Now this is term limits

ONCE UPON a time, a former U.S. senator from California once scolded a general for calling her “ma’am” at a formal hearing in Washington, D.C. And we’re not kidding. Her name is Barbara Boxer, and what a piece of work. The poor military man was answering some oversight-ish questions as accurately as he could, when she jumped all over him:

“You know, do me a favor,” she said. “Could you say Senator instead of Ma’am? It’s just a thing. I worked so hard to get that title, so I’d appreciate it, yes, thank you.”

You can tell a person is trying to be rude when he, she or it ends with a “thank you” before the other person can catch up, yes, thank you very much. What the decidedly former senator may not have realized was that she was in the South at the time—that is, in Washington, D.C., which is very much in the South.

She also might not have realized that, to many folks in the South, “ma’am” is the highest honorific one can give to another person.

But the senator was adamant. She was no ma’am—and nobody argued with her. That day she demoted herself.

It was easy enough to remember that little dust-up last week when the tables were turned and a military type asked to be addressed by his rank by a political player. One of the more hyper types in the impeachment hearings—Devin Nunes, who might prefer to be addressed as “congressman”—questioned Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, this way:

“Mr. Vindman, you testified in your deposition that you did not know the whistle-blower . . . . ”

Col. Vindman replied: “Ranking member, it’s Lt. Col. Vindman, please.”

The big media, looking for something to make these hearings interesting, put out FLASHES! about the exchange. Like many folks, we saw the back-and-forth, and thought nothing of it. Especially since the congressman seemed to agree and went right along with his questioning. But reporters have stories to write. Thus:

Fox News reported that the witness “scolded” the Republican for not addressing him properly. MSN’s headline used the word “chides.” For its part, Vox described the exchange as an epic clapback, whatever that means. The New York Post said the witness snapped back after being called mister.

Scold? Chide? Clapback? Then what would a gentle request be?

After watching these hearings, and the press reports about them, we are reminded that even the media has a point of view. And you will get one story on one network, perhaps a different story on another—all from the same hearing. But hasn’t it always been this way? At the end of one of the Lincoln-Douglas debates, pro-Republican newspaper The Tribune said Abraham Lincoln was taken from the platform by 5,000 of his closest friends, borne off on their shoulders, while a band marched in front. According to another newspaper, “When Douglas had concluded, the shouts were tremendous; his excoriation of Lincoln was so severe, the republicans hung their heads in shame.”

We suppose the best way to determine what happens at these impeachment hearings might be to actually watch them. That seems like the least we can do.

That, or maybe stick with newspaper reports. We’ve gotten better since Lincoln-Douglas.