News Anchor's Rage

Here's a little rant by Keith Olberman about 9/11. Olberman is an Anchor at MSNBC and frankly, this pretty much places him completely in the realm of partisan media. No doubt this is editorializing, but after reading the piece try and convince me that this guy has any ability to provide honest reporting of the facts, never mind honest analysis.

Half a lifetime ago, I worked in this now-empty space. And for 40 days after the attacks, I worked here again, trying to make sense of what happened, and was yet to happen, as a reporter.

All the time, I knew that the very air I breathed contained the remains of thousands of people, including four of my friends, two in the planes and -- as I discovered from those "missing posters" seared still into my soul -- two more in the Towers.

And I knew too, that this was the pyre for hundreds of New York policemen and firemen, of whom my family can claim half a dozen or more, as our ancestors.

I belabor this to emphasize that, for me this was, and is, and always shall be, personal.

And anyone who claims that I and others like me are "soft,"or have "forgotten" the lessons of what happened here is at best a grasping, opportunistic, dilettante and at worst, an idiot whether he is a commentator, or a Vice President, or a President.

Simple translation: "I was hurt so no one can question my commentary or reporting on the topic." This prelude to ranting is posturing that he should have avoided. It clearly places him in the "I'm too wounded to be criticized" bin of American politics.

However, of all the things those of us who were here five years ago could have forecast -- of all the nightmares that unfolded before our eyes, and the others that unfolded only in our minds -- none of us could have predicted this.

Five years later this space is still empty.

Five years later there is no memorial to the dead.

Five years later there is no building rising to show with proud defiance that we would not have our America wrung from us, by cowards and criminals.

Five years later this country's wound is still open.

Five years later this country's mass grave is still unmarked.

Five years later this is still just a background for a photo-op.

It is beyond shameful.

At the dedication of the Gettysburg Memorial -- barely four months after the last soldier staggered from another Pennsylvania field -- Mr. Lincoln said, "we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract."

Lincoln used those words to immortalize their sacrifice.

Ah yes. Nothing has been done at the WTC grounds and the politicians are at fault because they haven't forced some politically bent memorial on a privately owned bit of property. Well, at least he doesn't blame the President. Oh, wait...

Instead they bicker and buck pass. They thwart private efforts, and jostle to claim credit for initiatives that go nowhere. They spend the money on irrelevant wars, and elaborate self-congratulations, and buying off columnists to write how good a job they're doing instead of doing any job at all.

Five years later, Mr. Bush, we are still fighting the terrorists on these streets. And look carefully, sir, on these 16 empty acres. The terrorists are clearly, still winning.

And, in a crime against every victim here and every patriotic sentiment you mouthed but did not enact, you have done nothing about it.

And there is something worse still than this vast gaping hole in this city, and in the fabric of our nation. There is its symbolism of the promise unfulfilled, the urgent oath, reduced to lazy execution.

The only positive on 9/11 and the days and weeks that so slowly and painfully followed it was the unanimous humanity, here, and throughout the country. The government, the President in particular, was given every possible measure of support.

Those who did not belong to his party -- tabled that.

Those who doubted the mechanics of his election -- ignored that.

Those who wondered of his qualifications -- forgot that.

Well, I guess we clearly see where Olberman stands on the Bush presidency. Bush was given every bit of support from all sides. Wonder who exposed and then flaunted the NSA wiretapping and the SWIFT monetary programs? Who was it that continued to block revisions to the Patriot act? Need I go on?

A commentator on Brit Humes' show last night pointed out that the country was united in sorrow, and that's about all. The divisions existed before 9/11 and they didn't clear even after 9/11. No doubt there was some initial cooperation, but the yelping and bitching of the Dems clearly show that there never was any true unity. I suppose in a way it will be good when Bush is gone. At that point there will be no contention over elections that followed the rule of law irrespective of the flaws in their methods. And if a Democrat is in office, we'll see if they get a chance to reap what they have sown.

Olberman goes on with his invective to the point of pointing to impeachment. I suppose I will never watch his news again. This more than convinces me that he is incapable of honest reporting.

Oh, and like all good blogs from the MSM, there is no manner for commenting. So there isn't any reason to even bother reading this blog. "Got an opinion? Keep it to yourself."