And this is how the story goes....

A peek behind the curtain: letsgetitdone over at Firedoglake spikes the mainstream media spin on the health-care reform debate.

It's all about fake conflict and conventional wisdom dry-humping on the steps of the Capitol, as if it's all a joke. "Whatever the guy with the most money says ... I don't know." It's, "let's put this new punk on his ass and show him that NOBODY fucks with the power structure around here. You push anymore than this, and we get serious. Back Down Now."

It's highly lazy and unoriginal journalism. Your job is much easier if you follow the safe story, ultimately. Lay low, ruffle a feather or two once in awhile. But when you need a good line, at the right time, you'll fucking get it. Because you played your part. You did what a "good, solid reporter" does. Putting real pressure on anyone important is too much to take on. Brutal.

So now you know, who gets mystified.

5:02 p.m.: Now I know what the Soundgarden-song "Rusty Cage" is about. The public confined in the world of the mainstream media. We have to break that rusty cage, and run (to be cheesy). You put a Phillips Head into my brain! Sounds about right to me.