New York City vs. George W. Bush

Here the deal. New York City is the biggest city in the U.S. Despite electing Republican mayors in the last 4 elections, NYC has grown so increasingly liberal that a then-popular incumbent President didnt even bother to campaign here when he was seeking re-election back in '04. The state's governor is a lame-duck Republican who continuously comes off as aloof. Our two senators are narcissstic Bush-bashers and one of them wasn't even born here. The city is run by a very popular liberal mayor who supports and just the other day announced that he would gladly perform gay marriages. Plus, 5 years later the city is involved in a huge mess about what to do with Ground Zero.

Yet, despite all of that, we're supposed to act surprised that the feds are giving us less money for handling terrorism?

Can Katie Courie Just Go Away Already?

Geez, you'd think Geraldo Rivera was retiring or something.

NEW YORK (AP) -- Millions of Americans can scarcely remember a weekday where Katie Couric wasn't a part of their morning routine.

Maybe the "Today" show was on in the background when they gathered their homework for school. Later, she was there when they gulped a quick cup of coffee before work. In a few years, they'd watch TV while feeding the baby and Couric was still there -- a few hairstyles later.

That comes to an end on Wednesday, Couric's last day as "Today" co-host. She'll be feted in a three-hour special edition stuffed with film clips and performances by Tony Bennett, Martina McBride and the cast of the Broadway show "Jersey Boys."

How will she be able to hold it all together?

"I haven't really thought about it and worried about it," Couric told The Associated Press. "I'll do what I've always done for 15 years and be myself. I'll react the way I react."

Katie Couric is the Vanna White of network journalists. She's cute. She's perky. Not much else. But being cute and perky can go a long way in a medium that cares more about ratings and what you look like than the actual level of talent you bring to the table. What made Peter Jennings great was his class, integrity and knowledge of the news he was reporting. Katie Couric is far from great. She's a con artist who happened to be graced with a devilish smile that got her paid for life.

Now she should count her blessings, spend her millions wisely and just go away already.

Why Are The Dixie Chicks On The Cover Of TIME?

Let's play naive for a second and say that The Dixie Chicks making the cover of TIME this past week is because their criticism of President Bush in 2003 made them rebels in a genre that is known to be decidedly conservative and Republican. Yet, when 50 Cent, arguably the most prominent rapper today in a genre (Hip-Hop) that is known to be decidedly liberal, makes a controversial comment supporting George W. Bush and his handling of Hurricane Katrina, it gets hardly any attention much less serves as a cover story for one of the country's major newsmagazines.

Granted, one could argue that 50 is far from a political scholar. But from what I've read and seen neither are The Dixie Chicks. Could there be some sort of double-standard here? Could the editors at TIME just be racist? Could the editors at TIME just be composed of mostly liberals? And could TIME even be aware that their cover choice unintentionally plays right into the hands of the current anti-Dixie Chicks backlash being stirred by country music radio?

All of the above? Perhaps.

Then again, criticizing the President is one thing. Exploiting those comments (instead of just relying on your talent) for record sales is kind of sad.