I got this letter in the mail from the Public Campaign Action Fund that I wanted to share with you all:
Dear Phoenix Woman,
Cable giant Insight Communications pulled our new ad on Mitch McConnell at the 11th hour last night. Insight’s executives have donated $17,000 to McConnell. Now they are helping him even more by engaging in political censorship to keep this ad, which criticizes McConnell for his special interest politics, off the air.
Sign this petition to tell Insight Communications that you won’t stand for political censorship.
All the other broadcast networks, including NBC, ABC, and CBS and another cable system are running the ad after reviewing its content for accuracy. Why won’t Insight air it?
And what role did Insight lobbyist Keith Hall or Insight CEO Mike Willner, both McConnell donors and allies and big players in the national cable industry, play in making this decision to censor the ad?
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Zed! Muwahahahaha!
PW – Don’t get me started on Insight! I’ve been held hostage by them for far too long. Yet, I give them a substantial amount of money every month. I hope that someday my chains of servitude to Insight will be be loosed.
Now to read the post.
That’s absolutely outrageous! They can’t do that, can they?
AAAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!
Comcast chose to run those awful pro-war ads that most of the networks won’t run. The bastards had the nerve to buy time during Countdown.
There’s something about these cable bastards that I don’t like…
peanutbutter @ 3
Yeah they can, do and will. I also wouldn’t be surprised if Insight is in on the illegal surveillance of its subscribers. [adjusting tin foil hat]
PW,
Per BlueGrassReport.org Insight has backed down and will run the ad after all.
Report them to the FCC!
kdh22 @ 2
Fire away, dear! Don’t hold back.
dakine01 @ 6
Excellent!
kdh22 @ 2
You’re hostage to no one.
Get satellite – DISH Network’s basic package doesn’t even have FOX “News”! Yay! (Since FOX “News” and all other channels are paid per subscriber, this is significant.)
Or, if it’s an option, consider going back to rabbit ears. If you haven’t tried it lately, it’s different now. At least here in Portland, each local station has 3 digital broadcasts in various resolutions. Sometimes they all show the same thing, sometimes not.
And with rabbit ears, you get HD broadcasts for FREE! Something your cable company will charge you for – ON TOP of their regular fees!
dakine01 @ 6
Good news. The media platforms making the ad available seem to be overburdened right now. I can’t get the ad to run.
TheOtherWA @ 4
Have they refused to air anti-war ads? If they haven’t, then I’d say they’re doing what they ought to be doing, which is selling advertising to anyone as long as what they say isn’t libelous, illegal, etc.
dakine01 @ 6
Good. Glad to hear it.
From DitchMitchKY the WHAS Louisville coverage of the ad flap. Louisville is Mitch’s hometown.
VictorLaszlo @ 10
The rabbit ears are a good idea. Satellite, however, is not an option. My apartment complex will not allow dishes. I note, however, that my apartment complex is owned by a huge property corporation in Ohio (I’m in Illinois). Corptocracy has taken over my life. Insight and the apartment company have an ‘agreement’, so to speak.
Cujo359 @ 12
Not that I know of, but networks and cable companies refuse ads anytime they like. Didn’t Ariana Huffington put together some ads a year or two ago that never ran? Except on the internet, of course.
TheOtherWA @ 16
The ones about the SUVs, gas consumption, and terrorism? Yes, I think you’re right. As far as I’m concerned, they shouldn’t be able to do that. Their function is to sell advertising, not to determine its content (assuming it’s legal and not libelous, of course). That’s just as true for ads I don’t like as for ads that I do.
I came across this crazy website about an art project dedicated to pointing out that Joseph Goebbels propaganda machine is the “father” of our media – kinda interesting to peruse:
http://www.goebbels.info/goebbels-about.htm
Thanks for the h/t!
I haven’t lived in Kentucky for over thirty years but it’s still “home” and I try to follow the news and politics back there when I can.
From the Department of You Can’t Make This Shit Up! comes this:
JERUSALEM (AP) — In a case that would seem unthinkable in the Jewish state, police said Sunday they have cracked a cell of young Israeli neo-Nazis accused in a string of attacks on foreign workers, religious Jews, drug addicts and gays.
