This week’s issue of Newsweek features a photo of Barack Obama with a rainbow halo and a headline proclaiming him as the “First Gay President.”. Of course, Barack Obama isn’t gay, it’s just Newsweek’s way of shocking people and grabbing headlines. I guess they’re not confident in the quality of their writing, and decided to use tabloid techniques to sell magazines.

It could also be a reaction to Time Magazine, which decided to place a picture of a woman breast feeding her child. That alone would be questionable, but when you take into account that the child was pretty big in comparison to his mother, it seemed very strange. Actually, sick is probably a better word.

For me, the topic of the articles isn’t the question. It’s their need to sensationalize articles in order to grab attention in a way that is unrelated to the story. As these techniques continue, the line between news magazines and publications such as The National Enquirer will continue to blur, and journalistic integrity will continue to deteriorate.

A very big kid breast feeds on the cover of Time Magazine.

I check the Drudge Report daily, and on a typical day, I check it several times. It’s a great way to keep up on the news, and it typically links to stories you won’t find in the main-stream media. It’s a great site, but sometimes, it leaves me shaking my head.

I’m used to the frequently misleading captions that link to articles on other sites. That’s annoying, but today, I think it topped itself. It’s headline featured the headline “Rick Rico ,” with a pictures of Rick Santorum wearing only swim trunks. This is news?

I don’t need to list all of the pressing concerns affecting the United States and the world, you’re likely familiar with those. Yet, with all these problems, a shirtless politician makes the news? Is this the story Drudge thinks it’s readers need to see? And we wonder why so many citizens are Ill informed.

Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, two of the greatest players of all-time, never reached 3,000 hits

I know people are tripping over themselves in an effort to heap accolades on the New York Yankees Derek Jeter after his 3,000th hit. The worst part was the tendency for the media to constantly point out that he’s the only Yankee to ever attain 3,000 hits. Let me just point out one thing: 3,000 hits or not, Jeter isn’t in the same class as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, or Mickey Mantle.

After Jeter’s accomplishment, I checked out the list of career hit leaders. Here’s a list of the 28 men who reached 3,000 hits:

1. Pete Rose 4256
2. Ty Cobb 4189
3. Hank Aaron 3771
4. Stan Musial 3630
5. Tris Speaker 3514
6. Cap Anson 3435
7. Honus Wagner 3420
8. Carl Yastrzemski 3419
9. Paul Molitor 3319
10. Eddie Collins 3315
11. Willie Mays 3283
12. Eddie Murray 3255
13. Nap Lajoie 3242
14. Cal Ripken 3184
15. George Brett 3154
16. Paul Waner 3152
17. Robin Yount 3142
18. Tony Gwynn 3141
19. Dave Winfield 3110
20. Craig Biggio 3060
21. Rickey Henderson 3055
22. Rod Carew 3053
23. Lou Brock 3023
24. Rafael Palmeiro 3020
25. Wade Boggs 3010
26. Al Kaline 3007
27. Derek Jeter 3003
28. Roberto Clemente 3000

When you look at that list, are you surprised? There are some great players on that list, but there are some players that I wouldn’t consider among the greats. Excellent player, but not great players. In that list, I would include, George Brett, Robin Yount, Al Kaline, Craig Biggio, Tony Gwynn, Wade Boggs, Paul Molitor, and Derek Jeter. For many, 3,000 hits was the result of longevity mixed in with some strong years, not greatness.

If you think I’m wrong, then consider that Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Lou Gehrig, and Ted Williams are not on that list. Are the members of the 3,000 hit club somehow superior? I don’t think so, especially when you consider that some players missed substantial at-bats. For example, Babe Ruth was a pitcher who had limited at-bats early in his career, while Ted Williams missed a few years while serving our country as a fighter pilot.

Remember: Round numbers like 3,000 don’t always tell the whole story.

Jose Antonio Vargas of the New York Times

Jose Antonio Vargas, a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter for the New York Times, has admitted that he is an illegal alien. In his story, Vargas talks about how he came to the United States illegally 18 years ago when he was 12. He also details all the illegal and unethical things he and his family have done to stay here.

From what I’ve read, Jose Antonio Vargas is an intelligent, hard-working individual who has accomplished a great deal in his 30 years. He and his family have also broken immigration laws and committed document fraud, and now he is going public with his crimes. This might not be a popular sentiment, but the government needs to act. If it doesn’t, what kind of message is it sending?

I’m also anxious to see what steps the New York Times takes, if any. Vargas mentions that another paper wouldn’t hire him because of his immigration status. By allowing him to remain employed, they’re essentially endorsing the violation of U.S. immigration laws and document fraud. Although, with their liberal slant, I wouldn’t expect Mr. Vargas’ job to be in danger.

Bristol Palin and her partner Mark Bellas from Dancing With the Stars

I just found out that Bristol Palin, daughter of potential Presidential candidate Sarah Palin, wrote a book. I was a bit surprised, since there doesn’t seem to be much reason for someone like her to write one. She’s 20 years old, and she hasn’t done anything of note besides passing through Sarah Palin’s birth canal two decades ago. Despite this, at least one publisher thought people would care about what she had to say. So what does she have to say? Not much.

John McCain and his daughter Meghan McCain

From the excerpts I read, she criticizes John McCain’s daughter Meghan McCain for constantly complaining and “checking” them out. In Meghan McCain’s defense, she was probably wondering where the heck her father dug them up. She also criticized John McCain’s wife Cindy McCain for having lots of nice luggage (I kid you not), and “holding herself like royalty.” Maybe someone should tell Bristol that she’s a wealthy woman on the campaign trail, not a spectator at the Iditarod.

