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Journalism - The Way To Effective Govemment

aaalllrighty then... Thank you Chris Matthews of MSNBC for at least unambiguously stating what has otherwise been obvious to anyone who hasn't yet subscribed to the Obama cult of personality - that there has been no objective journalism of this guy throughout the campaign and election.

Chris Matthews on Joe Scarborough's show

It's his job to ensure a successful presidency? How the hell are you supposed to do that as a journalist? That's like saying your job as court stenographer is to ensure that a court case is adjudicated successfully. You're either reporting and commentating on the facts, or distorting them intentionally. Of course, there exists a degree of bias in journalism as honest people view facts and events through the filter of perception, experience, etc. But to say, independent of any particular story that your job is to ensure a successful presidency is at best an admission of a willingness to distort or obscure the facts; and at worst, that he has already done so.

It is not just Chris Matthews by a long shot. He's just one of the ones so far removed from objectivity as to not even realize how appalling that statement was. It wasn't enough to get the hook along with Keith Olbermann from MSNBC's election coverage. One would think it a wake-up call when that network thinks you're too biased. Apparently not.

Where does that leave us? The notion that ideas such as creation of a civilian security force of equal power as the US military, or a government-mandated community service program, or raising taxes in the middle of a recession, are casually being tossed around by Barack Obama before he has even been sworn in is scary enough. But to think that the mainstream media is going to look the other way and give this guy the same free pass as during the campaign is frightening.

We're Gonna Change the World

Have you seen the video of the schoolkids singing that song for Obama? Although the official version seems to have already been pulled from youtube, you can still see dozens of copies that creatively represent what many were thinking after seeing or hearing it; that the zeal for Barack Obama is approaching something disturbing. Here are just a couple:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdPSqL9_mfM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gH-2Fwx5RU0

I'm not much for the use of scare tactics in politics. But if you're a supporter of Barack Obama, does this give you pause? Do you look back at the way the mainstream press has all but adored Barack Obama and given him a pass on an otherwise poor resume? Can you imagine being openly supportive of McCain (or anyone else) on a college campus? I think a Yankee fan wearing an A-Rod jersey in Fenway Park would feel more love.

Do I think Barack Obama is comparable to Hitler? Of course not. But given our experience on this planet, we've learned the hard way that men (and woman) make for horrible substitutes for God and should not be adored this way. I do think win or lose in November, there is going to be a huge letdown for those folks who were hoping for their Messiah to be inaugurated in January. No man can live up to the expectations in this creepy song - especially if all he does is raise taxes and never mention the word "change" again.

Evan Tanner dead at 37

Evan Tanner died on Monday September 8 in the California desert from apparent heat exhaustion. His death is a shock to thousands of fans, myself included who had come to know him well throughout his career as a fighter.
Tanner was the middleweight champion of the UFC when I became a fan of MMA, and was one of the reasons why I became a fan. He was such a soft-spoken, humble gentleman out of the octagon. In the octagon he demonstrated a warrior spirit like no other. There are so many examples of Evan being at the very place where others lost their fights, yet hung in there, turned it around and won. Even when he didn't win, he gave an inspiring performance and was gracious to the victor.

Evan's struggle with alcohol and fall from the spotlight was well known by many thanks to Evan's blog, which read more like a journal than the simple notes to fans most celebrities would share. The way Evan fought in the octagon was perfectly analogous to the way he struggled outside of the octagon. We saw him as the middleweight champion at the peak of his career. We saw him suffer a series of tough losses and eventually get cut from the UFC. We read about him hitting the proverbial bottom with no place to go but up - and up he went. Evan confronted his alcohol problem and began training again with hopes of a return to the UFC. That he died this way, after successfully winning a contract with the UFC is so tragic. I don't think many would have been surprised to hear that Evan had taken his own life during his worst moments - he openly talked about it. It is a shock to lose him now. This was one of his latest blog entries about his upcoming trip to the desert where he died. It's haunting to read it now.

Evan Tanner was definitely a restless soul. Here's to praying that he found that rest with God the Father. We'll miss you Evan.