A liberal bias is always easy to discern in newspaper writers when they tout liberal programs as informative and more conservative programs as deceptive. Take, for example, Kevin McDonough, a TV critic for the United Feature Syndicate (photo from UFS), touted by his bosses as lively and comprehensive in previewing TV seven nights a week with his "witty, insightful and occasionally offbeat approach to TV commentary." On Monday, he began:
Television has many powers. Its ability to distract (VH1), enter tain (“The Office”), inform (“The NewsHour”), deceive (“The O’Reilly Factor”), anger (ditto) and sell (QVC) are well documented.
But the moments when television reaches for the sublime, the beautiful, the poetic and transporting are few indeed.
McDonough urges viewers not to miss the PBS "American Experience" documentary on poet Walt Whitman, who we're told was a pioneer who "set out to celebrate the human body and its pleasures as a temple for a new democratic American spirituality," whatever that's supposed to mean. I'm guessing that means Whitman was a spiritual godfather to those who danced naked and drugged up at Woodstock, which might explain why PBS would celebrate him.
(Hat tip: ProudAmerican 33)
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inform (“The
April 16, 2008 - 09:11 ET by motherbeltinform (“The NewsHour”), deceive (“The O’Reilly Factor”), anger (ditto)
That's definitely not an example of his "offbeat" approach. Right out of the old Liberal Playbook.
My guess is that, considering his context, that a new democratic American spirituality means the same old "if it feels good, do it" with a little "spiritual" income redistribution thrown in.
GOOD GOD - IT'S PAT FROM SNL!!
April 16, 2008 - 09:57 ET by SgthulkaI recommend a few push ups.
If you squint real hard, it
April 16, 2008 - 10:50 ET by rwesleyIf you squint real hard, it looks like a lovechild of Al Franken's, what with the goof glasses and all.
Is that a photo of his sister?
April 16, 2008 - 09:21 ET by mustangsallyI'd say the man needs a booster of testosterone. I bet he's never shaved. No wonder he hates O'Reilly; he's scared of him ...
That's really, really solid
April 16, 2008 - 10:06 ET by balboaThat's really, really solid analysis.
Not sure
April 16, 2008 - 09:23 ET by mikefiskNot sure I'd call the manifestly populist O'Reilly "conservative" per se, but I wouldn't call his show "deceitful" or "provoking anger" either (at least, not most of the time).
Calling "The Office" (I'm assuming he's referring to the NBC version) as "entertaining", however, may have crossed the line in terms of journalistic integrity (I kid!).
Typical Lib Journalist
April 16, 2008 - 09:47 ET by TaserCatI appreciate it when biased writers make comments, or draw examples, that tip their hat. It lets me know they're obviously biased to the left, and to filter anything else they say afterwards. At least then I can figure out easier why what they're saying makes no sense.
Good luck, "Kevina"!
April 16, 2008 - 10:01 ET by SickofLibs"Kevina" McDonough is struggling right now, dealing with the massive doses of testosterone required after her transgender operation(s) one year ago.
Any lapse in judgement on her, I mean his, behalf, should be taken with a grain of salt.
Is there a single TV/media
April 16, 2008 - 10:03 ET by SMGalbraithIs there a single TV/media critic working for the MSM who isn't a lefty?
Just one?
Okay, for the past 25 years? That'll help.
I can't think of one. I've
April 16, 2008 - 10:06 ET by Chris NormanI can't think of one. I've noticed that leftist political opinion is being pushed more and more under the soft news of entertainment.
Not
April 16, 2008 - 10:32 ET by cvgbuckeyeNot to worry bal old buddy. We can always count on you to disparage shallow comments like that;;;; thats as long as its a liberal.
Yeah, Bal is not only our
April 16, 2008 - 10:39 ET by Chris NormanYeah, Bal is not only our conscience here, he keeps us laser focused on the matter at hand. :)
I'd say he lands a few good blows
April 16, 2008 - 10:46 ET by sarcasmoSee classic Bal-comment above.
Like it or not, that's a good one. Sarcastic as it obviously is, it encourages deeper thinking via "tough love."
JMR
The tax & spend drug war looks racist in the real world.
Judge not lest ye be judged?
April 16, 2008 - 10:52 ET by Chris NormanJudge not lest ye be judged?
