For general discussion and debate. Possible talking point: Why are media liberally biased? Is impartiality from the press either possible or desirable? Last night, NBer zeestephen wrote (paragraph breaks removed):
As much as I enjoy NewsBusters, one constant flaw I see in the reasoning around here is the idea that something called "good" or "fair journalism" actually exists or can be attained. I don't think that's the case. I think every passionate human being looks at the world through a lens constructed of basic principles and basic assumptions. As long as people remain open to new facts, as long as there is a free and competitive market in the world of ideas, I don't think that should be a problem.
As this occurred late, it didn't evoke the kind of discussion it warranted, especially at a website dedicated to exposing and combating liberal media bias. As such, let's discuss and debate this critical issue of our time.
Comments Policy
Liberal Bias
February 11, 2008 - 10:42 ET by Noel SheppardNBers,
To get the ball rolling, this was my response to zeestephen last evening:
NS, this has been my belief
February 11, 2008 - 10:57 ET by FastEdfor as long as I've been here and before - THIS site is based on the idea to expose media bias - while some would disagree with the majority viweing posts, anyone who wants to be honest, should see that there is a left lean to the media, as proven by many surveys. However, if the media would admit that, then there would be a different perception of what was being "reported", knowing the presumed bias.
I agree that the "journalists" of today, for the most part, are NOT - they have become editorialists, bending 'facts', and 'reportage', to their way of thinking, and yes, combining their personal bias to that 'report'.
There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad V
the problem with the MSM is
February 11, 2008 - 12:09 ET by TruthMongerthe problem with the MSM is the propaganda
just like the Soviets with PRAAVDA, or Al-Jazeera
they lie and manipulate, push a social and political agenda under the guise of being a "free press"
while conservative-advocate media like EIB et al dutifully ID's itself to the listener...
the DNC diabolically enjoys a trillion dollar stealth promo machine called the MSM and the entertainment industry
I read somewhere (Might
February 11, 2008 - 13:25 ET by motherbeltI read somewhere (Might have been one of Bernie Goldberg's books, but I won't sweart to that) about a news story coming into a newsroom, and at the editorial meeting, the news editor tosses out the question: How are we going to play this?
Play this? You DON'T play this. You report it!! You don't play it from one angle or another.
Another problem is, and Rush has talked about this...is that since Woodward and Bernstein...every journalist sees himelf as an "agent", an investigator, a toppler of the mighty. And, he says, too many young people,when asked why they want to go into journalism say they "want to make the world a better place."
No doubt the mass media is
February 11, 2008 - 12:26 ET by BinxlyNo doubt the mass media is biased. I think its utterly deplorable and the slippery slope is when people harp about conservative bias. For example, Fox News. Is the pundit featured shows leaning to the right? Of course. Hannity is a sharp man and Colmes is a bumbling fool most times. Again though, they make no effort to refer to THOSE shows as objective, everyone is *aware* they lean right. O'Reilly makes no bones admitting hes a conservative. However, ask Couric where she stands and she'll answe that with another question. They won't ever give you the answer. The worst part is, O'Reilly's show is all opinion and pundit driven, Couric brings her biases to an ACTUAL news show.
That my friends is utterly disgusting and I agree with most here, it is absurd and never ceases to amaze me how most of America is *still* oblivious to this.
I will say however, that there IS conservative bias out there as well. It is MUCH less frequent and less likely to occur in real news reporting than its liberal counterpart, but at the same time, I see many people, so frustrated with the left bias, that they want to 'fight fire with fire' and believe the best course of action is using conservative bias and propaganda to fight back. That is not the solution. I also noticed that many do get a bit angry when someone calls out conservative bias (the VERY few times it ever happens) but to them I ask 'do you not believe in playing a fair game? If we're going to hold the opposition to a standard of responsibility, isnt it wrong not to hold ourselves to that same standard? Even if it means admitting some in our party ARE capable of mistakes and certainly have made them?'
I just think the problem in politics today is pride and partisanship. Although he's as liberal as they come from what I see of his voting record, that is why the youth and usually apathetic voters seem to be all abuzz over Obama. The man does make no secret of his left leaning policies and plans for our nation, but I can tell you he does not go out there attacking Republicans on a personal level, and when in one hand he'll scold a Republican for what he views as a mistake, but will then also give them credit for doing a very difficult job just in general. People see him as more unifying than polarizing. That's why I think if it's McCain vs Clinton, McCain will absolutely DEMOLISH her. McCain isn't half as 'feel good' as Obama is, but Clinton is business as usual and certainly isn't below playing the mud sling game and engaging in down and dirty political battles.
I'd say if you are shooting for McCain in 08, pray that Clinton gets the Dem's nod.
Your response is accurate
February 11, 2008 - 11:05 ET by Ruths husband BenYour response is accurate but incomplete. Part of the problem is that the best and the brightest don't become Journalism majors at College. The best and the brightest become math, engineering, sciences, premed, etc. majors. That leaves the not so best and not so brights to "save the world."
