I'm watching this Frontline called Cliffhanger....

[WCGreen]

It's about the grand bargain the Whitehouse and the Senate and the House were trying to cobble together.

As it plays out, it looks as if some egos on the right wing were bruised and so they threw a hissy fit and the whole thing collapsed.

The more I hear about this the more I think of the last days of Rome when all the Senators were more interested in what was good for the Senator and damn the people. When that happens, nit picky shit can blow up and bring down the whole house of cards because this guy over here was slighted by that guy over there never mind the consequences because the most important thing is to spite that mother fucker over there....

Kids on a play ground. These egos with ties are taking this country into dangerous territory that wont really effect them but will potentially ruin the the lives of hundreds of millions people if they don't stop this bullshit.

When will this stop, when will the adults stand up and say enough!

[Warpy]

1. It'll stop only when people in gerrymandered districts in red states

turn off their AM radios and stop voting ignorant trash into office.

[Kolesar]

2. Eric Cantor and Paul Ryan wanted to depose speaker Boehner

I liked how Boehner swept the four teabaggers out of important House committees after the November election.

[Berlum]

4. "Four teaBaGGers down, 40 more to go." - Teh Beohnah (R)

[HiPointDem]

3. i thought the adults were in charge now...that's what they told us when obama was elected.

[EastKYLiberal]

5. That's the price we pay for allowing anyone to put their name on the ballot.

People running for a government position on the platform of obstructing government should be prohibited.

[Cirque du So-What]

6. Those are good questions for which I have no easy answer

The Frontline exposé you mention is perhaps the best approach to educating the public about the battle of egos that passes for governance in this country, but it has limited 'reach.' For instance, I wasn't even aware of Cliffhanger until I saw your post, but that's my fault. I'm more inclined to read than watch TV, even a show with such a sterling reputation, and I'm sure I'm not alone. I don't know what it would take to generate enough interest and outrage to entice people to watch shows like this, but many consider anything politics-related to be a big snoozefest.

Personally, I believe nothing will get done until it starts 'hitting home' for millions of people, although the damage is already done by that time. Like I said, many find politics boring, so they're not going to go out of their way for information like that, whether it's in print or on TV. They won't find it on the evening news, that's for sure, so PBS is the only recourse, but you still must contend with an audience who would rather watch Here Comes Honey Boo Boo than Frontline.

As much as I detest the 'soundbite' approach to journalism, it may be our last, best hope for getting out the word, but what are the chances that the corporate media will make it available? Social media provide an outlet for snippets of information, but it may get 'lost in the sauce' of kitty gifs & religious platitudes that make the rounds. Plus, some are so brainwashed that the first thing that smacks of 'liberalism' may get the sender de-friended.

[WCGreen]

7. The Networks thrive on the drama, playing out the nations business as if it was just another

reality show with crazy people coming on to laugh at as they get voted off the show come primary time.

That horror show of a primary season for the Republicans was down right embarrassing. What must people outside looking in think of our self proclaimed "bestest country in the whole wide world..."

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. See John McCain right now and Hegel.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

9. It's not the first time our days have been compared to the last days of Rome...

Bread and circuses for the masses...

Infighting and lack of interest in the consequences for our "leaders."

I hope the adults will show up and reverse our course......

K&R