We're so used to bullshit, we consider it a condiment.

[Atticus]

It is easy to forget who owns 98% of our MSM and it is easy to think we "know" what is actually happening in our world because we simply pay attention. It is helpful to remind ourselves every now and then that the powers that be are manipulating the MSM without regard to justice or decency or truth, but with the primary long-term objective of maximizing business profits and strengthening the grip of the plutocrats on our society.

I believe it to be an obvious truth that what is said about a potential candidate by the MSM definitely influences whether or not they acutually run, how much monetary and other support they attract and, ulitmately, how they fare in the election. The MSM may not have total control of the political process, but they certainly lay a heavy hand on the scales when they decide to either assist or hinder a candidacy.

I believe they tried mightily to elect McCain and Palin in 2008, but failed only because the taste of the Bush years was still overwhelmingly foul in the mouths of even the most casually involved voters. Still, they tried to make the very lopsided contest a horse race right down to election day by "pumping up" the sagging McCain-Palin candidacy with transparent wishful thinking masked as commentary and analysis.

They're at it again with the Teabaggers.

This angry amalgamation of cynical neo-cons, birthers and Klansmen-wannabes stands for---what?
Their top three leaders are---who?
They are different from "ordinary" extreme Republicans---how?

Nearly everything you think you know about these idiots came from MSM "analysis" of the "movement". In other words, all of the "angry populist patriot" bullshit you've heard was generated by people who wanted to sell you a story, a narrative, some new and different "conflict" that would tempt you to tune in to find out "what happened today" in the land of tricorn hats, yellow flags and semi-automatic weapons.

Yes, these simplistic bullies must be watched and, occasionally, stepped on, but we should not be distracted from the REAL opposition, the Republican Party, which will re-absorb the Tea Party just as soon as it is no longer novel or useful.