The last few days, the news has been full of the story of Senator Craig for his scandalous admission to disorderly conduct. Since I didn’t know much about it, I listened to the various talking head radio dudes discuss it.
Apparently there is some guy named Michael Rogers who is somehow responsible for ‘outting’ the Senator because apparently he voted against ‘his people’ as regards yo a few bills over the years in which he has been a Senator.
I heard the actual tape of the conversation between the Senator and the policeman who ‘busted’ him. Apparently, they were in side by side stalls and their feet touched and the cop saw the Senator’s hand below the stall. There were also foot taps. Now, call me crazy but I really don’t understand how this becomes scandalous or even how anybody gets charged for this – but from what I could gather it is supposed to be some sort of gay bathroom code.
Honestly, I could care less if the Senator is or is not gay. That’s his business and I don’t think anyone has a right to out him if he doesn’t want to be outted. But I do care that taxpayer money was wasted on something so ridiculous with so little evidence (if you could call it that) and I do care that the media on both sides of the aisle waste enormous amounts of time on something so damned stupid and I do care that they aren’t all more concerned with much more important matters about which they do nothing. And I do care that other politicians are now calling for resignations and pretending to take some sort of moral high ground, when every last one of them has done something as bad but probably much worse (the difference being that they haven’t been caught yet).
But mostly, what bothers me about this whole ridiculous waste of time and energy is that it is yet another game of gotcha. Both sides do it. And both of them have nary the room to speak. I can’t help but wonder how we manage to vote into office, to take care of matters of the day and times, such immature, childish, self-absorbed idiots. It’s like a bunch of bullies standing around the playground having a pissing contest, whilst meanwhile, the actual reason they are up on that Hill and have the perks and status is completely and utterly ignored.
I am sick to death of a media that panders to the basest instincts in we, the Great Unwashed. I am sick to death of Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan, Nancy Pelosi, Hillary Clinton, Harry Reid, Obama, Rudy, Mitt, Fred, McCain, Al Gore, Michael Moore, Bill O’Reilly, Bill Mahr, Susan Saradon, Bono and Barney the purple Dragon. I am sick of people who are more sick, twisted, stupid and incompetent than any of the rest of us, running this world and trying to force feed us what we should think, how we should feel, what we should eat, drink, wear and do.
Senator Craig, stay or leave. I don’t care. Hillary Clinton run for president, if you get elected then I guess this country by and large will get what it a deserves. Because honestly, if we can’t help but get hung up in this kind of garbage that has absolutely no effect in the greater scheme of things and get stuck in the small picture – we’ll all be having little bar codes tatooed on the back of our heads the day after Hillary is inagurated.
So, that’s what I think. What do you think?
WC
Anita Rodgers Mystery Writer 
One exasperating aspect of all this is that once again the GOP comes up with a sex scandal with no actual sex. (Mark Foley, you’ll remember, was done in by instant messaging.) At least the Democrats (cf. Gerry Studds) can screw, kinda sorta.
Hey CG,
I’m not sure I’d use ‘comes up with’ as a choice of words with this. I’d say more that the media (or whomever) has come up with that. Yeah, all the ‘sex’ scandals on the GOP side seems to be without the benefit of sex. While on the Lib side it seems that any of the ‘sex’ stuff is a matter of personal choice or personality flaw (for which they should not be judged or punished). Funny how a guy who had bjs in the Oval office, somehow managed to keep his job, yet a dude who goes to the bathroom and reaches under the stall is somehow on par with Jack the Ripper and has brought shame and contempt upon the spotless image of the Senate. I guess when it’s a conservative who is demonstrating gay tendencies, then it’s okay to be homophobic – right?
WC
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Well said! Just because soap operas have grabbed the attention of some of the U.S. audience and become popular for that demographic, it doesn’t mean that the intelligent rest of us are drawn to that kind of stuff. What percentage of people vote anyway? Not everyone, and I’d be willing to bet that most of those who vote have at least half a brain in their head. It’s not these jokers that gobble up this kind of stuff, and yet when asked on the Jay Leno Show who the Secretary of State or Vice President is, have no clue.
Yes, I too am sick of all the slandering, low and base tactics used between political parties to “get” each other. Grow up! Get on with something constructive and important to our country. So much to do about nothing. And the media…as far as I’m concerned, has lost any integrity they had for reporting eons ago. They write whatever they think will sell and have prostituted themselves to a demographic with eroding values and corrupt tastes. Hear! Hear!
I’m with you writer chick!
~ Popsgirl
Hey PG!
Good analogy about the soap opera crowd. I guess that pretty much says it – politics today is about soap opera antics and which drama queen can work the crowd the best, eh? Sickening.
WC
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Whoa, WC, catch yer breath. All good points and not arguable from my POV, but let me add this.
Read Marshall McLuhan! We’ve all become part of the global village, become electronically interdependant. Meaning, our vast society is now so intertwined as a single family, we’re like children squabbling amongst ourselves.
As children who bicker over who got the bigger piece, we now bicker over the very same things such as when Paris gets a prison term, but Lindsey does not.
And now that everyone of us has a blog/website/email, the individual has a much more powerful voice in the world.
