In_II Defense_NN1 of_IO the_AT 'Balloon_NN1 Boy'_NP1 Dad_NN1 FOR_IF a_AT1 country_NN1 desperate_JJ for_IF good_JJ news_NN1 ,_, the_AT now-deflated_JJ "_" balloon_NN1 boy_NN1 "_" spectacle_NN1 would_VM seem_VVI to_TO be_VBI the_AT perfect_JJ tonic_NN1 ._. 
As_CSA Wolf_NN1 Blitzer_NN1 of_IO CNN_NP1 summed_VVD up_RP the_AT nation_NN1 's_GE unrestrained_JJ joy_NN1 upon_II learning_VVG that_CST the_AT imperiled_JJ boy_NN1 had_VHD never_RR been_VBN in_II any_DD peril_NN1 whatsoever_DDQV :_: "_" All_DB of_IO us_PPIO2 are_VBR so_RG excited_JJ that_DD1 little_JJ Falcon_NN1 is_VBZ fine_JJ ._. "_" 
Then_RT came_VVD even_RR better_JJR news_NN1 ._. 
After_CS little_DA1 Falcon_NN1 revealed_VVN to_II Blitzer_NP1 that_CST his_APPGE family_NN1 "_" did_VDD this_DD1 for_IF the_AT show_NN1 ,_, "_" we_PPIS2 could_VM all_DB luxuriate_VVI in_II a_AT1 warm_JJ bath_NN1 of_IO moral_JJ superiority_NN1 ._. 
No_DDQV31 matter_DDQV32 what_DDQV33 our_APPGE own_DA faults_NN2 as_CSA parents_NN2 ,_, we_PPIS2 could_VM never_RR top_VVI Richard_NP1 Heene_NP1 ,_, who_PNQS mercilessly_RR exploited_VVD his_APPGE child_NN1 for_IF fame_NN1 and_CC profit_NN1 ._. 
Nor_CC could_VM we_PPIS2 ever_RR be_VBI as_RG craven_JJ as_CSA the_AT news_NN1 media_NN ,_, especially_RR cable_VV0 television_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ dumped_VVD a_AT1 live_JJ broadcast_NN1 of_IO President_NNB Obama_NP1 in_II New_NP1 Orleans_NP1 to_TO track_VVI the_AT supersized_JJ Jiffy_NN1 Pop_NN1 bag_NN1 floating_VVG over_II Colorado_NP1 ._. 
Or_CC such_DA are_VBR the_AT received_JJ lessons_NN2 of_IO this_DD1 tale_NN1 ._. 
Certainly_RR the_AT "_" balloon_NN1 boy_NN1 "_" incident_NN1 is_VBZ a_AT1 reflection_NN1 of_IO our_APPGE time_NNT1 --_NN1 much_RR as_CSA the_AT radio-induced_JJ "_" War_NN1 of_IO the_AT Worlds_NN2 "_" panic_NN1 dramatized_VVD America_NP1 's_GE jitters_NN2 on_II the_AT eve_NNT1 of_IO World_NN1 War_NN1 II_MC ,_, or_CC the_AT national_JJ preoccupation_NN1 with_IW the_AT now-forgotten_JJ Congressman_NN1 Gary_NP1 Condit_NP1 signaled_VVD America_NP1 's_GE pre-9/11_FU drift_NN1 into_II escapism_NN1 and_CC complacency_NN1 in_II the_AT summer_NNT1 of_IO 2001_MC ._. 
But_CCB to_TO see_VVI what_DDQ "_" balloon_NN1 boy_NN1 "_" says_VVZ about_RG 2009_MC ,_, you_PPY have_VH0 to_TO look_VVI past_II the_AT sentimental_JJ moral_JJ absolutes_NN2 ._. 
You_PPY have_VH0 to_TO muster_VVI some_DD sympathy_NN1 for_IF the_AT devil_NN1 of_IO the_AT piece_NN1 ,_, the_AT Bad_JJ Dad_NN1 ._. 
And_CC you_PPY ca_VM n't_XX grant_VVI blanket_NN1 absolution_NN1 to_II those_DD2 in_II the_AT American_JJ audience_NN1 who_PNQS smugly_RR blame_VV0 Heene_NP1 and_CC television_NN1 exclusively_RR for_IF the_AT entire_JJ embarrassing_JJ episode_NN1 ._. 
