From Huff Post’s Dan Froomkin:

“These days, when we think of George W. Bush, we think mostly of what a horrible mess he made of the economy. But his even more tragic legacy is the loss of our moral authority, and the transformation of the United States of America from global champion of human rights into an outlaw nation.

History is likely to judge Bush most harshly for two things in particular: Launching a war against a country that had not attacked us, and approving the use of cruel and inhumane interrogation techniques.” nd that’s why the two most essential lies — among the many — in his new memoir are that he had a legitimate reason to invade Iraq, and that he had a legitimate reason to torture detainees. Read more here

Read & apply here…

The“CBS Evening News” and ABC’s “World News” have just closed their worst quarter on record. The New York Times’ Bill Carter takes a look at the first quarter ratings numbers for the network evening news broadcasts, and reports that both Katie Couric’s and Diane Sawyer’s broadcasts have “sunk to the lowest numbers the programs have had in a first quarter since the People Meter was introduced by Nielsen in 1987.” Why aren’t we hearing about FOX News? Anyone? Anyone? Read more at the Huff Post….

Albert Brooks wrote an interesting piece for Huffington Post recently, and points out the current hypocrisy that exists on the right side of the aisle: “The Democratic Party can now be assured forever that nothing, nothing, nothing they will do will stop the insanity. Or Sean Insanity, whatever you want to call it. If they are hoping for good publicity from the majority media, (yes, I’m sorry Fox, but you are now the highest rated news network) forget it. Writing on the hand is okay, teleprompter is not. Opening up health care is okay, opening up the meeting with Republicans is not.”

As much as we love Albert Brooks, the following questions need to be asked: Is the Democratic side of the aisle perfect? Here’s another question Albert should have asked: “Why must the left run to the nearest comedian for commentary, insight and political punditry?” Does it help the left’s credibility on facts and issues to have John Stewart as a spokesperson? Is accepting failures in political communication beneath the Democratic grasp? One must think it almost is given the current state of politics in the United States.

As President Obama continues to compromise-away any real health care legislation that would be of an “objective” value, purely in favor of winning Republican “bi-partisanship” and corportate interests, why isn’t the Left blowing the whistle on him?! Why didn’t the Right blow the whistle on George W. Bush when he wasted over 1 Trillion dollars in an Iraq war that was declared on false pretenses?

As a journalist, one has to maintain an objectivity that is considered above “human” in a sense. No political bias, no political candidate favorites, no agenda interests that dare bring moral ethics into question, no political party association (in a sense).

The entertainment community is in a position – some might say an enviable position, to have courage, insight, and influence, but too often, the pleasant, and safe retreat of “humor and satire” rears it’s ugly head, and is the American public to assume it’s okay and alright if we all have a laugh? The question is, when America is done laughing at our comedians’ spot-on political punditry, when can real health care, human rights, and political progress “begin to happen” in the United States? What role can a journalist play to bring about action?

When the Huffington Post announced a “collaboration” with donors to launch the “Huffington Post Investigative Fund” with an initial budget of $1.75 million back in March of last year, we were giddy with excitement at the thought of people still CARING about quality news. Today, John Cook of Gawker (who we think is usually right-on-the-money with his posts 85% of the time), wrote a piece slamming the fund as being nothing more then a tax write-off and a way for the Huffington Post to have “exclusivity on stories”. Our take on this? Way too early to say in our opinion, and we whole-heartedly admit we love the Huff Post.

The main issue to date, is that very few websites have benefited from the fund except for the HuffingtonPost, and here we are 10+ months after the announcement of the fund. With that being said, let’s give it some more time. It takes TIME to investigate stories….we’ll keep tabs on ‘em and post news as it develops(!)

Adriana Huffington gives her Sunday round-up on the week in Haiti, touches on Rush Limbaugh’s attempted politicalization of the drama.
Read it here