But, who are our parents? Telling us to shut the hell up before we get the belt? No one. There are indecency laws in media, but someone’s always complaining about freedom of speech.
There are morality laws, but someone’s always complaining about freedom of expression.
Dare I say this, but the individual man is bringing his own destruction through the global village by having too much of a say. Like children running their own house hold.
Hey Ham,
Good analysis – we are like a bunch of rowdy brats, desperately in need of discipline and a schedule of wholesome activities.
But you know what? I wouldn’t mind so much everybody having too much to say if they had a little perspective and were critical thinkers. Unfortunately, much of what is ranted about comes from a place of irrationality, bias, prejudice and ignorance. Hey, I like to complain as much as the next guy – but I make an effort to be informed on an issue or person before I air my opinion.
The ultimate sad truth is that the media/journalists by and large can no longer be trusted to inform us truly on any level. They are simply the brattiest among us, spewing as much titilation as possible so we’ll pay attention to them. Journalism is no longer about informing the public but about forming the minds and attitudes of we, the great unwashed – so that we will think and act as those who think they are in power (or powerful positions) as they want. It really sucks.
WC
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I don’t think we’re sowing the seeds of our own destruction, necessarily. But nature sooner or later always reestablishes equilibrium: if we get too far out of line, inevitably we’ll be smacked back into place.
Hey CG,
Well, if you’re right, I am looking forward to seeing that smack down. I sure haven’t seen it yet.
WC
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Geez a guys foot touches yours under the stall and the next thing you know it’s a prelude to a lewd act. It’s not like the were at the urinals and he was eyeballing his wanker or something 😉
Apparently they feel it is some sort of washroom code. Don’t ask me – makes no sense to me.
WC
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Pshh! I dont care if he shmokin’ a pole or not. Does it interfere with him doing his job? I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t caaaaare.
And that, my dear, is my intelligently, thought out, mature response. *snort*
Succinct and clearly articulated – got it! 😉
WC
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Anyone who reacts to today’s Senate with anything other than “shame and contempt” isn’t paying attention.
And I’d bet a a year’s worth of wands, suitable for gobbling, that had it been some Democratic pol caught in the men’s room, you’d be lucky to see a story about it on page 4-B.
CG,
We already know that had it been a democrat it never would have made the news. When Barney Frank was running gay male prostitutes out of his apartment it wasn’t front page news, nor did it lead the evening broadcast – and apparently nobody called for his resignation because he is still in Congress.
All that aside – it’s more than just what party is treated what way – it is the salacious pandering to our gossip gene that drives me crazy – this ain’t news, it’s water cooler fodder.
WC
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Hi WC,
Throughout the history of UK politics the greatest politicians have been either eccentrics or sexually deviant. I’ve come to the conclusion that ‘greatness’ – whatever that is – also includes such deviance.
I guess you can’t be ‘different’ enough to be a great politician without taking that differentness and daring into the rest of your life.
Which makes me think – how many great politicians never got the chance ‘cos they were caught out in some scandal too early for their career to flower?
The media is allowing only grey people into politics. Is there any wonder it’s in a state.
Naw, I don’t think the media want grey politicians, they simply want their political persuasion to be in power. And they want to get us all worked up over stuff like this so we won’t notice we’re being manipulated. I mean for all their crying over the Patriot Act, did even one news outlet, ever print it, so people could read it? Did they ever publish or quote any part of it in context, so the public could decide for themselves whether it was a good or bad thing – necessary or not? No, of course they didn’t. That would make too much sense and be too informative. If they media in fact, wanted to keep the public informed, we would be so – instead all in a tither about people’s sex lives – deviant or otherwise.
WC
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Re-reading my comment, it sounds like I could be classing being gay as deviance, especially as your post was mainly about Craig. This isn’t my intention. By ‘deviance’, I mean what the media would class as different, whether hetro or homosexual.
Hope I’ve cleared that up.
No worries, I understood what you meant.
WC
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Could be the man in blue is a tad homophobic 😉
You think? 😉
WC
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Who-hooooooo! “Yeah, like she said!!!” I love it. Love it. I am so sick and tired of hearing about all of this ‘effed up shit, I cannot even tell you. Um, we are at war, H-E-L-L-O! I couldn’t give a shit if Hillary is showing cleavage, if so-and-so is gay, and so on. You sure said a mouthful.
Nothing made me as sick as hearing the 6 o’clock anchor say, “Tune in at 10p.m. for the latest carnage” (referring to Columbine). CARNAGE? You’re kidding me right? Sick. Just makes me sick.
I’m not going to lie. I do not know a lot about politics. I do watch the Presidential campaigning with the husband (he’s big into it) and I always vote…. but, other than that, I kinda stick my head in a hole because it’s so frustrating to me. And, the media is out of control. They are all a bunch of “shock jocks” and it I wanted to hear that, I can tune in to hear Howard Stern. Pathetic.
Hey Bella,
A-yup. But I have to say, what pisses me off is that that is what they want. They want us to be disgusted, stick our heads in the sand and not notice what is going on. We have to make it our business to seek out the real information.
