Son,

A tragedy has befallen American Journalism. Cable and satellite feeds have created monster celebrities in the field of journalism. Everyone wants to be Walter Cronkite. The problem is that hey have not earned the stature.

Wolf Blitzer, Chris Matthews, Tim Russert, Bill O’Reilly, Shawn Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, to name a few. These people have differing views on issues. The gravitational force of their egos draws them together into the same orbiting dead moon.

Only a few years ago I enjoyed watching Chris Matthews on Hardball. Today I find him to be an offensive baboon. He smirks and rolls his eyes and gestures with indignation while asking trivial questions about Dennis Kucinich seeing a UFO. Who cares if Kucinich saw a UFO. Bill Richardson is the Governor of New Mexico, home of the infamous Roswell UFO carnival. Matthews tried to get Richardson to address the issue of UFO’s – knowing that Richardson supports tourism for economic benefit. What is your point Matthews? Just cheap and unworthy journalism.

Tim Russert believes the hype of his network. He actually thinks he is ‘the one’ who knows more than the experienced Joe Biden or John McCain or Hillary Clinton. Russert sits behind his desk in a raised chair, posturing like a peacock, trying to look more impressive than his position justifies. Complex issues, like immigration, have been around since the dawn of our country. Our best and brightest have tried to find answers. Russert thinks he has crystallized the issue into a simple yes or no. Unable to grasp the totality of immigration, Russert is forced to ponder driver’s licenses in New York. He doesn’t really know or care about immigration – he just cares about who gets to ask the question.

O’Reilly, Hannity, and Limbaugh all preach from the same pulpit. They have reduced journalism to name calling, slander, and pouting when they don’t get what they want. Wolf Blitzer is trying to maintain the image he fostered in the first Gulf War. The field of journalism is now enmeshed in the Golf War – who is most impressive on the satellite links?

These folks jump on the air everyday – and everyday they want to be ‘the one.’ The one who asks the right question. The one who corners a candidate. The one who demonstrates real wisdom. In my book, they are competing for ‘the one’ who is most foolish and shallow.

Dad

See Also: Chris Matthews on Morning Joe