Culture Clash: Bush daughter probably not best source of information

Perkins: As if morning television isn't mind-numbing enough, we're gonna throw a Bush into the mix. Well, a Bush-Hager. That's right, Jenna Bush just landed a gig as a "Today" show contributor. Hmmm, wonder why? We'll see if she can be slightly more articulate than her father.

Meo: Wow, how mad is she? She squeezed out 14 and is still WAY behind. And broke. And about as stable as a Pogo stick. Sartre was nearly right. Hell is other people ... other people's children on TV.

Perkins: It's child abuse if you ask me. What's the normal-to-not-normal ratio there? They are home schooled, all play instruments and travel around in a bus. What does the media do? Give them a TLC reality show. Why not a variety hour? Just because you have a million children doesn't mean you should get a show, Nadya Suleman.

Meo: My dislike for morning news is well-chronicled in these hallowed columns, but I'll defend Mr. Bush. He wasn't as dopey as people think. The myth of his lack of intelligence simply took on a life of its own when it became completely acceptable to rip a sitting American president for any reason, legitimate or not. That said, I'll politely decline Jenna's news reports. I seriously doubt I'll learn anything of value from her.

Perkins: She joins the ranks of Joy Behar, Kathy Lee Gifford, Ben Stein and Moe Rocca - B-list names who are supposed to lend credibility, but just give us our daily does of infotainment. The hyphenated name doesn't fool me. I remember her college antics on the cover of US Weekly. Her stint will probably be short lived, much like the hyped up hurricane Danny. Too bad.

Meo: Stein is smart, the others couldn't Super Size a Happy Meal without audio instructions and six assistants. Speaking of infotainment, Edward Kennedy's funeral sure turned into a myopic circus. Funny how we forget the details *cough*crimes*cough* of a man's life and spout endless poetry about his "unflinching this" and "dedication to that" once he's gone. I know the thing with the Kennedys is generational, it's something I'll never understand, but such short, fuzzy memories we have. Plaxico Burress shot himself (yes, dazzlingly stupid) and got two years in prison. I wonder what would have happened to Plaxico Kennedy? Is there rehab for unlawful discharge of a firearm addiction?

Perkins: Stein does have some impressive credentials from back in the day. Since his days as a speech writer, he's been hawking eye drops and trying to find Ferris Bueller. As for the Kennedy clan, America loves them. And there will never be a comparable family. At least they weren't talking about Michael Jackson for a few hours. I avoided the media debauchery. I understand the coverage to a degree. However, that Duggar family should not get any media attention whatsoever. They are having their 19th kid. Gross.

Meo: Can you even tell the difference after four? Does Mrs. Duggar even have labor pains, or do the new kids just drop when they're done baking? Do you bother with names, or do you just yell and assume a tiny subordinate will build/retrieve/clean whatever it is you want? I can't even say 19 children is my worst nightmare, because that's one child. Beyond, and it becomes a blur of shapes and colors and smells that paralyze the soul and numb the mind. The dad's name is Jim Bob. Really? This has to be a Jeff Foxworthy routine and not, I repeat, not at all real.

Emily Perkins is the editorial assistant at the Norwich Bulletin. She has the end of summer blues. John Meo is design editor at the Norwich Bulletin. He won't get a flu shot, and he won't get the flu.