# McClellan press briefing 9/6/05. Maybe the press has found their balls? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 7, 2005, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcclellan-press-briefing-9-6-05-maybe-the-press-has-found-their-balls/320481 "2005-09-07T05:50:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcclellan-press-briefing-9-6-05-maybe-the-press-has-found-their-balls/320481/41 "2005-09-07T21:09:22Z")
**Merijeek** , I think you are right about the pumping estimate. I was remembering an earlier one. I just think that the scale of this disaster is so great that it will not be pushed off the news pages by the disappearance of a white woman in a month. I understand how news cycles work, but this is the biggest news event since 9/11. We’ll see, I guess. I’ll try to remember to ask you in a month and see if you agree with \*\*Harborwolf’s \*\* assessment. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcclellan-press-briefing-9-6-05-maybe-the-press-has-found-their-balls/320481/42 "2005-09-07T21:24:25Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > I just think that the scale of this disaster is so great that it will not be pushed off the news pages by the disappearance of a white woman in a month. I don’t know… I seem to remember news about one of the Downing Street Memos being swamped by one missing white chick or another, but I could be wrong. We shall see. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcclellan-press-briefing-9-6-05-maybe-the-press-has-found-their-balls/320481/43 "2005-09-07T21:27:20Z")
> [@FinnAgain](#): > > I don’t know… I seem to remember news about one of the Downing Street Memos being swamped by one missing white chick or another, but I could be wrong. We shall see. And you think the two stories are equivalent? Was the Downing Street story the the main lead world wide for 6 days? ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcclellan-press-briefing-9-6-05-maybe-the-press-has-found-their-balls/320481/44 "2005-09-07T21:29:09Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > And you think the two stories are equivalent? Was the Downing Street story the the main lead world wide for 6 days? Were the two stories comparable in terms of importance? Absolutely. Did they get the same airtime? No… that’s what I just said. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcclellan-press-briefing-9-6-05-maybe-the-press-has-found-their-balls/320481/45 "2005-09-07T21:35:19Z")
I want to play the Blame Game, sound like fun. Anybody know the rules? Is it something like The name of who I wish to blame begins with the letter…B. Who is it? ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcclellan-press-briefing-9-6-05-maybe-the-press-has-found-their-balls/320481/46 "2005-09-07T21:36:19Z")
> [@FinnAgain](#): > > Were the two stories comparable in terms of importance? Absolutely. > Did they get the same airtime? No… that’s what I just said. I’m confused. I’m arguing that Katrina is too big of a story to disappear in a month. You cite Downing Street as a counter example. Without having to go into whether the two were comporable in importance (I would argue not) I will grant that that they were. The point is not how fairly the stories were treated _originally_, but how they will be seen a _month from first appearing_. If the Downing Street story had been the main lead worldwide for 6 days, and if events were still unfolding, as they are with Katrina, and if more than 1 million people had been uprooted in one fell swoop by said memos, I daresay that a missing girl in Aruba would not have taken precedence. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcclellan-press-briefing-9-6-05-maybe-the-press-has-found-their-balls/320481/47 "2005-09-07T21:38:06Z")
> [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > Wow, that reporter is just like a fat guy whose car is being robbed. Nice little TDS reference. I hope what we’re seeing here is this: Sept 11, 2001 - Press is shocked, but truly believe (or are told) they are doing the right thing by getting behind the President. Not sure if they believe this, or are afraid of appearing “anti-American”, but quietly fall into step. 2001/2002 - Press supports nation’s efforts to root out terrorism as a Early 2003 - Are ambiguous about how to approach Gulf War II, but eventually buy into “embedded with the troops”, figuring that they can get the best view of the story from there. Unfortunately this has the effect of coopting their reporting, in a sort of journalistic Stockholm syndrome. Later in 2003/2004 - Start to realize that there were no WMDs, are encouraging by what they see as emerging Democracy in Iraq. 2004 - Distracted by the election, try to appear even-handed. Many probably secretly want Kerry to win, but find JFK unengaging and unsympathetic. Bush is just a more likable kind of guy, by gosh. Besides, Rather looked like an idiot when he was duped by the forged documents (even if his facts were essentially correct) and nobody wants to look stupid. 