I'm betting that what's driving me nuts is also driving quite a few other people crazy. My blog's title, "Irregular Joe", generally refers to the ills that I think are plaguing the mainstream media in this country. I can't exactly cover such a broad topic, so I've decided to limit my topic to MSNBC's show "Scarborough Country", hosted by Joe Scarborough.

Why pick on Joe? Because I like Joe, and I think he's capable of seeing the other side of an argument and acknowledging its merits. That basic civility and respect for another's point of view seems to be fading from American politics and news programs. Unlike many of his contemporaries, I think Joe Scarborough has demonstrated honesty, intelligence, thoughtfulness, and intense loyalty. This loyalty at times can easily be confused as bigotry and vehement partisan bullheadedness. But I think there is a difference between Joe Scarborough and the many in his line of work that are blinded and consumed by their hatred for the opposition. If I can't keep Joe on the honest track, by deconstructing and examining the arguments expressed on his program, at least I've formulated my own opinions on the matter and perhaps gained some knowledge and insight into the issues.

The people I interact with in my daily life, people who work regular jobs to pay their bills and raise a family, people who work towards building a brighter future for their families and communities, people who care about the future of this country and the planet, are not worried about celebrity trials. We worry about things like globalization, outsourcing, the environment, corporate and government corruption, health care, education, retirement, security, and yes crime, but not to the inordinate degree that one would conclude by turning on a cable news channel. We worry that a polarized and ideologically driven political system will squabble incessantly in dead-lock and fail to address the big issues of our time. We worry that the issues that really affect us are being drowned out by the comparatively irrelevant and meaningless static. In part I blame the media for it's poor stewardship and dereliction of the vital duty to keep the electorate informed and be a vigilant government and corporate watchdog.

Programs like "Scarborough Country" are a symptom of the problem, not the cause. I'm not blaming Joe Scarborough for all the failings and imperfections of the media and the American political system. I don't intend to single out Joe and bash him for his opinions. If Joe's opinions are well reasoned and thought out, even if I disagree with them, I'll respect that and formulate my reasons why I agree or disagree. I also intend to track the content of Scarborough Country as an example of the disproportionate amount of journalistic and media resources spent on a few isolated criminal and celebrity cases. I intend to point out the shameful partisan rhetoric when I see it. The ideologues that blindly follow the party line, while incessantly berating and smearing anyone in opposition are turning the political discourse in this country toxic. My goal is to point out the hypocricy of blind partisanship and to call it the venom that it is. It's the poison that is doing this country no good and Americans should not tolerate the demagoguery and smearing that permeates politics. Joe Scarborough espouses common sense, and I intend to hold him to that.

I'll conclude my inaugural post with the root-cause of my decision to start a blog on this topic. Today I emailed Scarborough Country to express my displeasure at attacks that Joe and a guest leveled against Senator Chuck Hagel for an appearance that he made on Sunday, Aug. 21st, 2005 where he expressed concern about the Bush administration's policies in Iraq. I just got fed-up of watching partisan ideologues smear people with opposing views rather than having an honest discourse and debate of the issues. The kind of poisonous assault on Senator Hagel for his remarks is precisely the kind of partisan rhetoric that is dishonest, toxic and hurts the political discourse. It seemed that Joe Scarborough was particularly upset that Senator Hagel, a republican, would dare express a view that does not favor the Bush administration. For Monday, Aug. 22nd, 2005, Joe Scarborough certainly towed the party line. Joe, your lack of tollerance for decenting opinions within your own party is making you look like a partisan ideologue. But tomorrow's another day. Maybe you can tone down the rhetoric and address the issues.

The transcript of Joe's shameful remarks can be found here (or check msnbc.com).