The Other Benghazi Scandal: The Media's Performance

After noting the obvious -- that the press has given Obama a complete pass because he's a liberal Democrat they root for -- Peter Wehner concludes:

For some journalists, it’s fairly clear as to why: they had a rooting interest in Mr. Obama winning and they carried a deep dislike, even contempt, for Governor Romney. But for many others I think the explanation is more subtle and in some respects more problematic. They appear to be completely blind to their biases and double standards. If you gave them sodium pentothal, they would say they were being objective. Self-examination, it turns out, is harder than self-justification. And of course being surrounded with people who share and reinforce your presuppositions and worldview doesn’t help matters. (A model for today’s reporters is Richard Harwood, a Washington Post reporter who called his editor in Washington, Ben Bradlee, and asked to be taken off the 1968 Robert Kennedy campaign on the day of the California primary because he sensed he was, in the words of RFK biographer Evan Thomas, losing his “newsman’s reserve and … his objectivity.”)
In general, journalists receive critiques like this with indignation. They enjoy holding up public officials, but not themselves, to intense scrutiny. They insist that their personal biases never bleed into their story selection or coverage. But the outstanding ones and the honest ones would admit, though perhaps only to themselves, that the double standard is real and troubling, that it’s injurious to their profession, and that things really do need to change. Perhaps because they still know why they got into journalism in the first place—not for advocacy but to report the news in a relatively even-handed manner, to “speak truth to power,” regardless of the political views of those in power, and to pursue stories in a way that is fair and unafraid.
Today such an attitude sounds almost quaint.

He's correct when he notes how indignantly and angrily and dismissively the press responds to criticisms about their obvious liberal bias.

I think of it like this: If you tell someone who's not an alcoholic that he's drinking too much, he'll take an interest in your statement. He might be incredulous, but he'll ask things like, "Do you really think I'm drinking too much? Have I gotten out of hand?" Your allegation might come as a surprise to him, and he might doubt you, but he'd probably be curious to find out if maybe he does have a problem, or if, at least, he's engaged in behavior suggesting he's got a problem.

He'll actually cast his mind back to nights when he was drinking, trying to remember if he did something embarrassing.

Now, take an alcoholic who knows goddamned well he's an alcoholic and has chosen to continue being an alcoholic and is pretty goddamned sick of people telling him he's an alcoholic because he just wants to keep on drinking at an alcoholic level. Now tell him he's got a problem. He'll tell you "I don't have a problem, you have a problem, now why don't you mind your own business instead of sticking your nose into other people's lack of problems?"

He'll be angry about it because 1, he knows you're right, but 2, he has no intention of ever changing this and just wants you to stop noticing he's an alcoholic.

If You Want To Punk The Media... Call them up claiming to be a black activist, interested in hashing out whether the media has a bias against blacks. You'll find them courteous and apologetic and willing to kick the idea around, to see if it has any merit.

Now call them up claiming to be interested in a probe into whether they have an anti-conservative bias. They will be dismissive and rude.

See, no one's really offended to be accused of a flaw they don't have. They might be amused by the claim, or somewhat bothered, but it doesn't really get at them.

Accuse someone of a sin they do commit and suddenly all defensive machinery of the ego kicks in -- defensiveness, dismissiveness, derision.

Call a fat guy "Big Nose" and you'll just get an eye-roll. Call a fat guy "Fat Guy" and you'll get some angry words.

Posted by: Ace at 04:46 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 First?

Posted by: Tim the Enchanter at November 21, 2012 04:49 PM (izA2D)

2 second?

Posted by: mallfly at November 21, 2012 04:49 PM (bJm7W)

3 Benghazi? Is that a minty smelling sports cream for sore muscles?

Posted by: Benghazi is racist at November 21, 2012 04:50 PM (Kflw4)

4 OK, I want my prize-free lifetime premium AoSHQ membership!

Posted by: Tim the Enchanter at November 21, 2012 04:50 PM (izA2D)

5 is it really a scandal when everyone involves is in a position to claim that it's not? Well, yeah, but...

Posted by: mallfly at November 21, 2012 04:50 PM (bJm7W)

6 Lies Lies all this is dam lies!!11!!

Posted by: Alcoholic Journalist at November 21, 2012 04:51 PM (tf9Ne)

7
We only sucked a little Obama cock, and he still respects our journalistic abilities.

Posted by: M F'n M at November 21, 2012 04:51 PM (lDWQr)

8 It's not just the how dare you question me thing, it truly is that most on the Left cannot conceive that those on the Right have reasonable positions on anything. Since the Right's positions and arguments are totally and utterly absurd and unworthy of consideration, any criticism from the Right is equally beyond consideration. Quite literally, our statements make no sense to them. We might as well be Charlie Brown's teacher.

Posted by: alexthechick - SMOD. Coming not nearly soon enough. at November 21, 2012 04:51 PM (VtjlW)

9 Now, take an alcoholic who knows goddamned well he's an alcoholic and
has chosen to continue being an alcoholic and is pretty goddamned sick
of people telling him he's an alcoholic because he just wants to keep on
drinking at an alcoholic level. Now tell him he's got a problem.
He'll tell you "I don't have a problem, you have a problem, now why don't you mind your own business instead of sticking your nose into other people's lack of problems?"

Hey, a little close to home. We can ourselves "heavy drinkers". Alcoholics have to go to meetings.

Posted by: Billy Bob, pseudo intellectual at November 21, 2012 04:53 PM (wR+pz)

10 3
Benghazi? Is that a minty smelling sports cream for sore muscles?

Actually, I believe, Benghazi is an old, old wooden ship that was used during the Civil War era.

Posted by: The MFM at November 21, 2012 04:53 PM (b+jI9)

11 In a way, I can see them ignoring Benghazi and fast and furious more than I can understand their reticence about all the civil rights we have been losing. They wave off the offenses regarding those things they can support - a weak foreign policy and steps to increase gun control, but I would not think they would get behind privacy and other civil rights.

Posted by: flashbazzbo, s. e. at November 21, 2012 04:53 PM (i0rVe)

12 They are the establishment. They pretend they're something else, but the de facto outcome of their actions is the promotion and protection of the existing power structure.

Posted by: Warden at November 21, 2012 04:53 PM (4YvHG)

13 ‏@FreeBeacon
MSNBC president: "We weren't just shilling for Obama. We were really smart."
"We don't have talking points."
"This channel has never been the voice of Obama. Ever."

