Login HereThings that the US press freaked out over last week:
-- OMG! Hillary lied about a sick woman! (Not really, as it turns out.)
-- OMG! Barack was picking on people! (Not really, as it turns out.)
Things that the US press did not freak out over:
-- John McCain's breaking campaign finance law (though they did a number of pieces on public financing of political campaigns).
-- John McCain's constant stream of gaffes, lies, and worse (though they did play up a McCain attack on a non-gaffe by Obama).
Things that the US press corps holds to be automatically true:
-- Democrats are effete arrogant elitists and Republicans are hearty folk who are in touch with America (need I bother saying that the exact opposite is more likely to be the case?).
Welcome to our fair and balanced media.
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so!
So?!
Only problem with the Hillary example is that it was Obama supporters (ie: Huffington Post - front page) using that to continue insisting Hillary Clinton is a “pathological liar.”
The clarficiation and evidence that she was NOT in fact lying never appeared on the HuffPo, and certainly not as the headline, and Paul Krugman was accused of taking a swipe at Obama when he noted this.
Great post PW! …And people wonder why the younger generation get their news from the Daily Show!
energy folks…… energy and the bigger picture…… trees not the presented forest!!
Did anyone see Rachel Maddow (the night she filled in for Keith O.) ask Jonathan Alter of Newsweek about why the media wasn’t covering McCain in a critical light? His response was that essentially that’s the Democrats job and when they start going after McCain in the GE then the media will cover it. Ugh.
Think of the characters played by Henry Fonda and James Stewart in the Cheyenne Social Club. Fonda was the Democrat and Stewart the Republican. Fonda the salt of the earth, Stewart the patrician (wannabe).
You have to have spent real time in the old Soviet Union to appreciate how our national press currently operates. It’s uncanny, and I’m not the first person to point this out. What’s remarkable is that unlike in the USSR, we don’t have a Minister of Information to direct this activity. It is entirely self-organized, and I don’t think it’s a conspiracy. What happened between 1980 and 1992 was that a court system emerged in Washington around a Sun King. The political media are courtiers. They see themselves as part of a governing class.
Things that the US press did not freak out over:
- that His Holiness dissed the WH
- a so called Compassion Forum (held at Goodling’s alma mater, btw)
was ‘anchored’ by
1) someone compassionate enough to choose Dan Senor as a life partner
2) someone who defended McCain in the Eisemann blow up as a “good guy” and
“fun to be with”
3) in a so called forum completely bereft of anything other christian beliefs
Another story not worthy of much attention from the media: Foreign head of state refuses to attend an official state dinner at the White House during his visit to the US.
From the AP (via EW and the Miami Herald):
Poor George. That’s gotta hurt.
The WaPo really ought to understand this, if no other paper does. Benedict may have been polite in refusing to attend, but make no mistake — he’s making a point here. He’s getting ready to address the UN, and by diplomatically but very pointedly snubbing Bush, he’s trying to soften up the international audience of that speech.
The fact that he gets to snub Bush in order to do that is merely a happy coincidence.
SNL isn’t doing parodies of the press fawning all over Obama and disregard or hostility for Clinton for no reason.
/set mode=pontificate
/set soapbox=HIGH
What we are witnessing is the end of traditional news media as we know it. News ratings are down for all the major boradacaster. Newspapers are dying, and those that aren’t are dumbing down. It’s more likely you’ll see an article about Brittany’s traffic accident than about McBush violating arcane (to most folks) campaign finance laws. Which has the larger subscriber base, Newsweek or People?
Blogs are the new newspapers. Youtube is the new News broadcast. Fact checking is done by enemy blogs (We watch redstate and vice versa). No corporate money making decisions, we report on what interests us. In as much detail as we want.
Boxturtle (In my lifetime, we’ll see the death of at least two networks)
‘Hope they’re not serving those big Bavarian pretzels!
The media loves to see Democrats at each other’s throats, Juno — that’s why they’ve been passing around the Grover Norquist and Ed Rollins quotes the Clinton campaign’s been e-mailing them:
Conversely, when it was obvious that McCain was the strongest Republican and the other GOPers had no chance against either Obama or Hillary, the pressure was on to force them out so McCain could have a clear field (and save some of the money he was and is illegally spending).