LS @ 18
Vedy interestink!
Ed*ard Teller @ 20
Things really have come full circle there, haven’t they?
Right wing radicals and Israel adding as much fuel to the fire in the middle east as possible.
Turning up the heat on Iran.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/t…..369001.ece
Will the American public sit back as A*P*C, and the neo, theo, cons repeat unsubstantiated claims about Iran. When will people stand up to the I-lobby?
Cujo359 @ 22
Sickness.
Forgot to mention that the new Move On adds took a real beating on this morning news programs from people on the left, middle and right.
have not seen them yet
Why does FDL suddenly fear serious and honest debate? The Thers post below is totally disrespectful toward the entire topic of men’s issues, but when commenters take him on with serious rebuttal, the comments are deleted, one after the other, just like the Washington Post used to do. See what’s been going on in the last 20 coments appended to that post, then see his blog Whiskeyfire, and decide for yourself whether it is appropriate to shield this guy from critical commentary. He is an abject coward and censor, and the FDL “moderator” today is enabling him. WTF? Maybe some actual believers in free speech will join me in demanding that my deleted comments be restored in their entirety, so the community can judge whether they were out of line or whether the poster and “moderator” were.
Kathleen @ 23
If what has happened in the last 6 years is any indication……
Ed*ard Teller @ 20
Yup — they’re all young Russian immigrants in their teens and twenties, who came over as part of the big push to get Russian Jews to Israel that started in the 1990s. Something like 1.25 million Russian Jews have come to Israel during that time. (More may be coming if Putin continues his not-so-subtle emulation of the nastier bits of Soviet Russia.)
This “progress” video/add is hysterical. Can’t be this one that they were lambasting on the news this morning. This one is a masterpiece
http://www.moveon.org/
kdh22 @ 15
I don’t think the apartment complex can forbid dishes, per FCC Rule, on space that you exclusively control, like patios or balconies.
OT – interesting brain study from UCLA on the difference b/n liberal and conservative minds…
Since I know nothing about the political advertising industry, can someone tell me whether this type of ad is bought for a specific time period/program (as theOtherWA indicated with KO) or can Insight somehow manage to run them anytime they want……like at 3:30 a.m. when few people are watching?
Would assume that it’s for the former since that would allow them to charge bigger bucks for preferred time slots but just checking in to make sure.
Part of the reason I ask is that Bill Moyers is supposed to run at 9:00 p.m. yet one of the two PBS stations I get on Dish plays him at 10:00 and the other at 11:00. Tin foil hat tells me someone might want his ratings to be lower than they might be otherwise.
Oh, yeh……..I got yer fair an’ balanced rite c’here. /s
And for everyone in the effected area, I wouldn’t hold my breath until said ads actually show up on the screen. Gettin’ real jaded in my old age. *grump, grump*
Kathleen -
To which morning news program/person are you referring? Not good ‘ol Cokie by any chance? The Lake was forwarned about that one, thank Dog.
Rudyland now playing on the documentary channel (ET).
msmolly @ 29 -
If the balcony/patio isn’t sited in the right direction, sat reception might still be a problem.
Waccamaw it was all three guest on “This Week’s” round table that hammered the Move on add. But I am not sure which one they were hammering. I went to the Move on website and all of the adds I looked at were spot on and not even that insulting.
OldCoastie @ 30
Just as we suspected… conservatives are brain-dead!
;)
Kathleen @ 33
Heh……that was the one she was on, iirc. Insult is in the eye of the beholder, don’cha know. ;-)
wangdangdoodle @ 34
at the very least, they are certainly inaccurate…
OldCoastie @ 37
Ha! It seems they are both (from the link).
wangdangdoodle @ 35
yeah, no surprise there
http://www.unitedforpeace.org/…..mp;type=98
Petition “No war with Iran”
Not sure what good petition signing, calling, lobbying really does anymore (if ever) but what the hell..still trying.