Posted by: weft cut-loop at November 21, 2012 04:54 PM (ON54M)

14 I don't abuse alcohol. I never spill any or leave any unfinished.

Posted by: liquor is racist at November 21, 2012 04:54 PM (Kflw4)

15 What's really upsetting about the whole MFM business is their propagation of memes and errors. For example, that term "Hispanic". As far as I know, "Hispaniola" is that big island in the Caribbean of which half is the Dominican Republic and the other half is Haiti. What does that have to do with Mexicans, Puerto Ricans and Cubans?

Posted by: Tim the Enchanter at November 21, 2012 04:54 PM (izA2D)

16 Wannabe tiny totalitarians sucking totalitarian cock. Film @ 11.

Posted by: toby928© for TB at November 21, 2012 04:54 PM (QupBk)

17 Whatever the reason, the MFM are a bunch of 5th Columnist, dishonest, arrogant, leftist, lying, America-hating traitors to the First Amendment and Fourth Estate. Fuck 'em with a flaming pineapple. Sideways. Thrice.

Posted by: eureka! at November 21, 2012 04:54 PM (UL+ny)

18 So, let me get this straight.

You suck one dick and now your a cocksucker?

Posted by: MSM Spin doctors at November 21, 2012 04:55 PM (wR+pz)

19 When this Country hits bottom and it will , I'll blame the MEDIA first for Lying to the people and keeping them ignorant of the facts...

Posted by: AmericanDawg at November 21, 2012 04:56 PM (c8hZ5)

20 They THINK they are here to comfort the affilicted and afflict the comfortable, but what they do is the opposite. King Barry golfs and parties with celebrities while mid-level bureaucrats die ... and back home everyone's food and energy prices go up.

Posted by: Warden at November 21, 2012 04:56 PM (4YvHG)

21 Chrissy "tingle" Matthews is an everyman. Why just the other day he tipped his doorman a quarter and gave his shoeshine boy a dollar on the way to the limosine.

Posted by: Slats Grobnik at November 21, 2012 04:56 PM (Kflw4)

22
Ace, is this your subtle way of trying to stage a moron intervention?

Well screw you buddy! I don't have the problem, you have the problem! You Valu-rite swilling, porn fapper!

Oh...wait....

Posted by: Lurking Canuck at November 21, 2012 04:56 PM (bmBLU)

23
Do you know what today's media members are like?

They are like the workers on a prOn set. While they're doing their jobs holding the lights, camera, fetching stuff, etc, they're walking around with their peckers out and stroking themselves.

That's the White House press corps. While they're asking question they're simultaneously diddling themselves, excited by all the Obama mystique surrounding them.

They're groupies. A bunch of groupies constantly jerking off while doing their 'jobs.'

Posted by: Soothsayer at November 21, 2012 04:56 PM (5p4n9)

24 Barack told us he would only put the head in.

OK, so he lied and we like it. Get over it.

Posted by: MSM Spin doctors at November 21, 2012 04:57 PM (wR+pz)

25 I recall an article five years or so back, that as J-School students why they were there. The overriding answer was to tell people "What to think". Shape the "Dumb Masses", cuz they be smarter than all of us.

Posted by: Paladin at November 21, 2012 04:57 PM (mCOPv)

26 I thought Ben Ghazi was the actor who played Gandhi ?

Posted by: AmericanDawg at November 21, 2012 04:57 PM (c8hZ5)

27
O/T
Fuck the unions
Hostess plans on shuttering 33 bakeries, 565 distribution centers, approximately 5,500 delivery routes, 570 bakery outlet store as part of the liquidation process. Eventually, 18,500 employees will lose their jobs, although the company will retain a workforce of 3,200 as part of the wind down process.

Posted by: Velvet Ambition at November 21, 2012 04:57 PM (R8hU8)

28 As a non-alcoholic, if someone told me I was drinking too much, I'd say, "You don't drink enough of MY ASS," and probably position my ass so they could drink some.

I mean your analogy doesn't account for how the media is, collectively, a not entirely comradely fellow, so whether you're right about it or not, or it thinks you're right about it or not, when you, from outside it, offer an objection, it's gonna be all "Who the fuck are *you*?"

Posted by: oblig. at November 21, 2012 04:57 PM (cePv8)

29 and we're not alcoholics, we're Professional Drinkers.

Posted by: toby928© for TB at November 21, 2012 04:57 PM (QupBk)

30 Fluffers is a great porno term. You could say the piss stream media are fluffers.

Posted by: Peter North at November 21, 2012 04:57 PM (Kflw4)

31 Now, take an alcoholic who knows goddamned well he's an alcoholic and has chosen to continue being an alcoholic

Ace, how can I make any money off my memoirs if you keep giving away plot-points?

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at November 21, 2012 04:57 PM (P7hip)

32
and sometimes the media prOn set workers get to join in on the sex and get to stick their peckers in

the only problem is it's Us getting fucked

Posted by: Soothsayer at November 21, 2012 04:58 PM (5p4n9)

33 Perhaps because they still know why they got into journalism in the first place—not for advocacy but to report the news in a relatively even-handed manner, to “speak truth to power,” regardless of the political views of those in power, and to pursue stories in a way that is fair and unafraid."

I took some journalism classes in college and I call that fucking statement bullshit. They go in there or to Poli sci classes cause they are liberals and want to make a difference to coin the phrase. They are not wedded to truth or objectivity, that's a fucking lie.

Posted by: Mr pink at November 21, 2012 04:58 PM (U9ywS)

34 Benghazi? You mean Ben Gazarra he was a great actor.

Posted by: teevee watcher at November 21, 2012 04:59 PM (Kflw4)

35 I would not think they would get behind privacy and other civil rights.

The Media have a very set Us-Them attitude. Other people will have their freedom of speech taken away; it will never happen to them, because.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at November 21, 2012 04:59 PM (P7hip)

36 Ben Ghazi. Played for the '52 Mets. I've got his autograph on a baseball.

Posted by: joey biden at November 21, 2012 04:59 PM (nkiQM)

37 Maybe it's partly lie fatigue. I mean, the Choom administration has told so many lies that now not even causes of the death of an Ambassador being covered up holds much shock value.

