Let's see.
The Olympics started in Bejing today - the every four year celebration dating back to ancient times in Greece, the opportunity to come together as a world community, using athletic competitions between citizens of all countries to remind us that we are a small planet and must learn to live in peace.
Today, Russia invaded Georgia and killed hundreds, perhaps thousands of people in what could be the beginnings of Russia's attempt to stir up a lot of trouble.
Today, the Shiite Cleric Moktada al Sadr said he would disband his army if and when the United States finally began withdrawing troops according to a timetable.
Today and for the past few days, Pullitzer Prize winning author Ron Suskind continued his book tour confirming that the Bush administration lied repeatedly and fabricated evidence to support their view that war with Iraq was necessary.
And all CNN and MSNBC can talk about is John Edwards and his newly revealed infidelity. John Edwards, no longer a candidate, no longer a Senator, no longer of any importance in this crucial presidential season, admits to an affair two years ago, which his wife already knew about, and suddenly this revelation becomes more important than any and all of the above stories. (Of course, Barack Obama is on vacation and the press can't obsess about him for the next week.)
Television news has become tabloid "journalism." No wonder the American people were stupid enough to elect George W. Bush in 2004 and stupid enough to be fooled about the war in Iraq. The press, which was ensured absolute freedom in the Constitution so that the electorate would be informed enough to vote intelligently, has failed to safeguard democracy. Today, cable news seemed more like a gossip fest, complete with rationalizations for why it was okay for them to continue this unseemly behavior, than the noble fourth estate.
They make me sick.
Give me the internet and the bloggers over "the press" anyday. At least they focus on a multitude of real issues.