It_PPH1 would_VM be_VBI lovely_JJ ,_, for_REX21 instance_REX22 ,_, to_TO believe_VVI that_DD1 cable_NN1 audiences_NN2 doubled_VVN in_II size_NN1 that_DD1 afternoon_NNT1 because_CS they_PPHS2 were_VBDR rooting_VVG for_IF little_JJ Falcon_NN1 's_GE welfare_NN1 ._. 
But_CCB as_CSA Seth_NP1 Meyers_NP2 and_CC Amy_NP1 Poehler_NP1 would_VM say_VVI on_II Weekend_NNT1 Update_NN1 at_II "_" Saturday_NPD1 Night_NNT1 Live_VV0 ,_, "_" "_" Really_RR ?_? !_! ?_? "_" 
Many_DA2 of_IO those_DD2 viewers_NN2 were_VBDR driven_VVN by_II the_AT same_DA bloodlust_NN1 that_CST spawns_VVZ rubberneckers_NN2 at_II every_AT1 highway_NN1 accident_NN1 :_: the_AT hope_NN1 of_IO witnessing_VVG the_AT graphic_JJ remains_NN2 of_IO a_AT1 crash_NN1 ,_, not_XX a_AT1 soft_JJ landing_NN1 ._. 
It_PPH1 would_VM also_RR be_VBI nice_JJ to_TO think_VVI that_CST the_AT "_" balloon_NN1 boy_NN1 "_" viewers_NN2 were_VBDR the_AT innocent_JJ victims_NN2 of_IO a_AT1 dazzling_JJ Houdini-class_JJ feat_NN1 of_IO wizardry_NN1 --_NN1 a_AT1 "_" massive_JJ fraud_NN1 ,_, "_" as_CSA Bill_NP1 O'Reilly_NP1 thundered_VVD ._. 
But_CCB even_RR slightly_RR jaundiced_JJ onlookers_NN2 might_VM have_VHI questioned_VVN how_RRQ a_AT1 balloon_NN1 could_VM waft_VVI buoyantly_RR through_II the_AT skies_NN2 for_IF hours_NNT2 with_IW a_AT1 6-year-old_JJ boy_NN1 hidden_VVN within_II its_APPGE contours_NN2 ._. 
That_DD1 so_RG few_DA2 did_VDD is_VBZ an_AT1 indication_NN1 of_IO how_RRQ practiced_VVD we_PPIS2 are_VBR at_II suspending_VVG disbelief_NN1 when_CS watching_VVG anything_PN1 labeled_VVD news_NN1 ,_, whether_CSW the_AT subject_NN1 is_VBZ W.M.D._NP1 's_VBZ in_II Iraq_NP1 or_CC celebrity_NN1 gossip_NN1 in_II Hollywood_NP1 ._. 
"_" They_PPHS2 put_VV0 on_RP a_AT1 very_RG good_JJ show_NN1 for_IF us_PPIO2 ,_, and_CC we_PPIS2 bought_VVD it_PPH1 ,_, "_" the_AT local_JJ sheriff_NN1 ,_, Jim_NP1 Alderden_NP1 ,_, said_VVD last_MD weekend_NNT1 ,_, when_CS he_PPHS1 alleged_VVD that_DD1 "_" balloon_NN1 boy_NN1 "_" was_VBDZ a_AT1 hoax_NN1 ._. 
His_APPGE words_NN2 could_VM stand_VVI as_II the_AT epitaph_NN1 for_IF an_AT1 era_NN1 ._. 
In_II this_DD1 case_NN1 ,_, the_AT show_NN1 was_VBDZ n't_XX even_RR that_RG good_JJ ._. 
But_CCB ,_, as_RR21 usual_RR22 ,_, the_AT news_NN1 media_NN nursed_VVD it_PPH1 along_RP ,_, enlisting_VVG as_CSA sales_NN reps_NN2 for_IF the_AT smoke_NN1 and_CC mirrors_NN2 ._. 
