• by John Gaffney , February 14, 2003

Other People’s Riffs For The Week of Feb. 14

What Concerns Me Is The “Yet” Part: According to The New York Daily News, Laura Bush, who is rarely outspoken in her public remarks, said yesterday she thinks "constant news alerts" on TV about terror are frightening people. It's a little bit like crying wolf," she said. "You know, it hasn't happened yet." Referring to the frequent labeling of TV reports with "news alert" and similar phrases, Bush added: "I think the media needs to be very, very responsible." At the same time, she echoed advice from the Homeland Security Department that people should stock a few days' supply of food and water and have a radio "so that they can keep in constant contact with the news."

Howard Kurtz Calls It Like It Is: The Washington Post media columnist said this week: "Hysteria runs riot; networks fuel the fear," says the Washington Times. We hadn't noticed the hysteria part… We almost got hysterical when we turned on the tube and saw the "BREAKING NEWS" logo, but cable was just covering the Clara Harris "Murder by Mercedes" trial... Wait – here's MSNBC anchor Natalie Morales waving a New York Daily News headline – "CYANIDE ALERT" – and asking: "What should you do to protect yourself and your family?" … "Stores Reporting Runs on Plastic Sheeting and Duct Tape," says an MSNBC headline… "Preparing for Terror/Red Cross Tips," says CNN… Code Orange life is not a whole lot of fun.

The Answer, My Friend?: Aerial advertising carrying the call to "Play Golf Not War" flew over the Monterey Peninsula and Pebble Beach during last weekend's AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am PGA Tour golf championship. “While an anti-war message may seem out of place with the luxury car and financial services advertising that traditionally dominates the AT&T, organizers think the timing is right to promote the pragmatic, peaceful direction in foreign affairs that a growing number of Americans support. A small group of private citizens and the Monterey County Peace Coalition was inspired to sponsor the advertising flights by the recent historic peace marches in Washington DC, San Francisco, and other American cities in January -- and the growing international demand for a peaceful solution in Iraq.”