Thomas is a columnist for Hearst Newspapers.</I>=20
<P align=3Dcenter>=A91996-2003 Seattle Post-Intelligencer </P>
<P align=3Dcenter><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D1><A h=
ref=3D"http://www.commondreams.org/views03/1015-08.htm";>http://www.commondre=
ams.org/views03/1015-08.htm</A></FONT></P></FONT></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><=
/DIV>
<DIV>J.H. Barlow<BR>The Salmon Valley Observer<BR><A href=3D"mailto:salmon=
valley -!
- att -
net">salmonvalley -!
- att -
net</A></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR> </DIV></BODY></HTML>
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