Exactly two weeks after ABC anchor Charles Gibson trumpeted how video of Speaker Nancy Pelosi on the House floor holding a baby while she talked to colleagues demonstrated “the ultimate in multitasking: Taking care of the children and the country” (my NewsBusters item with video of his January 4 oozing), he celebrated how House Democrats “completed their scheduled hundred hours of work in just about 42 hours, so they can put the other 58 in the bank.” In stark contrast to how ABC's evening newscast scrutinized the Republican agenda in 1995, on Thursday's World News Gibson triumphantly listed the liberal policy accomplishments, naturally without any such ideological label, and didn't paint any as controversial or cite any criticisms of them.
“A short while ago, the Democratic-led House passed the final measure of its self-declared first one hundred hours in office,” Gibson touted as he listed how the energy bill “would encourage investment in alternative energy sources and lower oil industry subsidies.” Gibson listed how the House passed “an increase in the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour, a bill that would expand stem cell research and overturn President Bush's restrictions, a measure requiring the government to negotiate lower prescription drug prices on behalf of Medicare patients. And they agreed to cut interest rates on student loans.”
Unmentioned by Gibson: Any criticisms of the measures, such as how the energy bill will discourage domestic energy production, and increase reliance on foreign oil, by raising the cost of drilling rights on federal land and offshore through higher lease rates and taxes; or how the Medicare bill may well lead to less pharmaceutical research and thus fewer future cures for afflictions.
Twelve years ago, however, ABC wasn't so reticent about undermining the premises of the new Republican Congress. As Rich Noyes noted in a January 5 NewsBusters posting, on January 5, 1995, ABC's World News Tonight “offered a lengthy report designed to rebut the very premise of the Republican platform, arguing that conservative voters don’t appreciate all the wonderful services they receive for their federal tax dollars.” Peter Jennings set up the story:
“One of the most persistent criticisms of government during the last election campaign — which proved very effective for those politicians who argued it — was that government had become much too expensive. Besides which, there was too much government in our lives. We thought it might be educational to see what that really meant to people on a daily basis. ABC’s Aaron Brown could have gone almost anywhere in the country to test these notions. He went to Knoxville, Tennessee.”
Aaron Brown concluded:
“When people in Knox County talk of smaller government and less spending, they may mean it; they probably do. But do they want to lose this bus? Or this highway? Or this tunnel? Do they want to lose this lab? This cop? This teacher? Do they really want to make that choice at all?”
Back to this year, on the January 18 World News anchor Charles Gibson announced:
“A short while ago, the Democratic led House passed the final measure of its self-declared first one hundred hours in office.”Speaker Nancy Pelosi at the rostrum: “The bill is passed.”
Gibson: “It was an energy bill that would encourage investment in alternative energy sources and lower oil industry subsidies. The House began its legislative sprint by voting to make more 9/11 Commission recommendations reality. And then, in this order, an increase in the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour, a bill that would expand stem cell research and overturn President Bush's restrictions, a measure requiring the government to negotiate lower prescription drug prices on behalf of Medicare patients. And they agreed to cut interest rates on student loans. The bills head to the Senate next where most of them face an uphill battle and even greater challenges on the President's desk. The House, by the way, completed their scheduled hundred hours of work in just about 42 hours, so they can put the other 58 in the bank.”
—Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center
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We're saved!
January 18, 2007 - 21:49 ET by niner-four-whiskeyYay!!! We're saved! The planet is saved! The spotted owls are saved!
Woohoo.
Go back to napping and latte drinking. We'll ping you on the blogaganda.org sites when it is time to donate again.
100 Hours Of What?
January 18, 2007 - 22:18 ET by emjem24What exactly did they accomplish? Wasn't this all just past legislation that didn't get a vote until now? Of course, being the double-standard nitwits that they are, they didn't allow for any dissension or protest from the Republicans. Yeah, they're so much better. Show me what I've missed 'cause you're certainly not giving concrete answers to things like: immigration, the Iraq War, the WOT, and public education. Show me that you're serious about taking care of this country, Nancy (and don't give me the mother of the country garbage) because when you spend my taxdollars to sashay your ass from party to party then you're wasting my time and this country's (besides the constant criticism with no real answers doctrine that all Democrats stand for).
