Archive for category Press
Irresponsibility of Leftist Press-Treason
Posted by Tom in Defense, Military Policy, Press, Terrorism on August 5, 2010
WikiLeaks is anonymous. No identified founders. No manager. No nuthin! Oh, there the is that cute little fop, Julian Asuange who describes himself as being on the WikiLeaks advisory board. He recently released Pentagon files, heretofore secret, on the war in Afghanistan. As a result according to Defense Secretary Gates, the lives of our troops and our Afghan partners are in danger.
This is not a case of “loose lips sink ships;” this an intentional broadcast of secret information while the country is at war. The military traitor should get military justice.
But the rub is the self important Julian Assnage and his co-conspirators in the New York Time, the Guardian and Der Spiegel, the so-called responsible press. In the NYT case, it’s printing all the news “fit to print”
As Tony Blankley points out in his “Wiki Espionage” post their conduct is a clear violation of the Espionage Act (Title 18 U.S. Code, Section 794). Opposition to the war cannot justify treason.
“If Mr. Assange had perpetrated this outrage against Russia, inevitably there would be a news report a few month later announcing the death of Mr. Assange and his loved ones (should he have any) because of an unlikely street accident. Thank goodness we live in nation of laws — not of executive actions.
“But the rule of law will not last long if the law is not used to avenge grievous wrongs committed against our nation.
“It is the high duty of our government not to let Mr. Assange walk free (assuming the evidence in court of his espionage is as convincing as the news accounts suggest). Let the federal prosecutions proceed — wiki, wiki.”
The conceit, self aggrandizement, and above-the-law attitude of the NYT is appalling.
MSM-Corrupt to the Core
Journal-Gate Big Time: Investors Business Daily posted a hot editorial yesterday, The Smoking Gun For Media Bias. It exposes the secret list of main stream media conspirators maintained by the Washington Post. The conspiracy is to distort the news, protect and promote leftist progressive agendas and advocates, like Hussein Obama.
“Some of its media members and participants: WaPo’s Ezra Klein and David Weigel. Spencer Ackerman of the Washington Independent. Ryan Donmoyer of Bloomberg. Time, Politico, the Huffington Post, the Baltimore Sun, the Guardian, Salon, and the New Republic. In all there are about 400 members, a veritable who’s who of the left-wing journalistic pseudo intellectuals!
They plotted to protect Hussein from the ill effects of Reverend Wright’s preaching hatred for America. They plotted to characterize the Tea Party as Nazi. They continually plot to push socialism and leftists causes.
“Some comments are just plain hateful. Sarah Spitz, a National Public Radio producer, wrote about what she’d do if she saw conservative radio talk host Rush Limbaugh stricken with a heart attack: “Laugh loudly like a maniac and watch his eyes bug out.”. Nice, And remember, you pay part of her salary through taxes.”
“When the debate turns to Fox TV, Journolisters become positively unhinged, recommending that the full power and force of the federal government be used to shut up the one network that dares to present center-right viewpoints in its programming.
“UCLA law professor Jonathan Zasloff asked on Journolist: “I hate to open this can of worms, but is there any reason why the FCC couldn’t simply pull their broadcasting permit once it expires?”
“Yes, “professor,” there is a reason: It’s the First Amendment.”
As the editorial points out, truth is abandon in favor of political activism. This expose’ is a must read.
PC Cowardliness–Caving To The Towel-heads!
Posted by Tom in Humor, Individual Freedom, Law, Morality & Religion in the Public Square, National Character, Press on April 24, 2010
Sadly disappointing news that Comedy Central backed down to death threats against “South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone and bleeped an episode warning against “intimidation and fear” by Islamic fanatics who were offended by the show. Heretofore the network has stood behind nearly all the over-the-top satire despite protests and calls for boycotts.
But where Islam and the prophet Mohammed is concerned, the First Amendment’s guarantees of Freedom of Speech and Freedom of the Press no longer apply.
Even sadder that the supposedly “fair and balanced” Bill O’Reilly questioned the creator’s judgement in writing and producing the piece. Towel-heads have Bill a bit unbalanced perhaps. See Diana West’s Media Leave “South Park” Creators Out to Dry in Real Clear Politics.
The conclusions of the New York Post article, Cowardly Central are appropriate here: As UCLA law professor Eugene Volokh noted, the consequence of Comedy Central kowtowing to a blatant death threat “is that the thugs win and people have more incentive to be thugs. Behavior that gets rewarded gets repeated.” Alas, regarding radical Islam, the behavior that “gets rewarded” is murder — Exhibit A: Theo Van Gogh. Revolution Muslim may be little more than a couple of Queens cranks with Web access — but who’s willing to take a chance on that? Not Comedy Central, that’s for sure. And until the West decides — culturally and collectively — not to take it any longer, it’s only going to get worse.
