Maybe It's Good That I Don't Usually Watch The News

This morning I actually turned on the news. The children, perhaps sated with the pound of candy they must have eaten yesterday, did not ask for breakfast the second we came down the stairs. Of course, it might not have been the chocolate at all - it might have been the fact that there were NEW TOYS. Some of which were still in their boxes.

I tackled the cars quickly enough. But then Ironflower brought me her Barbie Vacation House. As I pulled out the many pieces, I was very glad that Santa did not blow most of Ironflower's present budget on the Barbie Townhouse. If he had, I would have had to watch a movie while I put it together. Or maybe the entire Lord of the Rings series. As it was, I got to watch a rather large chunk of Headline News' morning cycle.

I didn't pay close attention, so I don't know why they were showing the video of a little boy on Christmas morning. But I know I dropped the itty bitty margarita pitcher (okay, the guide called it a lemonade pitcher, but it's pretty obvious to me that Barbie is more likely to drink margaritas while she's on vacation from being a pilot and a beauty queen and a ballerina and her 18 other jobs) when the little boy started his tantrum about getting books for Christmas.

Now, I'm not saying that my kids jumped up and down over everything they got. Lovebug MAY have opened a box of clothes, said, "New clothes!" and then tossed the box to the side without even noticing his new Lightning McQueen hat. Hugmonkey may have refused to open any presents after finding his first box of cars. Ironflower may have already forgotten about the Squinkies she had to have after seeing countless commercials for them (thanks, Hub!). But.

My kids do not throw tantrums when given any kind of gift.

And they actually like books. Not that you would have noticed this yesterday.

Though, honestly, it's not the kid's reaction to the books that upsets me ( Much. 3 year olds who hate picture books sometimes turn into 7 year olds who can't read and 18 year olds who vote for Sarah Palin). It's the parents laughing and putting it on YouTube. Sure, I've laughed about my kids' bad behavior before. But not in front of them. And I certainly haven't posted it on YouTube so the entire world can see my child act like a brat.

And then there's the fact that CNN thought this would be a great holiday segment.

You know what would be a great holiday segment, CNN? The kid in the ghetto who gets a book as his only Christmas present and is THRILLED. Or any of the people who volunteer with Toys for Tots and the other organizations that give to kids who will appreciate it.

And It's Over

What happened to the liberal media elite . . .and how can we get them to come back?

Hell, at this point, I'll even take a conservative media elite. I'd just like the word "elite" to come back to the news.

Remember when news shows and newspapers were informative and the talking heads were kinda boring? Remember when they used fact checkers and didn't just insult each other?

It's a vague memory for me too, actually. But at least a few years ago I didn't have to hear the Headline News anchor repeat what Clark in Louisiana thinks. And then beg me to send in my own comments.

Look, if I want to know what the "average" person is thinking I'm sure I can find out through the magical powers of the blogosophere. Or Facebook. Not that I'm sure WHY I care what some person I don't know, whose credentials are not checked and could in fact be one really bored 13 year old boy.

But even if I was interested. . .does that mean it has to be on the NEWS?

Opinions are not news - that's why they're not on the front page of the newspaper. And while I understand that it may be challenging to air the news 24-7, do we really have to resort to sharing the texts of people bored in the drive-thru line at McDonald's? There are lots of wars going on, you know. There's this continent called Africa where people are actually being slaughtered. There's a scary flu virus. There's yet another "family values" congressman caught cheating. There's a new season of Friday Night Lights, for God's sake.

Good-bye CNN. . .now that you've lowered yourself to my standards, I don't want you anymore.

I Tried To Express My Positive Emotions But The TV Distracted Me

I haven't watched an inauguration since Clinton's first. I was so happy and hopeful that day. But that's nothing compared to how I feel today. Not simply because while I complained about the Republican presidencies of Reagan and Bush I, those complaints practically disappear when compared with my issues with this past administration.

I liked Clinton. I didn't like Bush. But I never believed in either one of them. I never thought they were good men.

I believe in Barack Obama. I believe his is a good man as well as a brilliant one. I feel safe knowing he is president in a way that I've never felt before. I would like to bask in my happiness.

But I can't do that and watch the news today.

Obama and Bush have handled this transition with class and sense. They handled the inauguration with class. But the talking heads - because it's easier to comment on a lovely ceremony than to research and report on other news - are looking for conflict wherever they can find it. Now they've moved onto observing Gore and McCain at the luncheon, speculating on what they're talking about. Hey, news professionals, they're probably talking about how glad they are to finally be inside.

I think we need to be worrying less about the media having a liberal or conservative bias and worry more about how they have a stupidity bias. There are wars and conflicts going on all over the globe. It's now come out that we tortured prisoners. We're still in a financial and real estate mess - one that could always be explained better. The Steelers are going to be in the SuperBowl. So there's PLENTY of serious news that they could be talking about. And instead CNN is telling me about what they're eating at the luncheon and wondering what Senator Corbyn and Senator Clinton were talking about.

I read People magazine for gossip and info about luncheons. Or I watch E!. Doesn't CNN have anything better to do?