Those who favor the use of the f-word and others like it, believe they make the writing more vivid and less dull. What a talent pool we draw from today when a journalist can’t make his or her writing vivid and interesting without swearing?

I’m a 35-year resident of that Southern Maryland to which he refers and I could read into his jibberish all kinds of nasty accusations and dispersions about conservatives, rural lawmakers and residents of the Eastern Shore, all with racial undertones and overtones. To make matters worse, he employed that tired, old bias boilerplate used so often in politics: If a Republican had said that… or if a Democrat had done that..or if a conservative had said that instead of a liberal…boy would there have been touble…   Patrick’s garbled commentary was garbled because he, an accomplished journalist, could not find the right words to say what he meant without saying what he meant.

THE NON-CANDIDACY OF SARAH PALIN
Sarah Palin isn’t running for President. The odds of her running were better than getting hit by a meteor. The reasoning for her running didn’t exist.  The practicality of running faded into no-man’s land a couple of months ago, when her daughter spilled the beans that she had already made up her mind. The media didn’t really pursue that because it would have ruined all the fun.

So the woman Politico called Hurricane Sarah remains today a thespian of great talent, but a politician with no future. Palin Inc will continue to make millions, until the shine wears off. She has been the beneficiary of marketing genius, either hers or someone else’s. She has managed the media and mesmerized thousands and thousands of loyal followers with her mastery of the political perceptions. It will be fascinating now to see what the next season of the Palin soap will do in the marketplace.  Without portfolio her image may flicker and fade very rapidly. She was good, though. She spawned a whole new vanguard of spirited, attractive, pseudo-populist political celebrities who were able to raise themselves up as credible national leaders without even the minimal qualifications.

And, what about those devotees who gave of their hard-earned money to advance her candidacy and her career? What about the millions she has raised, maybe under false pretences, assuming with some justification that she never had any intense interest in running for President, only profiteering from the prospect of it.

Where do those who want one—and there may not be many–apply for a refund?

PRESS COVERAGE OF FREED HIKERS SHORT ON DETAIL
America was relieved when the two remaining hikers were freed last month after 2 years in Iranian prison, but there was a lot left out of the stories about their capture, incarceration and release. I’ve been waiting for follow-up reporting, but have not seen much. I am still not entirely sure what they were doing in Iraq in 2009, how long they had been there and why they were hiking so close to the Iranian border. Their behavior on its face seemed incredibly irresponsible. Did they have a guide? How were they captured? To what extent were the U.S. Government and other countries involved in the negotiations? What deals were made in the process? Did the United States or any other countries make concessions to Iran in order to secure their freedom? Who paid their “bail”? Were they extensively debriefed? What was learned? Maybe coverage has answered these questions and I just haven’t seen it.  If not, no  doubt Hollywood will produce a movie about their adventure, and then, as is the case with Hollywood movies and docudramas, we’ll surely get all the facts.