Regarding liberal bias in the mainstream media, I think that part of that perception is valid in that the mainstream media tend to be populated by individuals who either start out or become more socially liberal than those who criticize their bias. As we've said before, we're all products of our experiences and our ideas about the norm come mainly from the people with whom we interact. Someone who lives in the city, travels extensively around the world, and rubs shoulders with all kinds of people is naturally going to have a broader perspective than someone who spends his life in a small town in rural America playing football and reading the Bible. I think much of what is perceived as liberal bias is simply sophistication/urbanity. While this may trouble the social conservatives, it shouldn't necessarily trouble the fiscal conservatives or the libertarians or even the hawks, for that matter.
Regarding the purity of the opposition party, an old boss of mine had a favorite saying. I don't know where he got it. Rambi will probably chime in down thread to tell me it was Roosevelt who said it first. <g> Anyway, he used to say that we judge ourselves by what we know we can do and judge others by what they actually do. I think this applies to opposition vs. governance, as well.
Speaking of this particular old boss, I'm reminded of a story that might be of interest. This boss, like most of them in the bad old days, used to hit on me regularly. One day he did so with a line about a pubic hair and a coke can. Well, I had never read/seen the book/movie from which that line came. (I'll bet Rambi remembers the source.) And I couldn't imagine why he would try such a stupid line. Fast forward to the Clarence Thomas hearings and Anita Hill. When she testified that he had used that line on her, I immediately identified with her and just "knew" in my bones that she was telling the truth. It was only then that I learned the source, which I no longer remember, of the line. Still think it's more than a little stupid.
Karen |