The difficult we do immediately; the impossible takes a little longer. Air Force Motto
emjem says: When your brain's stuck on liberalism it self-destructs.
I remember a TON of dissentio
January 19, 2007 - 10:50 ET by HypocriteHaterI remember a TON of dissention from the dems when the GOP was in power in Congress and tried to pass any type of legislation. They kept harping about how their voices weren't being heard, that there needs to be checks and balances to the evil Republicans that were in power. Nevermind the fact that checks and balances wasn't meant between the two parties, rather between the three branches of the government (just shows how little dems really understand about our system of government).
Where's the whining from the GOP about their minority voices not being heard? Nowhere, that's where, because the GOP has more maturity and respect than the dems will ever have. Sometimes to their disadvantage.
"Today we did what we had to do. They counted on America to be passive. They counted wrong." - Ronald Reagan
The only thing that is going
January 18, 2007 - 22:27 ET by bigtimerThe only thing that is going to pass in the Senate that Pelosi thinks is soooo great is the minimum wage bill, and that is going to include Judd Gregg's amendment to add a provision that any earmarks that are uncalled for or outrageous that make it through the President, no matter who the President is can send back to the Senate to have them vote up or down on it before any signing any bill...who knows if that will pass, but the Senate sure is afraid of it...especially Robert Byrd!
Their windfall oil tax bill is never going to make it...I hope! If it does, watch the price per barrel go back up...I saw it hit 49.00 something today on the stockmarket, of course Saudi Arabia doesn't want to cut production in OPEC, they are worried about Iran...so that helps!
"If we ever forget that we are a Nation Under God....then we will be a Nation Gone Under." Ronald Reagan
So did Pelosi put American So
January 19, 2007 - 09:43 ET by dscottSo did Pelosi put American Somoa back on the list for minimum wage? Are we sure? Anyone else left off? Any nuances that we the public should be informed about? Anything at all about small businesses getting credit as Bush suggested? You know, that campaign pledge about bipartisan governance?
Here's a thought on earmarks, how about placing a cap either dollar wise or percentage wise to limit the pork barrel spending? Or how about inserting a little provision to ban any member of congress from re-election to office who adds an earmark? It won't prohibit an earmark but it would cause a congressman to be very decerning about spending the tax payers money. Certainly would take the incentive out of pork barrel spending wouldn't it?
“The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.” – Marcus Aurelius
That min-wage story may hav
January 19, 2007 - 09:49 ET by sarcasmoThat min-wage story may have never crossed Gibson's lips, does anyone know for sure? Fox News seems to have dropped it, too, or at least I haven't seen them mention it in the last few days. Maybe they were shamed into doing it, and nobody has said??
JMR
I still say anyone still wor
January 19, 2007 - 11:20 ET by RunningBeerI still say anyone still working for min wage needs to quit that job and go work at a burger joint. Even they pay $7+ an hour. And aren't wages in many union contracts indexed to the min wage? So while the dems are claiming to help the poor they're bill is also giving huge raises to union workers already making $15, $20 or $ 30 an hour. If Bush signs this bill I think we'll be seeing higher prices in many industries.
it's a sad commentary that th
January 18, 2007 - 22:38 ET by pmohbuckit's a sad commentary that the new congress has been in office for several weeks and today they've admitted that in that time they've only worked 42 hours. good grief.
Gettin' to Happy Hour on time
January 18, 2007 - 23:22 ET by RiharLet's see, with weekends off that makes what... they worked a little over three hours a day? No wonder they want this job so much. Maybe I should run for... no. I can't imagine prostituting myself the way they do just to get a job.
Besides I'd feel misreble about it. Doggone Protestant work ethic!
When a liberal speaks, the truth is busy elsewhere.
Isn't it amazing!? Maybe th
January 19, 2007 - 11:32 ET by steviep831Isn't it amazing!? Maybe they spend the rest of the time blogging and responding to threads instead of working... oh wait... that's what I do... Never mind.
