Media says Frances not important

[Derek Ortt]

our national media says this is not a news story because Clinton has heart trouble. I ranted a while ago about a free media but now they are doing this country a terrible disservice about how they dont care about this dangerous situation

[x-y-no]

Clinton has heart trouble?

I'm so out of touch with everything but tropical weather ... I've barely even watched an hour of the Republican Convention ... they did nominate Bush, right?

[TxAggie]

Clinton to undergo Quadruple bypass...Bush/Cheney nominated

[Brent]

I'm actually surprised there has been as much media coverage of Frances as there has been.

In defense of the media, there is a LOT going on today. Bush's RNC speech, the new job numbers, the Russian hostage crisis situation.

[Wainfleeter]

Yes, I just heard Bill Clinton was admitted to Columbia Presb. hospital in New York for emergency heart surgery for a blockage.

OMG...I could rant with you Derek!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Thunder44]

Frances is getting less coveraged caused it weakened. They don't seem to give hurricanes 24/7 coverage anymore until after there is "total destruction". Although I do think the Clinton story is big breaking news.

[quickychick]

In defense of the media, there is a LOT going on today. Bush's RNC speech, the new job numbers, the Russian hostage crisis situation.

Good point. And most folks in say, Oregon, are probably thinking Frances is getting too much coverage.

[DocMonks]

our national media says this is not a news story because Clinton has heart trouble. I ranted a while ago about a free media but now they are doing this country a terrible disservice about how they dont care about this dangerous situation

It's more important that the local media continue to cover the hurricane (which they are, based on the streaming video from Miami). There is more going on in the world than Frances.

Doc

[Ripopgodazippa]

The national media is ALWAYS worthless in regards to Hurricanes. Folks need to stay tuned to the local media in their area in times like these.

[canegrl04]

Heart surgery is not a given success.My dad underwent bypass surgery,and suffered a stroke while under the knife.He died less than a year later.

[stormie_skies]

The national media has to cover NATIONAL stories, and a former president facing emergency heart surgery is CERTAINLY a national story. Weather stories are very regional, and the burden of minute by minute coverage of them does and should fall on local media, as well as weather oriented media.

I understand tht when you are facing down a storm its difficult to see the relevance of anything else .... but most of the country is NOT in that situation and things like the election or the above mentioned story are often of more interest to them.

[frankthetank]

well if you asked a 100 people up here in Wisconsin about Frances they would probably not know what you are talking about... These storms may be local but of course they have huge impacts on insurance rates, citrus prices, retail sales, etc etc....

[KBBOCA]

Clinton has heart trouble?

I'm so out of touch with everything but tropical weather ... I've barely even watched an hour of the Republican Convention ... they did nominate Bush, right?

Hey x-y-no,
I know what you mean about not paying attention to anything else. yes, they DID nominate Bush & Cheney, LOL! I tried to stay awake for Bush's speech last night (also while waiting for the 11 p.m. update! -- which is 3 a.m. here) but dozed off.

I truly wonder if in such a close election Frances could have an impact. After all FL is just about one of the most critical states YET AGAIN! So the fact that many were too distracted to watch the convention, or may be too busy with cleanup/repairs post-Frances to care about the election could be significant.

I was hoping Bush would say something about Frances in his speech last night (i.e. about praying for those in Frances' path... I mean Jeb IS his brother...! LOL!) But no such luck. That would have been a nice touch, but might have (perhaps rightly) been seen as a political move...

[spaceisland]

A bit off-topic, but Clinton had "heart trouble" while in office... just not the physical kind.

Thanks, Derek, for keeping us up on things! What is your take on the current convective outburst? Think the 2 pm will show a drop in pressure... and a wind increase?
It seems like when Frances dropped from a cat 4, it dropped from people's mental radar screens as well. Too bad, because even 100 mph with long-term torrential rain could be bad here on the Space Coast.

[Derek Ortt]

2.5 million evacuating is not a local story. That is national news

[spaceisland]

I agree, Derek. If a political poll of 800 people swings a percentage point, it is national news. We are talking about impact on a full 1%+ of the country... and the economic impact will affect the whole USA.

[dixiebreeze]

I expect he had a heart attack after listening to Zell Miller -- the original Georga Hurricane --

NO Clinton fans here, but NOT wishing him any ill health.

[calidoug]

Well, to be fair, Zell Miller, that angry, unreconstructed racist, could give just about anyone a heart attack.

[Ripopgodazippa]

2.5 million evacuating is not a local story. That is national news

And reporting that information does what? My point is that the national level reporting does little to inform people involved. As a matter of fact the national outlets get their information from the locals. When Dan Rather wants to talk to a Met, Brian Norcross is his guy. WFOR is a O/O CBS station, but its considered a local Miami station. I've been feeding tape from Florida EOC for 3 days now to the network. You can certainly "see" whats going on via the networks. But if you're using them as your source of information, and you're in the path of the storm... Not the best way to stay on top of the latest information.

[dixiebreeze]

Frances, IMHO, is the MOST important national news story today in America.