Journalists just want to have fu-un!

(Like necons!)

The politicians and the media are owned by the corporations. Thus, it's simply a TRANSFER within the firm. People really need to start accepting this reality.

Glenn: You make some very good points here, but your use of the Abramowitz chat is unfair. You are correct about the role of a press aide. And you are correct about the duties of a journalist. But you lose sight of this: Abramowitz and other White House reporters aren’t covering the press aides. If Abramowitz listed members of Bush’s inner circle as his “hang out” buddies, that would be indefensible. This is different.

First, Abramowitz can benefit from a friendly relationship with a press aide just as much as they can benefit from a friendly relationship with him. Get on the wrong side of an aide as a reporter and they can make life difficult for you. Get on the right side and you might have a valuable source.

Also, the aide knows the job of the journalist and vice versa. No one is naïve here. And just like football players can beat up one another on the field and hang out afterward, people on both sides of the media fence can rightly be cordial, even friendly, when not wearing their uniforms. There’s nothing absolutely wrong with that in principle. Abramowitz’s “extremely discreet” line is obviously to save the “low-level” aides he named from being ostracized. It means that their friendship doesn’t have to be based on an exchange of secrets.

By your logic, James Carville and Mary Matalin hurt their own parties.

When eventually you get to Russert, you make great points, but they have nothing whatsoever to do with the previous comments by Abramowitz, and it’s low of you to draw a connection. If Russert was a pushover, he was a pushover. If he was too friendly with Cheney (someone he was covering), that’s entirely different than Abramowitz being friendly with a “low-level press aide.”

I’ve worked as both a journalist and as a press official. I’m endlessly fascinated with both fields, and I won’t hesitate to point a finger at our national media – particularly of the TV variety – for losing sight of their watchdog role and becoming puppets for the Bush administration (on the other side, as a former spinner, I somewhat admire the Bush administration's control). But there’s enough genuine blame to be found. Your Abramowitz link, justified with “in theory” and “per se” and “obviously,” is weak and unfair. Disappointing.

Life as a very-special Hallmark Hall of Fame Movie of the Week ... when it's not a Lifetime Original Production ... or some riff off of some Ken Burn's Mini-Series ...

I wonder if it's generational and will be replaced with something more "pragmatic" and less sentimental.

As a boomer, I've been struck to realize the degree to which I was raised with the mythology of the "heroic" or "legendary" life -- be it "vision quest" or some modern day "crusade" or a "david versus goliath" battle ... or some modern story of suffering and/or redemption from the "Lives of Saints" ...

I've noticed that the "younger generation" not only doesn't share this heroic vision of life -- and that it's one of the things about boomers that really annoys the hell out them.

The "... and we were all the best of friends..." of course being part of the legend of bold knights brave and true.

There is not much I need to say here that can add to this YouTube clip. Fox News (Noise) accidentally had an American citizen who was in South Ossetia during the conflict on live to relate her experience but din't realize until it was too late that she would paint Georgia as the agressor and at fault. It is always fun to watch Fox news anchors squirm when faced with an alternate narravitve.

Enjoy... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8XI2Chc6uQ

That sounds like a really fun and playful circle of friends -- just a great, great group of people -- and Abramowitz seems to derive much satisfaction from being able to be a part of it. Only a curmudgeon -- or some shrill, angry Leftist type that just doesn't understand How Journalism Works -- would begrudge Abramowitz his fun.

I just spewed coffee all over my computer.

That. Was. Funny.

Cult of personality...

===================

...and during the few moments that we have left, I want to talk right down to earth in a language that everybody here can easily understand.

Look into my eyes, what do you see?

The cult of personality

I know your anger, I know your dreams

I’ve been everything you wanna be, oh

I’m the cult of personality

Like Mussolini and Kennedy

I’m the cult of personality

The cult of personality

The cult of personality

Neon lights, nobel prize

When the mirror speaks, the reflection lies

You won’t have to follow me

Only you can set me free

I sell the things you need to be

I’m the smiling face on your t.v., oh

I’m the cult of personality

I exploit you, still you love me

I tell you one and one makes three, oh

I’m the cult of personality

Like Joseph Stalin and Gandi, oh

I’m the cult of personality

The cult of personality

The cult of personality

Neon lights, nobel prize

but leader speaks, that leader dies

You won’t have to follow me

Only you can set you free

You gave me fortune, you gave me fame,

you gave me power in your god’s name

I’m every person you need to be, oh

I’m-the-cult-of-per-so-na-lity

I'm the cult of, I'm the cult of, I'm the cult of, I'm the cult of, I'm the cult of, I'm the cult of, I'm the cult of, I'm the cult of,personality

"...ask not what your country can do for you."

"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."

===========================

Yeah...

And quite a cult it is...