While_CS the_AT incident_NN1 unfolded_VVD ,_, most_DAT TV_NN1 anchors_NN2 hyped_VVD rather_CS21 than_CS22 questioned_VVN the_AT aeronautical_JJ viability_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 vehicle_NN1 resembling_VVG the_AT flying_JJ saucers_NN2 in_II Ed_NP1 Wood_NP1 's_GE camp_JJ 1950s_MC2 sci-fi_NN1 potboiler_NN1 ,_, "_" Plan_VV0 9_MC From_II Outer_JJ Space_NN1 ._. "_" 
But_CCB no_AT sooner_RRR had_VHD the_AT balloon_NN1 been_VBN punctured_VVN than_CSN the_AT press_NN1 was_VBDZ caught_VVN in_II another_DD1 flimflam_NN1 ._. 
Reuters_NP1 and_CC CNBC_NP1 delivered_VVD the_AT bombshell_NN1 that_CST the_AT United_NP1 States_NP1 Chamber_NN1 of_IO Commerce_NN1 had_VHD abruptly_RR reversed_VVN its_APPGE intransigent_JJ opposition_NN1 to_II climate-change_JJ legislation_NN1 ._. 
The_AT "_" spokesperson_NN1 "_" source_NN1 turned_VVD out_RP to_TO be_VBI the_AT invention_NN1 of_IO liberal_JJ activists_NN2 who_PNQS hadattempted_VVD to_II stage_NN1 a_AT1 prank_NN1 press_NN1 conference_NN1 at_II Washington_NP1 's_GE National_JJ Press_NN1 Club_NN1 ._. 
Next_II21 to_II22 the_AT other_JJ hoaxes_NN2 and_CC fantasies_NN2 that_CST have_VH0 been_VBN abetted_VVN by_II the_AT news_NN1 media_NN in_II recent_JJ years_NNT2 ,_, both_DB2 the_AT "_" balloon_NN1 boy_NN1 "_" and_CC Chamber_NN1 of_IO Commerce_NN1 ruses_NN2 are_VBR benign_JJ ._. 
The_AT Colorado_NP1 balloon_NN1 may_VM have_VHI led_VVN to_II the_AT rerouting_NN1 of_IO flights_NN2 and_CC the_AT wasteful_JJ deployment_NN1 of_IO law_NN1 enforcement_NN1 resources_NN2 ._. 
But_CCB at_RR21 least_RR22 it_PPH1 did_VDD n't_XX lead_VVI the_AT country_NN1 into_II fiasco_NN1 the_AT way_NN1 George_NP1 W._NP1 Bush_NP1 's_GE flyboy_NN1 spectacle_NN1 on_II an_AT1 aircraft_NN carrier_NN1 helped_VVN beguile_VVI most_DAT of_IO the_AT Beltway_NN1 press_NN1 and_CC too_RG much_DA1 of_IO the_AT public_NN1 into_II believing_VVG that_CST the_AT mission_NN1 had_VHD been_VBN accomplished_VVN in_II Iraq_NP1 ._. 
The_AT Chamber_NN1 of_IO Commerce_NN1 stunt_NN1 was_VBDZ a_AT1 blip_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 business_NN1 news_NN1 hoax_NN1 next_II21 to_II22 the_AT constant_JJ parade_NN1 of_IO carnival_JJ barkers_NN2 who_PNQS flogged_VVD empty_JJ stocks_NN2 on_II cable_NN1 during_II the_AT speculative_JJ Wall_NP1 Street_NNL1 orgies_NN2 of_IO the_AT dot-com_NN1 and_CC housing_VVG booms_NN2 ._. 
As_CSA "_" balloon_NN1 boy_NN1 "_" played_VVD out_RP ,_, the_AT White_NP1 House_NN1 opened_VVD fire_NN1 on_II one_MC1 purveyor_NN1 of_IO fictional_JJ news_NN1 ,_, Fox_NP1 News_NN1 ,_, where_CS "_" tea_NN1 party_NN1 "_" protests_NN2 are_VBR inflated_VVN into_II a_AT1 national_JJ rebellion_NN1 rivaling_VVG the_AT Civil_JJ War_NN1 and_CC where_RRQ Glenn_NP1 Beck_NP1 routinely_RR claims_VVZ Obama_NP1 is_VBZ perpetrating_VVG a_AT1 conspiracy_NN1 to_TO bring_VVI fascism_NN1 to_II America_NP1 ._. 