I-Lobby pushing us into a conflict with Iran
http://www.aipac.org/
wangdangdoodle @ 35
You need a scan for that?
Was that any conservative or Republican Conservative?
OldCoastie @ 31
OMG, OldCoastie – thank you! This is perfect for the book I’m writing on the difference between lib and con thinking! Thanks for the tip!
OldCoastie @ 31
Thanks!
Speaking of ads, John Kerry sponsored a contest for a radio ad to run against six republican senators. I won, and they asked me to make the ad. here it is: Ed’s Ad. Contribute, and it runs against McConnell, among others.
Note to mods: this isn’t my usual handle, but I would prefer to keep that separate from my actual name for the time being, at least.
Can they scan us from the satellites that have a bead on us?
OldCoastie @ 31
Good story..”Lizard brain” is a neurological disorder.. no surprise.
Whoops, messed up the link:
Ed’s Ad.
Good analysis of whether W/Dick will or won’t attack Iran:
http://www.arabamericannews.co…..cleid=9498
“And then there’s the vicious madness of boy-king George. Bush the
Second combines profound mental mediocrity with sloppy, dry-drunk Protestant Fundamentalism, an advanced case of Narcissistic Personality Disorder and a sneering authoritarianism born of an especially vile and aristocratic upbringing. These toxic features and his life history blind him to his own mistakes and crimes and make him susceptible to the influence of powerful and deranged proto-fascists like Dick Cheney. They push him to respond to his Iraq fiasco by doubling down his bets on Iran — convinced that he can still “hit the jackpot” if he just keeps rambling and gambling in the oil-rich Middle East. They tell him he is endlessly free to transgress without consequence and insulate from the counsel of more rational elites within the imperial establishment. According to Bush’s own brother Jeb, as recounted in Ron Suskind’s book “The One Percent Doctrine,”
“Dubya” appears to enjoy compelling other people to “knuckle under” and doesn’t really care about whether he’s right or wrong. He may actually find it more amusing to be wrong and still force everyone to follows his command’.”
One more time:
http://www.keepingamericaspromise.com/roadblock/
toby martin @ 26
I just looked back at the post and it seemed like all your comments were there.
I’m all for “serious and honest debate,” but your statements about the poor rapists who are confused by women’s “muddled signals,” the “trend” of women thinking that “working sucks” and they want to stay home and “be supported,” and the “two generations of emotionally stunted and mutilated kids” that have resulted because so many women just LOVE being single mothers, strike me as more rabid misogyny than rational disagreement.
Elliott @ 45
Yes, and they (DHS all the way down to Barney Fife) are planning on starting with no oversight on October 1.
One thing I would love to see the netrootz push for is choice on all pay television services. We should not be bound to packages. I should be able to pay or not pay for each station individually on my satellite or cable provider. (Yes, I am mumbling about the fact I have to pay for FOX in order to get other basic cable stations.)
oddmommy @ 50
Um. You know, I didn’t bother to go back and look and I see that it’s just as well I didn’t…
*rolls eyes*
Eureka Springs @ 51
Yes! And that *seems* like it should be something Rethugs would totally like, too. Gah!
Juan Cole on C-span tonight
http://www.juancole.com/
Juan gives us an update on Iraqi refugees.
Katie Couric needs to have her head $$$ examined. She said things in Iraq “are slowly returning to normal” She is delusional or just $$$$ crazed.
Katie go visit the Iraqi refugees.
Eureka Springs @ 51
sometimes I feel like they’ve got us surrounded.
“And what role did Insight lobbyist Keith Hall or Insight CEO Mike Willner, both McConnell donors and allies and big players in the national cable industry, play in making this decision to censor the ad?”
Just another case out of a bazillion to be made for public financing of elections. I suppose we’ll be talking about this issue twenty years from now. Ho-hummm…
Eureka Springs @ 51
See my post above: get DISH. Their “America’s 100″ package doesn’t include FOX “News”.
FOX “News” doesn’t care whether you watch, or how much you complain. If you subscribe to a package the includes FOX “News”, you are a FOX “News” customer. They get paid, and they’re happy.
