Our moronic media

By Libby

I'm not sure whether the vague nausea that hit me this morning means I'm coming down with something or whether it's just a reaction to reading the mainstream media. It might be the latter because these posts seem to ease the urge to empty my stomach.

Matt has the definitive take on Cheney's favorite media mannequin. Read it all but here's the closer.

And that's really the game here. Russert's goal isn't to inform his audience. He's there to "make news"—to get his guest to say something embarrassing that lands in the next day's papers or on the NBC Nightly News. The politicians, in turn, go on the show determined not to make news. And why do they bother? Because, as Geraghty has noted, it's a rite of passage, and any politician too chicken to play Russert's inane games would never garner the respect of the political class. And then, seven days later, it all happens again like clockwork. If it's Sunday, it's Meet the Press.

Meanwhile, Ezra watches the debate and critques the moderation.

It's almost impossible for me to convey the damage Tim Russert and Brian Williams are doing to the republic this evening.

While Glenn gets a smash note from John King.

Just another day in a place we still call America even though it's barely recognizable anymore.