Crazy Like Foxes

I'm generally a supporter of Philadelphia instructional opportunities, but we need to pay close attention to education in Chicago. It is there that two politicians have -- how shall I say? -- taken their colleagues and the media "to school." And dear President-elect Barack Obama was also embarassingly caught up in the lesson.

Indeed, the B & B team have turned the events of this past week into teaching opportunities. Rod Blagojevich, the beleaguered Illinois governor, and Roland Burris, the yet-to-be-sworn-in United States Senator replacement for Barack Obama, are both crazy like a fox. B & B may be tossed around, punched and slapped in the press, but ultimately it is they who have played the media like a song.

The problem with the media is that they have become too smug, too arrogant and full of themselves to actually look beyond their own noses when it comes to events - local, national and international.

All you have to do is watch Zbigniew Brzezenski embarrassing Joe Scarborough on MSNBC's Morning Joe:



When Joe confronted Dr. Brzezenski on his explanation of events in Gaza, the good doctor simply called him "stunningly superficial." All Scarborough wanted was a sound bite, embarrassing Brzezenski in the process. Instead, Joe was shown the door and got his behind paddled on the way out.

Joe Scarborough, like the majority of reporters now days, relies on intimidation and bluster to make their points. News shows are rarely based on reporting and analyzing with depth and honesty. Instead too many pundits use reporting opportunities to be entertainers, not journalists to sway public opinion. They rely on superficial reporting, which comes off as eye and ear candy - it looks and sounds good, but is not intellectually rigorous. In other words, it does not fill the bill of true journalism.

What exacerbates this problem is that many politicians have bought into the same game. The soundbite, quick smile and wink, and part-truths fill the time on the news but do not take the viewer below the surface. They rarely tell the complete story of what they are doing in office. Instead, they rely upon manipulating their constituents in order to get re-elected.

Which is exactly why both the media and Democrats were worked over by Blogojevich and Burris this past week. No matter how they attempted to diminish and destroy B & B, the dynamic duo refused to be intimidated. Instead, on multiple occasions, they both used the law and quickly-called news conferences -- in both Illinois and Washington -- to call the bluff of their opponents, who ultimately have had to back off. B & B elevated their state constitution and diminished the attacks of their accusers, as if they were little doggies nipping at their heels.

Blagojevich (whom I find frankly to be arrogant and reprehensible, as well) seems to see himself as the Rocky from Chicago. He has been impeached but has not yet been found guilty in a court of law. Every time Blago takes a hook to the head, he's expected to stay down for the 10-count. Yet, he gets up, dusts himself off and, of all things, refers to the constitution and then finishes by ... reading poetry.

Burris, on the other hand, is a Columbo-like figure. On the surface,he appears somewhat bumbling and naive but is actually brilliantly sharp. When he was denied entrance into the U.S. Senate this week, he held an impromptu news conference - in the rain. Sentiment could only go in one direction, his way.

Some folks say these two individuals are crazy because they refuse to back down. Certainly, I would say Burris and Blago are both crazy... crazy like foxes.

Blago has been impeached, but will not resign unless found guilty in a court of law. Burris, who later was genteelly invited to discuss the situation with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, will end up being sworn into the U.S. Senate very soon.

What's startling is how horribly unprofessional and naive both the pundits and pols have been. It makes me wonder: What makes politicians... politicians? Doing politics. And what makes the pundits...pundits? Doing punditry. The problem is neither has been very good at their respective jobs on this one.

Instead, it's as if the pundits and the pols simply cozied up side-by-side at the breakfast counter and finished with egg aplenty dripping down their chins. Obama, who had been two seats down from them, even ended up with some on his tie.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(If you wish to comment, please click the tiny word "comments" just below here and a comment box will appear.)