Attack politics costs us dearly in terms of insight into the candidates. In a presidential campaign, the focus is so tight that the politicians are afraid to say anything that hasn't been scripted. Jack Germond afraidattackcampaign Change image and share on social
I really found this campaign odious. I couldn't get up for it. The quality of the candidates and the campaign, I just found the whole thing second-rate. I didn't know how to explain to my granddaughter that I was spending my dotage writing about Al Gore and George W. Bush. Jack Germond bushcampaigncandidate share on social
For those of us who spent our careers competing with David Broder, the hardest thing to abide was the inevitable comparison. If someone said Jack Germond - or Jules Witcover or Walter Mears or whoever - 'is a pretty good political reporter,' the default response would be, 'but he's no David Broder.' Jack Germond abidebrodercareer share on social
Television doesn't like politics very well, if you can infer that from the way they cover it. Jack Germond coverinferpolitic Change image and share on social
Every newspaper editor says the heart of the paper is the reporter - which is true - except for the pay! Jack Germond editorheartnewspaper Change image and share on social
Most of the good people of my generation... had offers to become editors, but the thought of going inside was just absolutely horrifying. Jack Germond absolutelyeditorgeneration Change image and share on social
You could write your fingers off for 25 years... and never get the kind of hearing you could get from shooting off your mouth on television for a half hour every week. Jack Germond fingerhalfhear Change image and share on social
Mo Udall didn't want the presidency bad enough. He was too sane. He was a marvelous guy, but you had the feeling there was another Udall outside his body watching the candidate Udall who was too extravagant, telling him to cut it out. Jack Germond badbodycandidate share on social
Unsurprisingly, the poll-takers don't talk a lot in public about the ignorance of the electorate on political and public policy matters. And the politicians are not going to disclose the, let's say, limited body of knowledge in their constituencies. You don't get elected calling your voters airheads. Jack Germond airheadbodycall share on social
Pictures can be devastating. Who allowed John Kerry to get himself photographed windsurfing in a flowered swimsuit? Anyone in the real world in that operation? Jack Germond allowdevastateflower Change image and share on social