John McCain and his wife Cindy McCain

Bristol also wrote about her experience on Dancing With the Stars. As you might have guessed, she alleges that they weren’t nice to her either.

“I noticed some of the contestants rolled their eyes when they realized we’d survived to dance another day,” she writes, adding that some of the contenders voted off “literally would not speak to us or acknowledge our presence.”

Finally, she says that the only reason why she lost her virginity to Levi Johnston is because she had too many wine coolers one night. That’s right, it was all an accident. She claims that she, “didn’t know that girly flavored wine coolers were just as likely to get you drunk as the hard stuff.” Who would think an alcoholic beverage could get you drunk?

Now, before you Palin lovers jump on me, I fully realize that the article was written by a liberal media outlet, so they’re going to pick and choose what to mention. With that said, is there really anything else to talk about? If the excerpts mentioned in the summary are any indication, the book seems like a list of slights and criticisms.

I don’t know how much she mentioned John McCain, but she owes him a big thank you. Without his poor decision-making, her and her family wouldn’t have received any of the opportunities they’ve been given over the past three years. Maybe she should have thought about that before she disparaged his wife and daughter.

Ron Paul wins the Republican Leadership Council's Presidential straw poll.

It appears that Jon Hunstman paid for his votes. Check this out:

Rumors circulated here that Huntsman campaign had paid for supporters to attend the conference and a spokesman for the candidate, Tim Miller, didn’t deny that they had.

“Not commenting on internal strategy,” said Miller, adding: “The result demonstrates that young conservatives are responding to his record of success in Utah, willingness to take the debt problem seriously, and foreign policy message,”

Now, were these Huntsman supporters impressed with him, or were they just pleased with the free ride they were receiving? This looks like a rather desperate attempt to buy votes, which shows that these straw polls are a valuable source of media coverage. Remember this when Paul’s opponents try to down-play the results.

Former ambassador Jon Huntsman brought in many of his own supporters and still lost convincingly.

New York Representative Anthony Weiner admits that he sent graphic pictures to women on the internet.

Representative Anthony Weiner admits that the picture of a crotch sent to a college student was him, and that he sent it. Besides that, he admits to exchanging photos with six women over the past three years. Weiner also said he won’t resign.

This story seemed fishy from the beginnning. First, the picture surfaces, and he claims he was hacked but refuses to involve the authorities. Next he said the picture “could” be of him. Now that Other women have come forward, he feels its time to tell the truth. Of course, now he says he’s telling the truth. Are there any other facts out there that he forgot to mention? He wasn’t honest before, so why should anyone believe him now?

Weiner won’t resign, and I don’t think he should. Considering that he is married and a member of Congress, I think most people would agree that he did a stupid thing. Should doing a stupid thing disqualify you from public office? If it did, there wouldn’t be many names on the ballot.

Let’s keep the Weiner jokes coming, and feel free to criticize him for being a liar. As for any feelings of outrage or betrayal, get a life. The only person who should be outraged is his wife

Anthony Weiner's wife, Huma Abedin

Talk show host Laura Ingraham

After the Ed Schultz’s comments about fellow talk show host Laura Ingraham, I think he’s lucky to have a job. If MSNBC had any interest in being a serious news agency, they would have imposed a longer suspension or fired him. Of course, they make no effort to hide their biases. Their minions like to complain about right-wing news sources, but let’s face it, MSNBC is the left-wing Fox News.

In case you missed Ed Scult’s comments, the audio from his tantrum is below.

Barack Obama has created a position called the Director of Progressive Media & Online Response. I just call it the Blog Czar.

Barack Obama has hired a new “Director of Progressive Media and Online Response” named Jesse Lee. Since Obama just created this position, there’s no telling exactly what it will entail. It seems like Lee will be patrolling the internet for stories they don’t believe to be true, while making attempts to enhance Obama’s online image. Good luck with that Jesse!

I wonder why the Obama Administration didn’t just call him a “Blog Czar.” From what I’ve read, it seems like a fitting title.

Lara Logan, of CBS News, was recently attacked in Egypt's Tahir Square

During celebrations in Tahrir Square in Egypt this past Friday, CBS News correspondent Lara Logan was brutally attacked. According to CBS News:

On Friday, Feb. 11, the day Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak stepped down, CBS chief foreign correspondent Lara Logan was covering the jubilation in Tahrir Square for a “60 Minutes” story when she and her team and their security were surrounded by a dangerous element amidst the celebration. It was a mob of more than 200 people whipped into frenzy.

In the crush of the mob, she was separated from her crew. She was surrounded and suffered a brutal and sustained sexual assault and beating before being saved by a group of women and an estimated 20 Egyptian soldiers. She reconnected with the CBS team, returned to her hotel and returned to the United States on the first flight the next morning. She is currently in the hospital recovering.

There will be no further comment from CBS News and correspondent Logan and her family respectfully request privacy at this time.

Anyone who values a free press should be appalled by what happened. Unfortunately, I can’t say I’m surprised. Several reporters have been assaulted or detained during the coverage in Egypt. These incidents occurred at a rate that I don’t recall happening during any other news event.

Media companies provide security, but how can you make sure someone is truly secure when they are in a violent environment with tens of thousands of people? You can’t.

I’ve often watched the nightly news during winter storms that show reporters on location in dangerous weather telling us how bad it is out, and warning us to stay home. If it’s so bad, then why are they on the road? There’s no need. Again, this is just a local example.

In the case of the coverage of the Egyptian protests, it’s a risk media outlets should carefully evaluate. With anti-American sentiment all over the globe, are increased ratings really worth risking the health and safety of correspondents? If so, there has to be better, safer ways to handle reporting.

I know that a lot of reporters thrive on being in the middle of the action, but at a certain point, you have to wonder if the risks are really worth it.