That being said, it appears that "Baraknaphobia", as aptly coined by Jon Stewart, seems to be deeply entrenched and running rampant in certain branches of pseudo-journalism. I'll let you guess which cable info-tainmet channel is guilty of such crimes. What's particularly gnawing about their juvenile attempts to cast the President in a quasi-demonic light is not their palpable desperation, or unfounded illogical bouts of ad hominems, but their lingering delusion that George W. Bush was a conservative. I just read a column by Jack Hunter in the Charleston City Paper . It nearly brought tears of joy to my eyes, I didn't think there was any true conservative left in journalism. He actually used rational and logical reasoning to elaborate a very lucid argument. To briefly summarize his point, he says Bush was very successful at expanding the size and power of the Federal government, attacked intellectualism and destroyed our national image and security abroad. This is to say nothing of his disregard for the constitution and civil liberties. In short he sullied the title "conservative" and perhaps paved the way for the ultimate demise of the GOP. It's my opinion that if Republicans continue to use such tactics they will find their way sitting next to the Whig party in the attic of history.
Ultimately my point is that I'm not the only one crying in the wilderness for a modicum of sanity. Its nice to know that Mr. Hunter is their too, along with all those delightful chaps at the Cato institute and the Campaign for Liberty. What's sad is that the greater portion of those who defend the former president take the drivel that falls from the lips of so called conservative pundits at face value. They live in an alternate reality devoid of reason and facts, called cable-news networks. A magical land where red faced talking heads yell at each other in order to create fantastic theater to amuse and entertain the viewing public. Here, defending their party lines simply means increasing their bottom line. Every fiery piece of rhetoric they spew, no matter how supercilious, increases their chances of landing on them the New York Times best seller list. It's not Journalism it's a farce. Although, I do have to give them points for being true capitalists. Jefferson said "Educate and inform the whole mass of the people... They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty." People will not be educated with a steady diet of MSNBC or Foxnews.
"I'd turn off my TV if i were you" -attributed to Tom Jefferson
This is why Mr. Hunter's article was so welcome. I admire simple logic. I also enjoy forums in which people can simply debate issues like civilized individuals, showing respect and deference to those of differing opinions. Here's another idea, why don't we go into a discussion with the thought that we might be wrong? We might learn more that way. This is another item that I hope President Obama will bring, a return to a forum of debate based upon mutual respect and an exchange of ideas. Who knows what that might bring?
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