Why Don't They Go Away

You would think that after a resounding thrashing in the current presidential election, the likes Rove and Cheney would slither out of the public eye. You would think that given the outright rejection of their policies, their actions, and their beliefs, that they would give the public a break from their deceitful, corrupt and immoral musings on any subject. Yet there they are, day after day, interview after interview, pandering the same old tired “bs” that was used to run this country in the ground. You would think that these architects of the most failed presidency in our history would have some semblance of propriety to spare us anymore of their drivel.

To hear Rove talk of President Obama as arrogant is to suspend all belief in the value of free speech. I am not about to put limits on speech, unlike Bush and his cronies, but to endure the prattle coming out of these clowns one must adhere to principles, something they never did in all their time.

But what can we can expect with a 24/7 news cycle that needs constant feeding. The cable networks, even the main stream major networks, are starved for anyone to fill the endless hours. Consequently, we are subjected to constant chatter. What is most disturbing about Rove and Cheney is that we just endured their “genius” for the past eight years.

This country has a serious rift between what is real and what is just out and out fabrication. Pundits of the left and right make millions spouting off on absurd principles and morals that have no relevance in the real world. The concerns voiced by “conservatives” about the Obama budget is laughable considering that the hole the country is in was brought about an irresponsible presidency with advise and consent of a republican congress. The past administration was so incompetent that they couldn't mitigate the dire consequences of a natural disaster and actually made it worse. The president, coming back from vacation, flew over New Orleans while his inept front man for the disaster was concerned with his dry cleaning and appearances on television.

Cheney's chief of staff lied under oath, Rove had his dirty paws in the firing of attorneys for political reasons, the deficit ballooned while contractors were ripping off the country with shoddy work or no work – so how can these curs parade before us as keepers of the truth. It is comical to say the least and at its worst it is nothing short of tragic.

The supposed protectors of the conservative principles, so they say, continue to fill the air waves with half truths and outright lies. Why? Because folks make a living out of their talk, Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah. Isn't it telling that Obama has never called into question the patriotism of these duplicitous politicians? The contrast in the two is striking given that the holier than thou conservatives at the drop of a hat chastise any who disagree with their positions as socialists, communists, terrorist sympathizers, and other red herring in an ad hominem attack.

Where are the Americans among the conservative ranks? How can they profess to be patriotic when they want the president to fail? Is politics more important than a strong and viable America? Where is the desire to work together? Obama asked for consensus, but the republicans and their advocates stand in opposition to anything arguing for positions that have failed us time and time again. Perhaps the best way to deal with Rove and Cheney and any other buffoon that served with George W. Bush is to conduct a criminal investigation on each and every one. So much incompetence, so much malfeasance and misfeasance should be given a forum, perhaps the docket of a criminal trial.

The Death Knell of the Fourth Estate

To quote the Dead, “what a long strange trip it's been.” Where have all the reporters gone? The proliferation of “news” program has reduced the fourth estate to little more than a carnival show. How else to explain that Jon Stewart of Comedy Central provides us with more accurate reporting than all of these cable personalities combined. Witnessing the grilling of Cramer on the Daily Show, one cannot be left with no other impression, and it was admitted by Cramer, that these so called news personalities are little more than clowns. Before they exit the make-up room, they all should be fitted with a bright red nose.

There is no doubt that 24/7 coverage of events has done little to enhance our knowledge. The political programs are little more than forums for over-inflated "know-it-alls" who continue to expound their petty biases and opinions. I am a left leaning, maybe even radial left, person but even these pundits who wave the liberal banner are basically self absorb jesters who peddle their self promoting drivel. On the right, there are nothing but ideologues who pander the most uninformed political positions It would seem these pundits long for the days of caves and clubs.

The effect that these two elements have on the news produces a venue where pundits crawl out of their obscurity and pontificate. How else to explain the re-emergence of neo cons and spokespeople revising history before it is even written. That these failed bureaucrats are even given a forum can only be attributed to an overabundance of time. They are allowed to peddle their failed policies as if we haven't lived nay suffered from their actions. Yet we can hear them justify the unjust war with babble that defies the reasons they gave for it. They expound upon vague and unfounded reasons as if they were the truth. That fact they can't honestly accept their mistakes can be dismissed as a condition of ignorance and contempt for the truth. The fact they are given a forum to again fill the air waves with this nonsense is inexcusable.

Airing both sides of an issue is one thing, but to allow this parade of fools another airing is made possible because of an abundance of programs devoted to nonsense and with way too much available time. Has anyone taken note that every female host of a news program has been made up like a Barbie doll? I wish that all these cable programs take all the money and effort needed to get these “babes” and “kens” in costumes and make-up and spend it on journalism schooling for them instead.

We are rapidly approaching the day when all we will hear is babble. The fact that Cramer can look at Stewart and say they want to entertain people is a testament to the mindset that all this programming is little more than fabricated entertainment they want us to take seriously. As Stewart so eloquently retorted, “this ain't no f------- joke?”

There seems to be no end to this constant drivel being promoted as news and information. The cable news executives have reduced the fourth estate to a situation comedy. How else can you explain that the lies and distortions of facts constantly promoted by those who profit from their promotions are allowed to go unchecked while the personalities check their make up, grab their scripts, and go on air to keep us “informed.” All the awhile the great republic inches closer to its demise because a free press has become little more than a side show.