Joe Biden is boring -- and it's driving the media crazy

[SharonClark]

Excellent article by Amanda Marcotte. She understands how the media, even the serious media, works.

After years of relentless reality show antics caused by Donald Trump, the latest word in the cable news discourse is that President Joe Biden is boring. He spends all his time doing policy work and his press engagement is a total snoozefest, with nary a single unhinged rant in front of buzzing helicopter blades. And the mainstream press is starting to get annoyed by it.

Last week, the Washington Post editorial board complained, "Avoiding news conferences must not become a regular habit for Mr. Biden," even while grumpily admitting that, unlike Trump, Biden's White House has daily press briefings that "are informative, not forums for White House lackeys to attack journalists." Over the weekend, the clamor for press conferences featuring Biden himself grew louder, with members of the White House press corps such as Jonathan Karl of ABC News admitting that "reporters like press conferences and will always demand them" while insisting "press conferences are for the public's benefit."
. . .
Biden's refusal to take the bait helps cut off oxygen to such bullshit.

The Dr. Seuss story, for instance, is already running out of steam because Biden isn't on hand to give quotes for Fox News to pretend to be offended by. Republicans are nothing but trolls these days. There are plenty of people on hand who can handle the fake outrage about children's toys and "cancel culture" without wasting Biden's time. For his purpose, Biden's smartest move when dealing with trolls is not to feed them.

To be certain, the idea that the president should do more press conferences sounds good and reasonable in the abstract. In our current climate, however, there's a serious need for everyone — politicians, pundits, journalists, even news consumers — to detox after years of Trump's roller coaster of manufactured drama.

Trump turned governing into a reality TV show akin to "The Apprentice." Turning it back into a real government may just depend on Biden's ability to stop feeding the beast. There is no reason to think Biden will hold out on press conferences forever, but by keeping them lean and mean, he can hopefully train the press to focus on issues that matter instead of wasting everyone's time with "gotchas" and right wing-generated nonsense.

source: https://www.salon.com/2021/03/15/joe-biden-is-boring--and-its-driving-the-media-crazy/

[quaker bill]

1. Some may think this accidental,

but it is not. Joe Biden has the capacity to be entertaining and controversial, but that is clearly not the intent. He wants to create well directed focus and control the agenda. He in short has wanted to be boring since the beginning of the campaign. Boring government that gets stuff done has been what he was offering all along. It was intended as a contrast with hot and nasty government that got nothing done, AKA Big Orange.

[malaise]

2. I like boring

The president's job isn't to entertain the media

[underpants]

6. It's just strange not having an "adult" being an asshole to get attention

No,no it’s not. That’s how it should be.

[roamer65]

3. No drama Joe.

👍👍

[JI7]

4. BUt the real problem is that it's the media that is boring

They are more like reality tv shows than actual reporters .

There are many things going on across the country they could report on. But they only focus on national stories involving sex or they would prefer just discussing what Trump tweeted.

[underpants]

5. Sitting around with no ideas nothing to do. Fox WE'VE GOT SOMETHING

Press Corp: Sure let’s go with that.

[Cracklin Charlie]

7. I love him for it.

I can go about my business, knowing he’s taking care of his business.

Thanks, Biden!

[betsuni]

8. Lately when I go to YouTube, ABC News has dozens of stories about murders.

They also have a News Live thing and it's probably just coincidence, but often when I click on it there's a story about a serial killer. Seriously, ABC? What the hell. When I see ABC nightly news it's mainly about the weather.

Being boring reminds me of what the media did to Al Gore. At least he got a few apologies years later. They'll never admit what they did to Hillary Clinton. And ignoring other assholes who attacked her.

[Biophilic]

9. Good grief, it's all about entertainment. The Romans had their circuses and we have the media.

We don't even have to leave our homes to be 'entertained.' It's really no different and that's scary. At least the Romans had to get up and walk to their coliseums and mingle with each other. We can sit alone in our loungers. No effort required and we stay such good little citizens.