2005 - Body count grows in Iraq; terrorists strike multiple times in London, which shows that Iraq has not had the intended affect. Purpose of the Iraq war has become muddier with each change of the administration. The economy is strengthening but the ever increasing price of oil is threatening to bring things back down to earth. More and more people feel Bush is not doing a job, despite the talking points. Aug/September 2005 - Hurricane Katrina strikes and kills people in Florida, Lousiana, Mississippi and Alabama. Media deployed in the central Gulf states see, first hand, the damage, but more importantly, the human cost incurred. Not just in bodies, but in people whose lives are destroyed, people who have died not directly because of the hurricane, but as much because of the lax response. This is not patriotic. This is not how America should work. It’s just purely, blatantly wrong. We’re not supposed to abandon the poor, young, elderly and sick – we’re supposed to take care of and protect people that are unable to help and protect themselves. No, most Americans don’t believe that people who are poor are entitled to endless handouts. But many also believe, “Whatsoever you do for the least of my brothers, that you do unto me”. Here, at least at some level, we have failed. At least for a time. People want to make sure it doesn’t happen again, and they want to know why, when we’ve been told that POTUS is the one making America safe, that it’s not safe, despite raiding the public coffers and spending like there’s no tomorrow. The press can’t be made out as un-American for that, and hopefully they have seized the momentum. I, for one, would like to know why failure is so strongly rewarded in this administration. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcclellan-press-briefing-9-6-05-maybe-the-press-has-found-their-balls/320481/48 "2005-09-07T21:40:34Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > I’m confused. I’m arguing that Katrina is too big of a story to disappear in a month. You cite Downing Street as a counter example. Without having to go into whether the two were comporable in importance (I would argue not) I will grant that that they were. The point is not how fairly the stories were treated _originally_, but how they will be seen a _month from first appearing_. If the Downing Street story had been the main lead worldwide for 6 days, and if events were still unfolding, as they are with Katrina, and if more than 1 million people had been uprooted in one fell swoop by said memos, I daresay that a missing girl in Aruba would not have taken precedence. Fair enough. My point was that right from the beginning, the DSM story was buried by the cute white girl story. As far as I see it, if it could happen to that story, it can happen to this one, especially given time. Again, we shall see. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcclellan-press-briefing-9-6-05-maybe-the-press-has-found-their-balls/320481/49 "2005-09-07T21:46:22Z")
> [@Harborwolf](#): > > Let’s not get too happy about this. The journalists and news outlets have always been whores to public opinion and this case is no different. People are angry about the response to Katrina so now you have every “journalist” rushing to be the first to claim their shiny crediblity and edginess merit badge to put on their khaki cargo vest. You’re right, and in part, it’s a reflection of how bad the press has been in recent years. _Still_ - and this is my reply to **Yeticus Rex** as well - this is one way in which the public 's grievances are relayed directly to the White House, and it’s a demand for accountability. You can’t talk to this President, it seems, so this is how they treat the press secretary. It IS part of why he’s there. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcclellan-press-briefing-9-6-05-maybe-the-press-has-found-their-balls/320481/50 "2005-09-07T21:52:03Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > **Merijeek** , I think you are right about the pumping estimate. I was remembering an earlier one. > > I just think that the scale of this disaster is so great that it will not be pushed off the news pages by the disappearance of a white woman in a month. I understand how news cycles work, but this is the biggest news event since 9/11. > > We’ll see, I guess. I’ll try to remember to ask you in a month and see if you agree with \*\*Harborwolf’s \*\* assessment. You go ahead and do that 30 days from now and we’ll see what happens. Really, though, how many times do you think they’ll run “Still digging out bodies” headlines? -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcclellan-press-briefing-9-6-05-maybe-the-press-has-found-their-balls/320481/51 "2005-09-07T21:55:23Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > Really, though, how many times do you think they’ll run “Still digging out bodies” headlines? _strains to remember four years ago_ As long as it takes, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcclellan-press-briefing-9-6-05-maybe-the-press-has-found-their-balls/320481/52 "2005-09-07T22:19:45Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > I’ll take that bet. I think you underestimate just how angry people are, and to what extent this catastrophe effects the entire nation. It would not surprise me if in a month from now new horrors were still being discovered. I’m not happy about it, but it’s going to happen. All it takes is one story to knock the hurricane off of the top. It could be a new terrorist attack, or a high number of american deaths in Iraq, or a new supreme court justice nomination/Roberts confirmation hearing. After that it’s a long sad slide off the radar. There will be local stories from the areas housing the displaced for a good deal of time, but they’ll fade off of the front page just the same. I’ll be glad to give you a major “You were right” if it doesn’t. I’ll do so very happily. I’m just very cynical when it comes to the media and the american attention span. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcclellan-press-briefing-9-6-05-maybe-the-press-has-found-their-balls/320481/53 "2005-09-07T22:27:10Z")
One side is going to be pushing like hell to get this off the news cycle, given how it’s going for them so far. But as long as I’m paying around $3 for more for a gallon of gasoline, it’s going to be hard for me to forget Katrina. Not that this is the important part, just that it’s going to be around as a persistent reminder even if the press is drawn off to cover the Next Big Thing. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcclellan-press-briefing-9-6-05-maybe-the-press-has-found-their-balls/320481/54 "2005-09-07T22:48:31Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > You go ahead and do that 30 days from now and we’ll see what happens. > > Really, though, how many times do you think they’ll run “Still digging out bodies” headlines? > > -Joe I guess that is a false dilemma. This is the quote I was objecting to > [@Harborwolf](#): > > I’d bet money that in under a month we’ll be back to looking for the missing white women. This will only last for as long as the majority remains angry. 5…4…3… Where _Harborwolf_ is clearly suggesting is that the story of Katrina will be perceived to be of\* less significance\* than that of missing white women, and then affects a dismissive countdown. If 30 days after the Holloway girl disappeared she was headline news, then your comparison would at least be parallel. I am not suggesting that 30 days from now the headlines will read “still digging out bodies.” What I am suggesting is that to state that the catastrophe of Katrina will be forgotten by America is insulting. Over one million people have been displaced. My city is accepting evacuees. I have offered my home if it is needed. Hundreds of thousands of evacuees across the nation will be living with people who have done the same, for much longer than 30 days. None of these people will forget. [Here](http://msnbc.msn.com/id/9239712/) is a story concerning the identification of perhaps as many as ten thousand victims. None of their relatives will forget. They may well be digging out bodies a month from now. I feel certain that the rebuilding of the destroyed cities will have only just begun a month from now. None of the inhabitants of those places will forget. That is why I was insulted. When I said I would get back to you in a month I did not mean it as a challenge. Perhaps you are right. If so, I will despair for our souls, if we have them, and I am not easily disappointed by human shortcomings. ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcclellan-press-briefing-9-6-05-maybe-the-press-has-found-their-balls/320481/55 "2005-09-08T00:02:34Z")
It’s always so educational to watch one of these things and figure out which talking point the administration is trying to infect the media with each week. This time, it’s more obvious than usual. Snippets from the gaggle: > [@Scott McMouthpiece](#): > > And again, David, see, this is where some people want to look at the **blame game issue** , and **finger-point**. We’re focused on solving problems, and we’re doing everything we can – > [@Scott McMouthpiece](#): > > We’re going to continue. We appreciate the great effort that all of those at FEMA, including the head of FEMA, are doing to help the people in the region. And I’m just not going to engage in the **blame game** or **finger-pointing** that you’re trying to get me to engage. > [@Scott McMouthpiece](#): > > And what you’re doing is trying to engage in a game of **finger-pointing** – > > Q There’s a lot of criticism. I’m just wondering if he still has confidence. > > MR. McCLELLAN: – and **blame-gaming.