Eric Alterman: Where Did the Worst of Bush's Cronies Go? To Work for Corporate Media

[marmar]

via AlterNet:



Where Did the Worst of Bush's Cronies Go? To Work for Corporate Media.

By Eric Alterman, The Daily Beast. Posted April 10, 2009.

In a post-Bush world Karl Rove and friends have just as deadly a job, only these days you'll find them posing for the media as pundits.



When you consider the respective achievements of the folks who peopled the upper echelons of the Bush administration, I think you’ll agree that after their incompetence, ideological obsession, and general malevolence, their most impressive characteristic was, and remains, their audacity.

Think about it: George W. Bush is widely considered to be, if not America’s worst president ever, than certainly in the bottom four or five. His legacy to his successor includes: the worst economic crisis in eighty years, two unsuccessful wars, a thoroughly corrupt Justice Department, the destruction of time-honored civil liberties and hard-won rights, and the widespread contempt of almost everyone on the planet who was not a committed member of the conservative Republican base. And yet not only did Bush and company never own up to the catastrophic consequences of their actions, they gave one another medals for it. (It’s only a rumor, however, that Bush tried to rename the Presidential Medal of Freedom the “Heckuva Job” medal.)

In a society with any memory whatever -- much less one whose public servants enjoyed a modicum of self respect -- these folks would slink off into the sunset and lay low for a decade or two before taking up new careers doing something useful -- if not ministering to the poor like Jimmy Carter than at least sticking to charity golf tournaments like Gerald Ford.

Instead they’ve become pundits. And unlike ex-Democratic pundits, who tend to want to prove their mettle as independent analysts by attacking their ex-friends using Republican talking points -- demanding to know why presidential candidates do not wear flag pins and are BFFs with Louis Farrakhan and the like -- they keep up exactly the same shenanigans that landed this country in the screwed up place they left it. Admit it, it’s impressive.

Exhibit A in this category is ex-chief speechwriter Michael Gerson. Using the same kind of impeccable logic that led him to write speeches demanding that we invade a different country than the one that attacked us on 9/11, Gerson was punished for his crimes against the English language with a regular gig in The Washington Post and Newsweek, and a fancy fellowship at the Council on Foreign Relations. This week, he took the occasion of a recent poll by the Pew to attack Barack Obama as “the most polarizing new president of recent times.” ..........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/135947/where_did_the_worst_of_bush%27s_cronies_go_to_work_for_corporate_media._/

[KharmaTrain]

1. The Betlway Circle Jerk...

Our corporate media lives in a fishbowl...a small number of elites who have determined that they know all and have some kind of franchise on "truth" and on the control of information. It's a "who ya know and who ya blow" culture of drinkie-drinkie parties, constant phone gossip and looking for the source to get the byline. A successful pundit will get lots of "face time" that will land them speaking gigs, book deals and op-eds.

The rushpublicans have long had a network that was designed to help spread their astroturf...either to spin positively for their candidates or make up bullshit about Democrats. They have "bookers" and other PR people who make sure their mugs and talking points get on the teevee and use their "friendships" with "reporters" and producers to make sure they provide "balance" even if it means lying and revising. The corporates, always hedging their bets, make sure these scammers get their face time (some are even hired) just in case the GOOP revives...those who play the good toadie are sure to get the "access" if and when that time comes.

The saving grace is shitstains like Gershon and Frum and Feith are no longer a part of the government. They've been discredited by a majority of Americans and are used mostly as media punching bags these days...attempting to defend the indefensible (the most corrupt and inept regime in American history). Let them keep spewing their crap. It's a constant reminder of the people who destroyed this country...best to keep them where we can see them than to let them slip underground and resurface several years down the road in a new administration.

[omega minimo]

2. I thought "Exhibit A" was Turdblossom

:puke:

[sam sarrha]

4. i've seen him on as an expert numerous times smugly admitting to multiple felonies, and proud of it

[sam sarrha]

3. Bu$h had no Cronies. he was a punk ass bitch wet brain alcoholic Narcissisy who played video games

in the Oval Office all day, he was a pathetic puppet, a god damned F'n Cheerleader.. do'n what he was told, and provided with Butt Lackeys to make him feel important.. like.. what was that homosexual prostututes name ..:eyes:

he's now a sniveling crybaby afraid to go to sleep in fear if he does that his father will smother him with a pillow :nopity: :rofl: :popcorn: