Sen. Feinstein brings up the Fairness Doctrine
Trent Lott talked to Chris Wallace about his statements against right wing propaganda talk radio (it's ruining America) and their reaction to him as the immigration debate in the GOP is fracturing the Republican party. No matter what he may think, the RWNM will never...under any circumstances allow for an honest debate about immigration and will try to kill off anything that doesn't include mass deportations and prison cells. Sen. Feinstein surprisingly brought up the fairness doctrine...
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Feinstein: Do I believe their should be an opportunity to on talk radio to present that point of view? Yes I do. Particularly about the critical issues of the day.
Wallace: So would you revive the fairness doctrine?
Feinstein: Well, I'm looking at it as a matter of fact, Chris. Because I think there ought to be an opportunity to present the other side and unfortunately talk radio is overwhelmingly one way. I do believe in fairness. I remember when their was a fairness doctrine and I think there was much serious, correct reporting to people...
Wallace: Let, let me move on...
Hannity and his legion of Cabin boys will sure be fired up over this one...Ed Schultz voiced opposition to the notion that talk radio is only a product of the free market...
Let Hannity be fired up over Feinstein's support of the Fairness Doctrine. Maybe it will kick start his brain after 40 years of inactivity...to the level of imbecile instead of brain-dead.
I'm hoping the right can come up with something other than "well you're a far-left terrorist supporting anti-American traitor if you really do support the Fairness Doctrine".
Again, if the "free market" is so important, why does Murdoch run the propaganda New York Post at a 20 million a year yearly loss, EVERY YEAR?
I love when wingnuts trot out the "Free Market" argument. O-RLY? Explain the 1-0 share ratings from 95% of the right wing clowns while Ed Schultz doesn't get a shot? Explain why Olbermann's ratings go up faster than anyone else but CNN keeps on low rated Glenn Beck? Explain why Phil Donahue got fired yet numerous wingnuts have lower cable ratings and get 3 year contracts?
Free market my ass.
No more sucky Haloscan?
What Happened to the American Media?
This was not something that just happened, it was a coldly calculated effort aimed at creating a Reight-Wing Noise machine from the get-go.
BTW, if someone is monitoring this thread, the /link function on the editor is broken. It doesn't put in the close tag.
Earlier in this same segment, Feinstein (a fine lady) folded on the Iraq war, a true elite democratic apologist. She stated that people do not understand that in the Senate you need 60 votes on contested issues.
I understand that fact and with that understanding then I must ask where were the Democratic senators before '06, as they folded and allowed the republicans with less than 60 senators to get everything the President wanted. Today, however, the Republicans (with less than a 50 vote majority in the Senate) use the specter of a filibuster every time to only see the dems gets on their knees and fold in fear, or more likely, join in with the Republicans when the cameras or off to receive the corporate payoff for their votes.
Why not utilize the majority that the voters gave the Dems and simply call the Republicans' bluff and force a filibuster and even a government shut down on key issues such as Iraq when called to task, instead of getting on their collective knees and polishing the Executive staff by sending the President his legislation. Feinstein, though a well-dressed, and well-spoken venerable Senate veteran, is one of a majority of Democratic cowards, failures and/or closet slaves of those driving this war.
first
http://thumbsnap.com/v/uKg4LvXV.jpg
:)
Just experimenting.
No fair bringing fairness up!
It isn't a free market when a few people own the majority of the radio stations and determine what the programing will be. Here in south Florida on AM your choice is Spanish language stations or right wing propaganda. We need to return to the ownership rules that Reagan trashed.
There continues to only be one party in America: The banker/corporate party, masquerading as a two party system. Both are addicted to the free-flowing money that corporations put into pockets, both publicly and privately, to get their wishes legislated.
Do we need the Fairness Doctrine... or do we need to enforce existing anti-trust laws against the giant corporations which own too much of the market? Sure, bring back the FD if you want, but the REAL problem is that for the past six years corporations have been free to consume as much of the marketplace as they want ever since Cheney and Bush slouched into the White House.
Clear Channel should be broken up. As should ABC-Disney and NBC-General Electric and Fox-Murdoch. And then we can move on to Halliburton and Exxon...
