(NJ-Sen). In another media-created mess, TV coverage will have network thumb-on-the-scale again, giving a little conservative help behind the scenes to Rep. Senate Candidate Thomas Kean, Jr. (As in not his dad, the chairman of the ill-fated presidentially appointed 9/11 commission). Here's a little background.
Everybody in the country gets a taste of live TV coverage on Ground Hog day, as the nation's weather newsreaders have a little fun covering the famous groundhog Punxatawney Phil. The Live coverage is designed to perpetuate the old wive's tale that if Phil sees his shadow, there will be another six weeks of winter. (Sort of the intelligent design approach to the science of meteorology). Yet Phil will get more live coverage this year than one of the key races for control of Senate (jump!)
That's correct, Kos'ers. In doing some research on the Menendez (D) v. Kean, Jr (R) race in my home state, I stumbled across an article in the Courier-Post (central Jersey--i.e. South of Tony Suprano territory)--dated 9-14-06. Herewith a summary of this version of election outrages: Gannett State Capitol reporter Gregory J. Volpe wrote that both campaigns told him about the approved schedule for three debates (a staple of campaigns), Plus the AMAZING FACT (emphasis supplied) that the networks insisted that they would NOT carry the debates LIVE, but would have them taped first, and then aired. In other words, Kean Jr., who was appointed to all his public offices, and who backs Supreme Court appointments like winger extraordinare Alito, could otherwise get a free pass on even a LIVE DEBATE before the people who are voting, hoping to slide Tommy Kean, Jr., into office without any real public test. Disgusting. But par for the course from the Mayberry Machiavellis.
Now anyone who has seen stumbling, bumbling Repub. Tom Kean, Jr., in a public speaking event knows how utterly painful it is to watch him try to launch a continuous, coherent sentence from his mouth. The two networks involved in making this decision are (Viacom/)CBS and (Disney/)ABC. Hardly a surprise. Apparantly the decision was made a short time before, by the Networks.
What to do?
1) I suggest that Kos-ers take note of the schedule already "agreed" to:
Oct. 8, CBS --for the Philly/South Jersey viewing area.
Oct. 15, ABC -- for the Northern NJ/Central NJ Metro area.
Oct. 11/17 on radio, 101.5 FM, date not set in stone yet.
2) Let's see if Katy Couric really is in charge at Viacom/CBS, and has the juice to switch the debate to live coverage. Personally, I despise Viacom/CBS, as I'm still indignant about the Opie and Anthony stunt in Saint Patrick's Cathedral on a holy day to try and promote a fourth-rate beer. But it would be instructive to see if the puppet-masters at Viacom/CBS would actually let Kouric make an important news decision, or just keep her barefoot and pregnant, journalistically speaking. So a little outpouring of electrons could generate a little counter-Jomentum on this issue, and light a bit of a fire under this race. It may result in some of the most godawful TV you have ever seen, given Kean Jr.'s inability to speak well in public, but in a live debate Kean Jr. should be easily upstaged by a parrot with the hiccups.
3) DKosers should also take note of an interesting development that has received near zippo coverage in the commercial media--an internet debate. Some public interest types at the Hall Institute on Public Policy in Trenton, NJ, have been conducting a "virtual debate." It began around July 3, is strictly moderated, but average people can e-mail questions to the candidates (rLee@hallnj.org). The institute puts it through various screening proceedures (I guess they are looking for FAQ's, and to screen out trolls). This Virtual Debate becomes finally posted on October 31, and, IMO, Kos-ers can help publicize this form of debate--because you can see how the networks--with so much commercial business before the Repub dominated FCC--really don't want to piss off Kean Jr., who is THE Repub. Party State Chairman in NJ, after all, and one of the major players in helping to get W. re-selected, at least in the Northeast US campaign. We know how George W. rewards loyalty over competence, and IMO, focusing on the Virtual Debate, and lighting a fire under CBS/Couric, will help keep NJ Blue--and prevent tongue-tied Tom Kean, Jr. from becoming the next L.Paul Bremer clone that the W. administration imposes on a helpless population. Remember: What Trenton Makes, the World Takes!