Pundit Fans

OK, for starters I'll admit that what with vacation trips, which included a great biker cover band in Illinois, knee surgery, that semi-permanently ended my daydreams of being a running stud, a fried hard drive, that took several hours to replace and reprogram and a dying family dog, that affected me more than I'll ever admit, I've let politics slide for the summer. But like Rip Van Nixon, I've awakened once again to the political scene. Only I'm just not too fond of what my blurry vision beholds and I'm not talking about the issues.

Since the relative nastiness of the two Karl Rove architected presidential political campaigns worked like a charm, that lack of nice is apparently with us for keeps but now both sides play it with elan. McCain is attacked and sniggered at for being old and rich and therefore, establishment. Obama is berated for being young and idealistic and therefore elitist. Both candidates are hounded for gaffs, old statements, new statements and misstatements. The pundits on both sides of the political arguments are hacking bile and infecting absolutely every newspaper, TV news show, blog, and previously friendly interview with name-calling, guilt by association, and more than a little outlandish truth stretching and gross speculation.

It's gotten so bad that even folks who should know better are becoming followers of their favorite commentators, as if they are the first and last word in reasonable thought. Recently the editors of a suburban north side weekly proudly admitted being fans of Ann Coulter if for no better reason than her turning of phrases. Now, among all her spewage, Annie has said some outrageously clever things but like a kid throwing cow pies at the barn siding, it takes a lot of throwing to make anything stick and then no one would confuse the covering with fresh paint. I've read or listened to Ann, along with Michael Moore, Michelle Malkin, Bill O'Reilly, Rush Limbaugh, and Keith Olbermann. All of them are clever, funny, and even accurate at times. But most times they are all exactly what's wrong with American politics. They are so wrapped up in winning their point for their side or selling their books, projects, and airtime for millions that balance (what Fox News purports) and fairness (what MSNBC tries to sell) or lack of spin (what O'Reilly touts) is totally lost.

Maybe it's the times we live in, but it's getting harder to vote or even discern the issues over the smell of the garbage that passes for political discourse. Maybe we should simply listen to the candidates, make a decision, and vote accordingly. It may not be new, but it certainly would be refreshing.