There's an article in the New York Times today about "saver's remorse." Consumer psychologists have coined "hyperopia" to describe the result of over planning for the future and the regret felt for the lack of pleasure in the present. Buyer's remorse on the other hand is a fleeting guilt that in hindsight, shoppers often feel good about the joy of pampering themselves or having an expensive meal out. Next time, you feel like getting a pair of expensive Italian leather shoes or saving up for the apocalypse, just think about how much your money be worth when the world is burning down. $0. Go shop, already.
So, the whining, sniveling, third tier of the right wing pundit machine has taken on Jon Stewart's recent knock out punch to CNBC host Jim Cramer. Cramer, for those who don't know is like the Emeril of finances, lots of bells and whistles and yelling, but not much journalism. (Apologies to Emeril.) Anyway, in an attempt to fill up an hour of bullshitting, CNN has invited wannabe Tucker Carlson to play the whining, sniveling conservative in attack mode. It's kind of adorable to see him in attack mode, like watching a kitten try to viciously murder a rubber toy. But there's more to this than meets the eye. Stewart's last confrontation with this little bow-tied punching bag came in October 2004, on Carlson's CNN show Crossfire. Stewart, in a legendary move tore the show a new one and three months later the long-running series was canceled. Crossfire had been running, although not the whole time with Carlson, since 1982, and had always been an embarrassment to real journalists. It was the kind of silly faux-debate program that attracted people who think USA Today articles are too complicated. You know, networks think you, the viewers, are a stupid lot. That's why we get 'news' programs like Crossfire and Cramer's Mad Money and, to a more transparent degree, Nancy Grace and Geraldo Rivera. But what was historically significant about Stewart's appearance on Crossfire was that he exposed the system for what it is. It's not news, it's a ratings grab. And it's important, because Crossfire, FOXnews, CNBC and a great deal of these 24-hour news channels are lowering the standards for journalism by reducing highly coveted ideals to ratings and advertising. Why do you think Dick Cheney got off so easy in that pitiful John King interview? Was King so afraid that if he asked Cheney tough questions that he'd be stonewalled by future big names, effectively putting his ratings in Jeopardy? Stewart exposing this this kind of thinking with his Crossfire appearance and someone who lost a job over it is pissed that a fellow infotainment clown is being exposed.
I'll give Tucker Carlson a classic piece of advice Factory co-founder so frequently gives. Cry, kill yourself.
