THE BOMB SHELL

by John P. Flannery

It’s the flick to see — a cinema commentary on more than Fox — rather a statement about what’s wrong with Fox and the Republican Caucus.

This is a bird’s eye view into how Fox demanded “loyalty” from its staff and stars — mostly through the lens of former Fox star host, Megyn Kelly (played brilliantly by Charlize Theron).

How did it work? Simple. Iif you want something, well you have to do a “favor” for Roger Ailes (Lithgow is amazing). And there is a “casting couch” in the film to discuss the favor. (There is a Giuliani part that you just have to see.)

Fail to perform “loyally” once you’ve received your quo, after you’ve “paid” your quid, and you’re the nowhere (wo)man.

Worse, you’re crushed like a bug. Morning time to afternoon dead air. Then out the door.

Same deal in the House and Senate these days.

No casting couch — not that we know of so far.

But it’s the same fear of being perceived “disloyal” to Trump. It’s followed by dismissal and a trail of slanderous remarks if you fail your part of his bargain. You’ll never have a position again in the Republican Party. And that may not be the end of his revenge.

The same cancerous ethic and lawless conduct at Fox is mirrored in the once grand old party.

We saw it in the House, the cultist denial of indisputable facts and law. The clumsy word salads and shouting, the wandering thoughts, and unrelated charges, all because they can’t say what is truly their motivation — the fear of losing their position and more. So they do the best with the limited intellect “a subject” must have to embrace such a brutish chief executive.

In the Senate, the beat goes on, where there have been we have the most amazing admissions of bias, way out in the open, as must happen whenever a strong man is running the government.

We have the Senate Leader McConnell helping the defendant Trump escape free and clear of the charges that Trump betrayed the nation and allies, so he could cheat on the next presidential election.

We have “the Graham” — a past critic of Trump pronounce he won’t even look at the evidence.

Years ago, BT (Before Trump), Megyn invited me to appear on her show. She let me say my piece.

There was a time before she hosted herself when Megyn was a producer and asked questions off camera — before her climb to the big time. That’s how I first met her.

I think the writers and Thereon knock this out of the park.

The price these people pay, the indignity, the misconduct, at Fox and in the Republican Party, to keep a job they can’t do right, because they are directed not to do it right is an historic low in corruption. And don’t forget their loyalty must continuously be demonstrated. We are talking pygmies and cowards. Not patriots.

JPF