Note the nice commercials about “green energy,” by big oil! I wonder how much one of the propaganda lip service commercial cost them to produce and the cost of “air time.” A legitimate business expense, expensed! Meanwhile we bend over every day because of policies by design under the dressed facade of a free market economy?
LOL!
They were likely confiscated by the Secret Service.
And what about the big one? The President of the United States admitting he approved of torture.
Torture? SO?
lol
/bind mouse1 kill
yep. That’s when I threw my opinion of Alter into the trash bin where it belonged.
Other things the Lapdogs have missed in their weekly rummage through the garbage heap:
- John McCain continues to conflate and confuse the distinctions between Sunni and Shia Islamic concerns. If there were one single issue about which his supposed expertise on Middle Eastern affairs needs to revolve, you’d think that’d be it and you’d also think the MSM would call him on it (actually, knowing Lapdogs, you wouldn’t). Alls I can think is that’s gotta be hella good bbq!
- The Airline industry is in an absolute tailspin. It’s taken twenty five years for the Reagan de-regulation problems to finally come home to roost (they’ve been filtering back to the coop in slow stages over the years); but there’s a couple of big-assed hens laying eggs as they come in for a landing at American, NW and Delta…and those are the one’s that aren’t going bankrupt…yet!
In a way, I’m sorry the Pope snubbed Bush. I can think of only one person who needs a private talk about his soul more than Bush. I hope the UN speech really roasts BushCo.
Boxturtle (Bet Lucifer would snub Bush at a dinner in his honor)
Bratwursts instead of good ole American weiners like the ones dubya usually serves?
um, why would the wh not cancel said dinner as the guest of honor will not be attending?
(would save some taxpayer dollars)
I’m slow this am - still in the conversation with RevDeb and selise =
Ideas to counter that risk? I hadn’t thought that far head. Though I think that Darcy Burner has modeled a great piece of work with her Responsible Plan for Iraq. That has to be pushed. Then we need a pile of other responsible plans—one to clean out the DOJ, another for the EPA, etc. They need to have huge groundswells of support in order to push the politicians into doing the right thing.
Alas, even if we “win” this we have LOTS of work to do.
The thing about shock doctrine is that whoever has plans formulated at the time rules the day. So, it’s very incumbent upon us to have our own plans ready to go - we now know their game plan and we’d be very negligent not to.
Here’s a quote from a Friday panel discussion at Duke University on Friday by Michael Scheuer, the founder of the US extraordinary rendition program:
I had to go to the Canadian press to find this. The only US coverage of this event that I found, from the News & Observer in Raleigh, did not pick up this outrageous quote. For more revelations on how the US extraordinary rendition program evolved after 9/11 see my post on odelette’s new blog on torture.
Top administration officials, as members of the National Security Council’s Principals Committee, had signed off on “enhanced interrogation” techniques in 2002 that included waterboarding. And Bush doesn’t understand what the big deal is. “I’m aware our national security team met on this issue. And I approved.”
When was this on CNN? MSNBC? CBS News? NBC News? Even ABC News?
The President of The United States admits to approving torture.
We now live in a country that officially uses torture. And this isn’t given a peep in the press.
8th Amendment - GONE.
4th Amendment - Gone.
Article I, Section 8 - Gone.
(specifically “To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;)
Which portion of the Constitution will be next?
What will “the press” say when the 1st Amendment is declared not to apply?
Oh, oops! They won’t be allowed to say anything…
We’re all fucked
ITMFA
That was the Friday before last. And yes, I caught that. I even commented on it at Glenn Greenwald’s blog, suggesting that it might be an example he’d care to use. But alas, he didn’t.
If a Republican says black is white, the media will publish that as fact unless someone with sufficient prominence says otherwise. He-said/she-said journalism.
ITMFA!!!111
Did any newspaper of record report on it?
You know, I wish the media would ask *all* the candidates about something like this: price gouging practices of credit card companies like Citibiank.
Maybe it’s a combination of Frontline, reading David Sirota and the f*cked up economy, and the fact that I had a blowup with my credit card company over a late fee that was real BS, plus a different due date. Me thinks the money lenders are out of control.
Waiting to hear McCain’s find solipsistic response.
