I haven’t been writing much lately due to health issues that come with getting old, but while recuperating from a difficult surgery I’ve had the fortune (or misfortune) to have more time to watch television which just leads, at least for me, to differing levels of frustration depending on what I’m watching.  As I’ve written on many occasions on this site, I consider the charge that our media is “liberal” to be laughable.  Even when I watch MSNBC, the so-called opposing “force” to Fox “news,” I often get nearly sick to my stomach.  For example, their top political pundit Chuck Todd makes we wonder how these people actually get a spot on the “stage.”  Evidently, he’s now the host of NBC’s “Meet the Press,” which clearly demonstrates that show is probably not far away from the scrapheap.  To me, Todd is a person who likes to come across as an expert but who, in reality, would fit right in as a participant in any American living room discussion group – that is, sounds good at times but mostly doesn’t know what he’s talking about.  (OK, I’m in that category most of the time as well :o)

Then there’s Chris Matthews.  This guy drives me nuts.  And, what’s clear to me is that he knows better than much of what he spews out of his mouth – or, I guess I have to say, I hope he knows better.  I’m still upset about the “crisis” with our veterans when it was “announced” (anyone paying attention for the last 30+ years was not surprised by the “announcement”) that they were getting sub-par treatment at Veteran’s hospitals in parts of the country – sometimes waiting months just to get an appointment for care.  Matthews was at the forefront of the typical American reaction – someone MUST be held accountable for this – President Obama would be derelict in his duty if someone didn’t pay the price for this indignity.  So, the end result of the typical “knee jerk” American reaction, was that General Shinseki – a great friend of any veteran – was “thrown to the wolves” – and, evidently, that made people like Matthews happy.  Of course, it did nothing to solve the problem which will require our Congress to actually fund the Veterans Administration so that they could improve facilities and increase staffings to necessary levels.  Since then, as usual, we’ve heard nothing of the issue and, I’d certainly be surprised if the service the vets are getting is much, if at all, better.  The next time a negative report comes out people like Matthews will rant their self aggrandizing disgust, another good person will be the victim, and the vets will continue to be treated by our Congress (most of who blather – “support our vets”) as a burden to society.  Matthews, our Congress, and I’m guessing, most Americans fail to realize the HUGE responsibility we SHOULD be addressing as more and more veterans return home from the FIASCOS our “leaders” are so willing to send them to. (check out the homeless vets statistics – it’s not only disgusting, it’s deplorable)

In my mind, Matthews has acted in almost the exact same “knee jerk” manner in “reporting” on the issue with ISIL in the middle east.  Two Americans got their heads chopped off – published on You-tube videos to boot – and Matthews knees started really jerking!  Of course, I doubt there’s many Americans who were not outraged at this action.  Of course, I was already outraged at this group called ISIL because they were attempting to starve THOUSANDS of Christians on the top of a small mountain in Iraq prior to the murders of the two journalists.  Additionally, they had MURDERED an untold number of Iraqi’s and Syrians who don’t agree with their religious fanaticism.  None of this calls for the “knee jerk” philosophy of people like Matthews – and, I use him as the example because he’s supposedly representing the “liberal” MSNBC.  President Obama gets the wrath of people like Matthews for refusing to make “knee jerk” reactions.  It’s like Matthews wants the problem solved “right now” or it’s a failure of leadership.  Now, I have my differences with the president, but all I can say here is that with friends like Matthews (if MSNBC is truly the “counter” to the never ending Fox “news” propaganda machine) who needs enemies?  And, what is the future of this great nation if our so-called “liberal media” continues to be nothing more than an entertainment business?

Over the years I’ve been writing here most of my rants have been aimed at the surge to the “right” of the republican party – the issue that started this “blog” (if that is what it is – to me, it’s my rant in cyberspace) was the Bush/Cheney administration’s invasion of Iraq in 2003.  That move, of course, and you won’t hear many pundits – Matthews included – focusing the attention of America’s unsuspecting public – that move into Iraq is the fundamental cause of ISIL and much of the other unrest in Africa and the Middle East (not to mention the continued fallout from the economic disaster foisted on the world by Bush/Cheney and their associates on Wall Street)  Things are now so messed up that I can’t imagine anyone even wanting to attempt to “fix” the results of Bush/Cheney.  In my mind, what is necessary is a complete CHANGE of direction by the United States, but with a domineering media, where people like Matthews are considered “liberal,” I don’t know how we can expect much more from President Obama.  The one thing I’m really thankful for is that it appears, at least from my perspective, that Obama’s decision making is deliberate and thoughtful – much to the chagrin, it seems, of almost everyone in Washington D.C.

