Friday, November 30, 2007
Lapdogs at the gates
Posted by Harold Henderson on 11.30.07 at 06:24 AM
The important thing about the mainstream media isn't whether they lean one way or the other politically on a particular occasion. The important thing is that they are deeply stupid. Jamison Foster at Media Matters:
"No moderator [in the candidate debates so far] has asked a single question of a single candidate about whether the president should be able to order the indefinite detention of an American citizen, without charging the prisoner with any crime.
"But Tim Russert did ask Congressman Dennis Kucinich -- in what he felt compelled to insist was 'a serious question' -- whether he has seen a UFO.
"No moderator has asked a single question about whether the candidates agree with the Bush administration's rather skeptical view of congressional oversight.
"But Hillary Clinton was asked, 'Do you prefer diamonds or pearls?'"
Comments (5)
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What's nearly as exasperating is the candidates aren't pushing back and challenging the moderators on this. I'm certain that the first candidate to point out the inanity and attempt to direct the discourse to more serious topics would see a their popularity rise, regardless of the answer.
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My take on this is that the candidates feel they can ONLY fail at the debates. So they aren't going to state anything or ask any questions or propose any programs that are controversial. Even McCain taking a stand against waterboarding was considered taking a risk with the GOP voters! When can't be sure that taking a stance against TORTURE will cost you the nomination, you aren't going to volunteer any programs on illegal immigration or health care. A lot of the problems we have right now is because the press has become a lap dog on IMPORTANT issues, and an attack dog on B.S. issues. Chris Matthews is the perfect example of this - his show is almost impossible to watch now that the political season has started.
HH, The corporate media had a good laugh that Congressman Kucinich saw a UFO, i.e. flying object that he could not identify. But few have remarked that the vast majority of the Republican candidates believe in the literal truth of a creation story that involves magical fruit and a talking snake. A TALKING SNAKE! -- SCAM
I dunno--maybe the UFO question is better than you think. As Brad at Sadly, No! puts it: "Face it, folks: people who claim to have seen UFOs and who want to return America to the gold standard aren’t trying to deceive the American public by telling them what they want to hear. So when Paul and Kucinich say that they’ll end the stupid-ass Iraq war, I actually believe them, because in reality they’re saner than every damned Villager candidate who is too fearful of offending their overlords at AEI, Brookings and the Washington Post op-ed page." Which is not to defend a preening lackey like Tim "Your Conversation With Me Is Off the Record By Default" Russert, but during an endless debate season that's less like a marketplace of ideas and more like deer hunting--i.e. sitting in total boredom while waiting for someone to make a kill shot so he can mount a head on his wall--I'm sympathetic to any candidate who isn't playing the usual game.
Dear Chicago bloggers, Are the Chicago bloggers missing the story of a lifetime in their own back yard? Please investigate the following facts. I’ve sent the following letter to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago almost two weeks ago. Guess what...NO REPLY!!! Chicago bloggers do me a favor please and go knock on Randall Samborn's door and ask him "How's their investigation of Obama’s forged government document proceeding?". PLEASE REPORT THEIR RESPONSE TO THE WORLD!!! PLEASE GET YOUR FELLOW CHICAGO BLOGERS "ON THE CASE". THANK YOU! Here’s my letter: November 25th, 2008 To: Randall Samborn and Attorneys of United States Attorney's Office Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division 219 S. Dearborn St., 5th Floor Chicago, IL 60604 RE: FORGERY OF GOVERNMENT DOCUMENT Dear Mr Samborn and Attorneys, It has come to my attention that a forged government document is being displayed on an internet website which is registered in your jurisdiction. The website is http://fightthesmears.com and the document is the alleged certification of birth of Barack Obama. The owner of this website, Obama for America 233 N. Michigan Ave Apt 2416 Chicago, Illinois 60601, claims that the document is genuine and is engaging in a conspiracy to defraud the citizens of the United States. With the forged government document and the associated conspiracy, the owners of the website stand to fraudulently gain political power and wealth at the expense of the truth and the American people. Here is an internet link to an expert on document forgeries who is commenting on this fraudulent document found on the FIGHTTHESMEARS website: http://www.obamaforgery.com/ Here is an internet link to more facts about the forged document: http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.printable&pageId=81943 Your department, of course has jurisdiction under the Interstate Commerce clause and other articles of our Constitution and the U.S. code, with your department having the legal authority to investigate such crimes. Please do investigate these evidences and facts which alone are sufficient "probable cause" to seek court orders and further investigative authorization. I encourage you and your associates to uphold your sworn duties to the American people, enforce the laws, and defend the nation from all enemies, foreign and domestic. What will history say of your office, if it finds you derelict in duty; where you should have acted but did not? I am willing to sign any complaint or paperwork required by your office. I look forward to your timely response. Thank you. Most Sincerely, Kerry J Hodgkinson PS- This is a public letter and will be disseminated to interested persons in the media.