Generally speaking, these people are barely capable of feeding and clothing themselves, yet feel perfectly capable at ferretting out the "truth." My personal experience, based on three or so episodes in my life, is that journalists always get it wrong. Always. No exceptions. If they reported on a dog race, they would claim a cat won. I am not talking getting it wrong in a small way, either, I mean missing fundemental facts. I am positive that it is because of intelligence, not bias. But when you add bias to the mix....
The real problem is the belief in this country that because someone has a platform, they have the right to be heard. An extreme example is Sean Penn. This is a clown whose personal life is a joke, a mockery. But he is given a platform to expouse his view of how the world should be. If you can't run your own life (as the song goes), I'll be damned if you'll run mine.
The same thing is true about journalists. Most of them would starve to death if they had to create something of value to society, yet they feel free to criticise those that do.
Ben
February 11, 2008 - 11:12 ET by Noel SheppardBen,
My response last night was necessarily brief and incomplete due to the time. I could probably write 10,000 words on this subject -- in the next hour, even. :-)
That said, I think you raise a great point. My college-aged son, who is an excellent writer, asked me last year if he should consider going into journalism. I said, "Not if you'd like to make enough money to live where you grew up."
Since getting into this "business," I've often wondered whether the problem is media bias or media stupidity. Maybe one of the key reasons these folks consistently get everything wrong is due to intellect rather than impartiality.
After all, bias might make you say/write something foolish. However, will it compel you to debate and defend it? Most of these folks actually believe the nonsense they report despite it often being totally devoid of facts. Does this make them biased, or stupid? ns
Noel
February 11, 2008 - 12:42 ET by ricklailI would think part of the problem is laziness. They don't want to do the "leg work" necessary to get the facts. This may not be the best example but I use it because I know how it works. When I worked in the nuclear power industry we had to investigate problems using root cause analysis. We had to go to each individual involved in an incident and question them. We were not allowed to talk on the phone or by e-mail. It took a lot of leg work to get the bottom of something. They, the MSM reporters, are not willing to do the work like we did in root cause.
If you ain't the lead dog, the scenery never changes.-Lewis Grizzard
Great point re: making
February 11, 2008 - 11:31 ET by balboaGreat point re: making money in journalism. I graduated with a J degree, and from my senior year on, the thing I knew I didn't want to do was work for a newspaper.
Sometimes the ignorance is
February 11, 2008 - 11:37 ET by Ruths husband BenSometimes the ignorance is willful and stunning.
I was at Grand Gulf Nuclear Station (in Port Gibson, MS) during construction and a friend of mine gave a guided tour to a gaggle of TV reporters. They were invited down for the tour by MP&L management in the hopes of educating them enough that they could report on nuclear power somewhat accurately. At the end of the tour, which included going into the bioshield and looking at the reactor, they were standing in the bottom of the still uncompleted cooling tower. The cooling tower, btw, is the uniquely shaped structure that everyone associates with nuclear power, but is in fact just a heat sink which could be (and are) used at fossil plants. Anyway, they are standing there in the bottom of the cooling tower and my friend asks if there are any questions. A reporter asked him where the reactor was (meaning that it had to be in the cooling tower). My friend told him that they had looked at the reactor in the containment building. The reporter just knew that the reactor was in the cooling tower, so he basically called my friend a liar.
The end result of that entire episode was a picture of goats crossing the road with the tower in the background in the Wall Street Journal. (Claiborne county Mississippi is rural, you know.) This summed up everything the writer understood about nuclear power.
Those who beat their swords into plowshares usually end up plowing for those who didn't. - Ben Franklin
"Not if you'd like to make
February 11, 2008 - 11:58 ET by Hero Squad"Not if you'd like to make enough money to live where you grew up."
This is the top reason why I'm not a journalist anymore. Fun, interesting job, for sure. However, once I had a kid, it was time to make better money.
When I was an editor I usually had a student intern from the local high school paricipate in the school's open campus program, giving them a good look at what it was like to work at a newspaper, so they always got to see the pros and the cons of the job. Whenever the kid chose another direction for his or her career path, I felt like I made a difference. ;-)
*****
"People only insist that a debate stop when they are afraid of what might be learned if it continues." - George Will
A famous scientist once
February 11, 2008 - 13:00 ET by JerryA famous scientist once said, "Passion and science leads to bad science". This is so true, as evidenced by the global warming movement. They are so passionate about their cause that not only do they ignore contradicting facts, but they shun them.
By the same token, passion and journalism often leads to bad journalism. The "cause" is more important than ANYTHING else, truth and facts be dammed. If you have to lie to prove your cause, so be it. If it is not completely true, it probably should be, it just hasn't been proven YET (Dan Rather's forged documents).
When asked if he went to war with Iraq to derail the impeachment vote: “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).
Noel
February 11, 2008 - 23:37 ET by RESTLESS 1"After all, bias might make you say/write something foolish. However, will it compel you to debate and defend it?"
