Let's Talk Numbers More.

For the sake of educating Americans, let's start putting some price tags in our news stories.  How much people paid for this or that.  What was purchased, including labor.  When so many news stories would benefit by sharing paid facts, tell us about the pricing and what people pay for their privileges.   I've often thought that of news stories where numbers were missing.  Did the reporter even ask?

In the latest Andrew Sullivan dustup with the funny news man Jon Stewart, who it appears is coming out of retirement with a grey grizzled beard, Sullivan lays on detail after detail after detail about his booking expectations before making accusations of being ambushed when the entertainment-debate went wrong...

What was Sullivan paid for his appearance on the show?

Tell me that, and I will tell you whether he was well compensated for his performance or has a legitimate beef that he went on the program to share information and serve a public good, and was merely treated badly when he tried to do a good turn on a friend's show.

Otherwise, Sullivan is simply getting dished up to him -- in leftover form -- what he's been cooking up in his kitchen for years.  You don't get to go after the parentage of a Downs syndrome child and expect everyone to forget who you are a few years later when you're trying to turn a buck and make a comeback playing innocent immigrant who is simply trying to understand the complex history of race relations in America.

Andrew Sullivan clearly bit off more than he could chew on Stewart's program, trying to change lanes from his area of expertise that is less in demand as gay rights have progressed and the transgender activists have taken the torch from his hands.

As an aging American now, Sullivan will learn to live within his means.  Even if his means means he's got to hire more staff to peruse more content to feed him with tastier dishes today that he can digest fully before opining and sharing his tastes.

And let us see the prices being paid on these media menus, please?  I don't think people are getting much nutrition from these warmed-over storylines but people like Sullivan keep cashing the checks, putting their faces up there, and then expecting sympathy when -- at that age -- they play victim.  Of an ambush, of threats, of hurt feelings...

Whatever.