Or sensationalism itself -- unless there are piles of dead bodies, it ain't newsy enough.

But in the end, the MFM blows chunks and with a few rare exceptions I don't care what they cover any more -- I wish to see them out of business and will spend my money accordingly.

Posted by: GnuBreed at November 21, 2012 04:59 PM (ccXZP)

38 No, Benghazi is an STD you get from shagging the livestock in ME countries.

Posted by: sTevo at November 21, 2012 04:59 PM (VMcEw)

39 38
No, Benghazi is an STD you get from shagging the livestock in ME countries.

Posted by: sTevo at November 21, 2012 04:59 PM (VMcEw)

So that's what I have.

Posted by: Chris "tingle legs" Mathews at November 21, 2012 05:01 PM (wR+pz)

40 Friend since High School is a local new anchor.
They will not question anything this president or his gang does. Instead, when discussing current events, they are immediately defending every action taken by this administration. Every misstep is the fault of someone or something else.
When I said "You're a campaign commercial for Obama." The offense taken was over the top.
Our parting words were Me: "So now you're for out of control cops reading your private thoughts and kicking in people's doors."
Them: Tears

Posted by: Dept. of Accuracy Dept. at November 21, 2012 05:01 PM (+I8Mq)

41 During WWII Rommel and the Afrika Korps were fighting in and around Benghazi.

Posted by: Friedrich Braunschmitt III at November 21, 2012 05:01 PM (Kflw4)

42
There's a sea change coming. What should've happened a couple of weeks ago will happen in a couple of months.

The tide is about to turn.

Posted by: Soothsayer at November 21, 2012 05:02 PM (5p4n9)

43 Bring on the dancing goils.

Posted by: Ben Ghazi High Marching Band at November 21, 2012 05:02 PM (rzTDZ)

44 What did Stalin do with all his reporters? Send them to the gulags? Bullet to the back of the neck in the basement of the Lubyanka?

Posted by: Walkers! at November 21, 2012 05:03 PM (TYO2p)

45 Posted by: Soothsayer at November 21, 2012 04:56 PM (5p4n9)

They let them do that on the set? Doesn't that create a safety issue on the floors? Just ask'en

Posted by: Paladin at November 21, 2012 05:03 PM (mCOPv)

46 @40 Sobamabots are scary. A family member went ballistic when I wouldn't sit down and watch some pos propaganda documentary about Hussein. I merely said yea he had it so rough chooming at a private school in Hawaii. I thought the police might come they were freaking out and yelling.

Posted by: Flapjacks at November 21, 2012 05:04 PM (Kflw4)

47 The tide is about to turn.

I admire your optimism. These guys will have no shame in taking the government's money. They're too big to fail. Working for the Bureau of Information will be just fine with them.

Posted by: toby928© for TB at November 21, 2012 05:04 PM (QupBk)

48 Quite honestly, I do not think the media is all that bright. When I was in college, I was struggling with math and science as an engineering major, while all the journalism majors were out drinking beer all night long, because there were no difficult courses for them to take.
Also, they spend their entire lives talking about what other people do. This is probably why they get off into trying to change the world. They want it to be about themselves, when it is really about anybody but themselves.

Posted by: Harry at November 21, 2012 05:04 PM (+BEaq)

49 The DISGUSTING FILTH in the stenographers pool of the DNC called the Lame Stream media is completely aware of how biased they are.

They aren't deluding themselves one bit. They don't think for one second they're being 'objective'.

They don't care.

They don't care about their biases, they don't care about objectivity, they don't care about the Country, you, me or the Man in the Moon.

They only care about what they want.

To them, that's all that matters.

Just like dimocrap scum, all they care about it is the win. Everything else is unimportant.

THEY are the enemy. dimocraps are just stupid socialists. They might fit your description of self-delusioned nincompoops (not really). But they couldn't get elected dog-catcher without the DISGUSTING FILTH in the Lame Stream Media.

Fact.

Posted by: Uncle Rick at November 21, 2012 05:04 PM (ZbB1q)

50 Ace, I think you may have a double posting problem.

Posted by: The Mega Independent at November 21, 2012 05:04 PM (6JMZR)

51 I heard Barkey upped everybody's food stamps 1 - 2 hundred dollars for this month only ...

But that Damn Romney keeps talking about 'Gifts' the 47 % received...

Posted by: AmericanDawg at November 21, 2012 05:05 PM (c8hZ5)

52
There's a sea change coming. What should've happened a couple of weeks ago will happen in a couple of months.

The tide is about to turn.

------- Go on

Posted by: Velvet Ambition at November 21, 2012 05:06 PM (R8hU8)

53 I thought Ben Ghazi was the actor who played Gandhi ?

Wasn't it that guy who stared in "Run for your life" in the 60's?

Posted by: Paul Bryan at November 21, 2012 05:06 PM (mCOPv)

54 It's as simple as this. The media is following the power and the money, hoping that some will spill over and land on them. They never even consider whether they're objective or not. The question probably never comes up either by themselves or with their peers.

People convinced of an idea never question that idea.

Posted by: Soona at November 21, 2012 05:06 PM (78QmA)

55 I said from the get-go that this would be the equivalent of the press helping Nixon coverup Watergate.

Before Rush, even.

Posted by: Craig Poe at November 21, 2012 05:07 PM (BVkEs)

56 "Friend since High School is a local new anchor."
That brings up another point: When the 'bamster is in, they feel they can be patriots like the WW2 reporters and defend TFG and his need to stretch the truth a bit "for the good of the country". When an "R" is in, it is time to be post-Watergate slash and burn types.

It's an automatic response. Pavlov and his dog, Bo, etc.

Posted by: flashbazzbo, s. e. at November 21, 2012 05:07 PM (i0rVe)

57 I CAN QUIT JACKIN IT WHENEV- !

what were we talking about?

Posted by: Empire of Jeff at November 21, 2012 05:07 PM (z7X0E)

58 Hahahaha! I like that! The MSM is the Steno pool of the DNC.

Posted by: Walkers! at November 21, 2012 05:07 PM (TYO2p)

59
Perhaps because they still know why they got into journalism in the first place—not for advocacy but to report the news in a relatively even-handed manner, to “speak truth to power,” regardless of the political views of those in power, and to pursue stories in a way that is fair and unafraid.

I call Bullshit. They got into "journolism" to "make a difference."