I have to agree with tbhull... While a fine person, Feinstein's actions are what matters the most. She helped make this war, and she should be voted out, along with every other member of Congress. I say we clean house completely... FIRE EVERY INCUMBENT!!!
this immigration bill is just more bullshit from bullshit politicians , theses not a god damned thing any different then these was the last tiome these rich corporist pigs did the last time they allowed these law breakers to get amnisty, anything they try to sell you is aimed at makeing some fat cocksluckers richer at the expence of the middle class, fienstiens a bought out prostitute for the bush cheny douchebags!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not first
I'm going to relate back to the previous thread. When the polls say that 43% of the people still think Iraq was involved in 9/11, It has nothing to do with a fairness doctrine. The media has deliberately fed us misinformation. When for 4 years some of the media have reported that Iraq was involved and only reporting 1 or 2 articles that they weren't, how many of us are truly informed? With all of the media combined, how many times have they reported that Iraq was involved? 5,000-10,000-30,000 The fact is they reported it as a fact many times more than they have refuted it.
A fairness doctrine is not so much a factor as the truth is. The media is supposed to inform us, not deceive us. It has been their goal for the past 6 1/2 to deceive us.
Hasn't the word "fair" been declared "quaint" by this administration? If things are fair, don't the terrorists win?
You ate my post again.
The DESTRUCTION of the Fairness Doctrine, was the single greatest atrocity of a Reagan Administration wrought with atrocities committed against democracy. IranContra, the HUD scandal, the Bittenburg Cemetary visit, all pale in comparison to the damage done to the Fourth Estate of this country and to TRUE fair and balanced debate in this country by the elimination of the fairness doctrine.
The airwaves belong to the PUBLIC. They are a PUBLIC trust. The privatization of the airwaves and elimination of the fairness doctrine are THE primary factors for the state of mass media in this country. The fairness doctrine insured that manipulation of public opinion would not occur. It served as a governor on overzealous station owners who would use the public airwaves to advance their own political agendas.
A strong, INDEPENDENT and uninfluenced Fourth Estate is essential for the ongoing health of a true democracy.
The only free choice we have left is whether we want to die by execution or quilotine.
They should call the Fairness Doctrine the Forced Speech Doctrine.
First of all, there are more than two sides to any issue.
Second, if I have a media program, why in the hell should I be forced to present anyone's opinion if I don't want to?
Yeah, this board is eating comments worse then haloscan ever dreamed.
Anyone against the Fairness Doctrine needs their pants sued off when the purport false information. Especially when that info is used by other select groups to loot American treasure.
I guess if I can't comment here, then there si no need for me to even visit this site.
If my comments keep being eaten, I'll just stop logging in.
Spelling error:
"there should be an opportunity", not "their"
Corporatist and War Profiteer! She's only on because the LIEberDEMs will destroy the bill before the repugs put a 'hold' on it in the Senate.
No credibility yet!
Liberal AND Proud @ 17:
+++++++++++++++++++++
Clinton actually signed away a few things himself and paved the way for Ken Starr to be the only thing in the media. newt gingrich helped murdoch monopolize media nation-wide. prior to that, no foreigner would be allowed to own multiple media in any location.
Clinton's part in this should NOT be overlooked
gingrich's part should NOT be overlooked
And remember that Clinton signed Gingrich's bill.
That was an amazing admission from Trent Lott. He said, "(the problem with the immigration bill debate) is that talk radio defined it without *us* explaining the reasons for it and the good things that were in it."
In other words, they typically have a top-down process, where the party leaders decide on policy, then make the official opinion known to radio hosts, who tell their idiot conservative listeners what to think.
But the immigration bill was impossible to sell this way, for a number of reasons. There's just no way the GOP radio propgandists could ever get their crowds to swallow that pill, so they didn't try. They covered their own asses and sided against the party leaders.
I mean, we've heard this excuse a thoudand times in the last 6 years; "we haven't explained it correctly" is another way of saying, "our propaganda didn't work".
