Don't have a cow, it's just a burger

One of the lessons I learned from my late father's example is to give as good as you get. 

I have always respected Dan Rather as a newsman. His appearance this week on The Daily Show has elevated that respect. After all, it's not important if you can't poke a little fun, especially if you're one of the elders of tv journalism satirizing on the current state of journalism and editorial decisions of what is newsworthy. My take on this issue of journalism is that we're not giving as good as we get - because we are largely getting news for free. And, more importantly, we're not getting much right now, either. 

Case in point is the media hoopla around Obama's burger outing with Biden earlier this week. Sean Hannity derided the President for his "fancy burger" (Obama ordered Dijon mustard instead of plain yellow). With respect to this "Dijongate" all I have to say is, [Jesus Tapdancing Christ] Really? Obama's choice of Dijon over plain yellow mustard is really going to "derail his presidency" or demonstrates he is out of touch with the middle class?!? Surely I am not the only one who sees the irony in the freedom-fries crowd's embracing a product named, of all things, French's. JTC, man, JTC.

A. Attack of the fancy condiments! Proof of elitist European plot?

Bill Maher got it exactly right in his recent LA Times opinion piece:

"Here are the big issues for normal people: the war, the economy, the environment, mending fences with our enemies and allies, and the rule of law...

"And here's the list of Republican obsessions since President Obama took office: that his birth certificate is supposedly fake, he uses a TelePrompTer too much, he bowed to a Saudi guy, Europeans like him, he gives inappropriate gifts, his wife shamelessly flaunts her upper arms, and he shook hands with Hugo Chavez and slipped him the nuclear launch codes."