These people may try to defend their foolishness, but rarely debate. I think that this goes back to intellect. Most stupid people are smart enough to know they are stupid. Some of these journalists may not be even that bright, but most know that they cannot win debates. A very few in high places within the liberal establishment, and this would start at the DNC, where talking points are formed, down to the media, where it is disseminated, and even into the classrooms, where these points are used to brainwash students, most of whom may be smart, but constant pressure from peers and superiors whittles away the will to stand up for the truth. They finally end up falling in line to not be ostracised. These socialists are a demented and deliberate bunch. They make those who don't fall in line with their beliefs the outsiders, and thus minimize their impact on society at large. Those who cannot stand to be outside the establishment eventually fall back into line looking for forgiveness and acceptance. I could go on, but this is becoming a record post for me in terms of length, and my finger are gettin tired.
I would go further in saying...
February 11, 2008 - 11:41 ET by BritcomI agree with Noel and would ad that Universities have become infested with Marxist communist professors and journalism students are not untouched by this phenomenon. Ad to that the fact that the media are all owned by a handful of mostly secular socialist run conglomerates and you have a perfect storm of leftist monopoly on media.
Leftist owners will only hire editors who share their political views and editors will only hire journalists and news anchors that share their views. This means that right leaning journalists cannot get work and must either adopt a leftist view at work, adapt to working on the internet, or find another line of work entirely.
We see evidence of this as the internet centrist and rightist blogs and news outlets eat the lunch of the old media outlets. The public (not being leftist) find the new non-leftist media more appealing and the old media stiffneckedly refuses to heed the trend and would rather lose money and ultimately go out of business than give the readers a balanced report. It makes one wonder if their whole purpose always was propaganda and not reporting the events of the day.
I think McCarthy was right, there was (and still is) a communist infiltration in Hollywood, the news media, and schools and higher education institutions. Note how Communist dictatorships like Red China, Cuba, Vietnam and Red leaning Venezuela are praised in Hollywood and the media. They are sympathizers, and long for the Communist Revolution here in the US. To some degree they have already won in some American cities. But they continue to "progress" toward the collectivist "village".
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Huckabee/Hunter '08
Truth or Lies??
February 11, 2008 - 15:45 ET by RonCWell folks – much of the population of the US is in deep denial... or perhaps suffering from unintentional ignorance due to too little honest historical reference availability or a lack of time and exposure to same. I’m double or more the age of most here, and I’ve had the time to read a lot of old books, and experience a far more honest journalistic age long now past – and the current age of completely (and I mean totally) dishonest media.
Put bluntly - honesty in reporting (news 'journalism') has been under assault rather consistently in the US beginning around 160 years ago... and has become ever more blatant as time has past. Dishonest historical revisionism began replacing honest historical tabulation beginning about the same time.
In 1944 Friedrich Hayek exposed the criminal and lying tactics of communist promoters in his book, The Road to Serfdom, nearly 100 years after Karl Marx published the Communist Manifesto in 1848. Friedrich Engels got together with Marx and they hammered out the principles of ‘scientific communism,’ (Marxist Communism) which has a well known and despicable history, yet we still suffer journalistic idiots who actually believe it can, if done ‘the American way,’ create ‘paradise on earth.’
We have, even at Fox News, little to zero truth being broadcast. No media will tell you that we are being railroaded into serfdom, and dictatorship. None chronicle the decline of freedom and the growth of behemoth lying government that plans to confiscate everything in sight, including your life and all that it entails.
Noel, you’re partially right – I certainly knew, and many others knew when it happened, that American media lies forced us out of Viet Nam (now written Vietnam) – and I knew long before that, in 1947, that American schools were being filled with socialist propaganda, deliberate historical distortions and teachers intent on creating ‘dumbed down’ students virtually incapable of reading ability - through the deliberate removal of mandatory phonics instruction.
(A temporary-foster mother saved me from the mass scholastic deficiency suffered by most Americans when the communist-controlled NEA instituted the Dewy ‘look say’ system beginning in the early 1940’s - as communists happily destroyed the reading and writing ability of the majority of American citizens.)
You are absolutely correct in saying that the goal of the current ‘journalism’ professor is ‘changing the world’ – indeed, toward total Communism. It has been that way since my youth – it’s just become far more strident in the past 25 to 30 years. So don’t expect ‘facts’ – expect 100 percent distortion and propaganda.
‘Britcom’ too is absolutely correct, McCarthy was right – and if he were here today, he would see far more Communists in Hollywood, universities, broadcast and print media now than there once were. He would see them in our military, and infesting all branches of government - of city, county, state and federal government – and he would see them in both major political parties and in more than half a dozen minor political parties. (Another historical note, ‘progressives’ once dominated the Republican Party – late 1800’s through early 1900’s – they just moved to the ‘Democratic’ party when the GOP was thrown out of power – as they always migrate toward the party at the center of power.)