** > [@NBC's David Gregory](#): > > Q No, you didn’t. Yes or no? Does he have complete confidence or doesn’t he? > > MR. McCLELLAN: No, if you want to continue to engage in **finger-pointing** and **blame-gaming** , that’s fine – > > Q Scott, that’s ridiculous. I’m not engaging in any of that. > [@NBC's David 'Why do I hate America so much?' Gregory](#): > > Q I’m not engaging in anything. I’m asking you a question about what the President’s views are – > > MR. McCLELLAN: Absolutely – absolutely – > > Q – under pretty substantial criticism of members of his administration. Okay? And you know that, and everybody watching knows that, as well. > > MR. McCLELLAN: No, everybody watching this knows, David, that you’re trying to engage in a **blame game**. > > Q I’m trying to engage? > > MR. McCLELLAN: Yes. > > Q I am trying to engage? > > MR. McCLELLAN: That’s correct. > > Q That’s a dodge. I have a follow-up question since you dodged that one. Does the White House feel like it missed opportunities to alleviate or head off some of the damage in the New Orleans area, flood damage? Did it miss an opportunity to head any of that off? > > MR. McCLELLAN: In what way? > [@Scott McMouthpiece](#): > > Well, I think you’re speculating and making certain assumptions, Elaine. And I think that right now we all should remain focused on how we can work together to help the people who need it. That’s what they need. Getting into **blame-gaming** or **finger-pointing** isn’t going to get them the help they need right now. We do need to take a thorough look at what went right and what went wrong, and we’re going to do that. The President made that very clear yesterday. We’re going to investigate this response effort. > [@Scott McMouthpiece](#): > > ( … ) There have been a lot of good efforts undertaken by many people. And there have been a lot of people that have come together to focus on what is most important, and that’s helping the people in the region. And we’re appreciative of those efforts, too. But there have been some problem areas and that’s why the President made it clear what’s wrong is going to be fixed. And we’re going to focus on solving problems. We’re not going to focus on **finger-pointing** or **blame-game** issues like that. > [@Scott McMouthpiece](#): > > This is an attempt by some in this room to engage in **finger-pointing** and **blame game** and I’m just not going to do that. Yup, the meme of the week is definitely here. Soon to be playing at a FOX news outlet and right-wing talk radio station near you! ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcclellan-press-briefing-9-6-05-maybe-the-press-has-found-their-balls/320481/56 "2005-09-08T00:38:26Z")
You forgot that they’re determined to figure out what went right and what went wrong. They’re problem solvers. They solve problems. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcclellan-press-briefing-9-6-05-maybe-the-press-has-found-their-balls/320481/57 "2005-09-08T00:48:44Z")
The BLAME GAME Bush, Bush, bo - ush Banana fanna fo - fush Mee, My, Moe - mush Bush. _Let’s blame Scotty!_ Scotty, scotty, bo - botty Banana fanna fo - fotty Mee, My, Mo - Motty Scotty! Come on everybody! I say now let’s play a game I betcha I can find a dingus in the White House to blame. Let’s blame Cheney! Cheney, Cheney, bo - beney Banana fanna fo - Feney Mee, My, Mo - Meney Cheney! Katrina swept the Delta and New Orleans is gone It’s time for lib’rals to point the finger And find a Pubbie to blame it on. Let’s blame FEMA! Fema, Fema, bo - bEMA Banana fanna fo - EMA Mee, My, Mo - MEMA FEMA! ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcclellan-press-briefing-9-6-05-maybe-the-press-has-found-their-balls/320481/58 "2005-09-08T00:56:34Z")
> [@choie](#): > > It’s always so educational to watch one of these things and figure out which talking point the administration is trying to infect the media with each week. Whaddya know? It [works](http://news.google.com/news?q=%22Finger+pointing%22+%22Blame+game%22)! ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcclellan-press-briefing-9-6-05-maybe-the-press-has-found-their-balls/320481/59 "2005-09-08T01:06:55Z")
