Failure of the Fourth Estate -- who is looking out for us?

We live in strange times -- the press bias for liberal thought has moved from denial to outright acceptance. I remember in the late 1980's to early 1990's when conservative claims of press bias was reacted to as radical by the main stream media (MSM). Back then (boy do I feel old with that statement), the MSM denied the bias even though some 9 out of 10 journalists voted for and contributed to democrat/liberal candidates.

With the Barack Obama campaign we have achieved a new low. Journalism has died and may never return. MSM "journalists" (quotes intentional) felt tingling feelings in the leg when Barack Obama spoke, cheered at the democrat convention, and otherwise made fools of themselves.

We conservatives are no longer surprised and many of us have achieved a level of indifference. We have long moved from the bitter unfairness feeling to numbness. It is what it is...

...but....

Let's step back and really understand what all this means. The press has first amendment protection. Not 2nd, 3rd, or 10th...FIRST amendment protection. Here is the first amendment if you haven't read it in a while...

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

We forget so easily the import of this wisdom. The founding fathers recognized and experienced the power of government. Giving power to a few over the many is fraught with danger without appropriate controls and oversight. The wisdom of the first amendment is that press would be protected to provide the insight necessary for free people to remain free. Look at the first thing that usually happens in a country without these protections. When a dictator or otherwise authoritarian comes to power, the press and television stations are taken over or closed. The first amendment prevents this in the United States -- it is sometimes referred to as the fourth estate. Fourth after the judicial, legislative, and executive branches of government. The press is a final check and balance.

(Yes, I know this is the US version of fourth estate definition. Originally the first three estates were the clergy, the nobles, and the commoners.)

So what happens when the fourth estate voluntarily advocates, supports, and otherwise elect a particular candidate? We don't know...it is uncharted territory.

The abdication of journalism by the MSM is not good and is dangerous. Who will look out for the interest of the people? If you voted for Barack Obama, you may not think this to be an issue given the glow of victory that is surely clouding your senses. But think hard about this point.

Who will ask the hard questions so we know what the power players are doing? If the MSM doesn't ask the questions, will they get out of the way to allow the new media to ask the questions?

We provide a great amount of power to a few...republican or democrat...we need to know what they are up to...we need the Fourth Estate to do their jobs...or...stop pretending like they are...