Bottom line – the goal is the disintegration and elimination of the United States as it has existed since its formation – and we are all about to experience that very goal being accomplished within the next two or three years. That is, unless enough Americans demand the complete elimination of all the written Communist goals already enacted at the federal level to destroy this nation – starting with the graduated income tax and a central bank.
Many of you have a copy of those goals, found by American soldiers in WWII – and as many of you know, all of those goals have been met by traitorous federal government. All that remains is the deliberate collapse of our economy, resultant chaos and institution of the ‘final solution.’
Revolution won’t work this time because too many of your neighbors are on the other side – most of them thoroughly brainwashed by what has become known as the MSM, and many of them illegal aliens here to help, and already trained, to assist the coming communist dictatorship.
Can NB help defeat the deck stacked against this nation by more than 100 years of socialist propaganda? It could – but, only by demanding a return to the laws that limited the power of sitting legislators - the return of laws that concentrated political power at the lowest political and local level, out of the hands of sitting government officials, who overturned those laws in the early 1900’s.
I could tell you what all of those laws (simple) were, and how those laws kept government small in America’s past – but, a huge majority of Americans would have to rise up and demand not ‘leaders’ but public servants, who ‘represent’ not dictate – but most specifically, a screeching halt to all government ‘socialism’ (more correctly, incipient communism.)
Let’s ask… how many Americans want to stay American - not a ‘citizen of the world’ or a slave in the soon to appear NAU? How many know what laws were removed, and what laws to demand be reinstated to put political power back in the hands of local citizens? Are they willing to stand on their own two feet and endure the political cat-fight of all time – or do they want peace at any price? How many are tired of inept government at all levels, and want an immediate castration of the socialist-presstitute MSM (once a near fact of life in this nation?)
This is nothing ‘new’ folks – it’s almost as old as our founding. It is what our grandfathers and great grandparents knew - actually demanded, and acted on. They knew and demanded those laws that communists sought to and successfully destroyed. Bottom line – you have to be ready to demand 'governmentbusted' – and a return to local voter control, as it was before your mothers and fathers allowed it to be taken away from them – by ‘progressives.’
If enough Americans were ready, the biggest political revolution of modern history could be kick-started - if enough of them really had a mind to fight - and fight hard for it. How many of you would like to wield real political power (the same your grandparents knew) in your own back yard, in your own city and county? How many are ready to call a ‘socialist’ or a ‘progressive’ what they really are?
It would be time consuming – a daily battle. Americans today could only hack it only if true freedom was worth to them what it was to their forefathers – and if they have the fortitude to stand firm together against threats and lies from all levels of government, media and academia. The fonts of socialist corruption today won’t give up their stolen power easily – but if enough people demand restoration of the very laws our forefathers demanded, government officials would be forced back to being representatives, not dictators – education institutions would cease to be propaganda-mills – and government hand-outs to a favored few would cease to exist.
But, therein lies the biggest hurdle of all – those ‘on the dole’ outnumber those who feed them – and they won’t allow the rest of us to vote out their place at the public trough.
But, would they chose to back away from the trough to avoid slavery and murderous government?
RonC... Amen...Amen...and
February 11, 2008 - 15:57 ET by bigtimerRonC...
Amen...Amen...and Amen.
Hear, hear.
February 11, 2008 - 18:28 ET by SchnikeysHear, hear.
RonC, you get the gold star for the month for that post.
February 11, 2008 - 19:06 ET by R D HelmMaybe even for the year.
That is one of the best, most relevant comments concerning this country's current predicament that I have ever seen posted here, or anywhere else, for that matter.
I whole-heartedly agree with your assessment of Fox News, which I have all but ceased watching, as they are as clueless as the rest of the MSM, as are the majority of Americans today.
The size and scope of the federal government has literally doubled in the last six years. I expect it to grow at an even faster rate, regardless of who is elected next November. As our freedoms and liberties are inversely proportional to the size and power of the federal government, this is a decidedly ominous trend.
As for returning power to the hands of the people, where most of our founders intended for it to be, the only mechanism that I believe has any real chance at this point in our history, would be the passage of the Fair Tax. As you correctly point out, a revolution, at least in the traditional sense, would be impossible today.
Imperfect as it is, I honestly believe the Fair Tax to be the last, best hope for this country, if we are going to avoid disaster and have any kind of a free and prosperous future.
Otherwise it will be Game Over, and much sooner than most people realize.
None are so hopelessly enslaved as those who falsely believe they are free. -J.W. von Goethe
But, therein lies the
February 12, 2008 - 02:08 ET by maggieqpublicBut, therein lies the biggest hurdle of all – those ‘on the dole’ outnumber those who feed them – and they won’t allow the rest of us to vote out their place at the public trough.
Not qualified to judge other states, but I believe California has tipped the scale…. the number of city, county, state, federal employees living in California and those who are married or related to a government employee living in California clearly overwhelm the voting power of citizens in the private sector.
