Show Business

Since the beginning of Network Television, in order to determine the viability of a concept, a network would order a "Pilot episode" For the most part the process did very little to prove or to disprove anything, but the process persists. Vast amounts of time and money are spent, and if a series ensues, it will very often not resemble the original Pilot

During the 2000 election cycle, the Republicans "produced a Pilot" of what a Bush administration would look like, coining the phrase "compassionate Conservative." During and after the Republican convention they played this "Pilot episode" to the American electorate, portraying Bush as a regular guy, interested in the well being of the average citizen. He was indeed brought into office on the strength of this "Pilot."

It did not take long after the Bush Inauguration for the "Bush as President" series to be inflicted on our country. Gone were all of the desirable elements of the Pilot, replaced with a War, John Ashcroft, the Patriot act, and all of the other elements of the "series" that the Bush people had envisioned when they started.

It is now 3 1/2 years later, and time for the reelection process. What do you suppose the Bush people do? Correct. They wheel out the four-year-old pilot that they used to sell Bush in the first place, while re-editing it to include all of the happy faces of Arnold, Laura Bush, Guliani, etc. -- all with the old "Boy are we decent people" messages.

Now I must give them credit for this. It is there intention to create four more years of a Bush Presidency, and if the Pilot was well received the first time, why not re-do it and play it again. It is now "Happy time" for the Republicans, and their speechwriters. Viewers LOVE watching the same show over again, (re-runs) and the Republicans are giving it to them.

It would be nice to imagine that the Bush "series" will be cancelled after a four-year run. It would be nice for me to see him only in a retrospective of one term Presidents, or perhaps as an anchor on the Fox News Channel. Rupert would love him, and it would be consistent with the Fox News Credo of "Fair and Balanced.

Norman Horowitz

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