The media tends to report rumors, speculations, and projections as facts. . . How does the media do this? By quoting some 'expert'. . . you can always find some expert who will say something hopelessly hopeless about anything.
Gore Vidal said "Nixon is us, we are Nixon. " I think we have to acknowledge that combination of idealism and sleaze; we want to be better than we are, and we sometimes don't face up to the real questions.