1 Is there a way to filed this under "Duh"? You complain about corporate media's shallowness in reporting news, and lament the days when there was actual meaning to be found in the major outlets, but what you don't focus on is the fact that this type of news sells to the sheeple. The media is corporatized. It's entire point is making money. Fox news is final proof of this, as the entire concept was to swoop in an snatch an entire "market" that was (by perception) not occupied. The others are the same way, they were just more established so most people didn't notice the transition to money-grubbing. The problem is not the media. As always, the problem is the people. If the people start to demand more meaningful, honest news, they'll get it. All they have to do is vote with their wallets. I, for example, continue to habitually visit CNN for my "news". Since I can't break the habit, I did the next best thing: every ad on the site is blocked, so I might as well have never been there. Not the ideal solution, of course, but at least I'm not paying for the privilege of being fed garbage. Poorly proofread garbage at that.

2 I was never thoroughly impressed by this guy, nor his son. He was a yellow dog Democrat. God rest his soul. (In other words, if Old Yeller were running as a Democrat against any Republican human being, he'd voted for Old Yeller)

3 I agree that it is quite typical of the media to hone in on that moment because they dont care about Bentsen, they just hate the other side. HOWEVER....Lloyd Bentsen should always be remembered for his infamous "Breakfast WIth Bentsen," where if you paid 10 Thousand dollars, you got a chance to eat breakfast with Senator Bentsen. He was never censured in any way for this, just eventually forced to stop but only because of political pressure. Imagine a Republican trying that one....

4 Another greedy crook takes a dirt nap; I'll drink to that.

5 Oh, relax. It's what most people remember about Lloyd Benson, like "I did not have sexual relations with that woman" or "major combat operations have ended in Iraq". And what planet is Steve on, chiding a dead man for what "the other side" is neck deep in right now? Sheesh. As if lobbying wasn't disgusting enough already, it was "the other side" that came up with the K Street Project.

6 Pretty much all politicians are a notch below pond scum, regardless of party affiliation, and there are very few who don't deserve a hemp necktie. The question is what are we going to do about it? Are we going to continue the status quo for spite, or stop supporting the legal organized crime syndicate which we call the two-party system? Vote for any nutcase you like in November, just don't vote Republican or Democrat; kick the bastards out.

7 If my memory has been sufficiently caffinated, I believe Tom Brokaw investigated Benson's claim that "Kennedy was a friend of mine.." and found absolutely no evidence of said claim. Typical politician, never let the truth get in the way of a good soundbite.

8 Back when the voting age in the U.S. was 21, Lloyd Bentsen was the first person I ever voted against. In West Texas, Bentsen was running against George H.W. Bush (ex-President and Daddy of current Prez) for Senate. Of course I was disappointed when Bush lost to Bentsen; however, Bush went on to bigger and better things (e.g. UN Ambassador, A presidential security advisor, a VP for 8 years under Reagan, and then President). So I tribute Pres. George H.W. Bush's great career to Lloyd Bentsen beating him for the Senate (@1972).

9 THEO: YOu miss the point. I had no desire to use this time to bring up Breakfast With Bentsen. I think today comments on him should be Apolitical. However, it was the MEDIA which turned it into the D vs R sideshow, and if that is the way they are going to play it, well then thats the way it will be played both ways. The original comments by Rusty were perfect. He should be remembered for his very honorable military service to his country, and that millions of Texans liked him enough to vote for him several times. Of course the MSM cant be classy enough to do that.

10 ONE MORE THING.... There is one big exception to the honor the dead rule. When Jimmy Carter dies...we should throw the biggest parties we can afford. That piece of disgusting shit whose four years in office were by a massive margin the worse in US History are still costing us billions of dollars and numerous lives lost. That piece of garbage and his whole trash family should move to Gaza and live with Hamas since he loves them so much...he always has loved any Arabs who blow up Jews.

11 I watched that debate live, and it struck me at the time that this comment was rehearsed. It wasn't difficult during rehearsals to assume that a question about Dan Quayle's age would come up, and that his likely response was to mention JFK's age. So, some vicious staffer probably came up with the rebuttal line, and Bentsen (under the heat and pressure of a live debate) used it with great flourish when the opportunity came. It's even possible that the questioner (a leftist media hack) planted the question with Bentsen's staffers, but it's not necessary to believe in this level of conspiracy to agree with my theory that it was just a lucky bit of show prep by the Bentsen camp, and a piss-poor bit of prep by the Quayle camp.

12 >>When Jimmy Carter dies...we should throw the biggest parties we can afford Typical. You know, I HATED Ronald Reagan's presidency, but at least I was respectful enough to keep my yap shut when he died when the media was basically fellating his corpse. I'm not surprised that right-wingers are incapable of the same level of basic courtesy.

13 Fuck you TxMxP, how's that for courtesy you piece of shit? Just be glad I can't get my hands on you, or I'd show you some downright rudeness. You support the enemies of my country and so are and enemy, so go cry about it and piss off.

14 Beavis: corpse fellating! Butthead: chh .. chh .. yeah! chh .. chh .. corpse fellating chh .. chh .. Beavis: yeah! chh .. corpse .. chh .. yeah! fellating .. chh .. chh .. Last gasp Larry sez: For God's sake please have some respect for the dead!