That applies too...
April 16, 2008 - 10:57 ET by sarcasmoGenerally those most in need of a conscience are the ones who decry said need first. NB thrives not because of "pure" conservatism -- as if something like that even exists exists among the NewSpeak these days -- but because of debate. I may sometimes rib him, but overall I like what Bal adds to NB.
JMR
The tax & spend drug war looks racist in the real world.
Jeez, Sarc. Lighten up. I
April 16, 2008 - 11:10 ET by Chris NormanJeez, Sarc. Lighten up. I have nothing against Balboa - despite my political disagreements with him. I was poking some fun at his use of "solid analysis" when he, as well as I, stray from "analysis" all the time.
Hell, I do too.
April 16, 2008 - 11:20 ET by sarcasmoIt's not a matter of "lighten up," for me, it's holding everyone to the same standard. Ya gotta admit, the initial comment Bal mocked wasn't exactly the epitome of intellectual depth. That's all I'm sayin', but it seems pretty obvious from here. I'm much more upset by the idea that dancing silently is "disorderly conduct" in politics-land. This is nothing.
JMR
The tax & spend drug war looks racist in the real world.
Sarc, You're turning into
April 16, 2008 - 15:39 ET by Chris NormanSarc,
You're turning into a humorless scold. I know you have your differences with a lot of people here, but you seem to run around picking fights. Would I have written that original criticism? No. I don't comment on physical appearances that people can't help. However, I don't go out of my way to scold people either for doing it. It's not my place. I was having some fun with Balboa. He's a big boy and I'm sure he can take care of himself. Okay?
Actually, I can't take care
April 16, 2008 - 15:53 ET by balboaActually, I can't take care of myself. I have an adult au pair who takes care of everything. ;-)
boa.... ROFL! "Never
April 16, 2008 - 15:54 ET by bigtimerboa....
ROFL!
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill
The idea that I pick fights...
April 16, 2008 - 15:57 ET by sarcasmoIs belied by various threads. I don't. But I also don't tend to accept any crap from unhinged conservatives (or lefties) and that's unlikely to change. If you find me having fun with Balboa humorless, that's tough for you. He scored a good jab on a not-so-bright comment, and I said so. It's likely to happen again tomorrow.
JMR
The tax & spend drug war looks racist in the real world.
It really is puzzling how
April 16, 2008 - 10:37 ET by SmartypantsIt really is puzzling how the left views Bill O'Reilly as some kind of evil twisted wretch. O'Reilly is certainly is full of himself, but who in media is not? Most of the time I listen to him, he uses common sense and well-reasonsed arguments. Oh, I guess that answers the question right there, doesn't it?
I'll tell you why...
April 16, 2008 - 12:26 ET by jpatchHe's the only political commentator on television that actually has the experience to give his statements merit.
People don't know anything about O'Reilly's credentials...and they don't want to know. They'd rather listen to Garafalo, Franken, Maher, Olberman...you know, real journalisitic heavyweights. Even Glen Beck...I really like Glen Beck, most of the time. But correct me if I'm wrong, wasn't he a DJ turned pundit? I don't know about Beck's creds., but I do know that Bill O'Reilly, although at times pompous, bombastic, snarky, condescending, and annoying, (and wrong!!), has the real experience to know at least a shread of what he's talking about.
These "mockers" that the left eat-up are just comedians. It kind of makes sense, really, doesn't it? The spokespeople for the left tell jokes for a living.
You couldda fooled me!!
I saw the Whitman piece.
April 16, 2008 - 12:11 ET by mattmI saw the Whitman piece. It seemed to me as if PBS was using this biography as another opportunity to push hedonism.
As for McDonough, he's just another typical Lib engaged in intellectual inbreeding motivated by an inordinate fear and disdain for dissent from the Lib agenda.
It's a beautiful thing
April 16, 2008 - 12:36 ET by rammingspeedYou have to love these anti-intellectual dweebs who mindlessly spread the bad word. Their gall goes beyond stand-in-your-face guts, it is just plain infantile.
McDonough and his supporters have already lost, and the mainstream news media is no longer carrying their water, they're carrying their carcasses.
McDonough email
April 16, 2008 - 15:14 ET by ProudAmerican33kmcdonough@unitedmedia.com