Unfair and unbalanced

From 1996 to 2017, Fox News carried the mantra “Fair and balanced.” Since they jettisoned the preposterous claim, Fox News was forced to pay Dominion Voting Systems $787 million for its inaccurate and deceitful coverage. Fox News is to journalistic ethics what Great White Sharks are to veganism.

The current President of the United States, whose loose association with the truth is well documented, selected 23 members from the tainted news agency to serve in what should be deemed as the “unfair and unbalanced administration.”

It is easier to be a well-paid talking head, pontificating in front of the camera, titillating viewers without consequence. At Fox, they could conceal their ineptitude with brash musings, vaunted claims of certainty, and arrogance. At the White House, the cavalcade of incompetence cannot hide their profound ignorance and unconcern with the nation’s civic virtue.

The latest not-ready-for-primetime player so recognized is Jeanine Pirro. The former television personality and judge may have jeopardized her license to practice law to remain in the president’s irrational good graces.

Before accepting an appointment to serve in the administration, Pirro was a panelist on Fox News’ The Five. The show recently caused controversy when panelist Greg Gutfeld conflated embracing the term Nazi with how Black Americans have defanged the N-word.

“You know what,” Gutfeld stated, “We need to learn from the Blacks [and] the way they were able to remove the power from the n-word by using it. So from now on, it’s ‘what up my Nazi?’” A voice could also be heard chiming in amidst the laughter, saying: “Nazi please!”

Pirro is not responsible for Gutfeld’s despicable discourse, but it does indicate the type of degenerate cesspool the president finds appealing.

Pirro, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, recently moved to dismiss vandalism charges against former Olympic canoeist David Hearn and several others regarding the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Pirro’s office stated new evidence proved the pool damage resulted from a botched contractor installation and not criminal action. But this hardly tells the complete story.

After reading the motion to dismiss, what was submitted to the court was tantamount to an admission that the Department of the Interior withheld evidence. According to the motion, DOI inspected and reached the conclusion that the pool was peeling on its own eight days before Hearn was arrested.

The arrest of Hearn and others was part of a cover-up to mask incompetence. The Reflecting Pool repair has cost taxpayers more than $14 million, a price tag that exceeded the president’s public promise of $1.5 million. Moreover, the contract was awarded on a no-bid basis, which, according to federal guidelines, is allowed only when a single provider has unique capabilities or proprietary technology, during urgent public emergencies, or when authorized by express federal statute.

Rather than admitting error, the president opted to reveal his emotional fragility that views the need for admitting an error as an existential threat. Such weakness is antithetical to the job description of the President of the United States, but it also requires assistance of sycophants with similar infirmities. Pirro is no heroine in this scenario. Though she realized a kowtowing line she couldn’t cross, she had already conducted enough malfeasance to warrant having her name removed from Notable Albany Law School Alumni.

I’m quite certain there is not an accredited law school in the country that supports withholding evidence that could exonerate an individual. In the CYA portion of the motion to dismiss, Pirro et al wrote, “Had the Department of Interior been forthcoming with the information already in its possession, the government would not have sought a grand jury indictment.”

But this runs counter to Pirro’s press conference upon the arrest of Hearn; she stated, “The evidence shows, and we will prove beyond a reasonable doubt, that Hearn willfully destroyed property at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.” One wonders what became of the evidence that was so clear only to become the work described in the motion as botched?

How many lives must be disrupted by a petulant commander-in-chief and his merry band of minions who blindly follow to remain in good standing? Though Pirro stopped short of complete submission, she has done enough to be considered for disbarment. Potential disbarment is the occupational prerequisite to serve at the pleasure of the president.

How many unnecessary arrests and deaths; how many murders; how much wrongdoing at taxpayer expense must the nation endure? Knowingly arresting innocent people sounds like the work of Soviet leader Josef Stalin, but it’s occurring in the United States. Only a soulless collection of unbridled ambition could serve under such vapid conditions.

Pirro is hardly the sole participant as a Fox News performer turned administrative official. Once again, the disciples of the unfair and unbalanced news agency serve at the peril of the people of the United States, has shown that

their performative propaganda on air is detrimental in a country committed to the ideals of liberty and equality.