The idea that the news media just naturally gravitates to the negative certainly has something of the truth in it, but I have seen many positive stories that also make gripping news. The rescue of the coal miners was one example. And even granting the dubious notion that stories about fixing the power system or restoring the Marsh Arabs' environment are too "boring" for the media, I can't see why stories about our troops succeeding in a battle, capturing terrorists, and breaking up guerilla cells can't be just as interesting as our troops taking hits from the enemy.

I'm afraid that the "bad news sells" is an excuse.

It is less than a year before the elections, and there are a lot of people who would do damn near anything to see Bush lose. Unfortunately, at least from my point of view, a lot of them are in the mainstream media. I'm sorry, but a lot of this right now is pure politics, and I'm just hoping Bush can hunker down and stay the course. It's going to get worse before it gets better.