“Land of the Free and home of the Brave?” No, not at all. We have already been conquered by “fear and intimidation!” Practice your Sharia law, you attorneys, because before long that’s what will govern us.
Hey, if ya’ can’t blame Bush……blame Fox for Obamacare Problems
Posted by Tom in Nationalized Health Care, Press on March 14, 2010
Howell Raines, no relation to Franklin Raines the former Fannie Mae CEO, takes on Fox News today in his WaPo post, Why don’t honest journalists take on Roger Ailes and Fox News? This is the MSM at its expected best! The Fourth Estate unto itself! Raines can’t cotton to anyone who looks into the contents of the koolaid Obama is trying to get us to drink. Adulation of Obama continues unabated at the Washington Post.
But in this St. Pat’s day week, Bill O’Reilly as might be expected has his Irish up!
Fun stuff with two different forms of modern media. Thank God for the internet. News is no longer confined to the Fourth Estate!
Tom Motherway
Obama Against Free Speech Unless It Favors Him
Posted by Tom in Constitution, Democrats, Press, Unions on March 14, 2010
For a president to criticize a supreme court decision in fromt of Congress while members of the court are required by decorum to sit motionless is at the very least inappropriate and more likely bullying and demagoguery. White House press secretary Robert Gibbs picked up the criticism last week, “what is troubling is that this decision opened the floodgates for corporations and special interests.” At least Gibbs didn’t repeat Obama’s misinterpretation of the Citizens United v Federal Election Commission.
As Stephen Law pointed out last week in the WSJ (Organized Labor and Citizens United) the president is being more than a bit disingenuous in his silence as to big labor’s benefit from that very decision. “Unions were the big winners in the “corporate” free speech case.” Law points out that it is the unions who are the big political spenders. They have virtually no restraints on how they use the members money. Corporations have shareholders who expect them to earn profits for dividends and appreciation. Unions have no such constraints. They aren’t held to any financial performance standards. SEIU boss Andy Stern admitted that he had taken out tens of millions in loans last year for political ads, “we maxed the credit card and now we’re paying it off.” Law notes, “what corporation could get away with that.”
The other unstated beneficiaries of the decision are the “corporations” that own newspapers. These entities are exempt under the statute that Citizens United declared unconstitutional and are now therefore included in the decision. The main stream press is fawningly liberal in its Obama adulation, so let’s not criticize that part of the decision.
Even the New York Times op-ed contributor Jeff Shesol pointed out yesterday that Justices Will Prevail. His article cautions Obama on going overboard, as Roosevelt did, in his rants against the court. He suggests that Obama is piling on because of a Washington Post poll suggesting that 80 percent of the public were against the decision. Shesol neglected to mention another poll showing that 60 percent of the public favored the decision. This, an example of the main stream press at work.
It is hard not to conclude that Obama seeks to control only opposing speech and is apparently working with his Democratic congressional majorities to do so. What a shame. Freedom of Speech is the very foundation upon which our Republic is built.
Tom Motherway
Government Sponsored Radio Wants to Hear From You About Fox News
Posted by Tom in Constitution, Press on March 1, 2010
National Public Radio (NPR) a creature of the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967 signed into law by Lyndon Johnson produces and distributes news and cultural programming. It’s a non-profit funded by deductible member contributions and government underwriting. This, in contrast to commercial radio and TV which is funded by advertisers.
It is one of these commercial media stations, Fox News, that NPR wants your opinion on. In White House Vs Fox News War Of Words, Who Gets Your Vote? Mark Memmott tells of the White House targeting Fox and asks for your opinion. A cartoon portrayal of the battle looks like this:
Anyway, for those who are interested is seeing the results of the voting, click on this link and cast your vote!
Tom Motherway
Obama’s Wishes He Had the Power His “Mi Amigo” Has!
Posted by Tom in Centrally Managed Economy, Foreign Policy, Press, Statism on January 25, 2010
Hugo Chavez caused a series of protests in Venezuela by shutting down the anti-Chavez TV Station. (See Fox News post of January 26th here.) Now we know Comrade Obama is cozy with Comrade Chavez. Hopefully Obama will avoid adopting his friend’s ways! At least not the one that closed all the golf courses.
We Get No Respect
Posted by Tom in Individual Freedom, National Character, Politics, Press on January 24, 2010
“On MSNBC, snakes and lizards poured almost visibly from Olbermann’s mouth when he said Scott Brown spoke “out of his bare bottom,” and called the Massachusetts father of two “an irresponsible, homophobic, racist, reactionary, ex-nude-model tea-bagging supporter of violence against women and against politicians with whom he disagrees.” To quote from the excellent post of Meghan Gurdon in her January 21st Washington Examiner post.
