Gongol.com Archives: November 2016
November 16, 2016
The protective pool isn't an option
A President (or President-elect) who ditches the press protective pool assigned to follow him or her is an individual who underestimates the weight of the office. The President is a walking and talking, living and breathing military command center. The American people require uncontested third-party confirmation at all times where that command center is located and in what condition it is kept. Anything less introduces a level of uncertainty equivalent to threatening the safety of the Pentagon. There should be no doubt about this: On 9/11, the President of the United States was evacuated to an airborne command post -- and even with a small staff, room was made for members of the press to evacuate with him. That's how important third-party validation of the President's security is to the continuity of government. Donald Trump ditched his protective pool this week. He cannot do that again.
Minnesota police officer charged with manslaughter over shooting of civilian
In the Philando Castile case, the county attorney says: "No reasonable officer who knew, saw and heard what Officer Yanez did at the time would have used deadly force under these circumstances." Remember, not only was an innocent man shot, there was a child in the back seat and an adult passenger in the front. The county attorney is showing courage by pursuing the case in this way -- but a Federal investigation ought to be conducted in every case involving a police-involved killing of a member of the public. Oversight regarding the use of deadly force should not be under-applied.
Wikileaks was used as a conscious tool of Russian influence
This is dirty politics at its most high-stakes
"[A]dversarial journalism, not access journalism"
That is what will be required of the mass media in the Trump Administration. Don't show up to be friendly. Show up to hold power to account.
Tough times to persist for Midwestern farmers
And that has a spillover impact on the rest of the regional economy
