Lame Duck Media

What’s Obama doing, how is he going about, what’s already wrong with it, and what will he possibly do wrong once in office?

Those are the stories of interest to the media lately.  First of all, whom is he appointing to certain positions?  A CNN page shows the key cabinet position and the list of people being considered for them. Clinton, of course, is supposedly on the “short list” for Secretary of State, along with John Kerry and Susan Rice.  Rice appears for consideration for several positions.  Even Caroline Kennedy is listed as a possibility for appointment to the UN.  I have some doubts as to how valid this kind of news is.  Clinton of course was in the news substantially when Obama was about to pick a VP.  Biden was on his list as well.  However, who’s to say that these people are really the ones he is considering.  In this case, the media is creating a story before there is a story.  This process has two results.  Say Clinton is picked for Secretary of the State.  If so, the public will feel special as if they were in the know before he made his choice.  If not, the public will feel surprised, not with the media but with Obama.  Much like they did when Clinton was not picked as his running mate.  Certain people were rooting for a decision that no one was 100% sure he was considering.

Another story gaining popularity is his process for filling posts, specifically the application. According to news sources, the application is a seven-page, 63 item questionnaire that “leaves no stone unturned.”  Obama is, as the media tells it, being careful not to bring anyone into his inner circle who has baggage, unpleasant connections, family issues, or any semblance of a past really.  The what’s-already-wrong-it issue is the other story cropping up regarding the number of women he is “considering” for these key positions. Women’s groups are concerned. Because early teams released by Obama tend to be male-dominated, he is now asking NOW to send suggestions for qualified female candidates.

The last item the media is bringing up is the hypothetical pondering what-could-go-wrong issue.  In a now common comparison to Kennedy, a story has hatched about potential mistakes Obama could make in such a troubled economy for a country that is fighting two wars.  Because the media has no firm idea of such a mistake for a new president, they have talked of Kennedy’s Cuba invasion when first in office.  Then, just for added dramatic effect, they talked of mistakes from other leaders who have come before Obama.  The main issue I am having with a lot of these stories is that they are making news of events that haven yet occurred.  The big history-making event has been announced in every possible format.  Now, I feel as though there is a lame-duck time for the media as well as the presidency.  What do they have to report on until the Inauguration?

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