Deja Vu:Cable News "analysis" seems like the Iraq build up all over again.

[Armstead]

One of the most frustrating aspects of the media coverage in the days beore the Iraq War was the narrow and monolithic selection of "commentators" and "analyists" who were spitting out variations of the same misinformation.

They all repeated the same basic mantras. Even the so-called diversity of views usually boiled down to narrow debates over HOW we should go to war, not IF we should go to war.

They all mostly fell into the conservative/neo-con/centrist axis and the elitist category of: "If you knew what I know, you'd realize that we have to invade Iraq because the danger from Sadaam is so high."

Then in the aftermath, when that was shown to be false and the war became a disaster some in the media started issuing mea culpas and promised to be more skeptical next time.

Well it's next time, and it seems that they're back to their old habits. Same old tired faces spoutinf off the same old rhetoric. Iran is the New Sadaam. Syria is its henchman. Israel is acting appropriately. Hezbollah is Al Quadeh....

Without debating policy or the accuracy or inaccuracy of those statements, it seems to me that once again, the Consensus of Approved Opinion is driving out all real discussion, debate or alternative perspectives.

Instead of actually finding diverse viewpoints that would actually provide information and perspective, we're just hearing the same old-same-old.

Keeerist. The only guy I've heard saying anything remotely different is Pat Buchanan, of all people.

GW and the Neo-cons must be really relieved.

[kittenpants]

1. The CNN lead-in music for "Conflict in the Holy Land" is so aggressive

that I'm pretty sure it actually raises my blood pressure every time I hear it. If you play it backwards it probably has messages inciting violence and the advent of WWIII.

[Armstead]

2. Well at least they're still calling it a "Conflict"

Wait'll they cross the line and call it The Prophesized War or something like that.

I wish the producers of news would just find a job in the movie business where they obviously really want to be.

[Dawgs]

3. It's all about the money.

CNN, MSNBC, and FoxNews are loving this "conflict". Whatever they have to keep viewers interested is what you'll see.

[Armstead]

4. Seems to me that some honest debate would pull in viewers

Instead of the same old sleepy talking heads spouting the same old repetition of talking pointgs as the only truth.

[Norquist Nemesis]

5. The past few days it was "Crisis in MidEast". Today it's

"World in Crisis" (or something like that). Point is, they've broadened this in a very visual way to the the world.

*sigh*

[RaleighNCDUer]

6. Yup. The fighting is in Gaza and South Lebanon, but the

bobble-heads have been shouting 'Iran' at every opportunity.

[Armstead]

7. kick