That made me think a bit more about our leftist, ruling elite. They, the Pelosis, Reids, Obamas, and Obermans of this world are out of touch with the people they govern. They believe in all sincerity that they are better than we are. They are certain that they know what is best for us. Thus, they govern; thus, they communicate.
We on the other hand, work to provide for our families, attend religious services to pray to our God, volunteer to help our neighbors, and try to make ends meet and enjoy life in the process. At election time we try to vote for the best candidates and we don’t always make the right choices. We’re often times persuaded by the smooth veneers of those elites.
When we disagree with what the elites are doing, we protest, we answer pollsters, we write to our elected representatives, we attend tea parties, and we vote. When the elites see that we unwashed masses disagree with their superior knowledge and governing, they name call. The lowest intellectual form of argument is the argumentum ad hominem, which is “name calling” rather than addressing the issue.
Those of us who object are called Nazis, astroturfers, right-wing nut cases, and tea baggers. This only goes to show the correct intellectual caliber of Pelosi, Reid, Olbermann, et al. They are great at calling names but short on substantive arguments.
Obama doesn’t connect with the people because he can’t connect. He talks down. He’s the darling of those who also talk down. His interview with George Stephanopoulos is the perfect example. “I think the assumption was…if we’re making a good rational decision here, then the people will get it.” (emphasis added) But the people don’t get it. So elitist Obama will now start speaking “directly to the American people.” His recent foray into his newly acquired populism is an example. He will not tax the banks to get back his bailout money, even though the banks have already repaid it. But he won’t tax the union-owned auto companies who haven’t repaid the bailouts. He’s indebted to the unions.
Obama, Reid, Pelosi do not respect this nation. They do not respect our history. They do not respect our values. They seek to change us into a European socialist state. Tonight I watched Dennis Miller at the Silver Legacy really lay it on hard along much the same lines. He had a standing ovation in the packed house. We get no respect.
Obama, Reid, Pelosi and ilk are really pseudo intellectuals. They have never had any real life experience, never worked but instead have sucked off the public trough. They are unworthy of their offices. Despite the vile mouth Olbermann, Scott Brown is going to Washington.
The Massachusetts voters have spoken and they will get respect!
Tom Motherway
Freedom of Speech-An “Essential Mechanism” of Democracy
Posted by Tom in Constitution, Individual Freedom, Politics, Press on January 23, 2010
As the January 22nd WSJ pointed out editorially, “freedom has had its best week in many years.” The article refers to Scott Brown’s election as a check on the runaway Congress and more recently the Supreme Court 5-4 decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission which overturned that part of McCain-Feingold which banned corporations and unions from “electioneering communications” within 30 days of a primary election or 60 days of a general election. Justice Kennedy for the majority wrote that the ban on corporate expenditures had a “substantial, nationwide chilling effect” on political speech; in other words, it was censorship.
Predictably the Democratic liberals and socialists howled! Corporations are not people! A major victory for big oil, Wall Street, insurance companies and other special interests, Obama cried. Senators called for hearings. Leftist groups called for a constitutional amendment!
Funny Obama in his rant did not mention his union employers, specifically the public employee unions, the membership of which now outnumbers that of private sector unions! And while members of his leftist coterie argued that corporations were not people, they neglected to mention that Obama’s coddling, fawning main stream liberal press are also corporations! Yes, its OK for leftist journalists to have freedom of speech, NBC, CNN, NYT WaPo and the like, who are all exempted under McCain-Feingold’d “electioneering communications” proscriptions. However, it unfair if other corporations and unions have freedom of speech.
So duplicitous Obama is showing his true position: freedom of speech is OK as long as the speech is in his favor. This gets uncomfortably close to the control of communications fostered in the USSR. The Supreme Court upheld this essential mechanism of Democracy. Bravo!
Tom Motherway
Some In The Fourth Estate Are Waking Up!
When Mort Zuckerman, chairman of U.S. News & World Report, publisher of the New York Daily News, and co-founder and chairman of Boston Properties Inc. says Obama’s “done everything wrong,” you might suspect that the MSM foundation is starting to crack. Mort continues to confess, “I’m very disappointed. We endorsed him. I voted for him. I supported him publicly and privately.” This is in the January 20th post in The Daily Beast.
Zuckerman goes through the litany of Obama failures: health care a fiscal disaster, rotten political hubris, state bribes for votes, union ownership and sweetheart deals. The article is no holds barred, a must read.
I wonder if any of the liberal press will follow Zuckerman’s lead? It would be revolutionary indeed, if they started doing their jobs as journalists!
Tom Motherway