Of course, then there’s the Congress.  OMG, what has happened to America that we could end up with a Congress such as this.  They make the “do nothing” Congress that Harry Truman faced seem like workaholics!  Not only will the republicans in the House refuse to agree to anything with President Obama – that’s correct – if he’s for it, they’re AGAINST it! – in the four months from August to November America’s Congress, the same Congress that has denied long term unemployment benefits to workers, many who’ve lost their jobs due to the policies of our Congress, and the same Congress that refuses to pass “jobs bills,” will have worked a total of EIGHT days!  That’s correct!  8 days of work in FOUR MONTHS!  Not only are all the unemployed workers people like John Boehner (the Speaker of the House) call “lazy” still waiting for a little help, there’s this “WAR” with ISIL that President Obama apparently is expected to take on by himself (of course, with the military) because Congress has ABDICATED it’s responsibility to weigh in on the Actions taking place as I write this in Syria and Iraq and gone AWOL!  This is unbelievable to me!  I guess the saying “Only in America” really applies to this one.  The reports I’ve seen would indicate that the November election is more important to members of Congress than a “yeah or nay” regarding President Obama’s authority to authorize airstrikes into Syria (at the minimum – I believe he should have authorization to do so in Iraq as well).

It appears to me that members of Congress don’t want to have their names attached to a policy that might fail – as they did when Bush/Cheney lied us into Iraq back in 2003.  However, it is their responsibility to authorize WAR – and, that’s what this is – WAR!  In America we’ve really learned how to parse our words since the days of Viet Nam.  Yet, we continue to do the same stupid things over and over.  In my heart I truly hope that President Obama succeeds, but the FACT that America is divided at the seems is obvious to EVERYONE!  Including the so-called “terrorists” with whom we are involved in endless pursuit.  Our policies seem to me to be aimed at “fixing” the unfix-able problem that exists in the Middle East.  This problem is Biblical and supplying weapons to any of the combatants seems “nuts” to me (that is the one thing Congress could agree on – we’re going to attempt to “define” the “moderate” terrorists in Syria – the ones who “might” fight against ISIL while they’re also fighting the Assad regime [that ISIL is also fighting] and supply them with a half a BILLION dollars worth of weapons – some of which will likely end up in the hands of ISIL.  Do you see the futility in all this?)

Again, this all gets back in my mind, to a media that’s totally lost its way.  And, please don’t call it “liberal” in my presence.  I rarely do more than comment on the propaganda scheme that is the foundations of Fox “news” – but, I believe most thinking Americans have come to realize what Fox is all about.  It should be called GOP “news.”  However, the 24 hour cable news cycle requires constant commentary from people who are essentially “entertainers.”  There are still a few investigative journalists out there, but they don’t get much exposure on the “national news.”  And, it seems to me that on the stations like MSNBC, the focus is still on “ratings” as opposed to presenting “news.”  I guess part of the reality is that America’s public is considered by these people ignorant (and, they might be correct – I know many “educated” people who still don’t even know what “Citizens United” is).  The reality of the upcoming mid-term elections is that it will be astonishing if HALF of America’s registered voters vote – I’m guessing the number will be much less than that.  Sadly, because the truth is we live in a corporate dominated world that is likely why the “liberal media” – the so-called “fourth estate” of our government – those we are supposed to rely on for real information – is focused on gaining “market share” so that they can provide PROFIT for shareholders.  In the process they’ve brainwashed the American public into allowing things to get so incredibly out of “whack.”

What should we be doing?  Well, that’s a thought for another day – I’m working on that one – but, as I (not being an economist or having any training in the subject which is hard for me to understand) read “The Rebel Within” Joseph Stiglitz and the World Bank, it’s becoming MORE clear to me that the United States is allowing its great WEALTH to be directed in horribly wrong directions.  Not only could rational thinking economists play a HUGE role in rebuilding America – physically and spiritually (I’ll elaborate in a succeeding post) – but, I’m convinced, many of the issues that foster the violence around the world could be addressed in ways that don’t include violence.  It seems to me that we’ve – since 9/11 – allowed the so-called “terrorists” to gain exactly what they were trying to achieve.  We’ve given up precious liberties in the name of “national security” – yet, people don’t feel more secure. Even our politicians now operate using FEAR as their guide – I recently answered one of the MANY emails I get (EVERY DAY) asking for a contribution – by suggesting the candidate tell me why I should support him/her – instead of telling me to FEAR his/her opponent.

There are people suffering all around the globe and we can’t afford to help – but, there seems to be no limit on what our military can do.  I was watching reporting of the bombing of Syria and wondering how much each of those bombs cost.  This coming from a nation that can’t “afford” to fix it’s own problems because of a budget deficit.  Does this ring an odd bell with anyone?  If America can’t afford to take care of her own, how can she afford an endless bombing attack in the Middle East?  This country will be secure when we reclaim our ideals and reject the politics of FEAR.  With a Congress that’s AWOL and news that’s entertainment, it appears that “endless war” trumps real national security!