Why Does He Care?

The Daily Show is back and Jon Stewart wasted no time zeroing in on the important news of the day. In the latest installment of his new feature, Torture Talk, see Tortured Logic, Stewart discusses the issue of the inquiry into the destroyed detainee interrogation tapes by the CIA.

Leading the way is our own Pennsylvania Senator, Arlen Specter, who is looking into a full investigation of the destruction of tapes. Oops, but not by the CIA, but the New England Patriots.

Stewart asks "Why Does He Care?"

Of course, the answer is that Arlen has been a fan of the Eagles and is concerned that the spying may have impacted the Super Bowl between the Eagles and the Patriots. See also, Is that a Cave?

Manila Ryce of The Largest Minority, explains the phenomenon:

Just as the Roman Colosseum served the political purpose of diverting the attention of citizens of the Roman Empire away from corruption and state-sponsored barbarism, so too do sports in the American Empire demand the full attention of citizens who live vicariously through their home team, and divide an otherwise unified populace against each other in symbolic warfare. Sports are meaningless. They don’t matter. Yet, more Americans are completely dedicated to these billion dollar diversions than to the unjust political processes which truly affect them.

Specter, like John McCain, are relics of what used to be the moderate wing of the Republican Party. In order to survive, they long ago had to debase themselves to the conservative base. Now, they spend a lot of time mouthing the words of moderation before they fall in line and vote in lockstep with the party wishes (demands). They rely on the fact that most people will only remember the words, not the actual vote, and still believe that they have an ounce of independence.

But the reality is, they gave it away long ago. As Jon Stewart says for us all:

I guess it's tough when an institution that you used to respect disappoints you, Senator.