But_CCB the_AT White_NP1 House_NN1 's_GE argument_NN1 is_VBZ diluted_VVN by_II the_AT different_JJ ,_, if_CS less_RGR malevolently_RR partisan_JJ ,_, fictions_NN2 that_CST turn_VV0 up_RP on_II Fox_NP1 's_GE competitors_NN2 ._. 
On_II CNN_NP1 ,_, for_REX21 instance_REX22 ,_, Lou_NP1 Dobbs_NP1 provided_VVD a_AT1 platform_NN1 for_IF the_AT nuts_NN2 questioning_VVG Obama_NP1 's_GE citizenship_NN1 ._. 
When_CS an_AT1 ABC_NN1 News_NN1 correspondent_NN1 insisted_VVD that_CST Fox_NP1 was_VBDZ "_" one_MC1 of_IO our_APPGE sister_NN1 organizations_NN2 "_" in_II an_AT1 exchange_NN1 with_IW the_AT president_NN1 's_GE press_NN1 secretary_NN1 ,_, Robert_NP1 Gibbs_NP1 ,_, last_MD week_NNT1 ,_, he_PPHS1 was_VBDZ n't_XX joking_VVG ._. 
Richard_NP1 Heene_NP1 is_VBZ the_AT inevitable_JJ product_NN1 of_IO this_DD1 reigning_JJ culture_NN1 ,_, where_CS "_" news_NN1 ,_, "_" "_" reality_NN1 "_" television_NN1 and_CC reality_NN1 itself_PPX1 are_VBR hopelessly_RR scrambled_VVN and_CC the_AT warp-speed_JJ imperatives_NN2 of_IO cable-Internet_JJ competition_NN1 allow_VV0 no_AT time_NNT1 for_IF fact_NN1 checking_VVG ._. 
Norman_NP1 Lear_NP1 ,_, about_II the_AT only_JJ prominent_JJ American_JJ to_TO express_VVI any_DD empathy_NN1 for_IF little_JJ Falcon_NN1 's_GE father_NN1 ,_, vented_VVD on_II The_AT Huffington_NP1 Post_NN1 ,_, calling_VVG out_RP CNN_NP1 ,_, MSNBC_NP1 ,_, Fox_NP1 ,_, NBC_NP1 ,_, ABC_NP1 and_CC CBS_NP1 alike_RR for_IF their_APPGE role_NN1 in_II "_" creating_VVG a_AT1 climate_NN1 that_CST mistakes_NN2 entertainment_NN1 for_IF news_NN1 ._. "_" 
This_DD1 climate_NN1 ,_, he_PPHS1 argued_VVD ,_, "_" all_RR21 but_RR22 seduces_VVZ a_AT1 Richard_NP1 and_CC Mayumi_NP1 Heene_NP1 into_II believing_VVG they_PPHS2 are_VBR --_JJ even_CS21 if_CS22 what_DDQ they_PPHS2 dream_VV0 up_RP to_TO qualify_VVI is_VBZ a_AT1 hoax_NN1 --_NN1 entitled_VVN to_II their_APPGE 15_MC minutes_NNT2 ._. "_" 
None_PN of_IO this_DD1 absolves_VVZ Heene_NN1 of_IO blame_NN1 for_IF the_AT damage_NN1 he_PPHS1 may_VM have_VHI inflicted_VVN on_II the_AT children_NN2 he_PPHS1 grotesquely_RR used_VVN as_II a_AT1 supporting_JJ cast_NN1 in_II his_APPGE schemes_NN2 ._. 
But_CCB stupid_JJ he_PPHS1 's_VBZ not_XX ._. 
He_PPHS1 knew_VVD how_RGQ easy_RR it_PPH1 would_VM be_VBI to_TO float_VVI "_" balloon_NN1 boy_NN1 "_" when_CS the_AT demarcation_NN1 between_II truth_NN1 and_CC fiction_NN1 has_VHZ been_VBN obliterated_VVN ._. 
There_EX 's_VBZ also_RR some_DD poignancy_NN1 in_II his_APPGE determination_NN1 to_TO grab_VVI what_DDQ he_PPHS1 and_CC many_DA2 others_NN2 see_VV0 as_CSA among_II the_AT last_MD accessible_JJ scraps_NN2 of_IO the_AT American_JJ dream_NN1 ._. 