Talk radio is unfortunately market driven. Mostly on AM band with older listeners set in their ways- real conservatives who see the world spinning out of their control, wishing somebody could put those pesky genies back in the bottle, like the Taliban. Their guns substitute for their shrunken organs. Look at the repeated failure of Air America to gain an audience. Their adherents have moved on to more modern media, like what you're reading now.
The fairness Doctrine needs to be in use however, intelligent people read and therefore, there will always be a Majority spewing on the airwaves! Nobody with half a brain needs someone to tell them how/what to think. Only those who give up their ability to think can stomach it.
Get Tough @ 18:
==============================
that was already tried. Fux won the lawsuit. The word INFOTAINMENT comes to mind.
the horror...
I find it strange that the very same people who argue for teaching intelligent design in public school under the banner of, "Hey, we want kids to hear BOTH SIDES of the argument," have such a hard time applying that philosophy to talk radio.
The media broadcasts and prints propaganda, knowingly. Many articles they don't fact check. Other articles they actually rewrite, to get the message out that they want to send. It is pure propaganda.
mr.ed @ 22:
========================
not true at all! have a look! Ed Schultz naile it right here!
It's not a coincidence that the Repubs repealed the Fairness Doctirne, then Right Wing Hate Speech Radio appeared immediately thereafter.
The Big Races
The Soviet manned space program is alive and well under Russian management, and now offers first-ever space charters. The Americans have been hitching rides on the Soyuz while their remaining spaceships sit in the shop.
The arms race has not produced a clear winner, and that is excellent news, because Mutual Assured Destruction remains in effect. Russia still has more nuclear warheads than the US, and has supersonic cruise missile technology that can penetrate any missile shield, especially a nonexistent one.
The Jails Race once showed the Soviets with a decisive lead, thanks to their innovative GULAG program. But they gradually fell behind, and in the end the Jails Race has been won by the Americans, with the highest percentage of people in jail ever.
The Hated Evil Empire Race is also finally being won by the Americans. It's easy now that they don't have anyone to compete against.
Clinton's part in this should NOT be overlooked
gingrich's part should NOT be overlooked
And remember that Clinton signed Gingrich's bill.
I do not disagree. I have many problems with the Cllinton Administration, this being one of the biggest.
The best quote said about Bill Clinton is that he was "the best Republican President in the last twenty years".
Don't we need the fairness doctrine on TV Network News Broadcasts and on NPR (National Public Radio)?
baby jesus gets vertigo looking at this sea of yellow bars
OxyCon @ 28:
Why do you think it took off? Big media didn't have to provide a Progressive alternative. They could put as much right-wing hate on the radio as they wanted. Philly is one of the bluest cities in the country, yet we've never had an Air America affiliate here. How messed up is that?
The Fairness Doctrine would not apply to TV Newtork News (ABC, NBC, CBS) or to National Public Radio, because in those cases they are broadcasting news.
Betsy, are you saying that the newtork news or NPR is or is not broadcasting a leftist position?
I'd love to see the fairness doctrine back
"fairness" is not having someone lie on the air...we need to bring back real fairness and crediblity
Ate my post! =(
Newtork News just like NPR is free from opinion. It is pure objective news. It is not one sided. It just so happens that the liberal view is the correct view of the news, and you can't blame the TV Networks or NPR for that.
On the other hand, right wing radio is just opinion. If they would just say it is opinion and nothing more, that would be OK. But the right wing radio, or at least their lsiteners, think it is news.
The Archfiend @ 25:
intelligent design is not "the other side of the argument"
:)
Science is imperical (sp) and intelligent design requires faith...they are not comparable (IMO)
The American way of dealing with dissent and protest is the most advanced. Why imprison dissidents when you can just let them shout into the wind to their heart's content?
I think the fact that conservative radio dominates the airwaves actually answers the question in the previous story. How could so many americans still believe, even more than before, that Saddam Hussein was involved in 9/11? Hmmm, maybe right-wing radio perpetuating this myth?
Science is imperical (sp) and intelligent design requires faith…they are not comparable (IMO)
Science is empirical, deterministic and materialistic, but one thing it isn't is a faith.
If theologians had their version of the Piltdown man, would they ever admit it?
The answer my friend is blowing in the wind.