Zeestephen Responds, Then Calls Bomb Squad (Just Kidding)
February 11, 2008 - 18:43 ET by zeestephenThanks to all who posted about my late night note.
Unfortunately, the excerpt that Noel put up was more like my "preamble" than my central thesis.
My main point was that MSM titans like NBC, AP, NYT, and MSNBC are not news organizations, they are "For Profit Political Parties," and their reporters are not journalists, they are "Highly Paid Political Lobbyists."
Conservatives cannot reform them, Conservatives can only compete against them.
Today, our blog-based and radio-based insurgency is not serious competition.
That is incredibly frustrating to me since the demand for Conservative news and analysis is huge.
For thirty years I've dreamed of turning on the "Conservative Nightly News Hour" and watching world class communicators inform me on the day's events while defending and advancing Conservative ideals.
The day that happens, American politics will be changed forever.
I'll start it...
February 11, 2008 - 10:44 ET by sarcasmoI think the competition sometimes beats the hell out of NB on exposing the often-antilibertarian nature of today's media bias, especially these days when the words "liberal" & "conservative" seem to have lost all meaning. Flame-away.
JMR
If this is winning, I think I'd rather lose...
Huckabee Challenges Washington State Results
February 11, 2008 - 10:47 ET by BritcomSource: American Thinker
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Huckabee/Hunter '08
With such wonderful "security"??
February 11, 2008 - 10:50 ET by sarcasmoObviously, fraud is physically impossible! Yay!! ;)
JMR
If this is winning, I think I'd rather lose...
You make a good point Sarc...
February 11, 2008 - 11:37 ET by BritcomWhat if the reason the voting was stopped and the counters told to go home, was to give them time to open the machines and reset the numbers to favor a certain candidate before resuming the counting on Monday?
Makes one think.
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Huckabee/Hunter '08
Paul BS
February 11, 2008 - 10:57 ET by CaringwhiteguyA serious question on an important subject, and we've got to put up with more of this Ron Paul BS from Sarc?
Oh, the horror.
February 11, 2008 - 11:00 ET by sarcasmoWhine, whine whine.
JMR
If this is winning, I think I'd rather lose...
Ron Paul will run at least
February 11, 2008 - 11:40 ET by Roger the ShrubberRon Paul will run at least until March 4th, the date of the Texas primary. Texas law allows a candidate to run for both president AND congress at the same time. However, Paul cannot shift the $5-7 million he has in his warchest to campaign for Congress unless he drops out. So, he will use his millions to run in Tejas, for president, but actually, for both jobs. Considering that Paul raised about $1.5 MILLION in his last congressional race (mostly from out-of-state donations), he will be able to use many times more than that this time. Reportedly Paul will be spending almost a 3/4 of a million in advertising in Houston alone, which borders Paul's district. Considering his opponent, Chris Peden, has raised about $250,000 total, Paul should be able to beat him handily with that out-of-state money.
Unless peden uses the
February 11, 2008 - 15:51 ET by BDUnless peden uses the obligatory "Paul is a Wackjob" advertisement that should prove lethal to Pauls campaign....
Like it has
February 11, 2008 - 15:55 ET by sarcasmoElection-after-election, despite a long history of active opposition from the (tax and spend Democrat recruiting) Republican Party of Texas? We'll see...
JMR
If this is winning, I think I'd rather lose...
Election-after-election Re
February 11, 2008 - 16:18 ET by BDElection-after-election
Relevance?
despite a long history of active opposition from the (tax and spend Democrat recruiting)
Relevance?
Republican Party of Texas?
Relevance?
We'll see...
Still looking for relevance...
You did not address my point, that being that R P is now WELL known as a wackjob based on his performance in the presidential primary debates and it will obviously be used against him by his opponent, probably to great effect.
The competition. Very
February 11, 2008 - 17:56 ET by Roger the ShrubberThe competition.
Very similiar to DasSarkBot's 72-yo Lord and Saviour, but without the nutty goodness.
This video sheds a little light why douche-a-rific robots like DasSarkBot turn people like me off on Ron Paul.
All things being equal,
February 11, 2008 - 19:01 ET by BDAll things being equal, Peden should dust off RP in short order. schedule a debate and ask two questions and Wacko surfaces....
Important News Flash (Seriously) Tom Lantos Dead
February 11, 2008 - 11:05 ET by Caringwhiteguyhttp://www.nbc11.com...
Per the article, how in the world could a Holocaust survivor...
February 11, 2008 - 12:09 ET by Prester John....be "adamantly pro-choice"?
The Expectation is...
February 11, 2008 - 11:21 ET by JayTeeThe Expectation when you turn on the TV and see the NEWS, is to see "the world through a lens constructed of basic principles and basic assumptions".
I assume the Announcer has no Horse in the Race.
I prefer the FOX approach, We Report, You Decide.