As_II a_AT1 freelance_NN1 construction_NN1 worker_NN1 and_CC handyman_NN1 ,_, he_PPHS1 could_VM n't_XX find_VVI much_DA1 employment_NN1 in_II an_AT1 economy_NN1 where_CS construction_NN1 is_VBZ frozen_VVN and_CC homeowners_NN2 are_VBR more_RGR worried_JJ about_II losing_VVG their_APPGE homes_NN2 than_CSN fixing_VVG them_PPHO2 ._. 
Once_CS his_APPGE appetite_NN1 had_VHD been_VBN whetted_VVN by_II two_MC histrionic_JJ appearances_NN2 on_II "_" Wife_NN1 Swap_VV0 ,_, "_" an_AT1 ABC_NN1 reality_NN1 program_NN1 ,_, it_PPH1 's_VBZ easy_JJ to_TO see_VVI why_RRQ Heene_NP1 would_VM turn_VVI his_APPGE life_NN1 and_CC that_DD1 of_IO his_APPGE family_NN1 into_II a_AT1 nonstop_JJ audition_NN1 for_IF more_DAR turns_NN2 in_II the_AT big_JJ tent_NN1 of_IO the_AT reality_NN1 media_NN circus_NN1 ._. 
The_AT role_NN1 models_NN2 for_IF today_RT 's_GE desperate_JJ fame_NN1 seekers_NN2 are_VBR "_" Jon_NP1 &;_NULL Kate_NP1 Plus_II 8_MC ,_, "_" not_XX Gable_NP1 and_CC Lombard_NP1 ._. 
But_CCB even_CS21 if_CS22 they_PPHS2 catch_VV0 a_AT1 break_NN1 ,_, as_CSA Heene_NP1 did_VDD on_II "_" Wife_NN1 Swap_VV0 ,_, "_" they_PPHS2 still_RR may_VM end_VVI up_RP betrayed_JJ by_II a_AT1 stacked_JJ system_NN1 ._. 
As_II The_AT Times_NNT2 reported_VVN in_II August_NPM1 ,_, many_DA2 reality_NN1 shows_NN2 are_VBR as_RG cruel_JJ as_CSA the_AT old_JJ dance_NN1 marathons_NN2 ._. 
The_AT usual_JJ Hollywood_NP1 workplace_NN1 rules_NN2 allowing_VVG breaks_NN2 for_IF rest_NN1 or_CC meals_NN2 often_RR do_VD0 n't_XX apply_VVI ._. 
Nor_CC ,_, sometimes_RT ,_, does_VDZ the_AT minimum_NN1 wage_VVI ._. 
Let_VV0 'em_PPHO2 eat_VVI fame_NN1 ._. 
If_CS Heene_NP1 's_GE balloon_NN1 was_VBDZ empty_JJ ,_, so_RR were_VBDR the_AT toxic_JJ financial_JJ instruments_NN2 ,_, inflated_VVN by_II the_AT thin_JJ air_NN1 of_IO unsupported_JJ debt_NN1 ,_, that_CST cratered_VVD the_AT economy_NN1 he_PPHS1 inhabits_VVZ ._. 
The_AT press_NN1 hyped_VVD both_DB2 scams_NN2 ,_, and_CC the_AT public_NN1 eagerly_RR bought_VVN both_DB2 ._. 
But_CCB between_II the_AT bogus_JJ balloon_NN1 and_CC the_AT banks_NN2 '_GE bubble_NN1 ,_, there_EX 's_VBZ no_AT contest_NN1 as_II21 to_II22 which_DDQ did_VDD the_AT most_RRT damage_VV0 to_II the_AT country_NN1 ._. 
The_AT ultimate_JJ joke_NN1 is_VBZ that_CST Heene_NP1 ,_, unlike_II the_AT reckless_JJ gamblers_NN2 at_II the_AT top_NN1 of_IO Citigroup_NP1 and_CC A.I.G._NP1 ,_, may_VM be_VBI the_AT one_PN1 with_IW a_AT1 serious_JJ shot_NN1 at_II ending_VVG up_RP behind_II bars_NN2 ._. 
