ELITIST ENNUI: The Media Elite Tire Of The War (Edward Zehr)

Wednesday on the Web ^ | 11/6/01 | Edward Zehr

[nicstepro]

It frightens me that our liberal media subverts the war so easily- where a percentage point represents 'americans growing tired of war'. I fear we may not have the resolve for real war that isn't over in Clinton media-minute- quick and easy where the enemy surrenders in droves. Anyone really think they are being 'objective'?

[ikanakattara]

Liberals always did have short attention spans.

[prognostigaator]

insightful reply....

[Wright is right!]

"Believe it or not, one of our dauntless newsies even went so far as to rebuke Defense Secretary Rumsfeld for not allowing reporters to "parachute in" to Afghanistan with the troops. Rumsfeld blew a great opportunity there. He should have taken them up on the offer -- after they had attended jump school and earned their airborne Ranger wings. And, oh yes, demonstrated a few basic capabilities, such as being able to keep up with the unit in difficult terrain while humping a hundred pounds on their backs."

I agree with Zehr on this. In fact, just the very idea conjures up some of the most vividly-delicious images. Rumsfeld says, "Sure, we'll take the first 100 of you that can do the following:

"Take and pass Basic Training.
"Pass Airborne Training.
"Become a Ranger.
"Carry a 100-lb. standard Ranger pack on a one-week, 100 mile march. Any camera or satellite gear you require is in addition to the 100-lb standard Ranger pack.
"Demonstrate the ability to operate in difficult terrain behind enemy lines in ABSOLUTE SILENCE."

"Oh, and WE get to select the first hundred. Helen Thomas, you're first. Line up over there. Ratfa...I mean, David Gregory, you're next. Line up. Sawyer Brown, third. Get in line. Cokie, you wanted to watch? You'll get an eyeful. Now keep that line straight.

"OK, who's next. Wolf - you and Schneider stand behind Cokie. Nina, you'll represent NPR. Hut one hut two. No, Brit, you can't go. You might actually be able to DO this. We'll take Bob Woodward. Bob....Bob, you clean that up right now! At ABC, George, you carried a TON of water for the last administration, you should be able to handle a 100-pound pack. Besides, don't-ask, don't tell.

"Your induction papers are on the table at the back - report by 6 pm. On the double!"

So many hack reporters, so little time.

Michael

[Jean S]

Well said.

[Jean S]

Ed Zehr bump.

[Republic]

THIS IS WONDERFUL! The perfect retort. Oh please send this in to the Washington Times. Rummy and our Prez deserve to see this-what a hoot! Brit will be puffed up for weeks! LOL

Jean-What a good post! I love the sub-title 'JUNK GENERALS, think I will be stealing it frequently!

And as for McCain, and Billy Kristol and the rest of the fat butted seat warmers who want to coach this war from their safety zones, pooey! By carefully executing this war, LIVES WILL BE SAVED and a SECURE SYSTEM of PROGRESSING INTO DIFFERENT GOVERNING SYSTEM will be able to succeed. Just look what the Northern Alliance was able to do WITHOUT American ground troops by the careful execution of duties via our air troops. Gish. I wish these idiots would GROW-UP and not trade in trust in our military for their own ugly mugs in some photo-op.

[dead]

The wanna-be self-fulfilling prophesy that the media is trying to sell is simply not catching on. The keep saying that Americans will tire of the killing or will lose interest, or will just forget.

They can keep trying to sell it, but nobody's buying.

I hang around with alot of liberals, and to a man (or womyn) they want dead arabs. Buckets of them. And they're willing to wait a little while, as long as the dead start rolling in.

The media is on their own on this one.

[Jean S]

The media is on their own on this one.

I hope you're right.

Off topic - are you going to start writing again?

[backhoe]

I hang around with alot of liberals, and to a man (or womyn) they want dead arabs. Buckets of them. And they're willing to wait a little while, as long as the dead start rolling in

I think dead's got it right here-- before Pearl Harbor, both of my parents ( not liberal, but beside the point ) thought we should let those fool Europeans kill each other off and stay out of it.

After Pearl? Well, they both signed up for service....

The media is this country has degenerated into a bunch of whiny elitists who mostly talk to each other, and whose main purpose in life seems to be yakking at each other. They hate to be bored, and this war is just not sufficiently entertaining to them.

[dead]

Off topic - are you going to start writing again?

Well thanks for asking Jean. I bought a house and had my second child, so I pretty much put writing on the back burner for a while. I’m about to start up again, though it might not be political parody at first.

I do have rough plans for one political parody project in mind. My company has been sending me to Flash and Dreamweaver classes, so I have been formulating a Flash movie in my head. I’m hoping to put something together in a few weeks.

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

This was apparently Ed Zehr's last column. According to Wednesday on the Web (see source link above), he passed away on November 5th or 6th.

Ed, you're missed.

[Jean S]

The link is dead.

Ed Zehr cannot be dead.

NO!

Ed Zehr is the best commentator I have ever read.

[ripley]

should read..........."The Auto-Erotic Media Tire of the War". (They all take breaks from contemplating their belly buttons and the busts of Josef Stalin.)

[Senator Pardek]

Very sad, but true, Jean - http://www.serve.com/pvbr/

[Jean S]

I used to print out his columns from the Washington Weekly every Sunday. His was the only column that I ever printed out and it usually went 10-12 pages.

I loved that man.

[185JHP]

They also hate not to be able to affect things - and W's crew has done a remarkable job of both finessing and backhanding them - as and when necessary.

[ForGod'sSake]

In case you missed the original post on 11/9.... Great piece here folks. According to posts toward the bottom, apparently Mr. Zehr's last column. He died shortly after writing it.

FGS