AP CAPER COMMENTARY: ARE YOU STUPID OR DO YOU THINK WE ARE?
OK, the DOJ subpoenaed a buttpile of phone contacts from a journalistic organization. Conceded that's a big deal. Conceded that the White House has butchered the response. None of that is my point today.
ALL the networks are bringing on "experts" to describe the situation. All the "experts" describe, in loving detail, how there exists this "tension" between the Press and the Government's prosecution arm. Each and every one of them looks so proud of himself as he explains this tension, as if he is revealing one of the great mysteries of the universe. In fact, they are explaining "Milk comes from cows."
Look, this is a "No shit, Sherlock." situation. The tension has been in play since the Republic was founded. The drafters acknowledged the tension by making the First Amendment, well, first. Uh, guys, it's been around since 1791. This conflict of doctrine was refined during Watergate. There is nothing new under the sun.
The First Amendment is first because it addresses the most critical and easily anticipated problem. The American people get that. They do not Howie Kurtz, Larry Tribe or Jeanine Pirro to absorb that principle.
To the networks, I would say. Get better experts.
posted by UMRBlog @ 04:38
8 comments
8 Comments:
My guess is that because the press has done such a poor job for the last fifteen years, no one will really care about this outrageous overreach by the President EXCEPT for the next POTUS. Like Obama built on the depravity of the Bush Administration, the next POTUS will build on the actions of Obama. Childish Republicans have rendered the Senate and House irrelevant and so the concept of an "imperial" president in American democracy is further cemented. These truly are dark times for our country. The beginning of the end I suspect.
T. Scott. I'm surprised it has lasted this long. The road to hell is paved with good intentions,and Obama will continue to bait the conservatives until revolt is inevitable. Shades of Lincoln, and guile of FDR.
Wear your heart on your sleeve much, T.Scott? Obama builds on Bush "depravity". The next prez will build on Obamas' "actions"? Also, it's a Republic, turning it into a democracy is the reason for it's downfall.
Capitalism destroyed communism and it will destroy our constitutionally limited republic. Capitalism worked extremely well for 45 years because government and unions reined it in from its most base instincts. Conservaties killed unions and have made government too small to suceed against multi-national corps. We are now suffering the consequences.
Moose - I think this nation is headed for some sort of dramatic upheaval, but I don't think it will be along D/R lines. Although politics is my hobby and passion the vast majority of people, I am convinced, truly don't identify as either a conservative or a liberal. An ideologically driven GOTea uprising just isn't going to happen, we are not going to become a Christian nation or one governed by Sharia law. Instead we will either succeed or fail at becoming an inclusive modern capitalist democracy or we will complete our transition to a plutocracy.
I think most people just want a society that "works", a society in which they can grow old with dignity and in which their children can prosper. We aren't on that path right now.
What I believe will happen in the next 25 years is that people whose parents were raised "middle class", people who were promised an "upper middle class" existence if they took out loans and went to college only to graduate into a world that, by and large, didn't need or want the skills they went heavily into debt to obtain, will demand a significant restructuring of society. This can be a good thing, but it certainly won't be an easy thing.
Obama is the failed first attempt at resetting the dominant paradigm of the post New Deal era - the idea that lower taxes, less regulation and corporate largesse can solve all the world's problems.
Until we develop a new model we will continue to stumble along as we have for the last decade.
T.Scott.- As long as the people of this nation continue to follow leaders that fawn over the Keynesian economic policies of the current admin, we can see no change for the good. The free market, because of unions and fed regulation, corporate greed and foreign meddling, cannot do its job.
Rook - while I fully support labor unions and appropriate governmental regulation - they worked very well in the 1940s through the 1970s to provide a rising standard of living for Americans - I'm willing to accept that there can be a debate about the role of labor unions and the appropriate extent of governmental regulation. What I don't understand, however, is the basis of your critique of Keynsian economic policies. It seems to me that the evidence in support of Keynsian policies is strong. Why do you believe to the contrary?
Rook - while I fully support labor unions and appropriate governmental regulation - they worked very well in the 1940s through the 1970s to provide a rising standard of living for Americans - I'm willing to accept that there can be a debate about the role of labor unions and the appropriate extent of governmental regulation. What I don't understand, however, is the basis of your critique of Keynsian economic policies. It seems to me that the evidence in support of Keynsian policies is strong. Why do you believe to the contrary?
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