Watching and waiting

Since the President proposed the second worst idea ever, I have been wondering what the consensus response from the media is going to be. I am quite certain that the plan does not have the support of either parties in Congress and the American people are generally tired of this President and his half-assed ideas.

That having been said, I do not believe there will be a uniform condemnation of this plan by the press. Instead, the press will operate from the 'cult of Bush' playbook which has provided the ground rules for covering the President. The way this operates is:

1. The President offers a horrible idea
   
2. The press/pundits declare the subject is open to debate
3. The press refers to a Bush cultist for insight
   
4. The cult member looks for any reason, whatsoever, to drink the Kool-Aid.
5. Kool-Aid is consumed and Bush is declared a genius
   
6. The press then refers to a non-Bushist who offers a clear and rational opposition to Bush's plan
7. Ridiculous debate ensues
   
8. The press mulls over this insane debate for 6 months
9. In the meantime, the President offers another horrible idea.
10. Repeat steps 2 through 10

I would like to have more faith in the process, but to be quite honest with you, we are 4 years into an absolute disaster and nothing has changed. The Democrats (and sane Republicans) are perfectly willing to do the right thing and end this mess, yet they are forced to fight a ghost. The President of 9-11 (another press fiction) will always play a central role in debate and it's going to take a long time (or Dr. Peter Venkman) to get rid of that ghost.