January 10, 2023

"And the pool view of the Congress is antiquated and a little boomer-fied."

I'm reading "Gaetz introduces amendment to bring C-SPAN cameras back to House floor" (Fox News).

"I've received a lot of feedback from constituents about how interesting it was [during the Speaker voting], and that you were able to see in real time how our government is functioning, what alliances are being created, what discussions are being had, what animated moments drive the action," Gaetz told Fox News Digital in an interview. "And the pool view of the Congress is antiquated and a little boomer-fied."

Boomerfied... what does it mean? Based on a quick look by me, a Boomer, it's used when people who are younger than Boomers think and act in the manner of Boomers. Yet paired with "antiquated," I'm getting the feeling that Gaetz meant to denounce the actual older generation, the Boomers.

What that has to do with the pool view of Congress though, I do not know. I, a Boomer, would like to get a good look at what's going on in the room. The more cinéma vérité, the better, as far as I'm concerned. But whoever is in power probably clings to control and seeks to deprive the less powerful of the chance to grab attention, and it is the older ones in the House who have hoarded power for themselves.

34 comments:

robother said...

I'm as baffled as Althouse as the Boomer reference. But one thing I know for certain is that no one wants to see a Congresscritter in speedos. Get rid of the pool view.

RideSpaceMountain said...

Well it certainly would've made for better angles and a better view of Rogers getting fishhooked after lunging at Gaetz.

It will provide better documentation in general and I'm all for it. We'll need it for the modern version of the caning of Charles Sumner in the House and Senate sometime this decade, which is sure to happen.

You know it's coming. We might as well have the best video/audio possible.

Enigma said...

Only a few years ago "OK, Boomer" was the way to slag off anyone perceived to be old and out of date. That phrase was banned as hateful on social media, but "boomer-fied" appears to be the same concept.

"Never trust anyone over 30" morphed into not trusting anything done by the oldsters. It's simple generational prejudging. Half correct, half stubborn youth.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

I'm getting the feeling that Gaetz meant to denounce the actual older generation, the Boomers.

Boomers used to cast their candidates from well stablished... stables. Now they do street casting. (See AOC / Oh say can you see / What's happening at the holy see)

n.n said...

Pride, prejudice, legislation, and accountability in a Republic with a Constitution that limits governing authority.

Mr Wibble said...

Make congresscritters wear hats with miniature cameras that provide a live feed online.

Lurker21 said...

The reps were all out there on the floor for the Speaker vote. Usually, they aren't. So not much interaction and not much drama.

Newt Gingrich was one of the first to make use of the televised sessions. It's said that Jim Wright, who was speaker then, had the cameras cut to show the rest of the chamber while Newt was speaking. There was nobody else there.

Tina Trent said...

Can't you do that already? I'm a computer dolt, but I'm sure I've watched live streams through Library of Congress.

Maybe I just have really crappy dreams.

Tina Trent said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
rehajm said...

The Congress Critters just do the dirty stuff off the floor away from the cameras- that's what the cloakroom is for. Congressional Millennials and Gen Doosh think they know everything...

rehajm said...

I like how Gaetz decided to own 'Florida Man'. I bet he thinks he's redefining it's meaning instead of reinforcing it...

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Boomerfied = The House floor is not Instagrammable.

OMG... The GOP is going to put a Christianist Chick-fil-A on the floor of the house.

rehajm said...

Why don't the youngsters negotiate by showing up in each other's TikToks?

Readering said...

I believe controls were instituted to prevent cameras from showing empty chamber when members giving speeches. I suppose that control could be maintained, but it would be the most useful thing to shut up blowhards on both sides.

WWIII Joe Biden, Husk-Puppet + America's Putin said...

McCarthy also said, "Schiff has lied too many times to the American public. He should not be on Intel."

Adam Schitt booted from intel committee. yay. - but not enough.


Adam Schitt(D) is a liar. He needs to be indicted for his harmful lies. At a minimum he should be thrown out of congress. Frog marched.

DINKY DAU 45 said...

I also like the full view so he said, she said and reports of what happened is actually being viewed so it can't be spun. BRING IT! Boomer reference, and I am by far a Boomer, relates I believe to old and antiquated in the age of Millennials and Gen Z doesn't offend me I think it's time to take a look at the fossils in Congress and get fresh new blood in the environment! BRING IT

Anthony said...