Later
The Fairness Doctrine would not apply to TV Newtork News (ABC, NBC, CBS) or to National Public Radio, because in those cases they are broadcasting news.
Quote This Comment June 25th, 2007 at 8:32 AM - PDT
Actually, those are the ONLY ones the Fairness Doctrine would apply to since the big three are broadcast stations that are seen legally as forcing their way into a home, whereas cable or satellite you have to order specifically, and can even determine what channels you get. PBS gets funding from the NEA, a government entity, and so has to answer to a certain degree to the government.
Local unaffiliated stations have to get FCC licenses and swear to serve the public (so do those affiliated with major networks.)
Therefore cable and satellite can be a free-for-all, but more traditional broadcast venues can and are regulated.
Even in the most factual news broadcast, a tilt can form on which "experts" they interview on air.
Corporations hire people to fit their agenda, period. Yes men and women; they don't have to hire anyone who opposes their position and when mistakes are made they fire the "non-Team player".
Team with one mind and one goal, that of the Team Leader.
Just like Cheney runs his office in the White House.
One slight error - Trent Lott said talk radio is "running" America, not "ruining" America as quoted in the main post. I doubt his sincerity in taking action using the Fairness Doctrine in the least.
Dr. Matt Says he doesn't like this new format.
I agree with Dr. Matt. What's with this new format?
I like it. :)
I miss my gravatar. :(
"Look at the repeated failure of Air America to gain an audience. Their adherents have moved on to more modern media, like what you’re reading now."
Or could it be that the "adherents" never existed in the first place?
"I remember when their was a fairness doctrine..."
Democrats are generally viewed as the party who is a bit more intellectual.
I am amazed at other's comments, regularly making grammatical errors, syntactical errors, etc. "Their" should be spelled "there." People regularly substitute the word "loose" for "lose" and "its" for "it's." The number of such examples is almost limitless, and while those with English as a second language have a valid excuse, a spell and grammar check, or a proofread of one's posts, makes a difference. When people post comments filled with spelling mistakes that are clearly not just typos, credibility suffers. It makes people look dumb. When it appears in a blog, doubly so is the mistake.
Eric B. @ 58:
http://redwing.hutman.net/%7Emreed/warriorshtm/grammarian.htm
"Grammarian usually has little to contribute to a discussion and possesses few effective weapons. To compensate, he will point out minor errors in spelling and grammar. Because of Grammarian's obvious weakness most Warriors ignore him."
I agree. I am a Grammarian too. But on the inside more and more.
Its not just the Fairness doctrine that needs to be revived...
More importantly its the anti-trust act to prevent super media conglomerates from controlling all of the news that we get.
Case in point is Ruppert Murdoch and FOX and his attempts to buy the WS Journal. He makes no bones about it... he has an agenda and he enforces it on his news outlets.
That is dangerous in the extreme and destroys any notion of a "free press."
mr.ed @ 27:
No... They lost us after showing time and time again that they were not really liberal..
Just DLC...
Then proved it by fireing all the hosts that criticized the DLC.. or *gasp* Israel...
They lost me when they fired Mike Malloy...
Fuck AAR...
And you watch... Clinton (Hillary) will get the same kind of support of AAR...
I honestly do not know a single real human being that is excited to even vote... and not one of them is even slightly interested in voting for her...or anyone else for that matter..
And as for Fienstien?... please she is so out of touch, and has been since she was mayor of San fran
C&L get derailed today?
I say bring back the FAIRNESS doctrine and vote each year to continue the oversight.
Here is the definitive article on the Fairness Doctrine:
Fairness Doctrine
We need a 'Truth In Media' Doctrine. Those that want to play the news or politics game have to be made to tell the truth or face fines or removal from the air. Amazing that a station or broadcaster can be fined for saying a four-letter potty word on the air yet if that broadcaster spreads hatespeech or lies about other Americans that's okay.
When the repeal of the Fairness Doctrine slipped through, AM radio was at its absolute lowest ebb. No one really cared about it, and no one could have anticipated the--ahem, "renaiassance." Democrats in 1982 didn't care any more about AM radilo that Republicans did, and they got totally rolled on it.