“His response was that essentially that’s the Democrats job and when they start going after McCain in the GE then the media will cover it. Ugh.”
Ugh indeed, but he is right in the fact that it ISN’T going to get any coverage unless the Dems force it. On a fundraising call the DCCC whined to me after I angrily asked why they weren’t doing that, “but we can’t get on any of the cable shows unless we kick and scream.” My answer, “Well, you damned well better start kicking and screaming.”
The Washington Post, on page 5 either Saturday or Sunday I don’t remember. I believe it was Saturday that magical day when everyone reads the entire newspaper. (snark)
Knut,
That does scare me. Our press is practicing self-censorship. I don’t think they’d do this if there was a law against telling the truth.
What happened? How did it get to be this way?
Excellent analysis.
The GOP presidents, starting with Reagan were viewed as a monarchs, Bush 1 didn’t play the role very well, but Bush 2 grabbed all the “monarchy” he could stuff himself with, knowing the media would provide helpful narratives.
Very astute of you to see this Peterr. Sometimes things do work out.
Speaking of winning..The Republicans attacked a country that posed no security risks to the US. To add insult to injury it became Serbia in reverse, the attack unleashed Islamic sects against each other in a never ending firestorm of death and destruction. (What is Balkanization?)
Actually, many SNLers, including Tina Fey (who has endorsed Hillary), are (former?) Republicans.
Thanks PW.
McSame is currently live on cspan speaking at the AP Annual Meeting. His glowing intro included such phrases as “maverick” “straight talker” “real American hero.”
But I read a story yesterday from AP that didn’t even mention it. In fact, said that the Pope would be visiting the WH. Yes, a visit is indeed planned, but the dinner is being snubbed. They very
intentionallyconveniently failed to mention that bombshell.A-yup. Both of the last two pontiffs have dissed BushCo, particularly over the Iraq war and occupation. But the press doesn’t like to emphasize that, preferring instead to show Catholic bishops lecturing John Kerry.
Impeach the MF Already one hundred and eleven times???
I actually finally saw a story last night about the fact that the Democratic party is either suing or requesting an investigation into whether McCain is breaking any campaign laws. Also reported was the fact that Rethugs said it was all just trash talk.
I also finally heard Obama in a speech this morning saying that while Hillary is criticizing him about being out of touch, her surrogate is consulting with the government of Columbia about a trade deal there, and that trade deal does not deal with the fact that the Columbian government goes after union organizers, which is why our union are against that trade deal.
However, I am far more concerned that I am not hearing any uproar from the citizens of the US about their President’s admission that not only do we torture, contrary to what he said previously, but many of his top aides conspired to determine the logistics of torture. Where’s the outrage from the rest of the country, and I’m not talking about just us. Where’s the press on this, for instance.
Works for me! ;-)
Impossible. You *must* be mistaken. Tina Fey is actually funny.
One of the major success stories after the republicans were “driven out” of the government following Watergate was their ability to paint the media as “liberal”. Perhaps one of the things we as “citizens of the internet” need to do is begin pressing both Democratic candidates to pledge to bring back the “fairness” doctrine. It’s not much, but it was a keystone of the republican take-over of the media narrative.
I am tired of hearing every republican talking-head say that the media has a liberal bias. It’s not true and they know it, but they get to say it anyway and then the media bends over backwards to “prove” their “impartiality” when none existed in the first place.
Did Goldwater actually lose in ‘64?
Maybe it’s time for a blogswarm of impeachment inquiry demands.
Maybe His Holiness didn’t want Little Georgie to embarass himself by addressing Benedict as “Your Highness” again.
Don’t forget - Roman Catholicism is all about compassion.
If 100-years ever takes callers on C-Span, or in the aftermath:
Somebody ask McCain if he thinks it’s patriotic of credit card companies to screw men and women who are in service in Afghanistan or Iraq, Puhleeze!
Digby’s spent the past few days asking that very same question.
So was P.J. O’Rourke, once upon a time.
Phoenix Woman, not sure if was Digby or a commenter that asked why we aren’t getting the churches involved. I am a humanist but would feel very comfortable about approaching our local Unitarian Church.
McCain supports reporter shield law????
