Regarding the media, the truth is not their thing.
For Beltway pundits, the primetime talkingheads and the Republican party of today there is no truth. Its relevance faded in the waves of self pity and pious outrage they revelled in throughout the eighties and nineties, any doubts expiring in the ashes of the World Trade Center. 9-11 proved: if one doesn?t care to look too carefully, that these misguided-winged angels and prophets were always right, and truth was a waste of time.
The discernment and propagation of truth only matters if friends and enemies are hard to spot, and worthy goals difficult to ascertain. What difference does it make if the American public is goaded into war by falsehoods, given that American wars are always good and profitable, and a constant vexation to evil? Whatever gets the populace there fastest is necessarily good?and that probably isn?t going to be the truth.
The mainstream press and its token rock stars, meanwhile found the perfect postmodern balance. All is relative, including truth and falsehood. These two must be bound together and forced to dance in each other?s arms until it?s impossible to clearly see which is which. For every truth reported, there is a lie offered up by its enemies. And since truth is relative anyway, don?t be shy about it; for every truth, report two lies, or ten, just so long as balance is maintained.
There is such power in simple, righteous lies. The floundering masses are all grey and whimpering over what is true, but the true believers & corporate journalists, are like a dark and vengeful God, slaying without restraint or pity those who resist his juggernaut. In fact, for ambitious members of the fifth estate, ten lies are better than two; the talking heads butters everyone?s bread, and anyway, at least the truth is in there somewhere. There?s no need for second-guessing or regrets. Give service like a whore, and wealth, power and access are yours. Do not trouble your customers with too many impertinent questions lest they complain to the madam. Be satisfied to service power and receive your just reward.
And yet something is going wrong. Truth keeps surfacing despite the wealth and power of its enemies. It?s as if it isn't about us?as if it doesn't matter what we prefer to think. It?s as if surges can fail independently of our wishes and commands, and cakewalks don?t happen just because we?d like them too. What?s a poor reporter to do? When power comes calling, lay back and act gratified. Don?t get too uppity. The customer is always right.
As for the Great Decider himself, well, someone has always got him out of trouble, so why should this time be any different?. The entire Beltway system is paralyzed with fear - fear of failure, fear of admitting failure, fear of acting. They know the free flow of information they initially shunned, then accommodated, and now need to back for their own survival will also enable an accurate rendition of history.