Happening

I've grown to dislike the majority of politicians. Western Politics, specifically those of the United States and Canada, are absolutely coated in dumb. Layers and layers of dumb. Some terrible, thick substance that hinders all movement and seems to sap any expressive or intelligent action out of every talking head it covers-- and there are lots covered in it.

Watching the news today (CNN, specifically), I caught a segment on Bush doing something (admitting that, yes, there are secret CIA prisons in Europe, etc.) and the Democrat response to him doing something. I don't think I've ever been more unhappy with the representatives of the left wing. All the Democratic representative seemed to do was play a role, a stock character. He spoke with tedium, without emotion or any apparent concern. His talking points were "Why didn't the President do this sooner"-- and variations on a theme. It was so utterly stupid. It seemed as if he was there solely because that's how the game was played-- not because there was any actual concern-- and if there was, it was too far covered in layers of gooey dumb to be at all recognizeable.

I had an epiphany, there and then, and hell if I'm able to recount it accurately now (you know me!). Let's just say that I came to a realisation that modern Western politics are dumb. Really, really dumb. Very few candidates care about the issues-- the rest-slash-majority are simply going through the motions, playing their parts. There's no representation here, just generalisation and media spin and damage control. Politics is about celebrity, not issue-- unless the issues become celebrity. CNN is the ET of Politics, sensationalizing and speculating and making mountains out of molehills, made thus with very tense, dramatic and important-sounding theme music. Hold on, audience, you're in the SITUATION ROOM with WOLF BLITZER and his MANY LARGE-DISPLAY TELEVISIONS. Dunna-nunna-nunna-nah!

Fucking lame.

And, while I'm here, I also strongly disagree with the notion of a liberal bias in the American media. The American media is a show pony. It's pretty and flashy, but it's just there to show off. There's no substance, and any criticism you get is just a specific anchor playing a specific schtick. The liberal bias is ridiculous. They gain their 'liberal'-slash-'immoral' image by being edgy and pushing the envelope for gasps and surprises and ratings-- but are ultimately an institution of money-driven conservatives (most of them are owned by massive corporations) by doing absolutely nothing about the issues they sensationalize. If anything, the 'liberal media' is a wonderful vehicle for the current administration's fear campaign.

I think Jon Stewart says it best.