ABC The AMERICAN broadcasting corporation?

I thought I had heard everything. When I received an email claiming that ABC had a policy of prohibiting the display of the American flag by its employees and those representing the network my first thought was that it was just another hoax. It was simply unbelievable to find that it was true, but more than that, it has been their official policy since shortly after the 9-11 attack in 2001.

My question is: What possible reason could they have for such a thing? Their response is that they did not want to offend anyone. What??! Offend whom?! Has it come to this? They sell their allegiance for the country that granted them the privilege of speaking their mind without fear of reprisal, the freedom to report the news irregardless of whom it may offend? Now the flag that represents that freedom, the flag that countless patriots fought and died to defend is a source of embarrassment and shame. That somehow they may offend someone who doesn't agree with the tenets of a free society seems absurd beyond imagination. Who are these people, and to whom do they owe their allegiance?

It seems that anyone who expresses the least degree of 'patriotism' is labeled a product of inbreeding whose intellectual capacity is not sufficient to warrant any but token derisive consideration, therefore, they want no part of alluding to that appearance. Well here is my take, ABC. You have deeply offended me and I suspect anyone who still regards the flag as a symbol of the freedoms purchased by the blood of millions of selfless patriots who felt it an honor to sacrifice their lives, leaving that precious legacy to their posterity and yes, to you, ABC.

Yes, ABC has the freedom to keep the flag off those whom they employ, but I also have the freedom to express my disgust and to not subscribe to their network. I also reserve the right to persuade others to do the same.

Now we have a president elect who refuses to wear any representation of the flag and who likewise refuses to pledge allegiance to that flag. My next question is: To whom or what does he pledge his allegiance if not to the country that he will be sworn to represent and defend as our Commander in Chief? I sincerely hope that I am overstating this behavior and perhaps overreacting as well, but I don't think so. Ladies and gentlemen, this is cause for very serious concern.

More to come: The resurrection of the 'Fairness in Broadcasting' legislation proposed by the new congress.

The Obamanation of the Media

This is the first commentary on the SPUDS blog, and it comes soon after the election of a man literally sponsored and likely elected by the major media and big money the proportions of which we have never before seen in American politics. The forces behind him with their absurdly arrogant posturing as keepers of fairness, openness and nonpartisanship have breached frontiers heretofore unknown.

I had my alarm clock/radio set on the NPR station, and for the last year, every single morning I was awakened with the usual glowing commentary overflowing with unbridled praise for the good Senator Obama and his sidekick, Joe B. This was usually followed by an ample dose of subtle sneering at Senator McCain and or Governor Palin. It never took more than five seconds from the time the alarm went off for the unbiased and incorruptible commentators to proceed with the courtship of their president select in almost comical reverent tones. I suppose they could have had more to say, but it rarely took me more than ten more seconds to hit the snooze button (usually accompanied with a hearty commentary of my own).

I have purposely avoided network television for a long time, but during the ridiculously protracted campaign for the present presidency which began shortly after the last inauguration of George junior back in 2005, I limited my NBC, ABC, CBS, MSNBC, CNN viewing to random snippets when my lovely wife happened to have the tube tuned to one of those bastions of truth, justice, and the American way. Without fail, within the brief moments before I could reach the remote, I witnessed there too, the never ending shameless gushing of our national "news" droids in their conga line literally fighting to out-showcase each other for the Obiden cause, and likewise to out-smear the pitiful McPalin ticket.

Did you see it? If you didn't, open your eyes.

Out of time - more coming up.