And they did so in the last two elections. I just wish it would've been a positive one...

Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this shit. at November 21, 2012 05:07 PM (lOmbq)

60
Holy crap, that alcoholic analogy is brilliant. It's not "I think he doth protest too much," but still brilliant.

Posted by: AmishDude at November 21, 2012 05:08 PM (xSegX)

61 Of course they are going to defend at any costs. They have invested so much of their selves that any criticism feels like a personal attack.

Posted by: Walkers! at November 21, 2012 05:08 PM (TYO2p)

62 ...drinking, trying to remember if he did something embarrassing.

Helen Thomas in a tutu?

It's why I forget.

Posted by: Charlie Gibson at November 21, 2012 05:09 PM (rzTDZ)

63
I'm no starry eyed optimist. I sense what's coming -- I see the patterns and trends.
I see the economy taking a turn for the worse in the next few months.

Obama just "won" but he's on a short leash. All it will take is another point in UE and the public will turn on Obama.

Posted by: Soothsayer at November 21, 2012 05:09 PM (5p4n9)

64 Ace, I think you may have a double posting problem.
Posted by: The Mega Independent at November 21, 2012 05:04 PM (6JMZR)

--------------------------------------------

Ssshhhhh. We're waiting for the group intervention.

Posted by: Soona at November 21, 2012 05:09 PM (78QmA)

65 As a country, we're educated by the lowest SAT cohort to make it out of college, and "informed" by the 2nd lowest.

Posted by: toby928© for TB at November 21, 2012 05:09 PM (QupBk)

66
Let's try it.

Hey Ace - you're too fuzzy! Shave!!

Posted by: Comrade Arthur at November 21, 2012 05:09 PM (IH2b5)

67 "They appear to be completely blind to their biases and double standards."

Short version: They are idiots.

No one with any modicum if intelligence an self-awareness would be unaware that they have biases.

Treat journalists like the dolts they are, because, for the most part, they are. These are the people who couldn't do anything - even the ubiquitous 'education' degree.

They are the people who would have been eaten by sabretooth tigers or trampled by mastodons had they been born thousands of years ago.

Posted by: blindside at November 21, 2012 05:10 PM (x7g7t)

68 >>>50 Ace, I think you may have a double posting problem.

And I shhthink you're full of (hic) shhhhithh.

Posted by: ace at November 21, 2012 05:10 PM (LCRYB)

69 46 @40 Sobamabots are scary. A family member went ballistic when I wouldn't sit down and watch some pos propaganda documentary about Hussein. I merely said yea he had it so rough chooming at a private school in Hawaii. I thought the police might come they were freaking out and yelling.
Posted by: Flapjacks at November 21, 2012 05:04 PM (Kflw4)

To be honest that's probably one of the things that pisses me off about this asshole. His fucking cult. You can't criticize him, YOU CAN'T. You have to like him too, or if not shut up.
Fuck this asshole and the douchebags who like him.

Posted by: Mr pink at November 21, 2012 05:10 PM (U9ywS)

70 It is fun to get shitfaced drunk and turn on PMSNBC and laugh out loud.

Posted by: Al Coholic at November 21, 2012 05:10 PM (Kflw4)

71
I said from the get-go that this would be the equivalent of the press helping Nixon coverup Watergate.

LBJ did shit like that all the time...but the media never bothered with it.

Pretty much every president since there have been presidents has had a black bag crew or three doing shit like Watergate.

Posted by: @PurpAv at November 21, 2012 05:10 PM (xCa48)

72 It's not because Obama's a liberal Democrat that he got a total pass, although that's worth kid-glove scrutiny on its own; it's because he's a BLACK liberal Democrat. There, I went there. The press is racist and believes that liberal black politicians are too stupid for their jobs, and thus, need help from the press. To the MBM, President Barack Obama is Too Black To Fail.

Posted by: holygoat at November 21, 2012 05:10 PM (XnwWl)

73 All it will take is another point in UE and the public will turn on Obama.

And then? The SCoaMF and his bong buddies aren't leaving for another four years.

Posted by: toby928© for TB at November 21, 2012 05:10 PM (QupBk)

74 I tried Alcoholics Anonymous, but that's for quitters

Posted by: Bruce at November 21, 2012 05:10 PM (h/h0n)

75 Didja see me on SNL last weekend? I killed! Axelrod promised me a bounce but I'm still seen as an ass kissing donut scented man whore!? Gotta go - Springsteen wants a blow job.

Posted by: Chris Christie at November 21, 2012 05:10 PM (wIgpo)

76 When the (subjective) truth is on your side, it is instinctive to know what needs to be questioned throughly and what is merely a "bump in the road".

The Ben Gazzi feller never did like black folk anyhow, so why should we listen to him or give him any press time. Besides, I think he is incompetent!

Posted by: C Matthews-Ministry of Truth and Cult Affairs at November 21, 2012 05:11 PM (Cnqmv)

77 There was some old reporter who when he was kicked off the regular msm went to the crazy npr stations. I can't remember his name. But he got nuttier and nuttier. Daniel Schnorr? He really lost it. When they feel like they don't have to answer to anyone, they really let their freak flag fly.

Posted by: Walkers! at November 21, 2012 05:12 PM (TYO2p)

78
I'm well known for bashing the legal profession but it's because I believe that there is no check or balance on them. They can do whatever they want.

This is even more true of journalism. And their graduate programs make law school look like particle physics.

One thing I propose is to remove intellectual property rights from the news. If it's news, it doesn't get to have copyright. I don't care if the proposal goes anywhere, I just want them to sweat.

Also, I've noticed that "media critics" are really "media apologists". Only on the right do we have people who truly hate journalists criticizing them. Even the journo review shows on CNN and Fox are filled with media people.
"Hey, how are we doing? I know!Let's ask us!"

Posted by: AmishDude at November 21, 2012 05:13 PM (xSegX)

79
As a country, we're educated by the lowest SAT cohort to make it out of college, and "informed" by the 2nd lowest.

And ruled by the third.