As a corollary, here’s something from a Democrat that the GOP/Media Complex will by and large report on favorably, but makes anyone with a brain and a conscience want to scream (h/t Atrios):
Benedict 16 aka Ratzinger is also trying to canonize Pius XII, Hitler’s Pope.
With that said, I’ll take his help on torture/Iraq.
So?
When Republicans endorse Obama, it’s evidence of Obama’s ability to unite the country.
When former Republicans or Republicans support Clinton, I guess it’s evidence that she’s actually a dirty, nasty Republican.
Sigh.
“…american’s press rooms least transparent….” ???
Churchill said if you’re not liberal when you’re young you have no heart and not conservative when you’re old you have no brain. I guess I’d add if you become conservative when you’re old, you have no humor. Perhaps the converse is also true?
Why was this story the Front page headline on the NYT website last night, but it’s got bumped to page 3 by the morning? Why did the headline change from “sign of failure”, which is something like what it was last night?
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04.....ref=slogin
I notice this happening all the time. Something bad about Iraq, or Bush, or the GOP starting off as a big, bad headline on the front page, only to wake up and find it burried, with a toned down headline.
I can only imagine that operatives call up the NYT and complain, and the NYT listens. Why? Beats the Hell out of me.
The mainstream media come in two flavors, Fox News and Fox News lite.
I would expect that Bush’s admission was front-page news in most of the rest of the world, but so far as I have seen none of the major news organizations in the U.S. have touched it since it came out on ABC News. Even ABC has buried it.
Oh well pipeline shut and down oil’s up!! Torture is OK…….
Rahm picked up that line as he was trying to close the barn door after
the sub-prime market collapsedhorses ran offemptywheel is all over it.
Right.
She’s warning people what he’ll be up against against Republicans. What is wrong with that??
She’s right.
And I find it just amazing that Obama’s supporters seem to have this Pollyanna-ish belief that Clinton has not been attacked by the Obama camp.
Or is it that they believe it’s legitimate when she’s attacked but harmful to Dems and grossly wrong and unfair when he is?
I do not understand this mentality.
I don’t actually suppose that those who style themselves Independent/Republican, who choose to vote for Obama, will do so because they see him as a potential protector for their special interests and corporate concerns. With Hillary, I imagine that is exactly why that same sub-set will choose to vote for her, and I also suspect they are making a wise choice in that regard.
The question is, of course, so what … What are the implications? Disastrous, as we’ve seen.
What can we do? Blog … Activise reactions and contacting the media … Attempt to move from mainstream media (blogosphere, reality-based) into the traditional media … Support good writers / outlets with our patronage … All of the above … And otherwise …
That’s the definition of “complicit”. The vision of the founding fathers had of the press being an “unofficial” branch of the government providing oversight for the other three went down the dispose-all along with intestinal fortitude, personal integrity and intellect/curiosity in members of the media when salary and access became more important than truth and comprehension of events.
The ACLU is on the story of Bush’s admission to authorizing torture.
They and Crooks and Liars have begun a write-your-congressman campaign calling for the appointment of a special prosecutor.
*sigh* serious? good grief. I just finished reading a book about ole pius a few months back. talk about the blood of innocents on your hands
peterr at 10—discussion on diane rehm about pope’s visit–1st hour.
he doesn’t eat in public……..a pope did once, when entrapped into a state dinner, ate soup (i assume the first course) and left.
i had heard this before, years ago, and that’s what the bishops are saying.
said that this was already decided in the planning of his visit. so, i don’t know why the white house would try to paint it otherwise. advance planning visits went on for months before he ever arrives, i don’t get what’s going on with it……really don’t.
BUT there’s another snub? a real one?
he’s not going to boston…..where the catholic church and people need his support after all that went on there, and he’s not going…..
he could and he should. and he isn’t….
no white house visit, no boston visit, but the un gets one……kinda makes me wonder about his job title…
=====
cbl2–at 9—it disgusts me that they used ’Compassion Forum’ during the Dalai Lama’s visit.
