Politicians who complain about the media are like sailors who complain about the sea.

Powell’s comparison treats the press as an elemental condition of political life rather than an optional accessory. Sailors may dislike storms, currents, or rough seas, but going to sea means accepting those forces and learning to navigate them; likewise, entering democratic politics entails exposure to scrutiny, misrepresentation, and the shifting tides of public attention mediated by journalists. The remark implies that politicians who blame “the media” for their difficulties are avoiding responsibility for strategy, communication, and judgment. It also hints at a realist view of politics: success depends less on wishing the environment were different than on mastering the environment as it is.