Wonder when Rupert Murdoch will start buying up blogs.
Elliott, I mentioned it earlier today but I caught a replay of the House Homeland Security Committee hearing on the “program” late last night. There was a lot of discomfort expressed by members, however, at every juncture I could tell they were apologetic about their discomfort and wanted to help find a way to make it all happen..
*infuriating*
Eureka Springs @ 59
I saw a lot of that hearing. Tho not much mention of the hearing on the televisioncom news was there about the spy satellites spying on us?
Eureka Springs @ 59
Agreed.
I was shocked that the satellites were used during the DC sniper episode, but now that I think about it, why am I surprised?
mods – my comment got lost in the toobz somewhere :(
Oklahoma kiddo @ 58
Didn’t he buy MySpace?
Eureka Springs @ 59
Here’s a good diary on the subject also:
http://dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/9/9/51544/46359
Oklahoma kiddo @ 56
And another case to be made for the return of the Fairness Doctrine.
LS @ 65
thanks
i’ll try again – hope i remember what i wrote….. i think i said…. i’ll say it over and over – we need a media outlet for progressive thoughts b/c the MSM kcks us to the curb every chance they get! and where IS the fairness doctrine? yeah i know i know……. -
TheOtherWA @ 64
I happened to see a headline on one of his earliest abominations today, the poor old New York Post, which before Murdick bought it 30 years ago was a decent publication.
Today’s front page screamer was about Clinton cutting funds to 9/11 victims’ children.
Fuck you, Rupert Murdoch.
LS @ 65
“Without this legal framework, the Department runs the risk of creating a program that – while well-intended – could be misused and violate Americans’ Constitutional rights.”
– while well-intended – !!
my bold
OldCoastie @ 31
Hell’s bells and codfish! Someone paid good money to run that piece of research? 707
Cutting edge science. /s
Yeh, yeh, scientific method and all that good stuff but next time they should just poll the Lake.
Reminds me of a psych experiment I participated in at university. They started you out on the far side of the room from a tank with a snake in it and had you move progressively closer to the snake. Final option was to take the lid off the tank and touch the snake. I have no great fondness for the critters but figured no one was stupid enough to put a dangerous one in there so followed thru’ to the end. Don’t ask me the purpose of the study; I have no idea. Lor’, haven’t thought of that in donkey’s ears. Forgot to mention this “test” came *after* being wired up and shown a bunch of pix of assorted things like spiders and other creepy-crawlies.
Ed Walker -
Good on……you added the link!
Eureka Springs @ 1:45 -
I’ve watched that twice now and talked about it here (iirc); definitely over at ew’s. The three so-called “humans” from DHS were scary enough to freeze your soul. Don’t remember there being many thugs asking questions but the one’s who were acted with the same “Ho, hum, nothin’ to see here; let’s all just move along” they’ve been exhibiting ever since they took control of what few hearings were held. The dims talked tough…………….and we see where that’s gotten us since January. ;-(
Thanks, LS, It just occurred to me this is about as bad as capitulating on FISA last month. (if not worse)
Just watched that Mitch McConnell add. Music players for Afghani troops. Not a wise move unless you want to piss off and alienate Religious leaders in Afghanistan.
Not much in the news about Afghanistan
http://www.usaid.gov/press/fac…..70307.html
Alicia @ 42
If you want to do some heavy duty reading, there was a paper by a group of psych profs on conservatives and how they think, and also a rebuttal by another group of conservative psych profs and an explanation why the rebuttal is incorrect
Click here
Summary here
Basically what I get out of it is exactly what John Dean has has been talking about in regard to authoritarian conservatives
FYI, Book Salon is upstairs
Elliott @ 62
Seems I remember something also being said during the hearing about them being used during Katrina but don’t know if they were referring to use for just storm forecasting vs. more sinister purposes.
