The video below is illustrative of a major problem in our 21st century excuse for a Republic. The press was meant to be the Fourth Estate which keeps the powerful honest and in check with the facts the public demands and deserves. We are simply not getting that today and the Iraq War was facilitated by media that didn't scrutinize anything and took what powerful people said as truth without challenging it or questioning it. Our media can't be in it for the popularity and the chances to rub elbows with powerful people. They need to get to the bottom of things and challenge these fucking politicians we've given the reigns to and they can't do that when they're helping the candidate season flesh for the barbecue and frolicking on the grounds of the Senator's palatial pad. Black coffee should be more than enough in the perks department for a true journalist. The point is to investigate, question, dig, prod, probe; and spending R & R time with the Senator simply doesn't help our democracy, in fact it does quite the opposite. If you share a nice sunny afternoon with a guy and his family and maybe schmooz with some really important folk you've always wanted to meet at his party, then the next time it matters, aren't you going to be a lot softer on the guy? Won't you be a helluva lot less likely to have the balls to ask your charming host who made those terrific ribs any tough questions? Our democracy depends on bold investigative reporting and fearless journalists seeking truth from the powerful. Maybe it's nice to see a Senator roll up his sleeves and eat some BBQ but there are far more important things at stake here and these party-with-the-press shin-digs do not serve the public at all.
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