The Tease of Things I Don't Need

Shouldn't there be some penalties for this?

...I mean, aside from the penalties paid by the public, who are dually betrayed by not only being lied to but having their pockets picked to pay the people who spin the lies? (The first link might involve a free sign-up at the New York Times website, but the others should be open to all.)

More confirmation that under the Bush administration some 20 government agencies have been pumping out carefully-crafted public relations pieces pretending to be news reports. These bits of video number in the hundreds over the past four years, and package pro-administration messages in the guise of independent news reports. As I said, I don't expect this to be news to anyone, as it's been legitimately reported on and reported on repeatedly, but nothing appears to be being done about it as the pro-administration propaganda mill continues.

It's bad enough to see that Dan Rather's replacement, Bob Schieffer, debuted in the anchor chair with pro-admininistration misinformation on Social Security. Having fake news reports manufactured at taxpayer expense to lie to the people of the U.S. about everything from social programs to military adventures abroad should be several steps over the line. Apparently, though, until it involves lies about sex it doesn't rise to an actionable status of high crimes and misdemeanors.