And, it's become all about wanting to stay in the good graces of the politicians and power-brokers and corporate leaders being reported on, instead of asking the kinds of questions and pursuing the kind of accountability on behalf of the public.  To do that, though, would end the con game that's being run on us, the fat cats would lose their jobs, and the media would no longer be inner-circle-worthy.

Here's the question: When I see Katie Couric advancing the Simpson-Bowles message on Social Security and telling the public that "something has to be done...or else..." I want to rip my hair out.  Why isn't Katie, with all the resources at her disposal, able to determine the truth about Social Security, and instead of giving Alan Simpson or Erskine Bowles a  platform to spread more lies in service to their anti-entitlements agenda, confronting them with that truth?

Or, hey - here's a handy template:

When I see ____ advancing the _____ message on _____ and telling the public that "something has to be done...or else..." I want to rip my hair out.  Why isn't ___, with all the resources at his/her disposal, able to determine the truth about ______, and instead of giving _____ or _____ a  platform to spread more lies in service to their______ agenda, confronting them with that truth?

The tax cuts thing is ridiculous.  Obama is blathering on about the people wanting the Congress to "come together" and find "common ground," but he is so devoid of leadership ability and underlying principles that he thinks the end game is the common ground itself instead of what we all know the endgame to be: achieving long-term economic growth and stability through good policy.