Amazing accomplishment--NOT
January 18, 2007 - 23:24 ET by nkviking75Ain't it amazing what you can do when you shut down the opposition and bypass the committee system. Of course, none of this means squat unless they can get it past the Senate and get Bush to sign it, or unless you can override his veto. But wow, it's impressive what they've done! </sarcasm>
All this proves is that the
January 18, 2007 - 23:31 ET by motherbeltOh, please! All this proves is that they greatly overestimated the amount of work they were going to do. Let's see, they passed 5 or 6 bills. At least a couple of them required no work at all....the minimum wage bill and the restoring funds for stem-cell research. Oh, and decreasing the interest rate on student loans.
Actually they probably had most of what they wanted set up and ready to go at the get-go. They just wasted most of 42 hours giving speeches and getting face-time in front of the cameras. And we're supposed to think they built Rome in a day and a half? Give me a break!
The 100 Hour Clock
January 18, 2007 - 23:32 ET by allanfI'd like to congratulate Charlie on his upcoming 32nd birthday on March 9th. He was born in 1943, but with that special Pelosi clock he is only 32.
Good One Allan
January 19, 2007 - 10:06 ET by emjem24Good one, Allan. Good one! You know, if I had their work schedule perhaps I could turn back the clock and be 21 (no, probably not but one can hope).
The difficult we do immediately; the impossible takes a little longer. Air Force Motto
emjem says: When your brain's stuck on liberalism it self-destructs.
What's that saying I read aro
January 19, 2007 - 00:55 ET by mastersofdeceitWhat's that saying I read around here sometimes? Something like "Nobody gives a pat on the back for mediocrity like the left." Of course pro-dem ABC is going to give an "atta-boy put er in the bank".
Now for an OT-
This is funny, local moonbats, that includes the professors, turned up to protest Kissinger at the launch of a fellowship program named after President Nixon. Of course the papers site has a pic on the front page. I chuckled at the " I know what you did last Century." sign, that's one I haven't seen. Here's the article, you can read about how students and some faculty members held "a series of events leading up to the appearance..for a week" called "Kissinger in Context". You know just to give another view. And you can read about "associate prof. of history"(ie-low man on totem pole) Jose Orozco crying like a bitch that he couldn't talk to kissinger. This is the same college that had Al Sharpton there last year.
Don't think outside the college box. -What indoctrination?
" Dear Lord I sincerely hope you're coming, cause ya really started something."--E. Costello
I see we have the same opinion of Kissinger. Liked the sign.
January 19, 2007 - 09:51 ET by acaiguanaI see we have the same opinion of Kissinger. Liked the sign.
ACA
...
Acaiguana says: "I love blind Monkeys and any inference that I am making fun of blind Monkeys would be wrong.
By the way, I sorta feel the same way about the Dullas Bros.
January 19, 2007 - 09:52 ET by acaiguanaBy the way, I sorta feel the same way about the Dullas Bros.
ACA
...
Acaiguana says: "I love blind Monkeys and any inference that I am making fun of blind Monkeys would be wrong.
How to count the hours
January 19, 2007 - 01:09 ET by nkviking75FYI, I heard the 10 pm CST CBS Radio News on Thursday night. They gave credit to the Dems for meeting their goal in 80+ hours. (They were more specific, I just can't remember the figure.) As long as 100 hours is open to interpretation, I prounounce them a dismal failure by counting 100 hours as 4-24 hour days plus 4 hours.
nk-That's interesting. The 9
January 19, 2007 - 01:31 ET by mastersofdeceitnk-That's interesting. The 9 (pacific) ABC 790am report led with this and described it as " in under 100 hours ". So yeah just like the dems I guess the interpretation is all over the map. They did play a dissenting clip about higher gas prices or something. And there's going to be more cargo getting inspected.
The Dims didn't do squat.
January 19, 2007 - 07:51 ET by Dave RThe Dims didn't do squat.
BTW: Congratulations Brent. Boortz linked to your article. :-)
Funny how Gibson neglects t
January 19, 2007 - 08:35 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsFunny how Gibson neglects to point out that most, if not all, of these bills, if implemented, will cost taxpayers more money, especially the "energy bill". Corporations don't pay taxes, consumers do.
DSG
Shuuu Trolls... Shuuu
January 19, 2007 - 08:58 ET by acaiguanaShuuu Trolls... Shuuu
Don't tell anyone.
Please.
ACA
...
Acaiguana says: "I love blind Monkeys and any inference that I am making fun of blind Monkeys would be wrong.
