Fair and Balanced

I like to keep an ear to both sides of the politically biased reporting. I listen to right wing radio to and from work. (Finding a left wing radio show in this market is very hard unless you have XM.) I go to crazy leftist sites like Huffington Post and 23/6, and I check in on the equally partisan Red State, Free Republic and Town Hall. In the evening, I like to switch around and get a dose of Matthews and Olbermann along with Hannity and O'Reilly.

And of all the places I have the option to listen to or participate in, the ones that squawk the most about bias are the right wingers. Daily they decry the unbalanced reporting of "the mainstream media" and those who are "in the tank." They act as though they are broadcasting on pirate wavelengths or short wave. They have a siege mentality that belies their stated objectivity. They thrive on the "us against them" game. They are haters and dividers.

Sean Hannity just renewed a multi-million dollar, multi-year deal with Fox. Limbaugh did the same with his affiliates. Apparently, they have a huge audience. But if any of their fellow broadcasters or columnists dare to say a nice thing about the other side, they are instantly shunned and treated as traitors.

There are just as many right wing, utterly biased sources for news and commentary as there are left. Quit yer bitchin', ya big babies. If I want to hear people getting a thrill up their leg for Obama, I know where to go. If I want to hear a bunch of old limp dicks who suddenly got boners for Sarah Palin, I know where to find that as well.

There are two mediums in America now. They are equal. Give yourself some credit, right wingers. You built Fox and revived AM radio and now your people have a place to go if they want one-sided attack journalism. You ARE mainstream. To act as though you are "outsiders" is disingenuous at best.

If I want truly non-partisan, fair and balanced coverage, I know where to go: CSPAN.

Well, What Do We Have Here?

Waving that flag and calling others unpatriotic can sure come back to bite you in the YouTube Age.

The News Is Entertainment or Vice Versa

So there was French President Nicolas Sarkozy speaking before a joint session of Congress on CSPAN, waxing eloquently on French-American relations and his steadfast support of our over 200 year, sometimes-rickety friendship. As Nicky left the podium and walked the aisle, shaking hands and receiving congratulations, I thought I'd see what the other news outlets had to say about it.















Over on Fox News, Master of Weaselness Bill O'Reilly was getting all giddy talking about tomorrow's interview with Vince Vaughn. Vince Fucking Vaughn. Over at MSNBC, King of Weasels Keith Olbermann was pretending not to care as he salivated over the latest Britney Spears gossip. Britney Fucking Spears.

CSPAN: No commercials.
O'Reilly, Olbermann: Big pharma, auto industry, insurance, etc.

Is it any wonder this country is screwed?

Wake the fuck up, America. And I don't think I've ever said "fuck" on my blog before. But we are so fucked.

Verbal Typo

Politicians usually get ignored when delivering their empty speeches to empty chambers, but one of Florida's Senators, Bill Nelson, is getting some unwanted radio and TV airtime for this poor choice of words delivered on the Senate floor recently.


The word, of course, has different meanings, and it could be argued that he was speaking of "social intercourse," but in an age when every misstep in public life is amplified on YouTube and then scrutinized by bloggers with nothing better to do, I'll bet he wishes he could take it back. If he were running for office, some unscrupulous competitor might make a deal over this. As it is, it's just a nice old man who seems to have sex on the brain. It might even make a great military recruitment pitch: Army Strong: Plus the Best Sex You'll Ever Have.

On another note, the Senator's website is a nice changeup from the usual official government representative's site. Bill doesn't go for the top banner that features a waving American flag, nor is he posed in his dark blue suit with American flag lapel pin. He doesn't show the seal of the Senate or any of the other trappings common to most official government websites, like this awful, pandering iconic overload. Bill is trying to get all bloggy and social media on us. I like it, in contrast.