Talking Heads

Some cable TV channels do have scripted opinion shows. However, those that are in the slightest impromptu require their talking heads to keep talking. Dead air is death. As a consequence, a lot of what is said on these political shows us drivel ... and mindlessly echoes what is said by other "pundits" on other shows or even a few minutes earlier on the same show. Most talking heads are inherently lazy and couldn't come up with an original idea or perspective if their inflated salaries depended upon it. This must be the reason why a particular political bent takes over these channels and seldom changes. And this is why they are rightfully called "echo chambers."

Let me offer an example -- once I was invited to offer my thoughts about bar tending in a panel discussion. Even though I had no experience in this profession, the money was good, so I agreed to fake it. I did this in the following manner -- I was always late answering questions and would reword a previous respondent. I did this so successfully that I was offered a follow-on gig that never happened. However, using this experience as a template, I understand how many cable TV talKing heads can offer opinions on things they know absolutely nothing about.

Next time you watch one of these shows, follow carefully and see if I am not right.

High-Wire Marco

In an effort to nip the 2016 Presidential candidacy of Marco Rubio in the bud, a “gotcha journalist” from GQ magazine recently asked him “How old is the Earth?” (see: LA Times Story). Here is Marco Rubio’s full reply:

I'm not a scientist, man. I can tell you what recorded history says, I can tell you what the Bible says, but I think that's a dispute amongst theologians and I think it has nothing to do with the gross domestic product or economic growth of the United States. I think the age of the universe has zero to do with how our economy is going to grow. I'm not a scientist. I don't think I'm qualified to answer a question like that. At the end of the day, I think there are multiple theories out there on how the universe was created and I think this is a country where people should have the opportunity to teach them all. I think parents should be able to teach their kids what their faith says, what science says. Whether the Earth was created in 7 days, or 7 actual eras, I'm not sure we'll ever be able to answer that. It's one of the great mysteries.

I say “gotcha journalist” because I have yet to see the same question asked of a leading Democrat even though, according to the referenced LA Times article, 41% of Democrats are creationists and believe that the Earth was created by God within the last 10,000 years. I thought Rubio’s answer was quite reasonable, albeit political, considering that he doesn’t want to offend those voters who might not believe the scientists who say that our orb has been around for about 4.5 billion years (which I believe). He was walking a high wire between these two diametrically opposed views and, I think, did a fine job of avoiding this “journalist’s” gotcha trap.

And of course, the echo chamber of the national media has jumped on Rubio for his response ... as to be expected.  The Democrats and the left-leaning press do a fine job of respecting diversity except when it comes to Republicans and fundamentalist Christians.  Now I have a suggestion … let this same "journalist" travel to Iran and ask Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (or even Barack Obama for that matter) if he believes in that the 12th Imam will someday re-appear and herald in the Apocalypse. Or maybe he could just ask Joe Lieberman if one should eat meat cooked in its mother’s milk. 

What passes for journalism today is shameful.