The Briefing Room

This is a comment on the continuing antagonistic relationship between the Obama administration and Fox News. I am reminded of a story an acquaintance of mine once told me. His name was Alex (Pasha). He was an immigrant from Russia. He used to be in the army, (the Soviet Army), and he also played for the Soviet soccer team. The story goes as follows: Nikita Kruchev was addressing the politboro one day, and he was condemning the abuses of the Stalin administration. At one point an audience member called out, "What were you doing when that was going on?". Mr Kruchev stopped speaking; looked up from his notes with a menacing glare, and in a booming voice, he shouted, "WHO SAID THAT!?" (Silence. Eyes Down. Heads Lowered). Again he bellowed, "I ASKED WHO SAID THAT!" (No one answered. No one looked up). Then Mr. Kruchev said, "That's what I was doing".

Alex was very happy here. He and his new bride lived a very humble existence, by American standards. They had their first child during the time that we were acquainted. He took a job in direct sales with the Cutco Cutlery Company. Is there a more fundamentally capitalistic job than direct sales? Alex loved it and thrived. Having lived in the other system, Alex didn't ever argue which system was better to live under. When such discussions came up, I would watch him listen to defenders of socialism, and all that goes with it, and just smile, and shake his head in disbelief...but what did he know, right?