Dogs of War

A watchdog press is what we need, but not
Bright soundbites, video feed and slow mind rot,
Not what thrived under Reagan: a perfumed
Poodle. The lapdog press daintily consumed
Each tender media morsel, trimmed and fed
It by a White House patting its ribboned head.

A watchdog press is what we need, but this
Savaging of Clinton by TV and Congress
And print columnists, who tossed him in the bin,
Just wrote him off, before he was sworn in,
Tears at America, a snarling Doberman
Or Rotweiller, mouth foaming, scaring our children.

A watchdog press would be great, but until
The media choose to consistently fulfill
The same role, never mind who wins the vote
Democrats must hide, Republicans may gloat.
Puff pieces and vendettas win the day;
Lap dogs, and then attack dogs, will hold sway.