There has been so much written about both Dan Rather and OJ Simpson that I hesitated to put up this post, but because this piece at Pajamas Media by Roger Simon takes a unique look at both situations I chose to pass it along.

OJ, as everyone knows was a huge sports, movie and media star. Rather was an anchorman of the most celebrated sort – the one to “interview” Saddam as if representing all of us, among other flak-jacketed, high profile activities. In fact, his demise helped put a stake in the heart of that particular occupation, the television anchor a la Cronkite. The idea that one individual has that much power over the public’s view of the world now seems almost Neanderthal and certainly reactionary.

In the case of OJ, we see our television lives dominated once again by the bizarre saga of an unpunished celebrity murderer.

We have lived for some time in a society in which stardom seems to motivate people to lose contact with reality. The more attention they get – the crazier that get. And if they feel that attention diminishing, they act out to regain it. It’s like a drug – media crack cocaine.

Thus we have a Sean Penn opining on Katrina, sailing about New Orleans like some junior Ahab or Sally Fields telling us – using an obscenity of course, lest we ignore her - that the world would be different with women in control. It can be argued that OJ’s looney break-in in Vegas was, more than anything, a plea for attention.

Rather’s new lawsuit against CBS also seems, most of all, the cry of a lonely desperate man – Remember me! Remember me!

I believe Mr. Simon is correct. Stardom has created monsters out of many. Hollywood “stars”, radio personalities, news and sportscasters, journalists and even politicians feel they are the authority on all topics and we like sheep should just listen and believe. Hope you enjoy the read if you choose to head on over to PJM.