I dunno. . . .my concern would that they'd all be just playing to the cameras and it would make what they do even more shallow and insipid.

Bob Boyd said...

I don't know what Boomer-fied means either, but aaahm agin' it. Sounds like a buncha stinkin' hippies, all hopped up on that marajahoonie, rollin' around in the mud.

n.n said...

Make congresscritters wear hats with miniature cameras that provide a live feed online.

Congresscams. Can they do it with a straight face? We know when you have been peddling influence and betraying your oath of office... to the People and "our Posterity".

Blastfax Kudos said...

I don't understand. I thought the cameras were currently in the gallery. Are the going to put them down in front of the podium, or by the main doors looking out over the assembly? Can someone explain the difference?

JK Brown said...

I remember reading, likely back in the '90s, that the way Newt Gingrich worked his magic that resulted in the '94 House takeover was that he would give speeches on the House floor, televised via C-Span. But the chamber was essentially empty most of the time apparently, but he got his message out. From there he was able to build his support.

The pool reporters return may have been a reaction to such subversiveness.

tim maguire said...

When I hear “boomerfied” the first thing I think is there are too many boomers. If they’re young (as I expect the press pool to be—27 year olds who know nothing), then the second thing I’ll think is they are adopting an outdated, boomer-like mindset. So, basically, what the Urban Dictionary says.

tim maguire said...

Anthony said...I dunno. . . .my concern would that they'd all be just playing to the cameras and it would make what they do even more shallow and insipid.

It would be pretty cool if they turned into the English Parliament, but more likely they’ll just be bloviating idiots like you see so often in televised senate hearings.

narciso said...

https://trendingpoliticsnews.com/new-matt-gaetz-announces-republicans-will-release-14000-hours-of-j6-tapes-that-were-hidden-by-democrats/

Mason G said...

"and it would make what they do even more shallow and insipid."

Is that even possible?

Kevin said...

I dunno. . . .my concern would that they'd all be just playing to the cameras and it would make what they do even more shallow and insipid.

I expect it will catch more than a few of them falling asleep.

JZ said...

Seems to me the broadcast of the 15 or however many votes they took was only interesting because something interesting was happening. Make every vote a high-stakes vote and it will be exciting.

wildswan said...

Boomer-fied = Being done the Boomer way? But what is that? Not focusing on the younger members of Congress? Focusing on Pelosi, Feinstein, Biden instead of the younger guys, the 60-year-olds?

J. Farmer said...

Boomerfied... what does it mean?

I'm a month older than Gaetz, but that's a new one to me. My parents are technically Baby Boomers, but I've never perceived them as such. I always associate Boomers with the 1960s counterculture. My parents are from that microgeneration between Boomers and Gen X. Half 60s idealism, half 70s disillusionment.

J. Farmer said...

@wildswan:

Boomer-fied = Being done the Boomer way? But what is that? Not focusing on the younger members of Congress? Focusing on Pelosi, Feinstein, Biden instead of the younger guys, the 60-year-olds?

Pelosi, Feinstein, and Biden are even more antiquated than Baby Boomers! They're of the Silent Generation, the ones born between the Great Depression and the start of WWII.

Bruce Hayden said...

I think that part of this is In reaction to Pelosi stopping the broadcast of the House, esp since Republicans, starting with Gingrich had used it to reach a wider audience. Moreover, much of the operation of the House over the last two years has been by proxy - no one was ever there in the House Chambers. They would have votes, with a handful of Reps available to vote all the proxies. Some of them rarely showed up in DC. Why bother? As DC got more and more violent, thanks partially to FJB’s immigration policies, they were back home in their much safer Districts. Meanwhile, the gave their staffs big raises…

Left Bank of the Charles said...

The only Boomer to serve as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives was John Boehner.

Drago said...

Left Bank of the Charles: "The only Boomer to serve as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives was John Boehner."

Then the comment still works perfectly.

Steve from Wyo said...

I seem to recall a story from years ago wherein a cable TV company had a strategy for subscribers who were not paying their bill. Rather than cutting service altogether, they would restrict their cable TV to C-span only. The subscribers paid their bills rather quickly.