I have stopped blaming GW and the GOP for this situation. At this point I think that they are simply the result of a much larger failure of our system of government. While I totally agree with the idea of a free and open media, I am starting to wonder if it's wise to have no ability to restrain media outlets. Don't go all crazy on me yet, keep reading... The free press + freedom of speech are great, major step forward ideals. I think that is undeniable. What I am wondering though is this: Are those ideals dysfunctional in the context of corporate affluence. The idea of the free press never took into account the ability to drive the people to war in a matter of months. The ability of Fox news to tell credible lies as quickly as they can come up with them is the real threat to all of us. We can't vote to stop people like that, we have no power to curtail their ability to lie as loudly as possible. GW being re-elected isn't even conceivable without two things: the first is the incredible marketing engine of the GOP. I mean, give them props, they can market a line of horseshit better than anyone. The second is the complete and total failure of the press to defend the level of discourse. Every major media outlet in the country has seen the massive profits possible and they are all bellying up to the trough as quickly as possible. I understand that the news organizations claim to be 'firewalled' from influence from corporate tampering but that is crap. The corporation determins the venue, the time alloted, the political ideology of its staff, and the format information will be presented in. I'm sure there are more factors but I think those are a good start on having very direct influence over the news. The current crop of corrupt, lazy politicians is nothing more than the result of a greedy misdirected press. I mean is there REALLY a chance that we could go from the current idiot to Mitt Romney, Hillary Clinton, or Rudy? I didn't mean to leave out virtually all the others, they suck too, those three seem to suck more. Thompson is still up in the air he might only suck at a mccain level, or he might turn out to suck at a romney level, we'll see. I do ramble so... but I would be interested in hearing what others think of what I am saying and what might be done about it. Maybe something limiting the ownership of major media outlets or maybe requiring that 24 hour news networks and national papers be not-for-profit. I don't have a great answer but I think that is a big part of the problem.
P.S. It wouldn't run amiss if the solution involves Roger Ailes' and Karl Rove being 'interrogated' under current administration acceptable practices.
P.P.S It also doesn't matter what the interrogation is about as all answers will be considered wrong.