• by John Gaffney , June 10, 2003

And If I'm Elected: Last week the FCC rulings got blown away by The New York Times resignations. I'm not quite willing to let go of the issue yet. Neither, apparently is Senator John McCain who is chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. McCain is ready to put up a fight on the new FCC rules. And he and others in congress think it might make an election issue. I'm all for repealing the FCC rulings for reasons I've stated in previous columns. However, I think it falls flat as an election issue. Election issues are about money. This economy is weak enough ot make it the election issue. How many people do you know out work, especially in the media and communication business? How many people have been totally displaced and forced to start over in new careers? It's still about the economy. For the American consumer you can make a strong case that the FCC rulings play to make the rich richer. But unless you can convince them that it will affect Friends, football or American Idol, they're not going to care at the voting booth. Any repeal of the FCC changes will have to happen as its own issue, not lumped in as an election issue.

Rainy Day Activities: If you live on the East Coast you don't need to hear about rain. I got so bored this rainy weekend that I took the kids to Wal-Mart ostensibly to check out their newly redesigned and recovered magazine racks. You know what? Wal Mart is not a magazine retailer. The whole store is based on huge selection and low prices and motor oil and barbecue grills and magazines just don't fit. They should just can the entire selection.

At The Buzzer: The reason NBC Sports outbid everybody for the Olympics is because without the Olympics there would be no NBC Sports. Do you realize that without the Olympics, we're talking Arena Football as NBC's big sports franchise?