esrosedotblog

CONTROLLING THE CYCLE

I am greatly impressed with the Obamas' control of the news cycle.

The predictable pattern is that there will be one message at a time. One action. Or a program.

There is a first phase in which "unnamed sources" tell us what is coming. This is not a leak as in the bushie period. Unauthorized. This is part of the process. Controlled.

The second phase is the action or message itself. A press conference. A bill signing. An announcement of a new policy. For example, the release of letters authorizing torture from the bush administration.

Then there is phase three in which questions are answered and the action is supported with other spokespeople. Congresspeople. Interviews on the air. Followup.

By the time the GOoPers figure out what is going on, it is a done deal and on with the next thing.

This happens every day. Imagine. Every day.

I have tried to discern a pattern. Is it domestic, foreign, administrative and back to domestic again? I don't think so.

There are the trips in which there is a roll of activities each day. "Here is what is going to happen tomorrow" "Today we are doing this" "Any questions about yesterday"?

Little throws them off stride. Pirates? We keep quiet until there is something to talk about. Rumors about the bailout? We don't talk or act until we have the facts. All in due course.

The only administration that I remember having such message control was the Reagans. And they did not dominate each day's news in the same way.

I could go to AP right now and catch three Obama headlines. Something about yesterday. A reax piece. Something about today. What he did now. And something planned for tomorrow but not from an authorized source.

Even the new puppy got his 3 days. Rumors, appearance, followup. Amazing.

Incidentally there are no other rumors or leaks but those which are planned.

The "loyal" opposition must have their heads spinning. There is no way that they can keep up with this. No wonder they have to go tea-bag for an unknown and unarticulated purpose. A lot of anger. It must be hell to have your initiative (if any) stolen every day.

Labels: Administration Obama