Juan Cole

From Informed Comment:
Much of cable television news is a conspiracy to keep people gossiping about the wrong thing and to prevent them from understanding what is really going on. Here are some examples:

The Buzz Reason for the shootings at Virginia Tech? Movie violence.

The Real Reason for the shootings at Virginia Tech? In the United States, violently mentally ill persons are allowed to buy hand guns.

The Buzz Reason for the trouble US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is in? The Dems are playing politics with a routine personnel issue.

The Real Reason Reason for the trouble US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is in? He lied about not being involved with the decision; it is also now obvious that he was carrying out a politicization of the US attorneys offices at the order of Harriet Myers and Karl Rove in the White House.

The Buzz Reason for which Senator John McCain sang "Bomb Iran" to the tune of the Beach Boys' "Barbara Ann"? He has a quirky sense of humor.

The Real Reason for which Senator John McCain sang "Bomb Iran" to the tune of the Beach Boys' "Barbara Ann"? Senator McCain is actually Major Kong (Slim Pickens" from Dr. Strangelove -- the one who rode the nuclear bomb on down onto the Soviet Union.

The Buzz Reason for which Senator Harry Reid says that the US has lost in Iraq? The Dems have lost their nerve.

The Real Reason for which Senator Harry Reid says that the US has lost in Iraq? It is very dangerous for a country not to have its eyes open about how well it is doing in a war.

The Buzz Reason for which World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz is in trouble? The World Bank's rules against nepotism disadvantage two-career couples at the Bank.

The Real Reason for which World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz is in trouble? He gave his girlfriend enormous raises and used her for Pentagon purposes.