If you have a Bias...Stephanopolis was on the Clinton Staff ... I expect it to be announced often and up front. Even Cramer says "My foundation owns this Stock". at least the Guests should be introduced (most of the time) as having a Bias, belonging to X org or representing X views.
If it's reported, and found to be incorrect, I expect it to be Reported that it was a mistake... this is much easier if the Announcer isn't buying in to the original mistake, EG, he doesn't care one way or the other, a mistake is a mistake.
This is why FOX Ratings are double anyone else's in the MSM.
NOW, For NB.....I have occaisionally noticed a certain "enjoyment" by the NB'er as they report on news items and expose the lies and SPINNING that has occured. This in iteself is a Bias, and does not fit into the above perferences....but NB isn't coming into your living room, it's a Web site where facts are to be "enjoyed", as well as Discussed. We have a Two way conversation, so does Fox, NEVER is MSM a two way Street...sometimes they want you to believe it's is, but it's not, sometimes it's obvious to the most casual observer the MSM is Biased....and we have the Polls to show it, but MSM never shows those polls.
The MSM is going to DIE, WaPO and NYT are dying, Fox is killing them, NB is helping.
Long live the King.
And now, today's Shrub
February 11, 2008 - 11:26 ET by Roger the ShrubberAnd now, today's Shrub Report®:
Rest in peace, Chief Brody. Ironically, Peter Benchley died on this same date two years ago.
Al-Qaeda is near total collapse in Iraq, so the Democrat(ic)s have no choice but to ratchet up the Defeatist rhetoric… No, this war is long from over, but the investment in defeat isn't exactly paying off, now is it?
Claimed Arkansas sightings of Thomas Covenant were, alas, premature…
Prince Charles does his part to combat Global Warming… Speaking of Global Warming…
Did you send your loved ones a "Death To America" card today?
Shocking! Who woulda thunk?!?!
Well, she cleaned up Vince Foster's "suicide", so maybe she can clean up Lady Pantsuit's campaign? Meanwhile, is it's Sunday, it means that the Clintons are campaigning in church again…
In Missouri the hate crime of murder was committed by a man who "stood for peace and justice". Oh.
Today's Religion of Peace Update. Partner with Islam!
And I thought Seattle Seahawks fans were whining, cry-baby losers. Meet the New England Waa-waaahs! Let it go. Let it go.
And, finally, a John McCain Update...
And once again
February 11, 2008 - 11:51 ET by TruthMongerAnd once again the Anti-defamation™ re-report…Partner with Islam…http://progressivemuslims.org/
Partner With Islam!
February 11, 2008 - 15:29 ET by dvdaughtryAhh! The moderation of it all.
Pitchers and Catchers report in 3 days.
you forgot your theme
February 11, 2008 - 15:42 ET by TruthMongeryou forgot your theme song:)
http://www.discoverynet.com/~ajsnead/allsongs_1/dueling.html
Oh, yeah...
February 11, 2008 - 17:11 ET by dvdaughtryyou forgot your hat. =)
Pitchers and Catchers report in 3 days.
We Need a Bigger Boat
February 11, 2008 - 12:07 ET by Hero SquadJust watched "Jaws" again last week. Man, what a great movie that was. His reaction when the shark first appears is classic.
"We need a bigger boat."
Lest I forget Roy's work in "Blue Thunder," the first R rated movie I saw in the theater (and I wasn't 17 yet, or with a parent. What a sense of accomplishment I felt at the time!)
And thanks for the Patriots petition. Some real gems there at the bottom of the list.
*****
"People only insist that a debate stop when they are afraid of what might be learned if it continues." - George Will
Scheider
February 11, 2008 - 12:15 ET by KC MulvilleI was sad to see that Roy Scheider died. He was always interesting. If he was in it, no matter what the movie was, I was willing to watch it. Good actors are like good storytellers. If you go to a party, and a good storyteller is there, the party is never dull. Scheider was a good storyteller. Rest in peace.
"Still of the Night" and
February 11, 2008 - 12:27 ET by balboa"Still of the Night" and "Tempest" were two movies I really liked with Roy Scheider in them.
French Connection
February 11, 2008 - 12:56 ET by KC MulvilleAnd consider this: can you imagine anyone else playing the complementary role to Gene Hackman's Popeye Doyle? Scheider played that perfectly. They weren't completely rogue, and Scheider's character restrained Doyle just enough to make it believable. If you gave that role to a lesser actor, Hackman would have seemed cartoonish. It was Scheider who gave him that extra believability.
I remember seeing that movie
February 11, 2008 - 12:32 ET by Roger the ShrubberI remember seeing that movie in the theater, too. I thought it was really cool. I saw it a couple of years ago on TNT, or some other cable channel, and thought to myself, "holy crap, this movie blows"...
Peter Benchley died on
February 11, 2008 - 12:22 ET by Jack BauerWas he eaten by a giant sea monster?
I believe it was Orca...
February 11, 2008 - 12:30 ET by Roger the ShrubberI believe it was Orca...