> [@choie](#): > > Yup, the meme of the week is definitely here. Soon to be playing at a FOX news outlet and right-wing talk radio station near you! I left work a bit late tonight, so was hunting for a news station that might be playing snippets from these exchanges. A couple of points: 1. Even though the press may be finally “growing a pair”, it does not necessarily follow that we’ll ever get to hear about it. Or more correctly, that your Average Jane or Joe will hear about it. 2. One talk news rightie outfit I did find (Hugh something-or-other? New to me) was a) Chortling over the heat that Mayor Nagin and the Louisiana Democrats were going to take, because he had reports that Louisiana Homeland Security (not sure how this falls back on Nagin… whatever) had asked for food and water not to be delivered to the Superdome so that other refugees/evacuees/displaced persons would not head there AND b) This is clearly all the big city liberal mayor’s fault. c) Anything that was not the fault of the Mayor or any other non-Republicans, but was still wrong, was to blame on the LIBERAL MAINSTREAM MEDIA (BOO!) Their reports on violence and the chaos in New Orleans are CLEARLY to blame for the lack of early response to the situation. The rescue and help people, you see, were scared away and intimidated by these reports. To summarise: - President Bush will not engage in “the Blame Game” or “Finger Pointing”. That would distract them from their mission. - The Right Wing Radio/Blogosphere will, however, delight in doing exactly that while excoriating any Media reports which try to assess blame within the administration. This keeps the Administration above the fray, makes Democractic (and now Republican) officials who try and hold the Administration accountable for their failings look like they are capitalising on a national tragedy for political gain, and yet does exactly that for Republican political gain. In essence, the Republicans have created/coopted their own branch of the Fourth Estate and poisoned any alliance the Democrats may or may not have had with that group (note: my disdain for this aside, it’s really a brilliant tactical manuever). - While most reporters probably have liberal tendencies, most editors and owners of major media outlets are actually fairly conservative. At best this helps to cancel one another out. At worst, the news that is actually presented in it’s most general form is filtered and sanitized for our protection. **EXTRA BONUS QUESTION** : Whatever happened to the “Plame Game”? Shouldn’t Libby or Turdblossom have taken the fall or at least been reprimanded for this? ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcclellan-press-briefing-9-6-05-maybe-the-press-has-found-their-balls/320481/60 "2005-09-08T01:12:52Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > Where _Harborwolf_ is clearly suggesting is that the story of Katrina will be perceived to be of\* less significance\* than that of missing white women, and then affects a dismissive countdown. If 30 days after the Holloway girl disappeared she was headline news, then your comparison would at least be parallel. > > I am not suggesting that 30 days from now the headlines will read “still digging out bodies.” What I am suggesting is that to state that the catastrophe of Katrina will be forgotten by America is insulting. Over one million people have been displaced. My city is accepting evacuees. I have offered my home if it is needed. Hundreds of thousands of evacuees across the nation will be living with people who have done the same, for much longer than 30 days. None of these people will forget. > > [Here](http://msnbc.msn.com/id/9239712/) is a story concerning the identification of perhaps as many as ten thousand victims. None of their relatives will forget. > > They may well be digging out bodies a month from now. I feel certain that the rebuilding of the destroyed cities will have only just begun a month from now. None of the inhabitants of those places will forget. > > That is why I was insulted. When I said I would get back to you in a month I did not mean it as a challenge. Perhaps you are right. If so, I will despair for our souls, if we have them, and I am not easily disappointed by human shortcomings. For starters, I wasn’t _dismissively_ affecting a countdown. It was meant to be more bitter than dismissive. Like I said above, I ain’t happy about it, but it happens. People will remember. It’s not as if they won’t care any more. It just won’t be a priority. The public will become used to it and other things will take precedence. The media, always on the lookout for attention, will try to find stories to keep the public interested.Part of it is the overexposure. Part of it is a short cultural attention span. I’m sorry if you took it personally. I guess I’ve just seen to many news stories of various degrees of importance get swept away by a tide of crappy fluff stories run amok. I’d be thrilled to be wrong. I’m just too cynical to see it happening any other way. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcclellan-press-briefing-9-6-05-maybe-the-press-has-found-their-balls/320481.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcclellan-press-briefing-9-6-05-maybe-the-press-has-found-their-balls/320481.md?page=4)