THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA
An Online Journal of Political Commentary & Analysis
Volume V, Issue # 90, April 3, 2003
Dr. Almon Leroy Way, Jr., Editor
Government Committed to & Acting in Accord with Conservative Principles
Ensures a Nation's Strength, Progress, & Prosperity
WALTER CRONKITE: THE MOST OVERRATED MAN IN AMERICA
By Paul Walfield
How do you get the title of "the most trusted man in America"? Apparently, you do it by deceiving most Americans.
Walter Cronkite, who used to anchor the CBS Evening News, managed to hide his true colors for years, but, like most things; everything comes out in the wash.
Mr. Cronkite spent 60 years in "journalism," of which 31years was spent at CBS. He left his job at CBS in 1981. During the mid-1970s, he was voted among the top 10 "most influential decision-makers in America," by U.S. News and World Report. It was a time before cable news, and it was a time when "journalists" could report a story, make a comment, and not be challenged. It was a time when we all thought the socalled "news" presented by the broadcasting networks' "news" programs was really genuine news, news not slanted by politically biased anchors and reporters.
We trusted Walter Cronkite because he read the "news" and seemed nice.
How could a kindly senior, who smiled and pronounced each syllable of each word, be anything but an American patriot who was devoted to his country and its people. Obvi- ously, you really can't tell a book by its cover.
When it comes to America being at fault for being attacked on September 11, 2001, Wal- ter has some interesting observations, saying, "I think very definitely that foreign policy could have caused what has happened.... It certainly should be apparent now - it should be, for goodness sakes understood now, but it is not - that the problem is this great division between the rich and the poor in the world. We represent the rich....Most of these other nations of Africa, Asia and South America and Central America are very, very poor....This is a revolution in effect around the world. A revolution is in place today. We are suffering from a revolution of the poor and have-nots against the rich and haves, and that's us." Walter Cronkite is a multi-millionaire.
When it comes to America defending itself against tyrants with weapons of mass de- struction, "I'm very disappointed that we've come to this point," Mr. Cronkite said. And, when it comes to having confidence in America's military and America's ability to overwhelm an enemy, "The military is always more confident than circumstances show they should be," he said last week in an interview.
Of course, when it comes to American national security and deeming the safety and se- curity of America and its citizens as paramount, Mr. Cronkite finds American national- ism [national patriotism] is nothing more than the "arrogance of our spokespeople." Ac- cording to Cronkite, "The arrogance of our spokespeople, even the President himself, has been exceptional, and it seems to me they have taken great umbrage at that."
Besides, who are we to tell others that we believe American interests are more important than the interests of folks in Cameroon? Walter believes we have no such right, "We have told them what they must do. It is a pretty dark doctrine."
Naturally, for someone who learned to dislike America during the Vietnam era, every conflict, even ones that are designed to protect the American population from devastat- ing attacks are nothing more than quagmires, quagmires that we all will find very costly and burdensome. "We are going to be in such a fix when this war is over, or before this war is over, our grandchildren's grandchildren are going to be paying for this war," Wally said.
Will America keep trying to maintain its standing in the world and heaven forbid make the determination to confront terrorism and evil in the world? In pondering and com- menting on this question, Wally is very pessimistic, "I look at our future as, I'm sorry, being very, very dark. Let's see our cards as we rise to meet the difficulties that lie ahead." Trying to be clever, Wally parodies the President when Mr. Bush wanted to have those who are with us and those who were against us "show their cards." Sadly for Wally, his attempts at conveying his thoughts, work.
Wally prides himself for his Liberalism and concern for the environment. Wally and his ilk, millionaires who like to tell others what they must sacrifice and what they must think, have a bit of difficulty when their own lifestyle may be affected.
One of the more (at least until the champions of the environment were directly affected) desirable and not controversial alternative energy sources were windmills. They didn't pollute, were relatively quiet, and generally didn't bother the sensibilities of the sensitive folks.
However, if you own millions of dollars worth of beachfront real estate and like to look at an unobstructed view of the Atlantic Ocean, you tend to long for the oil burning furnaces of yesteryear or the nuclear reactors of today. You see, those types of power plants are in someone else's neighborhood and do not block your view.
"I'm very concerned about a private developer's plan to build an industrial energy com- plex across 24 square miles of publicly owned land in the middle of Nantucket Sound." Wally adds, "Experts have warned that these massive wind turbines could disrupt the natural habitat for wildlife in the Sound and endanger boats and airplanes. We should listen to their concerns."
The bottom line for Wally and his crew is that he and they are nothing more than hypo- crites.
"And that's the way it is."
LINKS TO RELATED TOPICS:
The News Media & Political Bias
Liberals, Statists, Socialists, & Other Leftists
Paul Walfield is a freelance writer and member of the State Bar of California, with an undergraduate degree in Psychology
and post-graduate study in behavioral and analytical psychology. He resided for a number of years in the small town of
Houlton, Maine, and is now a California attorney. His articles appear in numerous periodicals and on numerous websites. He
has been the featured guest on KTSA News Talk Radio. CONTACT INFORMATION: Email:
paul.walfield@cox.net
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THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA
An Online Journal of Political Commentary & Analysis
Dr. Almon Leroy Way, Jr., Editor
Conservative & Free-Market Analysis of Government, Politics & Public Policy, Covering Political, Legal, Constitutional, Economic,
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Conservative Government Ensures a Nation's Strength, Progress, & Prosperity