For those who were welcoming the new breeze coming from DC, don't worry, the sludge keeps coming even as we are about to turn the page on the national nightmare that has traumatized the country for the last eight years. Yup. The hit pieces keep coming from the AP. More agit prop opinion disguised as "news." The subject of this rant? An AP piece that has now received its second day of prominence at the MSNBC web page. Currently, it's burying the lede: World's Ardor For Obama Cools Amid Challenges - as far as I can see, the blathering is not attributed to an author.
After pausing at the hyperventilating lede, we go to the article itself. Hmmmm...what's the title? As challenges mount, ardor for Obama cools with the subheading An impatient world wonders how much the president-elect can deliver. This looks like really bad news, eh? Let's just see what's in the article itself. To do that, let's go under the flip, shall we?
Whew...here we are. What does the article say? In a nutshell? Nothing. Zippo. Bupkis. Nada. OK...that's not true. What it basically says is that the challenges facing Obama (and America) are so daunting that folks are concerned he won't be able to do enough. The article is not about "the world" losing faith in Obama. The article is not about "the world" getting burned out by the hype of a charlatan. Nope, simply put, the article is a collection of disparate individuals worrying about challenges and hoping that Obama can meet them.
A deepening global recession, new hostilities in the Middle East, complications in closing the Guantanamo Bay prison, Iran, North Korea, Afghanistan — an impatient world has a stake in all of them and is asking how much change Obama can deliver.
"Just two months ago, the future president seemed a cross between Superman and Merlin the magician," Massimo Gramellini wrote in a commentary for Italy's La Stampa newspaper. "Now he himself admits he won't be able to keep all his promises, and who knows? Maybe someone will ask for his impeachment by the end of next week."
Idealism has diminished
"The idealism has diminished," said Samuel Solvit, who heads an Obama support network in France. "Everyone was dreaming a little. Now people are more realistic."
There, you have the thesis. Basically, after this, this little two pager quotes unknown folks who worry. That's cool...we all worry. In fact, the article actually quotes world leaders who say that Obama will be equal to the task. But never no mind, that's not what the friendly fascists at AP want us to get on the eve of the inauguration.
And that's what concerns me. Great Droogie deliver us(!), I think what we are seeing are the stirrings of the "opposition" and right wing operatives who are already trying to temper the enthusiasm of the nation and to make it look as if Obama is already shitting the bed. "Feeling good about the change? Think again. You've been pwned." This is their opening salvo. Forget about soaring polls...forget about polls that show that the US is willing to give extend great patience. Forget everything you know and everything you see. The AP has spoken and Obama has already fucked up all that good energy and optimism. Goodnight hope. Goodnight change. Goodnight to the little drudge whispering sludge.
Sorry. I don't rant often. When I saw the article yesterday, I was willing to let it slide. Since the article is now in its second day of stinkage, I begin to believe that this is a line that is being pushed by the agit prop gang. And who better to spew it than AP? Let's keep up the heat on 'em. Why organized media keeps buying this drivel is maddening in and of itself. Maybe, just maybe, we can get 'em to think twice about it.
OK...I'm off the soapbox. Feel free to chime in.