Oh so right!
January 19, 2007 - 10:31 ET by wheelieguyIf only more Americans knew that taxing corporations only cost them more tax money. This Congress is a joke and hopefully in 2008, the conservative movement will make it clear that they are going to get back to their roots and the people will see the Dems as the sham they are.
"How much money did you make last year? Mail it in." Simplified Tax form suggested by Stanton Delaphane
New Government
January 19, 2007 - 09:14 ET by Subsailor599Welcome to our new socialist government, no longer "for the people, by the people". Maybe we should start a revolution before they decide to take away our guns.
Subsailor559, I'm with ya on
January 19, 2007 - 09:43 ET by ValendilSubsailor559, I'm with ya on this one...they can have all of my firearms, once they pry them from my cold dead hand, that is!!
"That's Because Just As
January 19, 2007 - 10:28 ET by JimboJimbo says - "There is a fine line between freedom of speach and treason"
'There's a fine line between
January 19, 2007 - 10:33 ET by kathleenirish'There's a fine line between freedom of speech and treason':
The Liberal Democrats stomped on that line long ago.
"He who has a thousand friends has not a friend to spare, and he who has one enemy will meet him everywhere" -Ali ibn-Abi-Talib, 4th Islamic Caliph
Increase in minimum wage = in
January 19, 2007 - 13:20 ET by sembyIncrease in minimum wage = increase in cost of goods
Stem cell research = killing the innocent
Energy Bill = higher gas prices and less ability for research; the US get 60% of their oil from foreign sources (these people are crazy)!
Negotiate lower drug prices - means that there will be less competition; just ask the VA who in droves went from the VA program to the new Medicare program!
Now, that's progress!
In the background, didn't ABC
January 19, 2007 - 16:48 ET by Chris NormanIn the background, didn't ABC misspell "whores"?
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
OK, so the Democrats have bee
January 19, 2007 - 18:23 ET by JohnMOK, so the Democrats have been touting that they completed work on 6 bills in only 42 hours, 58 hours less than their stated goal of 100 hours.
Let's look at how this clock works:
"According To Its Stewardship, The Clock Runs Only During Actual Debate Of Legislation, Meaning It Stops During Procedural Points Of Order And The One-Minute Mini-Oratories House Members Routinely Give In The Morning-Most Often ..." (Chris Wilson, "Clock Stops Often For 100-Hour Agenda," U.S. News & World Report, 1/12/07)
"So While The House Had Been In Session For Nearly 56 Hours Since The 110th Congress Was Sworn In Jan. 4, The Clock On Pelosi's Web Site Suggested That Less Than Half That Time 23 Hours, 34 Minutes Had Elapsed By The Close Of Business Friday." (Kasie Hunt, "Clock Ticking On Dems' 100-Hour Agenda," The Associated Press, 1/13/07)
In other words, what we could call "The Democrat’s Magic Clock" only registers time at a rate of about of 41% of what the rest of us think of as normal time – revealing a new understanding of a principle we can identify as "The Democrat’s Magic Ratio (DMR)".
I’m thinking how wonderful it is that we have such a principle, to be used whenever we want things to look profoundly better than reality. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to put such a principle to use whenever we feel that the harsh realities of life are too hard to handle?
Think about really practical ways we could utilize the DMR:
How about I send in my 1040 to the IRS with a note that says I’m only paying 41% of my taxes, because 100% just doesn’t look right to me.
Better, I’m going to submit my department budget using the DMR, so the client will only see 41% of the anticipated costs. It will make them feel so much better!
Or how about: I think that only 41% of mainstream media reporters are ignorant of the left-leaning biases they exhibit?
But wait! There’s more! Now, understanding the DMR, we can understand why the Dem’s report only a portion of Truth and Reality!
For instance, why can they not see all the schools and water treatment plants we’ve rebuilt in Iraq – because they only see 41% of the picture! They only see the deaths, not any of the infrastructure. They only see 41% of what’s really going on!
I must say, I’m really grateful for the Dems having given us this new understanding – I can stop wonder just what planet they’ve been on, and accept that they live in a world of thought far removed from Reality – 59% removed!
- "The Democrat’s Magic Ratio (DMR)" – explaining why only 41% of Truth and Reality matters!