Still there's a case to be made about reviving the FD. The average Joe can start a newspaper or website, but if he turns on a radio station, he'll get a nice visit from the FCC.
But the public doesn't quite grasp that---and the Dems haven't shown much skill in explaining it (surprise)
I'm not sure I like the spell checker. I always loved it when a misspelled word changed the meaning of a comment. I'd springboard jokes with them.
Do Witches use Spell-Checker?
How many people listen to talk radio? I haven't listened to radio in, well, so long I can't even remember. It drives me insane with all the chattering heads, bad music and crappy ads.
What a fish-lipped sleazy turd Chris Wallace is... And Sens. Lott and Feinstein should be in JAIL!!! WAR CRIMINALS!!!
Why should they be? They should be thrilled! According to them, and your everyday troll, we have a very liberal media. Their argument should be for the fairness doctrine.
Oops, sorry. Forgot. These are the black is white and up is down folks.
Fairness Doctrine, ha, ha, ha, what are you people, some sort of dreamers?
When has this country ever been fair. We get taxed with an illegal personal income tax; we have our money controlled by foreigners running the private Fed Res Bank, we get taken to war under false flag issues, our unions are busted and a sham; school books are re-writing history, and by comparison to other countries we are fat, dumb, and over-breeding...and you want what, to be able to cry about stuff.
Grow up. Only 100,000 of us nation wide marched against the war weeks ago. Fairness isn't something to ask for, it should be demanded with riots in the street if necessary.
Radio stations are licensed by the FCC because of bandwith limitations(there is a finite number of radio frequencies) and monopoly concerns. Therefore, the issue of "marketplace" is irrelevant in regards to radio, but was trumped up as relevant by large media corporations under the guise of Reaganism. The simple-minded Wallace and too genteel Feinstein skirted the real issue that our radio is not Free Press, has never been and never will, nor, in my opinion, should be. Broadcast licenses are not a right, but a PRIVILEGE just like your driver's license. Revive the Fairness Doctrine.
The Slow Drain Of Democratic Advantages
These are some slick Republicans. The immigration issue is the last bastion of hope for the demise of the Democratic advantages heading into the next election. No matter what the polls say, the Republicans speak LOUDLY to compensate for the lack of actual support on this bill to put immigrants in jail and build fences to keep them out, as if this is what the true majority wants. It's not what the majority wants.
The majority favors a transition to citizenship. Dian Feinstein' "middle of the road" approach is too far to the right and her efforts amounts to a "mines" then "yours" bill. It will not work because the Democrats will give up too much to get the bill passed. Meanwhile, the Republicans sit by with a smile on their faces because they have found a way to make the Democrats throw away the Latin vote.
As far as the fairness doctrine goes, its return if far overdue. The way I see it the media is 3/4 right-winged with strong biases to creating news instead of reporting it. To see the likes of Fox, MSNBC and CNN reassign meaning to a bill before it has been given a chance to be explained by its creators is a exercise in dysfunctional problem solving.
Iraq is the main issue not immigration. The longer the Democrats dwell in this shit about building a fence the more they loose critical blocks of support for the next election. Don't be fooled by the hype.
Joseph
Today all the right wing lunatics on the air waves were up in arms about the Senators comments and right she was.
They have been all over our air waves carring nothing but Lie's and distortions of fact and they are the clear reason that many people still think their are weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and that Bush is not the liar he has proven to be.
And while they are carring all this crap, our young people are dying by the hundreds and thousands. But why the hell would any of them care because their kids are at home with them as Mr. Hannety claims to have just purchased
a brand new boat for he and his son to go sailing, while the dad's of all the murdered troops he covers up the real story of their deaths are waving American flags and sporting support the rest of the troop decals on their cars and remembering those good old days.
Mr. Rush Limbaugh, spent his morning arguing with family members of illegal immigrants and charging them with supporting the Democratic ticket so they can take advantage of welfare and all the amenities that the democratic party will offer them. He admits that being the reason the republicans want to get rid of them because they like most all well thinking Americans will not swallow the bull shit coming from the right wing liars. Smart people they are.
I spent an hour with Shaun's ass and an hour with Mr Rush's equally big ass, and ran out of Pepito bis mo and had to shut them down for air.
