The only national radio talk show I can stomach is Hugh Hewitt's, palatable largely because of the number of bloggers he entertains as guests. But as I listen tonight he's trying to cajole Rep. Chris Cox into supporting congressional hearings into the CBS forged memo scandal.
This is astonishing coming from anyone who supposedly favors limited government. Congress has repeatedly demonstrated its incompetence to deal with such matters. Put your partisan goals aside, and think of what the press would look like if it were subjected to fact checking by congress. Republicans, if your having trouble with that, imagine Hilary Clinton chairing the committee investigating your favorite blog or talk show host.
Do not set that precedent.
Posted by Walter at September 14, 2004 06:54 PMVery Bad Idea, indeed. That would be putting the most corrupt entity in the country in charge of investigating the one group that might keep an eye on them sometimes (I almost said "keep them honest" but the media hasn't quite been up to that level).
I think the Killian thing got a few people a bit too excitable. CBS should be held accountable for dropping the ball, and so should every other major media organization for failing to properly investigate and fact-check a huge range of partisan charges and government propaganda.
We're already giving central federal government power over everything else in our lives. Have them control the press? A nightmare.
Posted by: Pete Guither at September 15, 2004 12:25 PM