Our discourse

As a general rule I don't watch much campaign coverage on TV or for that matter much in the way of political shows, like Meet the Press, at all. I find it all to be pretty inane most of the time. In the last couple of days though I've wanted to watch the coverage coming out of my city so I've sucked it up and flipped between MSNBC and CNN and the local channels.

The level of discourse has been, as expected, profoundly stupid. The MSNBC crew is all worked up because the Democrats didn't attack John McCain vociferously last night. Apparently that's the new role for potential First Lady's. Could you imagine what the chattering classes would be discussing today if, on the night of Michele Obama's speech, the convention had been a full on "2 Minute Hate" of John McCain? Let's just say that the fainting couches would be exceedingly crowded. It's clear that the press is itching for a fight and not interested in any story line that doesn't involve conflict, real or imagined.

Teddy Kennedy's speech last night and the subsequent coverage of it are a prime exam[ple of this. Apparently no one on any network listened at all to what Teddy Kennedy had to say last night. Teddy came to Denver to spotlight his push for health care, it will be the cause to which he devotes the rest of his life. Unfortunately no one on any of the networks can be bothered to notice that. There's been nary a mention of the substance of Kennedy's speech. I am as pleased as anyone that he was there and I was moevd just to see him and hear him speak but lets not lose sight of why this dying man flew across the country to speak to the nation last night. His message about health care has been completely ignored by the bobble-heads who populate our "news" stations.

if they can't find conflict then they focus on fluff. This morning I was treated to Luke Russert talking about "Cougars" with the talentless Mika Breshniski. Seriously. That was an entire segment on MSNBC this morning.

What the hell is wrong with these people?