Posted by: AmishDude at November 21, 2012 05:14 PM (xSegX)

80 The MBM will never change because they're still on TV, in the papers, and they get a big fat salary while hanging out with other people you see on TV

Like the alcoholic, they won't realize they have a problem until they're lying in an ICU unit when the EKG flatlines and they're breaking out the defibrilators

Then they'll blame everyone but themselves

"OK, I drink too much, but YOU drove me to drink"

Posted by: kbdabear at November 21, 2012 05:14 PM (wwsoB)

81 "Obama just "won" but he's on a short leash. All it will take is another point in UE and the public will turn on Obama. "

Posted by: Soothsayer at November 21, 2012 05:09 PM (5p4n9)

Don't hold your breath.

They spent eight years bashing Bush, then another four years sucking Obama's cock. An extra few hundred thousand out of work is nothing. The sae change you expect will take a very long time....if it ever comes.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at November 21, 2012 05:15 PM (GsoHv)

82 Posted by: AmishDude at November 21, 2012 05:13 PM (xSegX)

Do you have any real proposals for attacking intellectual property rights at the "lawfare" levels? Seems to me this would be a great "Army of Davids" possibility (at least until Obamao throws the kill switch)!

Posted by: Hrothgar - L.I.B or SMOD for the Children at November 21, 2012 05:15 PM (Cnqmv)

83 Here ya go:

In January 1962, he aired the first examination of everyday life under communism in East Germany, The Land Beyond the Wall: Three Weeks in a German City, which The New York Times called a "journalistic coup". After agreeing not to foster "propaganda" for the United States, Schorr was granted the rights to conduct the interviews in the city of Rostock. By airing everyday life, Schorr painted a picture of the necessity for a Communist state to seal itself off from the West in order to survive.

http://goo.gl/YMBkM

Posted by: Walkers! at November 21, 2012 05:15 PM (TYO2p)

84
and then the Democrats run scared and Obama becomes a lame duck

You guys familiar with the Diathesis-stress model? It's kinda basic psychology.

I know right now most of you think there's little hope for the majority to come to its senses because if they tolerate Obama, they must be retarded. But there will be a breaking point -- a point at which a real majority, 55%+, say enough is enough.

Posted by: soothsayer, king of siam, i am at November 21, 2012 05:15 PM (5p4n9)

85 We might as well be Charlie Brown's teacher.
Posted by: alexthechick - SMOD. Coming not nearly soon enough. at November 21, 2012 04:51 PM (VtjlW)

this. Consider that in professional historical journals, exploring "right wing" conservative positions in various historical settings (and even modern) is a sub genre. I had a religious studies teacher who's work was on understanding how Christian evangelicals got "in bed" with capitalism. It's a foreign country to them.

Posted by: Dr. elizabethe is very obviously a girl with Ph.d. at November 21, 2012 05:16 PM (ou/rY)

86
There was some old reporter who when he was kicked off the regular msm went to the crazy npr stations.

Peter Arnett? He chose the long discredited "the US used nerve gas in Vietnam" hill to die on. He found some crank conspiracy theory shit on the tubes and bet his career on it...

...I think he's doing car wash grand openings now.

Posted by: @PurpAv at November 21, 2012 05:16 PM (xCa48)

87
Who, What, When, Where is all we need to hear. Why can be saved for the Opinions page.

*If* that ever gets taught in J-Schools ever again, we might, just maybe, have a fighting chance at being a free people.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this shit. at November 21, 2012 05:16 PM (lOmbq)

88 Posted by: AmishDude at November 21, 2012 05:13 PM (xSegX)

I always figured you are a lawyer and were just having a bit of fun.

At least you always sound like a lawyer.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at November 21, 2012 05:16 PM (GsoHv)

89 Call a fat guy "Fat Guy" and you'll get some angry words.

Wait... is this a Chris Christie Thread?

Posted by: Romeo13 at November 21, 2012 05:16 PM (lZBBB)

90 When we hear of Comcast going Chap 7 and shutting down instead of Hostess, then we'll at least have the schadenfreude of crying jobless journalists wondering how this could have happened

Posted by: kbdabear at November 21, 2012 05:17 PM (wwsoB)

91 http://tinyurl.com/bqm93yl

Judge Approves Hostess Liquidation

Posted by: Evilpens at November 21, 2012 05:17 PM (ck76k)

92 Go to the comments section of any article on a near-centrist news site, such as The Hill. Comments from the left and from the right are sufficiently different as to be considered of two diametrically-opposed cultures. It's all shit fights, all the way down. Further consider that the left owns all the means of news production. Any conservative criticism will be taken as the beginning of another shit fight. They will not be argued out of a position they did not use reason to arrive at.

The only reasonable strategy left is to delegitimize or destroy them

Posted by: Truman North at November 21, 2012 05:18 PM (I2LwF)

93 "Rep. Gowdy to Obama: 'You come here and testify'"- http://bit.ly/WxWGwj

Posted by: 80sBaby at November 21, 2012 05:18 PM (YjDyJ)

94 Ben Ghazi? Brilliant but swarthy neurologist with high ideals and irascible temper.

Posted by: Sarahw at November 21, 2012 05:19 PM (LYwCh)

95 M80B.

Posted by: Truman North at November 21, 2012 05:19 PM (I2LwF)

96 But there will be a breaking point -- a point at which a real majority, 55%+, say enough is enough.
Posted by: soothsayer, king of siam, i am at November 21, 2012 05:15 PM (5p4n9)

I think as long as the monthly checks keep coming in the percentage needs to be much more like 67% because half the 67% will be too lazy to actually do anything, and a motivated 33% can move mountains! We have a way too go, but with Obamao's foot on the accelerator, we may get there a lot faster than the progs thought possible.

Posted by: Hrothgar - L.I.B or SMOD for the Children at November 21, 2012 05:20 PM (Cnqmv)

97
Do you have any real proposals for attacking intellectual property rights at the "lawfare" levels?

You have to fight Marxism with Marxism. News belongs to everyone and nobody should have ownership of it. I don't know how to actually put something into place, no.

Posted by: AmishDude at November 21, 2012 05:20 PM (xSegX)

98 >>>Peter Arnett? He chose the long discredited "the US used nerve gas in Vietnam" hill to die on. He found some crank conspiracy theory shit on the tubes and bet his career on it...

...I think he's doing car wash grand openings now.
Posted by: @PurpAv

No. Danial Schorr who apparently argued that it was necessary for the GDR to cut inself off from the west.

Anyway, Arnett's kid married John Yoo so we got the last laugh.

