What's Wrong With America?

It's not often you can find out the answer to that question in a single hour's time. And all you have to do is sit yourself in front of the computer and watch Sunday's replay of Meet the Press. The proceedings lay bare the roots of what's poisoning our political discourse, protecting our pimping press, and accelerating the disintegrating state of our national character.
The initial pas de deux features Colin Powell and Tim Russert, not simply rewriting history, but effectively ignoring it as they attempt to pirouette past the damning evidence that proves the role of each in the disastrous killings of nearly 3,500 unwitting U.S. service people in Iraq. Powell, attempting to exonerate himself, instead displays what a weak, pathetic, puerile and cowardly lion he really is. Yes, he admits, 'we were wrong'--but it wasn't his fault. It was the intelligence community--and the Congress--and the administration--and, in fact, 'all of America' who believed that Saddam had weapons of mass destruction.
Utter and treasonous bullshit.
Before the invasion, hundreds of thousands of Americans took to the streets to protest, not because they were troublemakers or anarchists or Bush-haters. But because they were Americans. They were patriots. They were willing to wait for facts...willing to protect our Constitution...willing to speak truth to power.
On that last point, enter the weasel Russert.
Now...after the bloodshed; after the unmasking; after the weeping widows and children...he can act the role of the still pandering inquisitor, putting to Powell all the questions, now faux, that would have been so helpful, so responsible, so demonstrative of at least the minimal journalistic competence had he the honesty and cojones to ask them when it mattered. He, like Powell, continues to walk in the inextinguishable light of his own ego, capable of wishing away the dark alleys of his own malfeasance.
Then, after the break, ushered in on cue is the great antidote for the lunatic right threatened by any uncomfortable truth--yet another attack on Hillary Clinton. Its mad doctors are current and former reporters for the New York Times, partners in profiteering on yet another helping of putrid slime for the uncaged neocon cannibals. Foremost is Jeff Gerth, possibly the worst, and certainly the most damaging journalist in the history of our republic. He is the author of one delusional and ultimately discredited fabrication after another, from Whitewater to Wen Ho Lee to Loral Communications--each of which sailed inexplicably past the would be editors of that would be left wing newspaper. This man should be behind bars--not continuing to soil the national fabric with his filthy game of make believe.
But instead, see how much easier it is for the 'insiders' of journalism and the body politic to pretend none of their sins ever happened...exculpated by the holy water of their own self-righteousness...cozy in the comfort that the vast legions of Beltway co-conspirators will protect them from the slightest taint of wasted American blood and tears that so decidedly stains their souls...if not their consciousness.

diderot