Eureka Springs @ 72
According to several of the dims, they found out about it in the WSJ, ie. well after the fact. But then again, maybe they just neglected to read paperwork available to them. Been there, done that. /s
Ed Walker @ 49
To Oddmommy, comment #50, and Peanutbutter, comment #52, I want to say, first, that my comments are not there, they were deleted and they were challenging Thers to engage me on the specific facts of the specific issues I raised, rather than just label me a sniveler and another reasonable commenter a whimperer. Whether you are inclined to agree with my overall viewpoint or not, and I confess that I see through the eyes of a single male who has lived through the entire feminist era, you should be defending my right to be heard. Especially after you have read this very post that these comments are appended to. If not, you should be ashamed of yourselves. As FDL, my favorite blog by far, should be ashamed of itelf today.
On the merits of your comments, I note that both of you are similarly unwilling to engage on the specific facts of the issues I raised.
Is it your view that all men are all evil all the time, unless they retrict their speech and actions to murmuring “Yes, dear?”
FYI, I believe in capital punishment for violent stranger rapes, so Oddmommy, you really piss me off when you imply that I am concerned with the rights of the “rapists.” You made a ridiculous extreme straw man, and ignored my thrust (pardon, pardon), which was that even respectful, loving single guys can be forgiven if they are confused at the current state of thinking about what actually constitutes consent. In fact, I challenge you both to clearly articlate exactly what the standard is, and to do it in a way that reflects some concern for the legitimate rights and interests of both parties involved. I’m a lawyer, and I can’t tell you what it is with any clarity. If you can do better, show me. I understand that as women, you have an interest in preserving the broadest possible range of options for your own behavior, but some women would seem to require a notarized consent form, or else they want to see the man in a cage. You know that the actual moment is not always that clearcut. If you can’t see the ambiguity in this area, then you are just not trying to. Like the righties who don’t want to understand why “the terrorists hate us.” And if a sincere man guesses wrong, then the entire weight of the criminal justice system comes crashing down on him. Where is there any comparable risk for women as they make their sexual choices? There is none. You can even consent, and then afterwards say you were raped because the guy didn’t call you back, and the guy has no defense against that. I could cite many other examples where the women has the ability to place the man in severe criminal jeopardy, in effect ruining his life, even if he acted in good faith and she didn’t. These are real issues that are faced everyday by those who are out there dating, and it is not misogynistic to acknowldge that not all burdens are on the women, as I am equally willing to honestly acknowledge all the burdens that were and in some cases still are on them.
There is apparently no sorer point for women than being tagged with some responsibility for the way the last couple of generations of one-parent children turned out, but Oddmommy, you create another straw man when you seek to lay all of that on runaway fathers. I despise those guys too, and will never understand or defend them. But those guys are not what I was talking about. I recall when the most polular T-shirt seen on women was the one that said, “A woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle.” Remember that? And how many women acted on that sentiment, and deliberately raised children with no father present, as a matter of ideology? Way too many. And it didn’t turn out well, because a child really does need two parents for optimal psychological development. But I think it is fair to say that the woman’s movement, like all other political movements, was willing to accept plenty of collateral damage if that was what it took to mobilize their cause. That’s fine, but then you have to live with the reality that the collateral damage came about as a result of deliberate choices you made. Like we have to take reponsibility for all the dead civilians in Iraq.
Peanutbutter, just rolling your eyes really isn’t good enough. I remember when everyone, including most women, just “rolled their eyes” at the claims of the feminists, even those for equal pay for equal work. They were wrong then, and you are wrong now, and for the same reason. You can’t honestly or effectively deal with these complex social and relationship issues by slogans or straw men or mere contemptuous dismissal.
Men have some reason to gripe about the way the issue of consent sometimes plays out, about the way custody battles get fought (where so many men seem to get accusd of child molestation against their own children as the custody battle looms, but not before),and the way every man has been transformed into a potential sexual suspect. It doesn’t help anyone to stay in denial about this. But staying in denial insures that we will never get to be the best we can be with each other.
I could go on, but I won’t. The point is that there are plenty of “men’s issues” that are worthy of serious good faith discussion, and you shouldn’t think it’s OK to give them a wholesale dismissal just because, as one old girlfriend said to me in justifying her actions, “We have all the pussy.”