Everything in life is easier when you don’t concern yourself with what everybody else is doing. – Unknown

Welcome to the big column to end the week, “Caught My Eye” (CME)!

If you are a first-time visitor, welcome! CME is the once a week column that is posted here every Friday morning. This is when I take a look at some of the stories I did not have time to write about during the week. There may be some sarcasm and pointed independent commentary so be warned!

Here are the topics that “Caught My Eye” this week:

• That Impeachment Thing
• Trust in Mass Media
• Follow Me
• One More Thing

THAT IMPEACHMENT THING:

I was amazed at how those on the right and left read the transcript of President Trump’s call with the Ukraine President as well as the whistleblower complaint and interpreted those documents so differently.

I watch Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC off and on throughout the day, except evenings. I usually catch the CBS Evening News at 5:30. Nothing much reported about President Trump surprises me these days. Nothing Trump tweets or says surprises me either.

After watching all these news sources, it amazes me there are such differences of opinion about the same documents.

The political wagons are circled and it will be nasty from here on out. If the Democrats are going to “get Trump” they better get him or they may suffer the consequences for the next 20 years.

Meanwhile, our country suffers.

Most elected officials on the right have sided with Trump. There were a few who did not go all-in for Trump but left the door open just a little. A GOP consultant named Mike Murphy claimed on Wednesday that he was told by a Republican senator that the majority of Republican senators “would vote to impeach” President Donald Trump if they could do so anonymously. (Source)

On the left, it was almost total condemnation.

I am always thinking if a prior President, like Obama, had done something like Trump did with the Ukraine President would the Republicans be defending him? The answer is, “Hell no.” That is the problem with our government these days – it’s about the next election. We’ve become way too partisan. The two-party system is tearing down our Republic.

Can we survive this skirmish?

TRUST IN MASS MEDIA:

Gallup polling reported this week that Americans remain largely mistrustful of the mass media as 41% currently have “a great deal” or “fair amount” of trust in newspapers, television, and radio to report the news “fully, accurately, and fairly.” This latest reading represents a four-percentage-point dip since last year and marks the end of improvements in back-to-back years after hitting an all-time low.

Maybe the problem is with Fox News? The trust seems to have gone down since Fox News came along in 1996.

Maybe it is that too many members of the media give their personal opinions on cable news shows and then try to act like they are reporting a story fairly.

President Trump is harming the media by his calling them “fake news” all the time.

It’s sad, but in 2019 you can get the reporting that fits your beliefs by just clicking on your remote. That’s not good for us. We need to hear different opinions and good debate about the issues.

FOLLOW ME:

It’s heating up in the political world so you need to be in the know – so try these three things:

The Western Word Facebook Page says for hours that it is “Always Open” and that is true. Please “Like” or “Follow” The Western Word’s Facebook page for the latest information.

If you’re a Twitter user, follow me on Twitter @TheWesternWord. I’ve been on Twitter since September 2008, which is longer than most folks.

Finally, subscribe to this blog. It’s free. It’s independent. It is one of the oldest blogs in Montana (Est. 2005). 

ONE MORE THING:

Don’t forget to stretch…

 

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