dayum.

[sisyphusshrugged]

via snuh in comments, this beautiful thing from paleoneo Cal Thomas:

BURNS: As what we're saying now indicates, there's a tremendous amount of controversy in this country today about the media's role in covering the war in Iraq. And it's reflected in a new Fox News/Opinion Dynamics Poll. Look at this: where are the problems being created? More people think that the problems related to Iraq are being created in the news media than in Iraq, in Washington D.C., or in any of those combined.

Cal, is this a typical blame the messenger syndrome or is there something more at work here?

THOMAS: I think there's part of that. But I'd like to see a debate on whether we should go back to a form of censorship during the process of war itself. To be able to show all of those pictures while it's going on -- the embedding during the war coverage was fine, I thought. But in the aftermath now, with all of these questions being raised, it's a political and election year, I'm not sure that some form of censorship might not be called for.

BURNS: You were -- wait a minute, Cal, you're advocating that?

THOMAS: Yes.

HALL: These are our own soldiers, Cal. This was not a story brought to you outside the news media.

THOMAS: Yes, but it's being skewed and it's being slanted. It's a political year. A lot of things are being said and done in the media for the express purpose of bringing down.

HALL: The media didn't uncover Abu Ghraib.

GABLER: The war is not expressly for the purposes of supporting George Bush. I cannot believe that a conservative.

THOMAS: People are dying. People are dying.

GABLER: ... is calling that they were put in harm's way.

THOMAS: Well, believe it.

GABLER: That a conservative would be calling for this.

GABLER: I'm astonished.

PINKERTON: Censor all of those reporters who were beating at the prisoners at the Abu Ghraib prison, which a censor -- stop watching television, come beat them up just to get ratings and front page story.

THOMAS: Very cute.

GABLER: Mike Wilson has been slapping them around.