Posted on by Californiacontrarian

NYT: j.b Is No D.T.

First right off the top . . .  No, I did not watch president biden’s first formal address to a joint session of Congress on the evening of 4/28/21. At that time (6pm pacific) I was watching a soccer game (Columbus vs. Monterey). You see, I knew that the soccer game would be exciting . . . it was. A 2-2 tie with the tying goal scored in the last thirty seconds. In addition, I knew that j.b.’s spiel would probably be . . .  what’s the right word? . . . soporific, and I heard it was.

According to the New York Times (NYT) and Nielsen’s, j.b.’s address drew 27 million viewers. Not too bad, some might say, as the recent Oscar’s drew only 10 million viewers. (To me that’s like comparing a root canal to an outdoor ice cold shower in February . . . which is more appealing?) Anyway 27 million is impressive, isn’t it? Err, actually ‘No,’ as j.b. is no D.T. The audience for j.b. was significantly smaller than TV audience for President Donald J. Trump’s first formal address to Congress in 2017, which drew 48 million viewers (almost twice as many) . . . indeed j.b. is no D.T. when it comes to interest, enthusiasm, and innumerable other things.

Also the television audience for Mr. Biden’s address also fell shy of those for equivalent speeches by other recent presidents – Barack Obama in 2009; George W. Bush in 2001; and Bill Clinton in 1993.

Perhaps if I lived on the east coast I would have been more inclined to watch j.b., as some nights I have a bit of difficulty falling asleep, and j.b.’s lullaby would probably have been perfect. Do I wish that I had recorded it to use on those inability-to-sleep future nights … err, no, I think I might rather have another root canal.

Come to think of it even though I watched many D.T. speeches I have never dozed off during any of them . . . in this respect D.T. is no j.b.!

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