Posted by: Walkers! at November 21, 2012 05:20 PM (TYO2p)

99 Against my better judgement, I tuned into the History Channel's new program on "Mankind: the Story of Us". I expected the usual bias, and was not disappointed. The high point had to be Brian Williams as an commentator. Why? What exactly is his expertise?

So anyway, he profoundly intoned about how curiosity and wanderlust is "in our DNA". Really, Brian, and is that statement based on your vast knowledge of genetics, or the human condition, or something?

A later episode has him telling us that although religious intolerance is a constant of the human condition, the Crusades stand apart as an exercise in human cruelty. Really, Brian? Are you familiar with what the muzzies did to India? How many millions died or were enslaved? No? Nothing? What about all of the other instances of human cruelty? After all, the Crusades were largely about land and power, not religion. But I don't really expect him to understand that.

Seriously, this guy isn't even a Cliff Notes intellectual, but he's treated as a God by the other tiny minds in the media complex because he can read a teleprompter and has the "right" opinions. I hate these people.

Posted by: pep at November 21, 2012 05:21 PM (6TB1Z)

100 Let me give you a nice example of how the MBM discourages critical thinking;

Your local newscast will have a sympathetic feature on how horrible it is that Target and Walmart employees have to work tomorrow night. The people waiting in line will tell you that Target and Walmart are heartless, but they'll be waiting in line before the turkey is cold for that BIG DISCOUNT

Then, the bubble headed bleach blonde on your newscast will follow with; "Next, we'll give you the best shopping tips for Black Friday"

Posted by: kbdabear at November 21, 2012 05:21 PM (wwsoB)

101
here's a for instance:

in MA, our shithead governor and Obama prototype, is proposing all kinds of tax hikes, including a mileage tax. These proposals come just a day after our lousy governor issued a mandate to all state schools to charge in-state tuition for illegals age 30 and under, which means illegals of all ages.

Democrats are always bold, and winning elections really emboldens them to slap The People in the face. Don't think for a second Democrats can't go too far and feel a big pushback.

I believe 2014 will be even bigger of a pushback than 2010.

Posted by: soothsayer, king of siam, i am at November 21, 2012 05:22 PM (5p4n9)

102 93
"Rep. Gowdy to Obama: 'You come here and testify'"- http://bit.ly/WxWGwj

----

Beautimus Maximus. Gowdy's got a great future in South Carolina. I guarantee it.

Posted by: Craig Poe at November 21, 2012 05:22 PM (BVkEs)

103 Perhaps because they still know why they got into journalism in the first place

Shitty grades, Math! is hard and latent liberal homosexual fascination with black men.

Duh.

Posted by: 98ZJUSMC Waiting for the Sun at November 21, 2012 05:23 PM (VH7YZ)

104 Your local newscast will have a sympathetic feature on how horrible it
is that Target and Walmart employees have to work tomorrow night.

Went to my local chain grocery store this AM. The sign says open 24 hours Thanksgiving day.

Nobody is planning a protest. The workers are union too.

Posted by: Bruce at November 21, 2012 05:24 PM (h/h0n)

105 "If You Want To Punk The Media"

That's actually an excellent suggestion for a controlled psychological experiment. It would be great to see some grad student here attempt it with, let's say, 50 different phone calls to reporters using the black activist and your conservative activist script.

Of course, the profs would never allow it.

Posted by: PJ at November 21, 2012 05:24 PM (ZWaLo)

106
I always figured you are a lawyer and were just having a bit of fun.
At least you always sound like a lawyer.

Oh yeah, well that's what your mom said last night!

(Seriously, why don't you just accuse me of being a pedophile, it would be less hurtful.)

Posted by: AmishDude at November 21, 2012 05:24 PM (xSegX)

107 I do not care it they understand their biases or not. They are vermin who are dangerous to our freedoms and way of life and supportive of our enemies. If I can't have them shot, I at least want them to be unemployed, cold, and hungry living in a cardboard box under a bridge. It's the least we could do.

Posted by: sherlock at November 21, 2012 05:24 PM (U+goV)

108 AmishDude, are you really Amish, or Amish like the kids on Breaking Amish, or what?

Posted by: Truman North at November 21, 2012 05:26 PM (I2LwF)

109 101
here's a for instance:

in MA, our shithead governor and Obama prototype, is proposing all kinds of tax hikes, including a mileage tax. These proposals come just a day after our lousy governor issued a mandate to all state schools to charge in-state tuition for illegals age 30 and under, which means illegals of all ages.

Democrats are always bold, and winning elections really emboldens them to slap The People in the face. Don't think for a second Democrats can't go too far and feel a big pushback.

I believe 2014 will be even bigger of a pushback than 2010.

Posted by: soothsayer, king of siam, i am at November 21, 2012 05:22 PM (5p4n9)

Jessie Jackson junior was reelected from a mental hospital while under investigation for several felonies. He supposedly was known to act crazy in public but shocker of shockers, that never recieved wide media attention.

I think your faith is displaced but whatever wtf do I know. I just witnessed a president preside over 4 years of failure, 8+% unemployment, and trillion dollar budget deficits and then win reelection while running on a platform of fucking contraceptives and big bird.

Posted by: Mr pink at November 21, 2012 05:27 PM (U9ywS)

110 103
Perhaps because they still know why they got into journalism in the first place

Shitty grades, Math! is hard and latent liberal homosexual fascination with black men.

A fantasy: some journalist challenges Paul Ryan on an obscure point, and Ryan counters with "I'll answer that question when it is posed by anyone who can prove they scored above 500 on the math portion of the SAT."

I suspect Soledad could do it, but not many others.

Posted by: pep at November 21, 2012 05:27 PM (6TB1Z)

111 Soothsayer is on a new kind of happy pill I think.

Posted by: Truman North at November 21, 2012 05:29 PM (I2LwF)

112
AmishDude, are you really Amish, or Amish like the kids on Breaking Amish, or what?

I have Amish ancestry about 5 or 6 generations ago.

But I do come from Lancaster, PA.

I am also an enigma wrapped in a mystery with a rich, creamy filling.

Posted by: AmishDude at November 21, 2012 05:32 PM (xSegX)

113 It's probably that Mars shit that's got him all on the 'happy talk".

Did anyone guess Mayans?

Posted by: tasker at November 21, 2012 05:32 PM (r2PLg)

114 92 The only reasonable strategy left is to delegitimize or destroy them

What do you see as being the best way to do that?