Like the economy for example, the media is full of how bad it is. Yet, the stock market is hitting highs that are making history. The unemployment rate is incredibly low and on and on. Yet, a lot people still think it sucks. I had a debate with my sister about this. She insisted it sucked because of the economy in her state. I tried to explain to her that the economies from state to state are more largely based on the state government, laws and regulations. But she insisted it was the White House’s fault. The irony of course is that this is the same mindset that doesn’t want the government in their lives screwing around, except when they want to be bailed out.
Unfortunately, we all have the responsibility to find the data of an issue and form our own opinions, or we will just get what the media wants to feed us – which is almost always bad news.
WC
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Why are you sick of Susan Saradon. I loved her in Thelma and Louise.
I don’t know how to express what I think, I just think the world is bloody crazy.This is a prime example.
🙂 Hugs.
I love her as an actress, but she is also a political crusader who, in my opinion, ought to stick to acting.
WC
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Your tag “head exploding” pretty much says it all for me. Our priorities are so messed up right now that we hardly know right from wrong.
In many ways, your post title is exactly what’s going on; it’s bullshit bantering back and forth ad nauseum.
“garbage that has absolutely no effect in the greater scheme of things . . . ”
Classic, WC
You should run for office. I’ll make the bumpersickers. :0)
~m
LOL Mikey,
What office should I run for? Dog catcher? I’m afraid I wouldn’t fit into the right mold for any party, group or media outlet. They’d eat me alive. But the bumper stickers are a funny idea – maybe we should make them up and get people to put them on their cars and then just not show up?
WC
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I read your post. Agree with it. Surely there is some place a person could pull up and read the things like the Patriot Act, isn’t there? I haven’t tried looking for it.
Personally, I find myself telling myself that I should do SOMETHING. Something worthwhile that I believe in. We get so bombarded by ALL the news – the world is a big place, getting crowded (did you know that there are more people alive on this planet today than have ever lived on this planet) and everybody’s getting so tangled up and interdependent. It’s easy to feel confused, worthless, ignorant – and it all leads to apathy or disgust. But, a couple weeks ago, I heard Jody Williams (the lady who founded the International Campaign to Ban Landmines org.) on the radio who suggested that people should decide on at least ONE THING that they feel passionate about and spend some effort on that. You can’t fix everything; but at least you can do a small part.
Okay, so there! And when I figure out what I want to get passionate about, I’ll blog about it. 🙂
Take care, WC.
Hey Lolly,
Yes, there are many sites you can pull up the Patriot Act in its entirety – but most people won’t bother. Admittedly, it is a difficult tome to read because of all the legalese, etc. but if one wanted to one could.
I think this lady made a good point. Yes, do find something that is important to you and do something about it. Even, as you said, a small part would make a difference. In fact, if everyone did that, I think things would change quite a bit.
You take care too, my dear. How’s your son doing?
WC
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The emphasis on “image” rather than real issues has been a feature of democracy that people have been complaining about ever since it was introduced. One might argue that we’re getting more honest by abandoning the pretence that policy and governance have anything to do with it 😉
People are getting more and more disillusioned, and I can’t help feeling that the ” equilibrium” will be when the politicians turn into the Britneys – sort of like turning the Big Brother house into parliament, with people voting every week for which Senator to evict based on who they’ve been sleeping with. I also can’t help feeling that as someone who is not paying any attention to either politics or Big Brother, I won’t notice when it happens…
Hey Brian,
You’re right – image has become the thing. And to some degree it has always been so. But I think it really started to get bad when television got interested in politics. Politicians have now become celebrities, rather than public servants – which is not what the framers intended here in the U.S.
It’s become more about style than substance – which is really irksome.
I hope it never comes down to the big brother approach, but I can’t say I’d be surprised if it did. What surprises me most is that people don’t do more about it. We have the power but we either don’t use it or waste it on the lesser of two evils. It’s a shame really.
WC
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ARRGH! I am so tired of those stupid freakin’ scandals. Why can’t we leave celebrities or the government alone? The latter isn’t there for our entertainment. They wouldn’t make a scandal out of a normal person if they decided to peep at other men’s genitals. If Craig wants to be gay, let him go wild. If he wants to start a colony on the moon, be my guest. Nobody should care. Like you said, it’s none of our business.
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
WC
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“But I think it really started to get bad when television got interested in politics.”
Bingo. And I think the start of the tipping point was in 1960, when JFK appeared to have won the Presidential debates on television, while radio listeners to those same debates tended to give the nod to Nixon. By the time LBJ bowed out in ’68, media manipulation was the rule rather than the exception.
CG,
You read my mind – tht was just the example I was thinking of when I made that comment.
WC
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I don’t give a rip what his sexual orientation is. I do give a rip that he is just one more political hypocrite.
Yeah. Maybe instead of counting the political hypocrites it would be more productive to count the ones who are hypocrites. Of course that would only take a few seconds and we’d have lots of time on our hands. 😉
WC
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Point taken. My bad. DOH! You rock WC!
Naw Bella, you GOOD! Just me up on my lil soapbox – it’s okay to ask me to step down. 😉
WC
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