BREAKING NEWS: For The Last Sixteen Hours

I’ve been following this media feeding frenzy since the first “Breaking News” banner began to interrupt the over-night repeats of primetime on the cable news channels. The speculation and the padding the news outlets were doing about Saddam Hussein’s execution was downright weary. By mid morning I was screaming, JUST HANG HIM ALREADY!

The most bizarre moments were when both Fox and CNN were talking about the difference in potential pain between lethal injection and hanging. CNN even had a “show and tell” demonstration with their reporter Randi Kaye and forensic specialist Dr. Lawrence Kobilinsky, complete with a medical torso model and a noose!

There was tons of bad reporting and misinformation mixed in with information and a dab of the macabre. It kind of felt like I was in the middle of the French Revolution watching the angry crowds crying for blood — but in this case is was newscasters.

Of course we had to hear from those in the Human Rights Watch and the anti-death penalty crowd who condemned the killing of the condemned “Butcher of Baghdad” — who was responsible for the brutal murder of millions.

Thankfully Saddam will be dead and heading straight to Hell by the time you read this. It should have been much quicker.

Posted: 1900PST 12/29/06
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