WHAT... Teddy Kennedy ate
February 11, 2008 - 13:18 ET by Jack BauerWHAT... Teddy Kennedy ate Peter Benchley.
I'm shocked I tells ya. Shocked.
Great Post Roger
February 11, 2008 - 12:31 ET by Ruths husband BenI followed the link to the New England petition and signed it under the nom de plume "John Kerry". Here is what I said:
I was for the Patriots before I was against them. Or was that visa versa? Both I think. I remember when football players performed great atrocities against mankind. That is why I threw my superbowl ring across the Whitehouse fence (really I kept it, but this gets me pity votes). Seriously, my wife is a ugly hag.
Thx for the laugh! This
February 11, 2008 - 13:13 ET by Roger the ShrubberThx for the laugh!
This was my fav so far:
...somewhere in Nicaraugua, some poor kid is wondering "what's does 19-0 mean, and who the f*ck are the New England Patriots?
Funny! Those Patriots
February 11, 2008 - 13:31 ET by JerryFunny! Those Patriots marched through the regular season in a manner reminicent of "Jenjus" Kahn.
When asked if he went to war with Iraq to derail the impeachment vote: “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).
ROFLMAO to all of
February 11, 2008 - 14:00 ET by bigtimerROFLMAO to all of this...too funny all involved.
More Gorebull Warbling
February 11, 2008 - 14:05 ET by ricklailHow about this or this for GW.
If you ain't the lead dog, the scenery never changes.-Lewis Grizzard
I'll add my 2 cents
February 11, 2008 - 19:11 ET by FastEdHow a Toll Increase (tax) in Not a tax, but if the tax isn't made, then we need to raise taxes. Coming to a state near you, or you in!??
There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad V
fair and balanced journalism
February 11, 2008 - 11:27 ET by DelsaNews men and woman used to report news and reporters used to be reporters. Not now.
These guys read news written by other people? From now on the news given out over the airways by readers, should begin with the reader stating his or her political leanings. Then take their words for whatever.
My thought is GET OVER "FAIR" OR "GOOD". Nothing is fair. Never has been or will be.
Did you see how Wheat prices are out of sight and we are having to import wheat????? Food in our tanks! Global warming? Holly Crap!
A thought on the voting issue
February 11, 2008 - 11:40 ET by DelsaWhat about republicans in California who showed up at polls and were told they were on the rolls as Independants?
And in LA the dems who were told the same thing? Who's incharge??
Actually, Delsa
February 11, 2008 - 23:40 ET by ChaitealoverHere in San Diego, where this story started, they had registered as 'Independent' or 'Declined to State,' some as long ago as the '90s. But up until this presidential primary, the Republicans allowed them to vote in the Repub primary. That was changed with this election. It was also reported that, whenever someone complained that their registration had been changed, the precinct captain called the Registrar's office for verification from the person's original registration card. If they had, indeed, registered Republican, they were allowed to vote. Of the 300 [last I heard] or so that had complained, only 5 were correct in their contention that they were registered Republican. As the info from the cards is carried to the precinct voting lists by humans, I suggest there were some honest typos involved.
A local reporter went to the Registrar's office and was shown registration cards of people who had contended that their registration had been tampered with. He copied and, with the names blacked out, showed them on the news. The people had not registered as Republican. Apparently they had voted as Reps for so long that they didn't remember how they had originally marked their card. The reporter has been on the air here for years and I have no reason to believe he wasn't truthful.
I have no idea what the story in LA was about, or how many complaints there were. The Democrats allowed Independent voters to vote in the primary, so perhaps it was just confused poll workers [having worked the polls, it's not hard for me to imagine].
Chai
“...Bury me on my face,” said Diogenes; and when he was asked why, he replied, “Because in a little while everything will be turned upside down.”
Three ideas
February 11, 2008 - 11:44 ET by KC MulvilleThis is a treatise-length topic, but let me just offer three ideas to spice the discussion.
The importance of subjectivity. Philosophy has spilled more ink on this than almost any other topic. Human knowledge is certainly subjective to some degree, but how much is objective? Philosophers have been battling over this one for ages. Journalism has the same question. How much is subjective, and how much is objective? Every discussion about journalism’s objectivity mirrors the same discussion in philosophy.
Political reporting. If we were discussing how reporters cover the opening of a new bridge, we’d be discussing opinion-neutral facts. But the reporting of politics is inherently a discussion of opinion. How do you keep your opinion out of a discussion of political opinion? In that discussion, other than polls, your opinion of what the opinion is … is inherently an opinion.
24 Hour News and Internet. Years ago, the Cronkites of the world bemoaned the fact that they only get a half hour of TV time. They used to complain that it reduced network news to a mere headline service. If only they had more time, they promised, they could delve more deeply into stories. If only they had more time, they promised, the media would create a truly well informed public. Well, now we have several cable outlets, on 24 hours a day, but the news segments have gotten shorter. If anything, the segments display less depth and less background. We can say the same about the print media. The internet has no space restriction, but reporters still give us "quick-hit" writing. The internet is a forum that can go as long as the topic deserves, and yet you never see it exploited to develop a story.
