The times, are they a-changin'?

I'm actually gaining respect for CNN -- or, rather, for some of its field reporters and even a few "big-name" people there (though Larry King ISN'T one of them) -- since they're actively and vocally disputing the Feds' views of what's going on in New Orleans. This article on their Web site seems downright ballsy, given the past few years of media meekness in the face of the Bush administration's outrageous ineptitude and criminal activity. I almost cheered this afternoon as CNN's Soledad O'Brien sweetly yet doggedly cornered FEMA Chief Nitwit Michael Brown as he tried to insist that things were going well. "It's FRIDAY," she repeated several times. He got really red-faced and, good Bush crony that he is, held fast to his version of the truth and came out looking like an ass.

Jack Cafferty remains outspoken in his disdain and outrage over the Feds' "bungling" of this whole thing, and Last night Anderson Cooper ranted at Louisiana senator Mary Landrieu, "Excuse me, Senator, I'm sorry for interrupting. I haven't heard that [about the sanate approving $10 billion for relief efforts], because, for the last four days, I've been seeing dead bodies in the streets here in Mississippi. And to listen to politicians thanking each other and complimenting each other, you know, I got to tell you, there are a lot of people here who are very upset, and very angry, and very frustrated.

"And when they hear politicians slap -- you know, thanking one another, it just, you know, it kind of cuts them the wrong way right now, because literally there was a body on the streets of this town yesterday being eaten by rats because this woman had been laying in the street for 48 hours. And there's not enough facilities to take her up.

"Do you get the anger that is out here?"

At least CNN finally gets it. I know, they're a far cry from Democracy Now! or Alternet or Daily Kos (my new fave read), but they're not right-wing stoolies anymore, either.

Oh, King George is wrapping up his Gulf visit -- flying out of the N.O. airport on his way back to DC. God, dude, it's Friday. Thanks for showing up. Oh, and tell Condi we love her new shoes. Really stylish. Y'all come back now, hear?