The morning after a big event, political operatives look at front-page headlines and think to themselves: Given that most people never read the story, is the headline, the presentation, good for us or bad for us? Let's take a random stroll then, greatly assisted by this Web page of the Gannett Newseum in Washington DC, which shows facsimiles of 600-plus front pages across the Western Hemisphere every day.
The New York Times (print): Bush Says McCain Is Choice to Lead in Times of Danger. Not so good. No one beyond conservatives cares what Bush says.
The Des Moines Register: Bush, Thompson Fire First Salvos for McCain. Big photo of jowly old Fred. Not much help, I wouldn't think. The McCain camp surely wanted Lieberman to lead the papers.
The Cincinnati Enquirer: GOP Comes Out Swinging. Deckhed, as we call them in the states, on the Palin controversy, with a second deck mentioning Lieberman. Photos of Thompson and Lieberman. Completely ignored Bush. This is a Republican paper, and these people know what they're doing!
Richmond Times-Dispatch: Storm to Bring Va. Heavy Rain. Could be worse! Actually, right below that: McCain 'Ready to Lead.' Not very crisp.
Go check it out. It's a fascinating page that tells you precisely how unimaginative and parochial most newspapers are.