They claim they are all over the air waves because they are the ones every body wants to hear and they were serious too.
Shaun Hannity claims he does not force anyone to listen to him, they just freely come because he is so entertaining and he even got a so called Democrat to confirm it. I can't think of the fools name, but he now works for fox news and continues to claim the title of democrat.
This is the number one reason for Democrat officials to not go on Fox News or for that matter any of the rest of them that continue to lie and distort information and shut the opposing opinion down to keep their viewers from hearing any kind of truth. It is just fruitless and a waste of time, and they want to purchaise you and get you on contract to silence you of truth.
All of a sudden the opinions you used to have, you don't anymore and it is the same with James Carvel and I'm sorry to say many Black Americans that are just baught and paid for not realizing the after effects of this conduct, will be with them for years to come, as well as hurt millions of other people of color as well as jeportizing the well being of their own kids..
They continue to claim no one wants to hear Air America or any of the liberal stations and there are millions and millions of us that know that is a joke. Never mind that 80% of the good American people disagree with right wing policies, they continue to lie and fabragate the truth as we all know it..
These comments are coming from the right wing freaks that stand to lose everything, when faced with the reality of having progressive media to contend with, and you can just hear the fear in all of their nasty corrupt, lying ass mouths, and yet they get to make the decision of what American people want to hear in our media.
This kind of crap is all the reason necessary for FCC to comply with the laws and regulate our media so that we are privy to a verity of opinions.
American people need to make the decision of who we want to listen to, instead of these freaks that dominate the air waves already.
Mr. Hannity continues to holler about his freedom of speach , while he freely disreguards our rights to have freedom to hear what we want to hear as he knows it will not include him or Rush.
It would be refreshing to see a "left-wing" blog present an intelligent argument instead of just the typical name calling. In reading through several of these posts, it's pretty apparent that a number of you don't understand how free speech works. There have been "left-wing" talk radio shows (Air America anybody?) but they tank because they suck and don't have anything new or different to talk about. The only thing the left has been fixated on for the last 30 years is big oil, abortion, and screwing the rich. I've never listened to a left-wing talk radio show (or a conservative talk show for that matter) where the liberals can refrain from name calling and hanging up when their point of view is trumped by an intelligent argument. If you can't beat 'em, then lets shut them down and take away their programming under some false pretense called the "fairness doctrine". How come fair speech only applies to the liberal press but not to anybody else? So, answer me this. If we are going to revive this so called fairness doctrine, are we going to see Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly on the nightly news to present their opposing point of views? Boy, that would chap the liberals hide wouldn't it? Maybe you ought to think before you act for a change and stop spouting garbage about issues that you apparently have no understanding of.
Oh, and reading the comments from Reda StCyr..."they have been all over OUR airwaves." Since when does the Democrat party or those with liberal views own the airwaves? If I recall, in this wonderful country we live in, you have a thing called a choice. I know the liberals want communist (sorry, government) rule. My car radio has 12 presets on it. I don't HAVE to listen to Conservative talk radio, just like I don't read the newspaper or watch the mainstream nightly news...because I have a choice. Just because your views don't jive with other peoples views, it doesn't give you the right to squash them. You, Reda, are nothing but a hypocrite. Why don't you brush up on your American history and refresh yourself about what makes this country great. It's because we have democracy and choice, not one party or government rule (as much as you would like that). We fought a little war a couple of hundred years ago called the Revolutionary War (you may have heard of it) because we did not like being oppressed.
The so called "fairness doctrine" wasn't fair or beneficial prior to it's repeal in 1987 and in today's media landscape it is even more archaic. I do some consulting with the NAB on media issues and have been following this debate.
First, the doctrine only applied to broadcasters, an idea that doesn't make any sense in today's expanded media marketplace. It's not just three network TV and radio stations that people utilize for news and information. There has been tremendous growth in options, particularly online with the growing utilization of citizen journalism, social networking, blogs, message boards, etc.
Additionally, the FCC found that the doctrine actually led to less debate of important and controversial topics. Broadcasters sought to avoid discussing these issues for fear they would receive complaints that all sides of an issue hadn't been covered. Local broadcasters understand they must provide quality and relevant programming on our radio and TV stations and tailor programming to the needs of the local community. A one-size-fits-all federal mandate such as the fairness doctrine is unnecessary and obsolete.