Posted by: 80sBaby at November 21, 2012 05:34 PM (YjDyJ)

115
The only reasonable strategy left is to delegitimize or destroy them

More RatherGates...only not self-inflicted this time. Planned intentional fucking traps. Take warm up swings on an imbecile like Geraldo, then shoot for the higher value targets as confidence in tradecraft and forgery skills develop.

We know they'll take the bait. Enticing, but not "too good to be true" stuff.

Posted by: @PurpAv at November 21, 2012 05:36 PM (xCa48)

116 "I'll answer that question when it is posed by anyone who can prove they scored above 500 on the math portion of the SAT."

seeing as a score of 200 is the hard-wired lower-bound for any single section of the SAT, and seeing as purely random guessing would ensure the addition of an additional 200 points to your score -- or wait, do SAT's have an e? if SAT's have an e, then the expected value of purely random guessing is actually 0, so discount this analysis -- you'd have to try pretty damn hard to get so low as a 500...

Posted by: jimi ray at November 21, 2012 05:39 PM (79EF9)

117 I do not care it they understand their biases or not. They are vermin who are dangerous to our freedoms and way of life and supportive of our enemies. If I can't have them shot, I at least want them to be unemployed, cold, and hungry living in a cardboard box under a bridge. It's the least we could do.
Posted by: sherlock at November 21, 2012 05:24 PM (U+goV)

---------------------------------------------

I can see the practicality of the shooting part, but trying the civil tone, how on earth do we break them to the point at which you suggest? Private detectives following the big news anchors around until we find the ultimate scandel?

Or, do as they do and make up a totally undisprovable scandel about them. I'll go with this. Except now, how do we get the word out to uninformed Joe Shmoe?

Posted by: Soona at November 21, 2012 05:39 PM (78QmA)

118 I watched Ken Burns' documentary The Dust Bowl

While it was a big hosanna to how much the Big Government of FDR saved them all from starvation, I did notice one thing that Burns probably didn't want me to notice

Back then, people really did starve, they would rather eat grass than be seen taking "Relief" from the government. Back then, it wasn't fashionable, it was an admission of total failure

Posted by: kbdabear at November 21, 2012 05:40 PM (wwsoB)

119 Gowdy's got a great future in South Carolina. I guarantee it.

Posted by: Craig Poe at November 21, 2012 05:22 PM (BVkEs)

Senator Gowdy (not Graham) sure has a ring to it!

Posted by: Hrothgar - L.I.B or SMOD for the Children at November 21, 2012 05:42 PM (Cnqmv)

120 "Call a fat guy "Fat Guy" and you'll get some angry words."

Hey!

Posted by: Chris Christie at November 21, 2012 05:45 PM (ndlFj)

121 ...but what happens when you call a guy with a big nose "Fat Guy"?

Posted by: Albie Damned at November 21, 2012 05:47 PM (Yhu4q)

122 Posted by: @PurpAv at November 21, 2012 05:36 PM (xCa4

Related: Four reasons I don't watch Faux News much anymore are Beckel, Williams, Geraldo, and Colmes. Any network too stupid to mercy hire retards like this doesn't need my business.

I don't think you can ambush this sort of person, because no matter what they say, it will be covered up by their media buds (even the faux conservatives) because they're in the "media club". It would be fun to try though.

As an example, Beckel violated the most basic language content rules, but he's just Beckel the commentator. Rush calls Sandra F a slut, and suddenly Rush is the brains, heart, soul and de facto emperor of the entire Republican and Conservative movement, but he's definitely not just a commentator.

Posted by: Hrothgar - L.I.B or SMOD for the Children at November 21, 2012 05:51 PM (Cnqmv)

123 The only reasonable strategy left is to delegitimize or destroy them

Yes, Marco and whoever else running should go full Nuclear Newt on them whenever they get a gotcha question.

Posted by: PJ at November 21, 2012 05:51 PM (ZWaLo)

124 Obama just "won" but he's on a short leash. All it will take is another point in UE and the public will turn on Obama.
Posted by: Soothsayer at November 21, 2012 05:09 PM (5p4n9)

Like they did on FDR?

Posted by: blindside at November 21, 2012 05:55 PM (x7g7t)

125 117 Except now, how do we get the word out to uninformed Joe Shmoe?

If our politicians won't stand up and take the fight to them, it will be tough for us to.

Rubio should have told the GQ that he would like to ask a question first: do you think it is part of your job to attempt to embarrass candidates in the minds of some of their constituencies, and if so do you believe you have any obligation to make sure it is done to all candidates, or only the ones you (or your boss) personally want to embarrass?

Posted by: sherlock at November 21, 2012 05:56 PM (BaQuW)

126 Ben Gheysi is my next feature film lead role.

Posted by: Brian Dennehey at November 21, 2012 05:56 PM (V1TUS)

127
The phrase "liberal bias" is actually starting to piss me off a little bit.

It USED to be "liberal bias",but for the last year it has been "SOCIALIST PROPAGANDA", and - as Pat Caddell has put it - their malpractice has been downright treasonous.

I'm still pissed off about a front-pagearticle about Paul Ryan saying he was being"called to task for a litany of lies" from his nomination speech. Called to task by their liberal "fact checker", it turned out. Their record-breaking "litany" of lies turned out to be exactly FOUR, and the "fact-checking" was so pathetic that half of them literally started off with "What he said was true, but ..." It was libel, plain and simple, and you could tell just from a critical read of the article.

Yeah, "liberal bias" just isn't accurate any more.

Posted by: Optimizer at November 21, 2012 05:57 PM (Mxt9o)

128 I believe 2014 will be even bigger of a pushback than 2010.

Posted by: soothsayer, king of siam, i am at November 21, 2012 05:22 PM (5p4n9)

I would really love to believe that. After witnessing the recent retardation this November, I just can't share that appraisal.

I mean, 2010 was just 2 years ago, man.

Posted by: 98ZJUSMC Waiting for the Sun at November 21, 2012 05:58 PM (VH7YZ)

129 It USED to be "liberal bias",but for the last year it has been "SOCIALIST PROPAGANDA", and - as Pat Caddell has put it - their malpractice has been downright treasonous.

This.

