The sound bites are multiplying. Your radio melts if you (dare) listen to talk radio, on the left and right. News outlets are running stories saying President Barack Obama’s stimulus package might not have enough votes in the Senate. Polls show support for the measure is lagging and in one poll less than those who support it.
Yet, could it be possible that politics is now operating in one traditional way: despite all the political blow-fish puffing themselves up on their words and declarations, despite politicos in both parties playing to their respective bases, could there be some quiiet behind-the-scenes progress? If this is true…then the answer is yes.
Joe Gandelman is a former fulltime journalist who freelanced in India, Spain, Bangladesh and Cypress writing for publications such as the Christian Science Monitor and Newsweek. He also did radio reports from Madrid for NPR’s All Things Considered. He has worked on two U.S. newspapers and quit the news biz in 1990 to go into entertainment. He also has written for The Week and several online publications, did a column for Cagle Cartoons Syndicate and has appeared on CNN.