Borrowing his aura to create their own that doesn’t exist to use for political purposes, makes me sick.
and cbl–you mentioned dan senor–did you know that before he was cpa spokesperson for iraq he worked for the carlyle group? and i forget his wife’s name, what is it?
http://www.newsmeat.com/washin....._Senor.php
==========
the forum-
Shoulda been called ’Kiss my Christian A@@ so I will vote for you, no, not there, there.ok, now jump through this hoop, too…..’
clinton and obama aren’t Theologians, they are politicians, i don’t go to a minister for politcal insights (except the ones here who offer politcal insights separate from their pulpit) and i don’t go to politicians for spiritual guidance.
get a grip america.
I have tried to stay out of the fray, but the issues, for me, are the war(s) and our completely grotesque and failed foreign ‘policy’.
I see no difference between Clinton and McCain in that regard– none.
I cannot tolerate that as an American citizen who wants her country to be better and more just.
P.S. I don’t want the old America back.
What’s astounding is that the Right Wing thinks the media is Left Wing.
Also, media types come in two flavors: those working for News Corp and those auditioning for News Corp.
I’m not sure the MSM can look outside their own little world long enough to realize this is exactly what discerning, conscious individuals are choosing to do. Instead of waking up in the morning and getting The Times, I see what Josh Marshall is on about; I look at FDL and Atrios and even Kos and Huffpo if I’m in the mood for some fluff. The TV, the newspaper…those sources are not viable for me and I give them no credence. I think more and more people are beginning to approach their own news sources this way. Perhaps that is an elitist attitude?
By the way, isn’t the definition of elite to be the best?
Thanks.
Somehow, that ends up being just a marketing ploy to keep their sheep from checking other news sources.
I’m with you. I don’t want the old back, I want a new and better America.
welcome? *g*
as an added aside - reminding everyone about their last meeting where Ratzy lobbied Chimpigula to withdraw militarily and begin humanitarian efforts immediately - like some 11 year old - Bush clumsily spun it by claiming the Pontiff spoke only of his concern for Christians in Iraq - as if the Holy See was some moderate Dem they could dismiss
not only is the Vatican loathe to have images of His Holiness breaking bread with an admitted war criminal - can’t help but think Bush’s hamfisted crap from their last meet and greet has something to do with it
And that they think FOX is fair and balanced.
How would we know? Would the press report it? How many demonstrations went unreported in the last eight years?
dmac - Senor’s wife is Campbell Brown one of the so called moderators - she’s bred with him for gaia’s sake - eewww!
Although I’ve been singing the same song myself, repeatedly, while I read your comment it occurred to me that there are even more important voices missing here about this. Where is the outrage from our leadership? Where are the voices of our candidates? What about the Senators and people high up in the Democratic party? Are they afraid, since the natives are not in the streets with pitchforks, that they will spoil the election if they say anything now? And if so, do they understand the word leadership?
At least I wrote another letter to Pelosi yesterday telling her this is her purview, and if this isn’t enough, what is? I also said that if Bush attacks Iran before he leaves office, it will be her fault for letting him get away with so much. Told her where she could find Hugh’s list and the 60 Minutes video about Murat Kurvaz. I just don’t know what else we can do if we can’t even get our own leaders to lead.
Just happy someone else knows how bad the the guy is. Vatican has committed unbelieveable resources to inverting the historical record. Glad you got a hold of one of the texts that tells the real story.
true and i think that is why the toobz is so important. If it weren’t for sites like Gorilla Guides, easier access to foreign press, etc. we wouldn’t know what is REALLY going on.
Chimpigula’s only pretending to be a Christian, so what the Pope has to say is of little relevance.
It’s hard to claim that the press or the GOP is being nice to Obama after the stream of bogus scandals they’ve tried and failed to hang on him: Rezko (which fizzled when the indictment against Rezko didn’t mention The Eeeevil House), Farrakhan (part of the “he’s a closet Muslim OMG!” garbage), Rev. Wright (it’s sad to see Hillary attacking a guy who helped out her and Bill back in 1998 when they were in deep trouble), OJ-Gate, and now Bitter/ElitistGate, which after the better part of a week hasn’t put a dent in Obama’s lead over Hillary in either Gallup or Rasmussen.
In fact, if the GOP really wanted to face Obama, why is it that they’re trying to scare superdelegates away from him?
Republican presidential hopeful John McCain has confided to his inner circle that Hillary Clinton may yet be the Democratic nominee, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned, a development the senator from Arizona would personally welcome!
