I just read an article in pressthink.org by Jay Rosen, titled “a few notes on unbuilding the presidency” I found it in a link from a Salon article, and I will quote only a small bit of it, but everyone should read it
Jay posits that “The American President can blow up the world. A lot of work went into reassuring us that he won't. Now it's being undone.”
In the 70 years since the start of the Cold War, the person inhabiting the presidency has had the sole capability of blowing up significant parts of the world, and many of the norms we see being broken every day, are meant to reassure us that he (and all have been male) won’t.
A few of these norms are:
* The President has access to the best intelligence in the world.
* The President starts his day with a classified briefing on all possible threats.
* The President is kept constantly informed.
* The President is never, even for a moment, “off the grid.”
* The President is never alone.
* The President is surrounded by people who know what they are doing.
* The President is of sound and sober mind. He does not easily “fly off the handle.”
* The President does not free associate, speak carelessly, or grant roaming privileges to his id.
* The President does not make factual statements that are wholly insupportable.
Of course, none of this is happening now...please read this blog. It is concise and clear.
pressthink.org/…
IF YOU LIVE IN NEW JERSEY OR VIRGINIA, VOTE AND TAKE EVERYONE TO THE POLLS YOU CAN ROUND UP! THIS HAS NEVER BEEN SO IMPORTANT!