I used to have CNN on quite a bit when I started getting cable TV years back. However, nowadays it is difficult for me to watch more than just a few minutes without getting impatient and even disgusted by the slant they cast on the news. Covering major events of the day, they mentioned–in quick passing–how Bush is trying to get the Saudis to generate more oil and lower prices, the Saudis mentioning how everything really depends on oil refining in the U.S., which is limited, how Tom DeLay will be with Bush in Texas and accompanying him on Air Force One back to D.C. All mentioned in passing, a line for each item perhaps.

But what did they focus on? Bush and the Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah holding hands. Not on any results. Not on why Bush is only now meeting with the Saudis after such a long stretch of oil price hikes (when he first campaigned in 2000 as one who could talk to them and handle oil prices). Not about Tom DeLay himself or the massive corruption Republicans are furiously trying to avoid investigation of. Not about oil companies and why we don’t have refining capacity.

They focused on what was perhaps one of the least significant aspects of the entire situation, with the least relevance and least meaning. And yes, I know about the cultural aspect–but Bush has been seen many times holding hands with Saudis, this is nothing new to anyone who’s been paying attention. It means little to nothing concerning actual hard results, and certainly nothing at all about how the current energy situation came to pass.

This is why I hardly ever turn CNN on anymore–there’s pretty much nothing whatsoever worth listening to. Going to Google News provides incredibly more breadth and depth, though even that still is limited to what the media overall can produce. But TV news? A joke. At best.