A pair of CBS news broadcasts from June 1940 show that Repooflicans were just as cowardly then as now. The difference is in the media, which was REQUIRED BY LAW TO BE FAIR in 1940.
Both parties were having their conventions, which were more genuine then. Real decisions were made IN the convention BY the delegates who were actually representing the party members IN their states. Now all politics is fungible and virtual. Nobody represents a place. Everything is rebranded identical Satanblobs made in China.
FDR was gradually pulling the country out of isolation, recognizing that a real attack was likely soon. He was also trying for more bipartisan rule. He had just appointed Repoflicans Stimson and Knox to key positions as Sec of State and Sec of War.
On June 19 the Repoofs screamed about the effort to unite the country. The Repoof chairman said that Stimson and Knox were excommunicated as Repoofs, and called Democrats the Party of War. Dewey called the appointments a direct step toward war, which was basically true. News also mentioned that isolationist Democrats were equally aghast.
On June 20 the Repoof keynote speaker praised the appointments as a needed strengthening of the administration.
The Repoofs must have heard from their defense contractor friends between the two days. War is the health of the state, as old Nick said. The newscaster didn’t point this out, and didn’t take sides. He simply told us what happened.
That’s the proper job of both science and journalism. Use special instruments or special connections to SEE AND HEAR WHAT’S HAPPENING, and then DESCRIBE WHAT’S HAPPENING to people who don’t have the special instruments or special contacts.
Carver as always:
LOOK ABOUT YOU.
TAKE HOLD OF THE THINGS THAT ARE HERE.
TALK TO THEM.
LET THEM TALK TO YOU.
The phrasing applies literally to journalism and metaphorically to science.
Polistra's Mill 