Why are some able to withstand the political pressure while others do not?

[cally]

I'm just reading Krugman's latest column and again he nails it. (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/25/opinion/25krugman.html?) A few times he's mentioned the intense pressure he gets and the death threats. Frank Rich has also mentioned the same. I'm going to add Kennedy and O'Connor because they have mostly withstood the pressure except for the stolen 2000 selection. Look at the Florida Judge who ruled over and over again about Schiavo. He got kicked out of his church for his stand. I think the 60 Minutes gang has been honest and steadfast.


In contrast look at Matthews, Russert, and NBC News. They've become mouthpieces for the GOP even though Matthews and Russert were once Dems. I can on and on about all the pundits who caved. Most sought power and money over their beliefs.

So what makes a man or woman able to withstand the pressure and stand up against the prevailing powers? I don't know.

[Dr Ron]

1. I suspect it is economic

I think that many of the higly paid pepole in the media have identified more with the Republicans over time due to their positions on issues like taxes. I think that's the pressure which has meant more tha the threats.

In the case of Matthews, I'm not sure where he stands. I think he just likes to create controversy in what he says.

[Bouncy Ball]

2. You gotta be strong.

I cannot even begin to imagine the pressure those guys must be under.

When I was in college, I wrote some letters to the university newspaper which were critical of the closed-minded attitude that was a part of the university's culture. I argued that the university would never be world-class as they wanted to be, as long as shutting off your brain and not questioning anything was part of the mindset there. Higher education was supposed to be about expanding your horizons, not limiting them.

My roommates and I counted 73 nasty answering machine messages, including 15 outright death threats.

I got four slashed tires and a broken living room window (threw a large rock through one pane one night).

And that was just for a few letters to the editor.

[glitch]

6. Holey moley. This is really separating the courageous from the cowards.

You would be the former. Which university, if you don't mind my asking?

[Bouncy Ball]

8. Texas A&M.

[Jade Fox]

3. The media people are mouthpieces looking out for their jobs....

For someone like Krugman, whose background is Academia--a place where
knowing what you're talking about counts--its clearer that his job is
to put forth accurate information, not just reflect ideological trends.

But I also think that those who are not motivated by ignorance, fear,
and aggression are harder to intimidate.

[Justitia]

4. Trial by fire. Shows the essence of a person.

I'm not saying that good people cannot be beat down by unrelenting attacks - we've seen the horrible consequences of that.

But, when the good guys are made up of REAL moral intestinal fortitude (not the faux-morality of the other side), it shores them up for the big battles. When their backs are against the wall and they are in the corner, but come back swinging. They KNOW they are on the right side of justice and can hang tough - as long as we throw them our support and hang in tough with them.

Not to mention, Krugman and Rich have their shit totally together.
Others can attack them with their fake outrage and ignorant opinions, but they cannot dispute their facts.

[Inland]

5. Krugman's book intro said why....

He said that as an academic with no interest in a think tank job, job in the major media, or in government, he can actually say what he thinks.

[MissMarple]

7. Integrity and strength of character.

I applaud the judges in the Schiavo case, and all the others who try to bring the truth to the American people.