Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

I watched Mr. Smith goes to Washington today. I love that movie. If it were released today it would be condemned by Fox News and the right as more of that Hollywood Liberal-Michael Moore-Hate-America-First-George Clooney tripe. Corruption in the Senate, destroying a man using the media, and disdain for the filibuster. The movie highlights more than anything that the more things change the more they stay the same. Insert Jack Abramoff for Taylor, insert (and I know this will piss people off) John Kerry or Al Gore for Smith. O.K. I know I'm way to liberal to be open minded but it's there. Kerry vs. The Swift Boat Veterans. The Media painting Al Gore as a constant fabricator. And while I doubt that the Republican party would stoop to running little kids off the street, I wouldn't put it past them. They profess a love for our military and our troops, but that didn't stop them from spreading rumors about John McCain when they ran against him in the primaries. This is a man who served our country with distinction. He gave years of his life for us in that POW camp and they used that to suggest (with just the slightest hint) that he betrayed us. Despicable. They questioned former Senator Max Cleland's patriotism. He gave both his legs and his right arm for this country. What did Bush or Cheney ever give.

It's sad in a way. We've made so much progress, yet not really. Congress is still under the control of special interests. The media can still be bought and paid for. And you can still present evidence before a Senate committee that is full of lies and falsified information. Were there ever really any "good old days"

j.r.