The Moose wishes Dan Rather an easy ride into a pleasant sunset.
Conservatives are guffawing over the announcement that Dan Rather will step down as the anchor of CBS News. The increasingly smug right (is that possible?) views Rather as emblematic of a left-wing press bias. While the Moose holds no brief for Rather's bias or lack of one, he finds the rights' kvetching about left-wing bias rather tiresome (no pun intended).
Perhaps, mainstream journalism is more sympathetic to liberal views on social issues, but it is not clear that the press was any more lenient on the Clinton Administration than on the Bushies - to the contrary. New York Times coverage of Whitewater is exhibit A. And the mainstream media was not exactly antagonistic to the Administration's position in the build-up to the war. One could go on and on, but just peruse political commentary or cable television or talk radio these days and you will find that the right wing is not hurting for representation.
And what happens when conservatives take over a network? Fox News is what happens. Don't misinterpret the Moose, he finds Fox quite entertaining and lively, but the bias is Rather obvious (pun intended). At any given moment in August, one could turn on Fox and view the Swift Boat attacks on Kerry. Ironically, Fox News is indebted to Rather because it was created to counteract folks like him. The Washington Times is another example of conservative "fair and balanced" reporting. Bias anyone?
Maybe the Moose is soft on a fellow Texan, but he found Rather quite colorful and eminently viewable - something that is often missing from blow-dried pretty faces that adorn the Idiot Box. The Moose closes with a few Danisms -
This situation in Ohio would give an aspirin a headache.
One's reminded of that old saying, "Don't taunt the alligator until after you've crossed the creek."
This race is hotter than the Devil's anvil.
No question now that Kerry's rapidly reaching the point where he's got his back to the wall, his shirttails on fire and the bill collector's at the door.
Courage.
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