One could be a long time follower of the deceptive crafts, a long time lover of the of parochial crafts of the political operative. One can be a long time follower of all of the stars of all of the games, all of the felons of all of the games. The ribald, the antiquated, those with the endearing mouths full of fun and fancy, gibberish and noise …these make me proud. The grand and the intense, the frolicsome and the tedious, the major harmonies and bittersweet songs of the eminently sincere….these make me weep. The lure of a molten train wreck……the stuff of legend and the lifeblood of the passing scene.
Statistics, Damned statistics, damned lies. The godly rational saints give us all gusto and purpose.
Two examples of the world as it is lived.
Lynnell Hancock Columbia Journalism Review
http://www.cjr.org/cover_story/tested.php
From The Economist
http://www.economist.com/node/18483411
It takes a lot to be sure of a lot.

Talk always talk. Write always write. Degenerate always degenerate.
Posted in Commentary, News, Politics, Uncategorized with tags journalism, news, political commentary, political education, political fiction, politics, power, writing on April 6, 2011 by B SchiffI know, I know….Anyone who distributes news and information has an agenda, is a mouthpiece, is annoying, bothers the hell out of people…..
Either they are old and moldy. Fat and comfortable. Puffed up, insulated and lazy. Callous free loaders who are agent provocateurs.
They might be young and on the make. They might be the wonders who translate events for a new news consuming public in a new news consuming environment.
We all have our favorites, our hates, our disposable clowns. So much information. So much endeavor. so many brave and fearless scribes who comfort the afflicted, afflict the comfortable. Who could be jaundiced.? Who can say they are not worth the prize of our attention?
Is journalism dead? Is it better? Is it sincere?
It does brave the questions of our survival.
Two views.: one hand wringing, one celebration. I’ll do both. One for fun. One in tribute to the solid stodgy set.
From The Columbia Journalism Review a month or two back:
http://www.cjr.org/editorial/beyond_the_facts.php
Roger Simon in Politico:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0411/52523.html
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