The mainstream media has long been criticized for glossing over issues that require depth and understanding.

They deserve the criticism, and then some.

In last night’s democratic debate in Cleveland, Ohio both candidates regurgitated the same messages, the same political jargon, the same bulls*** they’ve been saying their entire campaign.

Doesn’t the discussion, between two supposed great minds, have to progress at some point? Shouldn’t they be forced to cover more details, more specifics, less slogans?

Not according to the supposed great journalists of our time. Tim Russert and Brian Williams have achieved the apex for journalists in our society: they have their own TV shows!

Yet the two simply regurgitated every hot topic the mainstream press was talking about that day. After reading a few debate preview articles I knew every question that was going to be asked and every answer that was going to be given.

I didn’t know Hillary was upset she kept getting the first question from the moderators, quite an exhilarating surprise.

It’s the job of Russert and Williams to escalate the debate. The candidates are perfectly happy to read from their staff-prepared script. This strategy will work until journalists start asking the tough questions. If Russert and Williams won’t do it, who the hell will?

For example, Hillary and Obama started the debate arguing about healthcare reform for over ten minutes straight. They interrupted the moderator’s continuous attempts to change the subject and forged ahead. Good for them. Both quasi-journalists seemed perturbed about this and anxious to regain control of their show.

It’s not their show, it’s our effing show, let them speak!

Instead of asking the next logical question – something like “Okay, both of you want to provide coverage for as many Americans as possible but how are you going to pay for it, how are you going to make the doctors in the O.R. happy and the greedy pharmaceutical companies happy at the same time? - Williams said something coy and TV anchorish, then ripped a headline out of the morning newspaper to change the subject.

Why can’t debates focus on one single issue? Are the networks afraid of educating the public to the point where we fully understand the issues? I don’t think so.

I think if the candidates debated at length, and provided depth and comprehension for the American people, (which I believe they’re capable of doing) we wouldn’t need to listen to the real attention whores like Russert and Williams to shape our opinions.

These a**holes are perpetuating the dumbing down of American politics. But they’re on TV, so unless they call Michelle Obama a nappy headed ho, we’re stuck with them for a long, long time.