SmithAntics

I've noticed watching Wolf Blitzer over the past few days that the reality as presented by the Bush administration is the reality that he, and much of the rest of the TV news media, convey to the public. It isn't simply a disagreement over certain issues, it's the digestion and regurgitation of an entire alternative reality world which has been served up by the Bush administration and eagerly spit back out by those in the media. It isn't simply about successful framing of the issues, they've managed to provide an entire canvas, a brilliant oil painting of bullshit.

It's impossible for Democrats and other people who are actually living in this world and not the one which the Bush administration has erected around the CNN studios to break through this. It's one thing to challenge errors, or provide a different spin, or reframe an issue. It's another thing to have to tear down the very fabric of this alternate reality.

The Bushies love to mock people for "living in a September 10 world" (apparently not bothered by the fact that on September 10th it was they who were tragically living in that world), but they and much of the rest of our news media are living in a May 2nd 2003 world, where the mission has been accomplished, the "schools" are being rebuilt, electricity is being restored, and progress is being made.

Despite the difficulties in Iraq, our beloved Wartime President carries a COMMANDING lead over the flip-flopping, multiple-personality, hapless candidate John Kerry, whose bid for the White House is all but over.

The group of liars and miscreants who make up Swift Boat Veterans for Truth were able to dominate the news and possibly turn the tide of the election despite offering false information against a decorated war hero, to support two war-avoiders who let others fight and die for a cause they professed to support, for two reasons. The first is the existence of an ideological movement that masquerades as a respectable segment of the media. This mass movement is dedicated to preserving power for the combination of wealthy corporate executives, religious fundamentalists and neoconservative ideologues who make up the Bush Administration's base, with little, if any, regard for the truth of its arguments. Its members include Fox News talking heads like Brit Hume, who said, "There's a thread here that one might trace through the criticisms of John Kerry and his behavior, even in this campaign, and that is the sense of somebody who is an absolutely incorrigible opportunist"; embittered Republican politicians turned pundits like Bob Dole, who claimed, "He's got himself into this wicket now where he can't extricate himself because not every one of these people can be Republican liars"; traitorous political operatives who masquerade as pundits, like Robert Novak, who termed the Swift Boat liars "the real patriots to rise to the surface this election year"; and is rounded out by Matt Drudge, the Wall Street Journal editorial page, the Washington Times and other right-wing apparatchiks.

But, second, to point exclusively to the dishonest machinations of the right-wing media would be to miss the significance of the so-called liberal media (SCLM). Their willingness to treat scurrilous slander as mere "politics as usual" abdicates the most fundamental responsibility of journalism: to ascertain, as best as one can, just what the truth of a given situation may be.

It's clear now that (a) George Bush had no idea what he was getting himself into, (b) his initial plan for rebuilding Iraq was a fantasy, (c) each of his succeeding plans has failed within months, and (d) he's just flailing now, desperately hoping to keep things from completely falling apart before the election.

This is George Bush's idea of fighting terrorism. If this is your idea of fighting terrorism too, he should get your vote on November 2nd. If it's not, well.....

By the way, Kerry's situation has created a dilemma for me. If I continue to tell the truth, that Kerry seems to not want the job, people are going to resent that and some will blame me if/when he loses.

I can pretend that Kerry is a real fighter, landing blow after blow against the bully, but for me, lying only works as a comedic advice - so what do I do?

Any suggestions?

Maybe if I just wait him out, we'll eventually see signs of life, but right now Kerry is against the ropes taking shots to the head and his hands are at his sides. He's allowing the GOP and their media to define him as the worst candidate ever and he doesn't seem to mind - he sees no reason to respond to attacks that are "beneath him."

After a week of telling everyone, "Be nice to Bush, don't mention his crimes," the GOP is fabricating a rap sheet against Kerry that Maureen Dowd summed up perfectly yesterday.

"John Kerry would do well to get a swifter boat. How pathetic is it that he's playing defense on Vietnam when W. didn't even serve?”

Since the GOP is winning the "war hero" question, what do we have left? Kerry's charisma? They've defined Kerry as the most liberal man in all history, and he doesn't mind.

The voters are the 70 percent that believe Saddam engineered 9-11. The voters are stupid and ignorant and they'll believe whatever they hear, and Kerry's not saying anything - does anybody know why?

While the GOP is bashing Kerry's brains in, he's busy with this:



Isn't the time for vacation after November 2?