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MEDIA MUD

O my weary head.

“Hail to the Chief!” was posted today on Google News. I was elated at the story relating how much United States President George W. Bush is standing in current polls. The Americans appear to have seen through the Rathers and Clique in order to get hold of Mr. Bush’s integrity. Also, the mission at present in the Middle East liberation.

But I flicked to another site for a few minutes and then returned to Google only to discover that the “Hail to the Chief!” had slipped out of sight. Not there. Well, so much for a post’s fifteen minutes — or seconds? — of fame.

But back again to my weary head. Truth. Where is it? Searching for its fine line in media coverage is head bending. Flip from one anchorperson to another and you get this version and that slant. Put them together and you come up with a lopsided puzzle. Not supposed to be.

Nevertheless, it appears to be more accurate in the US than in European fare, not to mention the Iraqi countries. France coverage, of course, is as twisted as their UN reps. But we already know that as a given.

However, at the close of this day, I surely won’t give up the tussle. It is worth scrambling through the fog. Somewhere out there in the mist there comes through a semblance of reality.

Nevertheless, all along the trek I keep those caution lights on high beam. And with that, I share this with you:

The Pope visited Washington to see President Bush. They took an excursion one morning on the Potomac. It was a perfect day for sailing on the presidential yacht.

Both men were taking in the grandeur when suddenly the Pope’s hat (zucchetto) was lifted from his head by an unexpected wind. Landing on the water, the wayward hat caused both gentlemen unnerving surprise.

The President’s Secret Service fellows began to put out a boat for rescuing the Pope’s headgear. However, the President waved them off. “Wait. Wait. I will take care of this. Do not worry.”

The President stepped off the vessel onto the water’s glistening surface. With that, he bravely walked out a bit to retrieve the Pope’s tiny hat. Mr. Bush bent over, picked up the hat, then walked back to the boat, climbing aboard. With aplomb Mr. Bush handed the hat to the Pope.

All others were stunned into a respectful awe.

Come dawn’s early light, the Washington’s newspapers covered the story. Photos captioned the write-ups. Headlines blared forth with: BUSH CAN’T SWIM.