“Look, I know something about long odds, they had me written off last summer,” McCain explained over the weekend, according to a top source.
McCain would prefer to go up against Clinton in the general election, insiders reveal.
He has instructed his campaign staff to “chill out” on countering Hillary Clinton’s torrent of claims and promises as primary voting comes to end over the next 6 weeks.
McCain made the tactical decision to downplay Clinton’s tale of Bosnia sniper fire, leaving some McCain staffers frustrated and perplexed.
Instead, the critical focus has been on Barack Obama. McCain’s official website features 14 press releases taking on Obama since the first of the year, only 3 for the former first lady.
Developing…
The people who are speaking up and taking risks are you and me - us.
I am beyond pissed today.
Beyond Pissed!
Keeping impeachment off the table takes up most of Nancy’s time. The rest she devotes to seeking the minority leader job.
Exactly. Unlike a lot of their American supporters (particularly the groups based in Ohio), the institutional RCC tries to be reasonably non-hypocritical about their pro-life stance: They oppose abortion and even most contraception, but also most wars, including Bush’s war on Iraq.
thanks cbl2 at 82–was drawing a blank-couldn’t think of it!
Well put!
yeah, it puts the whole anti-war movement in Germany in perspective. The chruch really sold out. Power and money..greed just the same
APPOINT AN INDEPENDENT PROSECUTOR NOW !
OT:
Co-Payments Go Way Up for Drugs With High Prices - New York Times
Hate crimes against Americans by the Corporate Rulers.
They can not longer fool the general population into thinking they are being taken care of. Now they are culling the sick out of the insurance pools.
I am beyond pissed.
OMG! I saw that outrageous quote somewhere too, and I couldn’t help but think that he had a hell of a lot of nerve, as Iraqi bodies are piling up so fast I’m surprised they have time and space to bury them, to say such a thing. I’ve heard of a pound of flesh, but this is ridiculous and shameful. Let’s see, first we go into a sovereign country that is no threat to us, bomb them, then in rehabilitating them, we don’t hire them so that they can feed their families, we hire ourselves, and we steal their resources and fail to protect what’s left worth having over there, and he wants them to put more skin in the game. EXCUSE ME, RAHM. WAKE UP!
Wow. I’d never accept Drudge’s unsupported word, but that does tie in with DHinMI’s observation about the NRCC’s trying to keep superdelegates away from Obama.
Yup!
I would just add that “ecumenism” to John Paul 2 and Benny 16 always has been to the east. They want closer ties with Eastern-rite Catholics who do not accept Rome’s authority, but are much closer on Liturgy and Sacraments then Xtians who followed some iteration of Luther’s reforms. Vatican II was among other things an institutional acceptance of a lot of Luther’s most important reforms. Benny wants to repudiate Vatican 2.
Those Eastern-rite Catholic churches are in Russia, Eastern Europe, Greece, Middle East … . They really hate Bush’s war, because it ended the pluralism that existed before it and robbed them of a lot of the security they used to have. OT Benny really hates it that the Eastern-rite Churches go back to the way Jesus did it and let their priests marry.
snark
I’m anxious for Benny to mention how US Roman Catholics have to show more forgiveness for the serial child molestors the Church has ordained over the last few decades. I’m anxious to hear Benny not mention “forgiveness” when it comes to divorced and remarried RC’s (who aren’t wealthy enough to afford an annullment.) I’m anxious to hear Benny pray for more vocations at the same time that he refuses to allow QUALIFIED married Roman Catholics of both genders into the priesthood. I’m anxious to hear Benny pray for GLBT Roman Catholics who he prevents from receiving the sacraments.
/snark
criminy….
I am pissed that I have to wait until KO is on before I hear anything on these issues in the MSM. I don’t know what I would do if we didn’t have Democracy Now. thanks who ever gave me the linky a few weeks back.
Given their crazy views on sex (like most religions I might add), I have no idea what “reasonably non-hypocritical about their pro-life stance” means.
Every time Bush claimed that we don’t torture, it made headlines, even though the press knew it was a lie. But when Bush finally tells the truth and admits he was lying, it goes unreported by the papers of record and the news channels.