People Of South Park, I Declare Shenanigans, Grab Your Brooms

On a famous second season epidode of South Park, during the annual Cow Days it turned out the games at the carnival were rigged and a big joke on the players who were ripped off. Officer Barbrady declared "shenanigans" and told people to get their brooms. And on MTV, Ashton Kutcher's elaborate mean trick show, builds on Candid Camera by labored and elaborate tricks played on celebrities. Tuesday fell somewhere between the two popular culture programs.

In the worst heart breaker there was a claim that 20 minutes after mine officials knew that most of the miners were found dead in the West Virginia mine tragedy, thay sat on the information for about three hours before offering the truth at a press conference. Understandably joyous jubilation turned to anger and sorrow. It was as if the whole nation, especially the families had been "punk'd".

It was almost too much of an emotional roller coaster to even watch. A deeply sad heartbreaker made worst by the knowlege of this futher problems by the management of this mine that went from 68 safety violations in 2004 to 208 violations in 2005. The nation and the grieving families who especially feel betrayed are ready to "declare shenanigans".

Jack Abramoff, a major lobbyist plead guilty to stealing tens of millions from Native American casinos, and using the money to bribe public officials. Abramoff was a strong friend of Tom Delay, who has run to Christian churches for support for the felony indictment that he faces. Abramoff may implicate as many as 20 Republican and Democratic members of Congress in criminal bribe activity. Abramoff was a Bush Pioneer, a part of an elite group of supporters who contributed more than $100,000 to the Bush campaign. With the criminal plea of Abramoff and the factbthat as many as 20 Congress members may be implicated or even brought down, it was as if the nation declared "shenanigans" on corruption in Congress and is ready to get their brooms.

Almost daily, the Bush Administration misleads the nation on "how good" things are going in Iraq. But Tuesday it was announced that the election results would be delayed again because of more than 2,000 allegations of fraud. And a suicide bombing at a funeral of all places killed 36 and wounded 40.

All of these heartbreaking and emotionally depressing elaborate string-alongs make one feel like a victim of the elaborate dirty tricks on the "Punk'd" program, but also make one want to "declare shenanigans" and grab their brooms.