How many times have we asked ourselves and each other, "How can anyone still support this administration," or, "Who in the
hell are the 34% that still approve" of George W. Bush? I think a recap of what passes for television news today answers those questions. Let's look at an hour of how the, "Most Trusted Name In News," educates and informs...
CNN'S American Morning, with Soledad and Miles O'Brien
8:30 a.m. (EDT)
On the half hour, Soledad and Miles are joined by Carol Costello for a summary of the top stories from around the globe; there's a truck on fire in Chicago, a DHS offical was arrested for soliciting sex with a minor, a millionaire criminal was murdered, Rep. Cynthia McKinney, a bill passed in Massachusetts, and Dwight Gooden faces prison.
After that three minute breaking news summary, CNN gets serious...
8:33 a.m. (EDT)
Miles begins with the trial of Saddam Hussein, "and as you might predict, the sparks are flying!" Miles is joined by Michael Scharf, a professor who helped train the tribunal currently trying Hussein. They discuss the charges, trial strategy, Nuremberg and agree that "a petulant and disruptive Saddam is better than no Saddam at all," in the courtroom. While they gave five full minutes to this story, it would have been nice if they'd spent more than a 15 second clip showing what was actually happening in the courtroom. But I did learn that Goerring seriously kicked ass when he was on trial 60 years ago.
8:38 a.m. (EDT)
Soledad begins with the "pretty shocking news" about DHS Deputy Press Secretary Brian J. Doyle being arrested, "while still at his computer," for soliciting sex with what he thought was a 14 year old girl. They then cut to the story of Justin Barry, a teenager who testified before Congress about being caught up in the world of online child pornography. They finished by saying (as the music swells and Cooper's face fills the screen), "First aired on Anderson Cooper's 360, which you can watch weeknights on CNN at 10:00 eastern."
8:42 a.m. (EDT)
The weather; a little sun here, a little snow there and alot of rain in California, with storms occurring tomorrow in the plains.
commerical break
8:46 a.m. (EDT)
Time for the business news:
* Cooling your home this summer will cost, on an average, $218 for the whole summer, up 3% from last year...but it might be a lot more.
* Ringtones...they're really popular and young people like them.
commercial break
8:52 a.m. (EDT)
Next up in a segment titled, "H2 Whoa," the burning question over which rural community in the United States has the best tasting drinking water was answered. Beaver, Utah won based on the outstanding "clarity, bouquet and taste" of their drinking water. Soledad agreed, but Miles preferred the water from Chepachet, Rhode Island.
commercial break
9:00 a.m. (EDT)
Again on the half hour, it's recap time...a DHS official was arrested, heavy rains in California have weakened a levee that officials are keeping a watchful eye on, the murdered criminal's brother was murdered too, Cynthia McKinney.
9:01 a.m. (EDT)
Miles begins with a more in-depth look at the arrest of DHS official Brian Doyle. We learn that he's into, "hardcore, explicit and perverse" conversations and was, "vile and vulgar," and apparently was a freaking idiot since he gave his name, home, office and cell phone numbers to the undercover cop...and a picture of himself with his DHS identification visible.
Soledad and Miles chit chat about immigration while they wait for Bush to emerge from the White House and address the press.
9:05 a.m. (EDT)
BREAKING: Bush urges Congress to pass a good immigration bill. It's a "vital debate" that needs a rapid conclusion. Hmmmm...sounds like that unity government in Iraq. I wonder if there's anything on that this morning...but I digress.
9:06 a.m. (EDT)
Soledad and Miles agree that it is a vital issue and ask Ed Henry for additional analysis. He says the president "was just prodding Congress" and that there is a lot of disagreement on the issue, but the president has left the door open. But the "bridge may be too wide" and a bill may never be passed.
9:09 a.m. (EDT)
Katie Couric, after listening to her "heart and her gut," will be leaving the Today show, and you can learn more about it by watching CNN's Larry King Live at 9:00 tonight.
9:10 a.m. (EDT)
Hasidic Jews in Brooklyn had a confrontation with police after an elderly man was ticketed for driving while talking on a cell phone and the truck on fire in Chicago was on I-55 and officials decided to let it burn itself out.
commercial break
9:14 a.m. (EDT)
There has been flooding on the Red River, but sandbags are protecting property so far, a roof collapses in California and there is a lot of concern about a subdivision threatened by an eroding levee.
9:16 a.m. (EDT)
Weather; see 8:42 a.m.
commercial break
9:21 a.m. (EDT)
Soledad covers the Cynthia McKinney story and has three minutes of her interview, showing McKinney repeatedly refusing to explain what happened, then a representative from the police saying she wasn't wearing her ID, she was stopped, she hit him. End of case. Soledad mentions that some Republicans want to pass a resolution praising the police without mentioning McKinney's name.
commercial break
9:29 a.m. (EDT)
Carol Costello is back to sum up the world in one minute; Wall Street is about to open, Bush urged Congress to pass an immigration bill, the Hussein trial is done for the day and he was "as defiant as ever," twenty four communities in Wisconsin voted to withdraw immediately from Iraq (WHAT?) and Hugh Hefner apologized to Jessica Alba for putting her on the cover of Playboy in a bikini, thereby implying there were nude pictures inside...she forgave him. And don't forget, you can catch Katie Couric's interview with Larry King tonight on CNN's Larry King Live at 9:00 eastern.
"And you're all caught up. Now back to Soledad and Miles..."