The cowardice of being called un-American has often (recently) been cited as the primary reason for our MSM failing itself and the public it supposedly serves.

However I think another reason, a larger reason is Arrogance. The people who make up our MSM exist in a world of influence and knowledge. This makes them cynical and jaded. They've 'seen it all'. Nothing shocks or surprises them. The can't be fooled.

Consequently their approach to stories is if the face value meets their cynical expectations they report it as is, if stories challenge their expectations, they dig deeper.

This is seen in their coverage of politics. Despite their liberal leanings, when a jaded MSM reporter covers a conservative spouting anti-minority, pro-self-serving-wealthy BS, they chuckle and nod and know their is no story. When the jaded MSM reporter, comes across a liberal politician who seem earnest and sincere in their desire to help the masses, they instinctively feel as if someone is trying to pull a fast one and dig deeper. The fact that the liberal politician IS probably full of it, doesn't negate my point.

This was seen in Regan who lied constantly but the press failed to cover it adequately because withing journalistic circles a reporter who covered a story like: "Regan Lies!" would be seen as a rube. Self censorship follows.

This dynamic applies to President Bush more than ever before. Bush was so transparent in his drive to war, no one wanted to look like a fool amongst their colleagues by calling it out.

I read Schumer's op-ed in the NYT today and his and Feinstein's rational that the reason to vote for Mukasey is to fix the Justice dept. is total BS. Its not like the Justice dept. became politicized on its own. Its not like Alberto went in there and on his own decided to break the dept. The broken Justice dept. is due to Bush/Cheney wanting it that way. So to posit that you're picking an AG based on fixing Justice is complete crap. ESPECIALLY if you're choosing an AG who has already signaled he's friendly to the unitary executive philosophy.

Seriously it time to think of the equations as this way: Republican politicans are to social conservatives what Democratic politicians are to liberals.

We're all being used. And I'm sure after work the repub and dems pols laugh at us.

Personally I'm not much for blaming parents for their adult children's mistakes. However in this case it is clear that while being groomed to seek and utilize vast fortunes and power, Bush Sr. did all he could to shield his adult son from his own failures. This makes Bush Sr. culpable. Now Bush Sr. has to watch his son destroy America and know that he set him on that path.

"I'm just saying that, if he ever had to live among real evangelicals, it would become obvious that he doesn't fit in with them"

It would be, actually is obvious to external observers, but not obvious to the evangelicals he lived with. Evangelicals are capable of self-delusuion on a grand scale.

I think its important to note that without the MSM narrative dictating how the race should be according to their expectations, the race would probably be down to Kucinich v. Ron Paul.

That being said, Clinton is the front runner, thats why she draws the heat. If you see more to it than that, its probably your own issues. However like another poster said the strongest argument for me against Clinton is just the idea of no Clintons or Bushes domintating American politics seems like sweet release from the insanity.

Good thing being called 'unpatriotic' hadn't scared this intrepid investigator from digging up the real story that kept America out of a needless illegal war and re-electing a dangerous ideological incompetent.

You should be mad and you shouldn't apologize but just out of curiosity ask your ex-boss, what you're apologizing for? Be smooth and ask as if you just need clarification so you can compose the email appropriately.

I admit after the '06 elections and the Democratic take over of the Congress I was really charged up about '08. However based on the way the Democratic Congress has behaved so far, I'd have to say I'm not sure I'll even be voting.

What are my choices?

Especially after the latest, Schumer and Feinstien essentially approving Bush's right to torture, I've come to realize that Dems treat liberals the same way Repubs treat social conservatives.

The pay a LOT in lip service, but not so much in actual service.

Its not a question of things not turning around. Had the Dems tried and failed, there would be reason to hope. The fact that the Dems caved to Bush on everything makes me ask, 'whats the point?'

What is important and heartbreaking to see is that the Dem losses are caused by Dems. I don't really believe these politicians are stupid so I can only come to the conclusion that they are as compromised as the Repubs. The only difference is that the Repubs stand together to get what they want, whereas the Dems need only to have 1 or 2 break with the party to get what the Repubs want. And since it happens over and over, I've concluded the Dem game plan in congress is to let a few members fold, while the rest pay lip service to civil liberties. The powers that be get what they want and the majority of Dems get to act like they have our interests at heart.

Right now I'd be happy just to see this admin swept away. At this point I'll only be voting against candidates I personally don't like.