WHO KNEW?

Who knew? Liberal ideology really does pay. Jon Stewart has proven over the last 5 years that bashing Bush and his regime is not only easy, but profitable. Steven Colbert, likewise, spun off and is making his living by mocking ultra right talking heads on FOX news like O’Reilly, Hannity, and Gibson.

But, you say, that is comedy, everyone knows that comedy has always flourished making fun of the powers that be. Not so fast my friend. Let us look at Keith Olbermann who started exposing Bush regime absurdities on MSNBC and whose Worst Person in the World segment took bold swipes at right wing media types like Limbaugh, Coulter, and O’Reilly. Olbermann, once a sportscaster, is not only skilled at his comedic shtick about the worst persons on the world, but also well-spoken and succinct in his serious comments and criticisms of the most egregious of Bush policies and actions.

It is no surprise to liberals that MSNBC numbers are up by double digits for October, the month when Keith began his campaign of special comments on the state of our nation. But, there is more. Chris Matthews unapologetically is coming out in no uncertain terms against the fiasco in Iraq, and he's clear in his condemnation of dirty GOP tricks. And, Joe Scarborough who is a former GOP Rep himself broke new ground when he asked, "Is George Bush and idiot?" It looks like MSNBC is leading the way in ratings increases, and the only thing I can say to that is, "It's about time." Sanity really does have a place in George Bush's America.

And, CNN is following suit. Lou Dobbs who started the ball rolling on the loss of American jobs overseas and south of the border is now hosting specials spotlighting the assault on the middle class. This in direct opposition to the White House spin that the American economy is strong and all credit goes to Bush. Jack Cafferty a long time conservative pointed out early on the problems with Bush's surveillance program which most certainly targets Americans, all of them, and not just those supposedly talking to "terrorists." Wolf Blitzer felt the sting of Lynne Cheney's words in response to his simple questions about her husband’s admission that he is for water boarding. What else could he have meant? Overnight, Wolf becomes one of us.

The most successful campaigns are those that portray their opponent or themselves as other than George Bush. Those who a few short years ago were afraid to criticize Bush or his war will now stand the best chances to win if they decry both. How is that for an about face?

The Dixie Chicks, after being blacklisted are on the bounce back with their new movie, and even though NBC would not run the ads for the movie, Chris Matthews did interview them at length on Hardball. And, even though the right wing has had a little fun at our expense over the problems of Air America Radio, the real truth there is that liberal radio is here to stay. The problems were management, not with the audience.

As more and more Republicans implode or fall victim to their own greed and lust through scandal after scandal, commentary critical of them and their inability to govern sells. Liberals are returning after a long self-imposed exodus from viewing TV news. And, that return is notable. Pay attention networks!

Print news circulation suffers as blogs and internet sites take up the slack and meet the challenges of truth in reporting that the TV networks and major newspapers have neglected. When print news stated to play the enabler to George W, liberals bailed on them in large numbers. Americans did not give up the news, we gave up on the mainstream sources. We turned to Buzzflash, Huffington Post, Daily Kos, Crooks and Liars, Eschaton, Bartcop, FireDogLake, and a host of others (I cannot list you all, you know who you are.)

I hear it said that Americans are stupid. But, Americans are NOT stupid. It may take some time to turn the tide, we are a huge nation, but the tide is turning and has been turning. Americans have been led astray by the sound bites from the mainstream media and the hands off reporting done by many news outlets in the U.S. Many of us on the left knew early on that there was no limit to the damage that a George W. Bush presidency would do to this nation. His past was covered up and his gaffes were downplayed. His actions were excused time and time again by the mainstream.

But, here is the flash that we have for those who would have paved the way for George Bush to be King, the ones who had their hands in our pockets and in George's. We know crazy. We know corrupt. We know when someone is trying to put one over on us. We may give you the benefit of the doubt; that is what Americans do, but in the end, we will call you on it. We may be the media generation. We may watch the Super Bowl just to see the new ways corporate America is going to sell us beer and insurance this year, but we know bullshit when we see it. We may love special effects, being the Star Wars generation and all, but we know when we are being played.

Given the real poop, the facts, mam, just the facts, we will do what is right. Let me repeat that, given accurate information Americans will do what is right. We will be effective, and we will solve problems. History seems to run in streaks, trends if you will. From time to time we are called upon as to introspect, to search our collective soul. We are doing that. Some of us were ahead of the others by years, but it looks like we are all on the same page now.

More and more I am not afraid. The shift has occurred. We are wise to you Mr. Bush. Oh, and, “Say good night, Dick.”

-Mags