Not to be too grandiose, but isn't our celebrity-obsessed culture merely a symptom of an empire in decline?

Our economy has been so good (relative to the rest of the world) for so long (relative to the rest of the world), that we haven't needed to care about what most would deem more attention-worthy events. Despite the atrocities being committed in Darfur, it doesn't change the fact that dog food is 8 bucks for a 50 lb bag at Wal-Mart. Despite humankind's impact on global warming, American Idol still comes on at 8 pm on Tuesdays. The point is that despite the real concerns in the world, most Americans' day-to-day lives are unaffected (or at least not noticeably affected - they surely are affected, but not in a way most of us can detect - we're not being drafted, we're not standing in bread lines, etc.).

This relative womb of safety has led to a shift in priorities, from striving to make it in the world to living la vida aquafina. This has led to an utter lack of intellectual curiosity and an inflated sense of self. Because there's no greater good to contribute to, people see themselves as the only worthwhile goal of life. Technology has merely enabled our national narcissism to flourish - any Tom, Dick, or Jane can start a blog or a podcast, make a ridiculous youtube video that goes viral, or instantly capture what they see on photos, calls, and texts.

Innovation and knowledge are not high priorities in our current culture, because they do not produce instantaneous gratification in the "me-first" milieu. Watching Paris flounder, Lindsay flash cooch, and Bret Michaels wooing strippers and whores does. Watching a trainwreck instantly makes us feel superior, and what is more important to "me-firsters" than that? Never mind the fact that the me-firsters are too thick to understand or care that the trainwreck was created and focus-grouped precisely to appeal directly to their narcissistic cravings. And the circle goes on.

Meanwhile, cultures that are facing actual imminent threats continue to gain ground on us, and will soon overtake us in terms of technology, innovation, work ethic, and power. It's inevitable. The best thing our current or next president could do to actually spur our country off its couches and barstools and into action is to reinstate the draft. That'll turn our attention from Britney's crotch to some "real" issues real quick. But those in charge know better. Those In Charge can't thank the paparazzi, and TMZ, and VH1 enough for keeping the people fed a steady diet of pablum while they erode our constitutional protections and expand their tyrannical power. I guess that stuff's important, but I just found a video of Nicole Richie blowing a bronze statue of a dog! Can you believe how skinny she is?

1) since when is debating a required skill for our president? coming up with pithy sound bytes out of a pre-prepared bag o' mud is not a skill i normally associate with running a nation. who cares who got the most "shots" in last night. this nation's thirst for conflict is so depressing sometimes.

2) the clinton smear machine is in full force. hillary knows just as well as anyone that voting against certain bills does not mean you're against the theme of the bill. voting against the save the puppies bill because it's filled with billions in pork does not mean you're anti-puppy. just like voting to fund equipment upgrades for our soldiers already in iraq does not mean you're a war hawk. her blatant distortions of obama's record are clear to all but the most dim and/or rabid clinton supporters.

3) obama remains the only candidate who has the potential to draw enough people together in order to effectuate real change. he does not fit the debate format. he is not the perfect democrat. he will not win the election any way possible, even if it means completely distorting facts and twisting reality. his main interest is in moving this country forward, not his own personal ambition to be the president. you can see it in everything hillary says ... she wants to be the president so badly, nothing will stand in her way - including the truth. this is pretty dangerous, folks.

... when the media is the cause of rather than the observer to the story?

whatever its name, it should be a rare event, like catching a glimpse of the camera during a documentary.

i firmly believe a country deserves the leaders it elects. it's no secret that the level of intelligent political discourse in this country has been on a sharp decline since the sixties, and has devolved into such a state that we have a blithering idiot, a true reflection of ourselves, as our leader. and if we keep this up, next january the most polarizing, divisive president we've ever had will place her hand on the bible and take the oath of office.

i'm not interested if obama got testy with a dickwad reporter. i don't care if he might have said something that could be interpreted as an oblique compliment to ronald reagan. i could give a rat's ass if one of his buddies is a dirtbag.

i care about the continued survival of this country.

no matter what anyone can say about the details of her health plan, or her outline for the economy, or her views on national security, electing hillary will tear this country apart. anyone who does not realize this is not able to remove themselves from their own cloud of true believerism.

if we elect her, she is the president we deserve. and this country will never have been so fucked up. deservedly so.