Anyone else long for the days when journalism was for delivering facts? Miss those glory days when the news was not just a 24-hour a day speculation fest? Once profit was entered into the picture, journalism lost its neutrality. Now it’s simply an agenda-driven outlet for making more and more loot. Take for example the current issue of political candidate’s military service. Suddenly we’re faced again with accusations of Bush being AWOL - and we’re told it has some impact on his ability to lead….. a story being driven by the very people who staunchly supported the last president… one who actively shirked his call to duty and derided America while on foreign soil. Now I’m not saying either story is necessarily true or false, but come on people, have some intellectual honesty. Either the issue of a President’s military service is an issue or it’s not… but let’s get real, the transparency of the arguments are laughable.

Combine the great power grab of politics with the great money grab of media and you have an out-of-control monster capable of “generating the news”. Both sides complain the other is playing dirty tricks. In response, each side either denies they’re doing so, or take the affirmative defense stance of, “yeah, but they did it first”.

Congratulations, politicians, you’ve reduced our national debate to a third grade level. I can’t wait to see who will be the first in a Presidential debate to retort to a national policy issue with, “your mama!”

Is there anyone really capable of changing the tone in Washington? Anyone at all?