I have no problem with the fairness doctrine for talk radio - as long as the same applies to print media (bye-bye L.A. and N.Y. Times), to institutions of higher learning (lots of liberal professors will get sacked), and to TV and movies (with Hollywood overwhelmingly liberal, you can't deny that their political views makes it into every production, can you? Think "West Wing").
Fair Dude @ 78:
The FCC has no control over print media. Print media does not operate over gov't property.
And the LA times and NYT are not, what I am guessing, you think to be liberal.
And the West Wing is entertainment, not news. Talk radio misrepresents facts with impunity.
Your argument is totally specious and without merit.
You wouldn't understand merit if it hit you in the face. You pick apart things literally which shows you don't get the point - that liberalism is widespread, weaved into the fabric of our society, so that it seems normal. Case in point - Dianne Feinstein and her conflict of interest involving military contracts awarded to her husband's firms which caused her to resign from MILCON - but only 6 years of serving as Chairperson. Didn't hear about this scandal? You would have had she been a Republican.
The fact that you think either the L.A. or N.Y. Times is not skewed to the left shows that either you don't read either paper, or your judgement is clouded by your own liberal viewpoint.
Gee, West Wing is entertainment, not news? Thanks for letting me know.
Leave it to "Margaret Thatcher" Feinstein to look into reviving the Fairness Doctrine. That's just what we need: another government babysitter telling us what we are and are not allowed to say on public radio waves.
"The topic for this hour: 'Is shoveling poor people into ovens good for America?' The government-mandated fair and balanced debate of this pressing economic issue coming up after the break."
Nanny-State Television Censorship, Season 7
On the heels of the latest victory of the First Amendment over the nanny-state censor wannabes at the FCC comes word of
Why is it that libs can't succeed on talk radio?? Because most Americans disagree with the socialist propaganda they spout. Anytime you libs can't get your way (because no one with an ounce of common sense supports liberal, socialist, wacko bologne) you try to legislate from the bench and usurp the will of the people. I think libs are bunch of cry baby whiners who should move to Europe where you belong.
I am amazed at some of the arguments put forth by the liberals on this forum. Talk radio is not forced down anyone's throat. We all have the choice to listen to what we prefer. Few would argue that talk radio is a source of unbiased news. The talk show hosts themselves often state that they are offering their opinion. However, the major broadcast networks, along with the NY Times and LA Times claim to be providing news, yet are clearly biased. Additionally, NPR, which I am forced to support through my taxes, (regardless of its endowment from liberal sponsors) rarely offers a viewpoint or "news" that isn't littered with left-leaning comments.
And yet I take in views of the other side, as do many conservatives, by seeking out liberal forums like this one and listening to the "news" on the major networks. Most people (including conservatives) are far more intelligent than many of the above posts give them credit for. I understand that leftist thinking might lead one to believe that the government needs to step in and help people think, but the fact of the matter is, most people know that there are opinions being slipped in to all the news reports. And most know to take it with a grain of salt. Clearly I am not the only one who wanted to make sure he knew both sides of this particular issue before fully developing his opinion. A few of the most recent posts were made by people who see the how ridiculous the idea of returning to government control of the radio would be. Besides the obvious attack on free speech that is inherent to such control, the "fairness" of this doctrine will be dictated by those who are charged with enforcing it. Do those of you on the left not realize that this could just as easily go the opposite way, with a largely right wing government controlling the airwaves? Read up on Hugo Chavez's control of his media.
How about a better solution? How about we leave the free market, free speech system alone, and if you want to soak yourself solely in liberal talk and liberal biased media, it's your God-given (and government-given...do those of you on the left differentiate the two?) right to do so, and if I want to hear a few different sides, even at the cost of reading hateful attacks on all those who share my views, then it's my right as well.
We're all better off when we have access to all the information. Instead of trying to shut down the voices you don't want to hear by government control, get out and make your own voice heard with well-formed arguments, based on a variety of sources...you may find out that you don't actually have that much to argue about.
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