DAY FIFTY EIGHT:Nov. 7:
Today was Day One of Michael Bloomberg's heir apparency to the throne of New York City. I find myself thinking of Sylvio Berlusconi, Prime Minister of Italy. Like Bloomberg, he is a billionaire with no previous government experience who believes in running a government the same way he runs his corporation. Also like Berlusconi, he is a media mogul whose ascendancy to high tiers of government puts his journalism operations in dubious credibility stead. Both Bloomberg and Berlusconi skillfully used their media operations to their political advantage. Both have a history of shooting from the hip, making comments that echo from a dark time in the conservative past. Both frequently say things about women that border on Neanderthal.It's curious that wild and wacky New York would choose such a figure to lead her in this time of need. If any populace would seem the diametric opposite of a corporate machine Gotham is it. Gotham, Inc. may sound catchy, but it seems absolutely unworkable, especially in a major recession.
Meanwhile, who did Bloomberg take out to breakfast this morning, in celebration of his victory? Fernando Ferrer, the Democrat who threw his weight against his own party's candidate, claiming racism in Green's ranks, happily chomped down his ham and eggs with Republican Bloomberg. And Ferrer's backers, Rev. Al Sharpton and Roberto Rivera, openly threatened Sens. Hillary Clinton and Chuck Schumer, warning that Democratic Party leaders should look at how successfully they spoiled Green's run for office. It was power politics, mixed with racialism, played in naked form.
A friend of mine who works for Bloomberg Reports today asked me, "Will you still talk to me now that I'm not a real journalist anymore?"
"Are you going to quit now," I asked.
"God knows what I'm going to do," she said. A mother of two, she needs the job. But covering New York politics for Bloomberg Reports, when your boss is the billionaire Mayor......Well, that would challenge any reporter's credibility.
The credibility of the FBI is under challenge, as well. In hearings yesterday before the Senate Appropriations Committee Agent Caruso had to admit that not only has their anthrax investigation hit a dead end, but they cannot even figure out how many labs in the U.S. legitimately possessed samples of anthrax. Sen. Feinstein expressed open disgust with the FBI's performance.
Coming through Hartsfield Airport in Atlanta today I noted clear evidence that challenges this week to the credibility of airport security have had instantaneous and dramatic results. Yesterday I flew from Washington National Airport to Atlanta, finding the DC security flaky in the extreme, and Atlanta's only slightly more impressive. On the evening news yesterday there was coverage of the man who managed to get through O'Hare airport security carrying several knives, and it was noted that the private company that handles security at O'Hare also handles LaGuardia, JFK, DCA, ATL, SeaTac and LAX. The report noted that many of the company's employees were felons, illegal aliens and ex-cons: As this was described they displayed footage of precisely the security crew I had found so flaky at Washington National Airport.
Today JFK Airport was partially shut down due to security breeches, mainly from JetBlue's terminal, due to violations in screening procedures. But at Atlanta today I was stunned by the difference 24 hours makes. A new private company was handling security, brand new screening devices and procedures were in place, public address announcements offered clear but stern instructions every step of the way, stipulating where we should stand, show ID, remove laptops, open bags and so on. It was clear, strict and efficient: everything that was missing yesterday.
This evening in my apartment building a neighbor seriously asked me if I had a line on smallpox vaccines: "Do you think you could get three doses for my family," she pleaded.
Please, People,
Be well. Stay safe. Stand defiant.Laurie Garrett
