I was perusing JU this morning and saw an article by Jilluser and thought - someone else had heard what I did!  But alas, her article was on another idiocy, not this one.  No, this one does not follow on Alicia Silverspoon, or Reese Witherspoon.  This one is purely the idiots that are supposed to be providing the news.

I say supposedly because of late, I have not seen much news being reported - beyond a kindergarten level.  This morning on Good Morning America (or one of the others - they are so interchangeable, it is hard to tell), one of the anchor persons said something to the effect that "Iowa represents America today".

Arrrgggg!  No it does not! 

Then, a political commentator came on the local morning show and said something to the effect (since these are over the air media, I unfortunately do not have links): "These people (the voters in Iowa) are just regular people......"

Excuse me?  How many "regular" people do you know that brave blizzards, and waste a night out of the week to go to a beauty pageant (that is all the Caucuses really are)?  No, they are party regulars!  And while many wear a party label with pride, they are still a MINORITY in this country.  Only by some perverted stretch of the imagination could you call them "regular"?

Regular is the guy (or gal) who went to work this morning, or got up to get the kids off to school.  Regular is the gal (or guy) who is going to sit down tonight with their family or friends for a meal.  Regular is not some one who is going out in sub zero weather to stand in corners to have their noses counted for some person they will not see again for at least 4 years.  Or hear from either (which is not all bad in itself).

No, Mr. or Ms. news anchor, they do not represent America.  They represent the Democrat and Republican party of IOWA (not even the national parties).  They do not even come close since it is not even a primary (as most states have), but a beauty pageant!  Where everyone of them has a chance to "do over" (at least the democrat side does - I am not sure of the republicans).

It is clear that this is news.  But it is not 7x24 news, nor is it the casting of a die for the fate of America!  The clowns that win tonight may lead us the next 4 years (after this one), but we will not know that for almost another year!  And the "judges" for this beauty pageant are not "regular" people, but people that snarl and snap and live and die for their contestant!  While we at JU have some very spirited political debates, I doubt (with a possible exception) any of us live and die the stuff.  These people do.

That does not mean these people are stupid, or mean, or dumb, or misanthropic.  Just different.  And hardly representative of a nation that only sends 50% of the eligible voters to the polls when they are open for 13+ hours during the fall!

And people wonder why news people don't get any respect.  Might as well wonder why the sun rises in the east.

{end rant}