This week's article from Tom Foreman appeared in the New York Metro paper. The article is titled: Next President Already Broke First Promise
Hide your children. Lock up your pets. Shutter the windows. The end of the election is looming, and the streets are filling with the same unspeakable dread that usually precedes a hurricane or a Carrot Top tour. You think the race has been ugly so far? Brace yourself.
Every campaign year, candidates vow this time the race will stay on the up and up, and they’ll leave the spitballs at home. They start off saying they admire the intelligence, patriotism and values of their opponent. And they end up all but accusing them of rallying fascists at the harbor.
Oh, for those optimistic days we had just a few months ago. Back then much of the nation seemed to breathe a sigh of relief at the match up of John McCain and Barack Obama. Many voters told me they were pleased because both men were decent, polite and principled and would not drag the nation down into a mud-wrestling match. Even I found myself believing it could be true. Maybe this time, I told myself, each party really will produce a person more interested in leading than in just ripping into the other side. Of course, I also once thought Marcia Brady was all apple pie and baseball.
McCain supporters raise questions about Obama’s patriotism, his religion and his feelings on terrorism. Obama fans ridicule McCain for his age, question his record as a war hero and hint that his followers are pursuing a secret, racist agenda.
Each candidate has occasionally spoken up against the tirades, defending his opponent. But too often they have either fed the fire or looked the other way while it burned. Of course, that’s what happens when the mob is ransacking your enemy’s place.
Yet, in the latest debate, when confronted over the ugly turn of events, both shrugged and said presidential elections are tough; as if the wave of nastiness and falsehoods swept up from nowhere.
It could be worse. We haven’t yet seen Willie Horton, or Swift Boat ads. But just wait. Campaigns can always descend deeper into the muck, no matter how low you set your expectations. And while we’re talking about how it could be worse, let’s not forget it could also be better, and both men started this race saying it would be.
So no matter who wins, put that down as the first broken promise; just like it is the first broken promise of every campaign. They always say this time will be different.
CNNPolitics.com | Catch Tom Foreman on CNN every Saturday at 6 p.m. on This Week in Politics for a look back at the presidential campaign trail.
Last week, I made a comment about This Week In Politics being missing from CNN's schedule. Saturday night, the program returned and Tom Foreman closed with One Minutes Week in Politics. Here's a clip:
Earlier this week, the New York Times ran an article stating that Headline News' Glenn Beck would be leaving the network for FOX News. Beck's contract is up in February and FOX News says that his new 5PM ET program would start sometime in the spring.
Jeopardy is once again turning to CNN for the answers. On Friday night, Richard Roth will providing the clues on Jeopardy during the United Nations category.
Here are few more screen caps from the promo.
Feel free to tell us what you think the correct "questions" are in the comments.
Answer #1: You'll fit right in here at the U.N. if you know either of these 2 languages, the predominant ones used for daily communication & signage.
Answer #2: In February 2003, I reported on this Secretary of State's visit to the U.N. to present evidence of Iraq's failure to disarm.
Answer #3: A gift to the U.N. from the USSR, the "Let Us Beat Swords Into Plowshares" statue gets its title from this prophet.
Answer #4: Appointed by George W. Bush during a congressional recess, this U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. stirred up controversy when he served here in 2005 & 2006.
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Christiane Amanpour - January 12
Showbiz Tonight celebrated it's 3rd anniversary on February 20.
