"The FCC Won't Let Me Be"

So the big game is today. The unofficial United States National Holiday, the Superbowl (really, they should cancel Work, School, and anything other than sleep tomorrow as a result). And though the game is a huge deal, the entertainment during halftime, and certainly the commercials, are at least just as big of a deal. Unfortunately this year's extra curricular sideshows will be heavily diminished because of last year's. Indeed, last year's extra curricular's probably had a bigger impact on our everyday lives than we realize.

I never thought I'd find myself agreeing with Howard Stern, but two weeks ago, when Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael Powell announced that he was leaving his post at the FCC, I totally felt Stern. "This is a great day," Howard Stern exclaimed. Powell was the sole reason why Stern's radio show was canceled and ultimately forced him to sign a (exorbitant) contract with satellite radio. But greater than forcing Stern to clean up or move on, Powell played a major role in not only our communications in this country, but also in our politics.

Now certainly, under Powell's tenure, many great communications transformations were accomplished. The "Do Not Call List" was implemented (which allows consumers to block telemarketing calls), major mergers were allowed (like Cingular with AT&T), and now wireless customers can keep their phone numbers when they switch phone companies. And that's just to name a few. However, most people will remember his administration as the one that cracked down on indecency. A move that ironically occurred at a pivotal time in this country's development.

One year ago today (Superbowl Sunday), the Presidential Race was underway. Little did we know that a split second of television would ultimately decide the winner of the election. And who could've guessed that the winner would be decided on the first weekend of February when the election wasn't to occur until the first Tuesday in November?

Well, that's exactly what happened. "Bet I'll have you naked by the end of this song," exclaimed Justin Timberlake as he ripped the bra off of Janet Jackson's right breast. Immediately, the news headlines weren't about the amazing ending to one of the closest Superbowl games in history, nor about the streaker that ran onto the field naked after halftime, and not even about the disgusting commercials that aired (like the one where the horse farted in a lady's face or the myriad of Erectile Dysfunction ads). The buzz, for about 3 weeks (really, for an entire year), was about something that most people didn't even realize they saw (those that watched), and that everyone else wouldn't have even known about if the media didn't keep talkin about it (how hypocritical). "Oh my god, Janet (and MTV, and CBS, and...) should be reprimanded for flashing her breast on TV like that."

Well, it just so happened that the head of the FCC was the son of The President's diplomatic right arm. And what won the election for Mr. President? Morality.

Many people have praised Bush for his stances, and say that it is his character and consistency that led to his re-election. Still others said that it was "The Architect," Bush's Campaign Manager Karl Rove, that should receive supreme credit for his genius during the election year. And of course, many people credit the Christian Conservative Right with putting Bush back in office.

Well, I'd agree that all three of these factors played a role in the re-election of "W." However, if there is one person that anyone I would credit for the re-election of President Bush (even despite his poor performance as Commander-in-Chief for 4 years), it would be Michael Powell. Powell helped to make Morality the key issue in the Presidential election, helping to imply that performance doesn't matter (read my post from November 5th), all while giving Karl Rove the fuel that he needed to invigorate the Christian Conservatives and make Bush's "I'm never wrong" approach to government powerful tools that led to his re-election.

So, I guess I've already made my point. I just think that it's a little more than a coincidence that the President had an advocate at the top of the FCC, and that the FCC made a big deal of morality-the issue that won Bush re-election. And what's worse, I think it sucks that we let them get away with that (and that we let Justin get away with allowing Janet to take the blame for it all when we know he had to know what was up too).

It also sucks that now the commercials won't be as sweet or edgy (get ready to see a litany of "boner pill" commercials), and Paul McCartney is the halftime entertainment. It's like Bush is winning all over again. And that just plain sucks.

-Maelstrom

ps: by virtue of the fact that Tom Brady cut his hair (at least I think he did), Pats lose 27-23... I mean what can I say, he's cutting the locks...and the power is in the locks!