What the mainstream media needs to know is

[PCIntern]

that they are the absolute last line of defense against the creeping fascism which has overtaken the country; first quietly, then by storm, and then by avalanche following the so-called election of 2000. They won't be given the freedoms to report on the sexual excesses of ensuing presidents if they are terminally muzzled and repressed during this particularly distasteful epoch in our civilization. They just don't have the luxury of wallowing the excrement of the propaganda of this adminisration and the obvious dismemberment of all which we have held dear for 200+ years. It is a travesty and an outrage that in the entire press corps, we have one 80-plus woman, 4 or 5 columnists, and a humorist who closed ranks during these awful 3 years while everyone else sat around and laughed about what was behind Clinton's zipper, and actually reported the facts and not the lies proffered to them.

All these people on the news, who later in interviews about the Vietnam War, Watergate, Iran-Contra and others always say post facto: "How were we to know?" or "Well, we were certainly surprised when..."

Well you should have known, and you should never be surprised about anything with these people - there were thousands of people telling you that you were obviously being lied to. Ignorance just isn't an excuse anymore - the Internet has made facts so accessible that there is no longer an excuse for being a moron, even if you have a 2 digit I.Q.

[murielm99]

1. Dayum, honey!

That was a great rant!

And all true!

[el_gato]

2. they are complicit

it's not lazyness or ignorance rather outright support for
corporate governance and total destruction of the truth

it's been that way for a very long time

[David Zephyr]

3. Fascism = Corporatism. The Corporate Media is Part of the Problem.

PC Intern, you write about the "mainstream media": "they are the absolute last line of defense against the creeping fascism which has overtaken the country.

The corporate media is part of the problem.

The "absolute last line of defense against the creeping fascism" that you are correctly worried about is an angry and involved populace.

When over 80% of the people in Spain got angry enough with their government --- which had sent their children to war for oil against the people's expressed wishes --- went to the polls and voted, real democracy, people's democracy won the day.

[Beam Me Up]

4. And they are accessories after the fact

in treason and crimes against humanity so long as they continue to cover for this maladministration.

[tallyho]

5. At least CBS and 60 minutes are doing a good job exposing bush

Their two segements on the Clarke book to slam bush and elevate Clinton was a step in the right direction. CBS seem to be at least helping to drag bush down in the American eyes.

[David Zephyr]

6. I Agree With You, Tallyho, About CBS

Of the commercial televised news media, CBS is the best.

[PCIntern]

7. Of COURSE they've become complicit

and have been for a very long time. That's why these guys have gotten away with what they've gotten away with for so long. That's why Media Whores Online was one of the bright spots of the last few years and what a loss when they folded!

These media folk have been covering up for generations - during the Kennedy Assassination time, the Vietnam War, initially with Watergate, Iran-Contra was a no-go from start to finish - that's why big Ollie North is no national hero instead of an incarcerated felon. When is the last time anyone on TV ever said, that Ollie's conviction was overturned on a technicality by a judge who keeps reappearing front and center in the news?

I should have been more explicit when I was writing about 'you' meaning 'you the journalist' not 'you the reader'. I just get carried away...