This is happening more than ever!
February 11, 2008 - 12:03 ET by planetrepublicanWell at least the bloggers here at NB and some other blogs see this, that the MSM is either ignorant or has an agenda. I think the later. Latest major casualty was Dan Rather and "Rathergate". Howie Carr, radio talk show host up here in the Boston area asked how many other Republicans were done in by the MSM before Rather's attempt blew up in his face. I thnk this was standard-operating-procedure at CBS and the other 3 networks from Cronkite onward. I think that is why Rather can't get over it, this was the way it was always done, etc. With GW Bush in office it has gotten worse, from my perspective. I see Bush-Derangement-Syndrome all over the place, even in Steven King's latest book, Duma Key! And a favorite little mag I like to read, Fantasy & Science Fiction! So it's worse than ever and in the MSM no signs of abating. In my opinion they (MSM) have an agenda and want our attention to push it. Sometimes it's obvious and sometimes not, and for that reason I thank Newsbusters.
Radio ad for Obama in Virginia
February 11, 2008 - 12:05 ET by Prester JohnWe can't afford 4 more years of people not having health care.
We can't afford 4 more years of not having good schools
We can't afford 4 more years of not having decent wages.
Tax cuts for the middle class, affordable/universal health care for all, more investment in schools, higher teachers salaries.
No word on where all the money is coming from. Anyone wanna guess where he's going to get it?
"Tax cuts for the middle
February 11, 2008 - 12:09 ET by Hero Squadmaybe it ends with, "...no more military spending."
Has Obama pledged to make Bush's tax cuts permanent?
*****
"People only insist that a debate stop when they are afraid of what might be learned if it continues." - George Will
The ad was on again...
February 11, 2008 - 12:34 ET by Prester John...and I picked up that Obama is going to cut health care costs by an average of $2500 per family.
And he also going to make college more affordable.
Still no word on where the money is going to come from.
".. and free ice cream
February 11, 2008 - 13:53 ET by Jerry".. and free ice cream during recesss... and no homework over the weekends... and open book tests only..." Duuuddde... Vote Obama! He's the only one with enough experience to be a junior high class president!
When asked if he went to war with Iraq to derail the impeachment vote: “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).
Impartiality from the press is desirable
February 11, 2008 - 12:07 ET by needleIs impartiality from the press desirable?
Definitely! They pride themselves on being part of the leadership of this country, and, as much as I hate to admit it, they are. If they were not, Nixon would not have been forced out of office, we would have unarguably have won the Vietnam War, and [zipping to the immediate present] Romney would now be the uncontested frontrunner of the Republican Party.
With the Media en masse hopelessly narcissistically ensnarled in their stew of liberalism, prejudice, and guilt, the possibility for there to be thoughtful intelligent dialogue on any topic – even the weather – is severely constrained. This would be bad enough if we were talking about Lichtenstein; but we are talking about the military, political, and economic leader of the world. At least for the time being, though the media will, if they can, resolve part of this inconsistency by making the US of A more like Lichtenstein.
Why are media liberally biased?
{ not enough time and space for this }
Is impartiality from the press possible?
If you mean “the press” in its traditional manifestations, I personally am not optimistic – in a word, I think it is too far gone – but the internet and even radio are making a difference.
Impunitas semper ad deteriora invitat.
Maybe this fits into the
February 11, 2008 - 12:09 ET by wiwfMaybe this fits into the category of "I may not know art but I know what I like?" I may not know what unbiased journalism is, but I know what isn't.
Good post by zee, and a good reply from Noel. Really made me think!
The Rocky Mountain Collegian: Illustrating Idiocy
The Christians are after ESPN!
February 11, 2008 - 12:16 ET by balboahttp://deadspin.com/...
It seems the latest round of Berman videos was enough to prompt a
return trip to Bristol for angry Christians. A press release reveals
all of ESPN's sins that need to be addressed and protested tomorrow at
noon:
The coalition is concerned there exists at ESPN a "lack of
sensitivity to persons of faith and a culture of religious
intolerance." To support this position view the link listed below
showing ESPN anchor Chris Berman using the term "Jesus" and "Goddamn"
in the workplace.
http://withleather.com/post.phtml?pk=4911
The Christian Defense Coalition will be calling on ESPN to take
three positive steps toward building a culture of religious tolerance
in their workplace:
*Discipline or terminate any employee that uses religiously
intolerant and hateful language such as "Goddamn" or the negative use
of "Jesus Christ" in the workplace.
*Sponsor a workplace seminar and dialogue on religious tolerance and
discrimination in the workplace. ESPN has held similar seminars on race
and gender but never on religion.
*Host a discussion on one of their programs featuring the topic of the
offensive use of "Goddamn" and "Jesus Christ" within the sports world