Josh Marshall on the false debate

After pointing out that deaths in Iraq are not down, as has been claimed without citing statistics, Josh Marshall gets to the point.

So here we have that classic sort of modern media moment in which we have a debate wherein both sides arguments are fairly and equally represented -- one side with a series of bogus 'facts' and another with actual facts. Both sides get to make their case. And you can decide between them.

I often refer to this as "covering the controversy." The news networks have learned that controversy (argument) delivers far more viewers than actual news and have drifted their programming towards these "debates." (Much as MTV doesn't show videos anymore.)

Separate from the incredible disservice of sanctioning meritless arguments (on both sides,) this has also had an incredibly corrosive effect on our nation.

(Every once in awhile, we should all go back and watch Jon Stewart's appearance on CNN's Crossfire which was cancelled shortly afterwards.)