Not Optimistic


No matter what you have read or heard about Republicans lately. You know, trailing in the polls if America voted today and all that. Rove has actually been winning. How? Go back in your mind over the last 6-8 weeks or so. What has the MSM been talking about? Well let's see. Hasn't it been immigration, Iran, Scottie out Joshie in, gas prices, Moussaoui. What they haven't been talking about: Abramhoff, Iraq, Katrina.
Who wins when that happens? And oh yeah by the way. I gather conventional wisdom on the Harriet Myers saga was that it was a political error by W. It goes something like this: W.acted hastily and came out looking weaker by giving in to moderate conservatives and making Myers withdraw, right? Well then tell me what happened next. Call me crazy but I swear they made Sam Alito a Supreme, right? How then did W. lose that one exactly?

One of the very few good things out of Texas.


Texas has been under seige lately with W. at 32% and Delay under indictment. That's why it's important to not lose sight of the good things from that state. Take Johnny Winter for instance. Straight out of the Lonestar state with great contemporary blues. Got to see him live in 1972 and a couple of times in the 80's and 90's and he did not disappoint. A great American original. An albino slide player! Bluester loves him some blue collar blues. It's the sound of the working man. Mournful, rowdy, honest in its' simplicity and unadorned with all of modern musics' gimmicks and nonsense.
Speaking of honesty, gimmicks and nonsense. Here's an observation. If you're anything like me you probably have noticed that most of the MSM (main stream media) haven't really told the truth to Americans about W. and his shenanigans. Oh sure, there are bits and pieces of truth scattered about on tv or in articles but not an honest overview. And yet his approval rating is 32% and even amongst Republicans it's below 70% for the first time. What would W's approval ratings be if the MSM actually told the truth?
The main difference I see today compared to Nixon's days of shame is the virtual complicity of the MSM with the Republican leadership. The MSM has become the communications arm of the state. Will the blogosphere become the new check on traditional media? For a while perhaps but not for long I'm afraid.