This is the biggest threat to democracy and the American Way of Life; “news reporters” who can just make shit up, say it, and be left alone.

     Sean Hannity of Fox News recently said that there is no evidence that John Kerry was ever in Vietnam at all.

     Brit Hume, of Fox News recently said that FDR intended for Social Security to be privatized.

     These are just two examples of blatant lies conjured out of thin air.  Not mistakes, not the results of bad reporting…but simply made-up stuff that the “reporters” are flinging out there.

     In slightly older news, I’m sure we’ve all heard about the Armstrong Williams case where he was paid $240,000 by the Department of Education to pitch Ron Paige enthusiastic endorsements disguised as softball questions for Sinclair Broadcasting (Fox News)

     This was quickly followed by the story of Maggie Gallagher got $21,500 from the Department of Health and Human Services to help promote the White House’s “marriage initiative”. 

     Considering the Jeff Gannon story, of a reporter without valid credentials on the payroll of the White House and in the White House Press Cops, and paid specifically to lob softballs to the President at White House Press conferences, it is clear that this is an administration with a substantial need for a friendly, non-controversial press that doesn’t ask too many questions.

     So, this president doesn’t want protesters anywhere near where he is appearing, or where TV cameras could pick them up.  He issued an executive order to limit public access to presidential documents.  He can’t face an independent press without stacking the deck…

     …and he accused Kerry of trying to “run and hide” from his record?  Amazing.

     The main stream media had best get it’s house in order and start standing up to Sinclair broadcasting and the rest of the neoconservative “echo chamber”…or it will die and unnatural death and we’re going to be stuck with a choice between partisan punditry masquerading as “news” in the slick packaging of Sinclair broadcasting…or partisan punditry masquerading as “news” in the blogspehere.

     Either way, when there’s nothing left but partisan attack politics, dirty-laundry muck-raking, opinion-masquerading as news, and just outright makin’ shit up because it sounds good to you…we’re going to be in even more trouble than we are now.