Posted by: 98ZJUSMC Waiting for the Sun at November 21, 2012 05:59 PM (VH7YZ)

130 It's a good point. Radical lefties rarely see themselves as radical lefties. If you asked a Chris Matthews or Michael Moore-type to describe his politics, he'd probably say "moderate".

It's the Pauline Kael thing: "Hey, I'm pretty much right down the middle. I mean, all the people I know agree with me on everything."

Posted by: JoJo at November 21, 2012 06:05 PM (MSrqi)

131 What is this liberal bias of which you speak?

Posted by: Pravda Ombudsman at November 21, 2012 06:07 PM (Cnqmv)

132 99 After all, the Crusades were largely about land and power, not religion. But I don't really expect him to understand that.

Not only that, the Crusades were pushback against Muslim conquests of what had been Christian lands. They were counterattacks, not unprovoked aggression.

Posted by: rickl at November 21, 2012 06:10 PM (sdi6R)

133
"128... I would really love to believe that. After witnessing the recent retardation this November, I just can't share that appraisal.

I mean, 2010 was just 2 years ago, man."

I know what you mean. You would expect Tea Party types to have a longer attention span than 2 years.

This is why it's so important to get to the bottom of how the Republicans didn't show up, when all the indications were that there was even more interest in this election than in 2008 (pointing to record viewing of the debates, and record crowds).

There was record early voting, and well-advertised long lines, but fewer votes. In what world does it make sense that the same number of Independents showed up (breaking against Obama this time), but 8% fewer Dems, and 5% fewer Republicans than for McCain?

So - all this talk of demographics aside - did votes disappear do to vote fraud, or were all the indications of Republican enthusiasm simply bogus and misleading? Even if it's too late for this election, we need to know!

Posted by: Optimizer at November 21, 2012 06:11 PM (Mxt9o)

134 You could say the first thing you need to do to fix a problem is to understand the problem.

I think we understand the problem.

We have few if any ways to fix it.

Posted by: eman at November 21, 2012 06:13 PM (bWwMZ)

135 As I've said before, I largely quit watching TV after the 2008 election. Last week I cancelled my cable subscription and returned my converter boxes. That's about $50/month that I'm no longer giving to the media.

I can get all the news and entertainment I want online, or in books. If I really want to watch an old movie, I can buy the DVD with the money I've saved.

Admittedly it's a small gesture on my part, but I recommend that others do the same. Starve the beast.

Posted by: rickl at November 21, 2012 06:18 PM (sdi6R)

136 "I'll thump him if he calls me Big-nose again."

Posted by: Mr. Big Nose at November 21, 2012 06:29 PM (hqKrm)

137 The average reporter is not smart enough to understand their biases.

If we started instituting a "You must be this smart to be a reporter" policy, the press corps would shrink and be better.

As long as a person with an IQ of 110ish can be paid a reporter's salary to regurgitate DNC talking points, that person will take that job every time.

Posted by: BS Inc. at November 21, 2012 06:30 PM (P2Ufm)

138 Oblig., 4:57:

"it's gonna be all 'Who the fuck are *you*?'"

To which we, like Sergeant Dignam in the Departed, should reply,

"I'm the guy who does his job. You must be the other guy."

Posted by: JPS at November 21, 2012 06:55 PM (/R6xL)

139 I don't think it's so much that they're blind to their biases as that they're fucking pathological liars and scumbags.

You know, just an alternate explanation.

I did go to school with some of these people (minor leagues, and not for long). They would laugh about sticking it to the man (and this is the 90s), and I'll bet they still do.

"The Man" being anyone who doesn't fit their politically correct mold.

They think that they're fighting for justice, not being objective. Justice just happens to be a laundry list of leftist political positions. Like every other college leftist.

Also, they're tribal about it, they drive other people out of "the club," in school and in media companies.

Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of the Sith at November 21, 2012 07:32 PM (7N4Vf)

140 It's true Tapper is among the best at hiding his biases but he got hot when I called him on the lack of zeal on Benghazi....

Posted by: Harlekwin15 at November 21, 2012 07:42 PM (LRFds)

141 Complaining about media bias is a no-win proposition. Mocking them for incompetence and outright stupidity might work.

Posted by: somebody else, not me at November 21, 2012 07:45 PM (nZvGM)

142 Ace your problem is that you do not like which media Americans choose to consume

Posted by: occam at November 21, 2012 07:49 PM (trZwr)

143 Eisenhower coined the phrase "miltary-industrial complex" If no one has yet used the phrase "politco-media complex" then I call dibs.....

Posted by: robschr at November 21, 2012 08:08 PM (wpbum)

144 Greetings:

One of the formative experiences of my youth was when a heroin addict, with whom I had an in-passing basketball acquaintance, told me that he "didn't have a drug problem he had a money problem."

Posted by: 11B40 at November 21, 2012 09:37 PM (vScer)

145 So when you get all Sullivany when people accuse you of being biased against socons, it is because you are actually biased against them. This is the problem with psychoanalysis unless you are really disciplined it just becomes projection.

Posted by: tennvols87 at November 21, 2012 09:39 PM (GWlHG)

146
Can someone tell me WHY they disliked Romney, when not a single reporter who actually has known him over the years, or travelled withhim as a candidate, etc. has eversaid anythingother than how upbeat Romney is by nature, and howand incrediblydecent a human being he is, and furthermore, how surprised they were to find what a fun-loving guy he is?
So I know they hate any GOPer who mighthave a chance to beat theirguy--that would rob them of their sycophantic fun--but do those who ther writer said hated Romney simply not know him?

Posted by: gm at November 21, 2012 10:41 PM (TPaQf)

147 One of these days, if I'm a good boy, I'll meet somebody who says he's a journalist. I'll say, "Do your parents know?"
We do what we can.

Posted by: Richard Aubrey at November 21, 2012 11:25 PM (z4bFV)

148 So does that mean when some dipshit like James Clyburn calls John McCain a racist, and he's backed up by fucking losers like Richard Wolffe, that the Senator should not be angry, offended and indignant?

Posted by: Esau's Message at November 22, 2012 02:22 PM (6c62F)

149 "Accuse someone of a sin they do commit and suddenly all defensive machinery of the ego kicks in -- defensiveness, dismissiveness, derision."

Why couldn't this be used to explain why conservatives react so badly to accusations of racism?

Posted by: Your Pall Bob at November 22, 2012 05:25 PM (Lhu/g)

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