Well, it felt that way tonight at the GOP Debate on CNN. When Romney and Perry went at it over immigration, I actually thought they might start slapping each other across the face or land a punch or two.
Photo: Steve Marcus/Reuters
And when the crowd cheered during the verbal brawl, I got really nervous.
I know it was just politics and things get heated when you’re running for President, but I hate when people yell at each other. And if the people are vying to be the leader of my country, it’s especially unnerving. It made for great ratings, no doubt, but I was watching with my hands over my eyes at one point.
Clearly, I need to grow a spine because there’s bound to be more animosity between Mitt and Rick. Euw.
Among today’s news stories (Lindsay Lohan possibly going back to the slammer, protesters taking to the streets of Egypt again, and everything in between) was this one.
Yes, a woman gave birth to a baby in a toilet – at a circus, no less – and left the infant to die in the cold water. Stories like this always shock me, even though I should be used to them by now. The question I ask myself whenever I read them is this: Were there always this many crazy people out there or do we just hear about them now, because there’s so much more media?
I was talking about this with Michael the other day. We both grew up in leafy suburbs within an hour of NYC. We were sheltered, admittedly. And our young minds were definitely not on the news of the day. Still, wouldn’t we have heard if another kid was abducted? If a neighbor had fired gunshots into a crowded shopping center? If the woman down the street had given birth to a baby in a toilet?
“I think those things were happening,” said Michael, “but there was no CNN or Internet to tell us about it.”
“We had telephones,” I reminded him. “When something bad happened, people called each other. It was known as gossip.”
He shrugged. “Maybe you’re right and there are more crazy people now.”
We couldn’t decide, not definitively. Does anyone else have thoughts? All I really know is that these stories make being a writer more difficult than it used to be; nothing I could make up would be stranger than what really goes on in our world.
By now I’m sure most people have seen this video of Anderson Cooper describing his travails in Egypt today.
I’m sure it was no picnic getting punched in the face, although from the look of him none of the punches landed. What a harrowing experience to be in the middle of that giant scrum with no way to defend yourself. I’m glad he and his crew are okay, obviously.
But I do have questions.
* When you’re an American journalist taking a camera (even “a little Flip” camcorder) into an angry mob, what do you expect will happen? A hug?
* Is it essential for a TV news person to place himself/herself in harm’s way in order to cover a story?
* Would it not have been prudent for CNN to surround its anchor not with members of his film crew but with actual bodyguards?
* Will tonight’s ratings for “AC 360″ go through the roof because people will want to hear more about his personal brush with danger?
* Will Anderson go back into the crowd tomorrow or will he remain on the sidelines from now on? (Three guesses.)
I don’t mean to sound cynical. Brave journalists – especially those who place themselves in the center of the storm – have been our long-standing tradition, and we owe them a debt of gratitude for their reporting. My raised eyebrow has more to do with Anderson himself. I watch his show every night, so it’s not as if I’m a detractor. But he does go where the action is – from Katrina to Haiti, from earthquakes to tsunamis, from cholera epidemics to Times Square with Kathy Griffin on New Year’s Eve. All that and he’s launching a syndicated daytime talk show to try to fill Oprah’s slot.
I realize that all the network anchors have been in Egypt. But there’s a reason they call it a “broadcast booth.” In other words, maybe the anchors should stay in it.
If it’s rolling around in my head, it’ll find its way here – from what I’m writing, reading and watching to what and who makes me laugh. Also look for news of upcoming projects, answers to readers' questions, even recipes from friends!
