Not an Attack on the Press

While listening to big time pundits, we are recovering discipline, ...gathering back all we know about the Press Corpse and what should be. Simply put, what we see isn't what we are expecting to see and our little inner proctor is only now learning the appropriate equalizer.

In a flourishing democracy, the Fourth Estate is charged with the duty of keeping the other branches honest. In order to do this, members of the press corpse receive what lobbyists pay for and what social climbers 'kill' for: ACCESS.

Press credentials provide a free ticket to the action. With a Press PASS, one's life is something like that which is depicted on the hotels.com ads: perks, strokes, free food, seating that provides a better view than some of the highest ranking ticket-holders. The Press Box at sporting events, for example, is directly under, above or near the booth where the announcers of the team sit. The press is fed the same TV and ticker info as the owners. Press Pass holders access the venue from a protected, sequestered entrance, special elevator, etc... all secured by guards. If the Press Pass holder is a familiar face in the venue, ... and, of course, the material making its way into broadcasts, articles, web sites, columns, etc.... is favorable; the access evolves in a fashion that favors the favoring main stream media vehicle.

Let the news consumer beware. Much of what you read, view and hear is calculated to preserve the preferred access enjoyed by the "reporter" and should be recognized as such.

Now-a-days, the

Communications Major

is the product-of-education that the main stream media hires; attractive models with cosmetic appeal and short attention spans. Lynn Swann, for example, played football at Southern Cal, a good school of course, but he played football and majored in

Communications

. Following a successful career with the Steelers (and the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre) Swann moved into the PRESS CORPSE enjoying side-line venues with TOTAL ACCESS to the stars. Taking the next logical step; he decided that he could run the State of Pennsylvania BY MAKING A FEW TWEAKS TO HIS FOCUS. He confidently challenged Fast Eddie, Edward G Rendell, for Governor. He was unanimously endorsed by the Republican State Committee, subduing his only viable possible contender for the nomination, Political professional, Scranton, whose campaign manager, Jim Seif made an unfortunately flip remark about Swann's status in Pennsylvania Folklore. Success in communications, as in athletic endeavors and fundraising, is arrogantly assumed to be immediately transferable to the political arena. (read: name recognition). There was a time when a degree, and its concurrent discipline in Journalism from a good school, was primary criteria for consideration for such a position. The money true journalists earn doesn't touch the social life, fame and commercial value of today's performing pundit. Preserving the Press Pass is as much the focus of our news deliverers as getting re-elected with big money campaigns is for our politicians. Just pointing out the IS.

Beware of creeps in Progressive guise

Four years in local politics left me pretty confused about what distinguished a progressive from any other political entity. This "progressive" group had organized in my county and drew a good deal of response from folks who couldn't find the democratic party.

I was drawn into the idea of revitalizing the Democratic Party and was ok with their mantra of change. What I didn't realize I was in for is the part that leaves me catatonic.

They're body snatchers.

These people only call themselves democrats because they can't win elections as Progressives. Nobody can really make sense of their objectives. If they can't be in command, they spend all their energies undermining others who exhibit leadership or political abilities.

Sure, they come on all cooperative and full of steam about getting democrats elected. Point proves, however, the only democrats they are interested in electing are themselves!

At meetings, they are petulant and contentious, force issues without building consensus, take a "my way or the highway" approach to negotiations and consider it better to ask forgiveness than permission. Needless to say: unilateral decision making and controlled, scripted meetings are their forte. Like the Obama nation, they are free to take the discourse in whatever direction serves their purpose. Your take on anything is unworthy of consideration. Emails and blogs are weapons by which they foment and disrupt, cyberbully and discredit their political rivals. (You know them as the folks from whom they demand unity.)

They don't want to work on any projects, don't want to serve on committees. They just want to show up at monthly meetings and vote down your ideas, tell you how to spend the money you raise and bash your traditional candidates.

A year later, those ideas you proposed but were rejected are now showing up on THEIR blogs and emails as THEIR ideas!

I used to call these types Republicans. But now I recognize that they are parasites who will make you ill.

Called In to Bill

His aide read a statement, mentioned that the Office - In Harlem - had received several calls from our collective today and a prepared response was in order. Thanks. Always organized. It's been a haul, eh?

That's some tough territory, isn't it?

Columbia's up there, isn't it?