Despite McClellan criticism, network anchors still refuse to re-evaluate their own complicity
By SilentPatriot Tuesday May 27, 2008 7:10pm
Although Scott McClellan's memoir is chock full of juicy bits about George Bush, Karl Rove, Scooter Libby and the myriad pre-war lies the White House force-fed America, perhaps the most important (and most overlooked) critique McClellan levels is aimed squarely at the "liberal media" and how they acted as "deferential, complicit enablers" of the administration's "propaganda" leading up to the war. On the TODAY show this morning, Matt Lauer asked "the big three" -- Charlie Gibson, Brian Williams and Katie Couric -- whether they thought McClellan was accurate in his criticism of the press. Their answers are revealing to say the least:
Gibson: "I'm not sure we would have asked anything differently [if given an opportunity to do it again.]"
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To her credit, Couric admits that mistakes were made and that she could have done a better job vetting the administration's claims; although she also admitted that the White House threatened to cut off her access after she filed critical reports. But Gibson and Williams (along with, one would assume, the majority of the elite press) simply lack the ability to recognize that they were duped, and that they thus duped their viewers. Indeed, as Glenn documents in a lengthy post today:
"This is why most establishment journalists will never be convinced that they failed to do their job, no matter how much evidence is presented: because of the understanding they have of what 'their job' actually is."
For a comprehensive breakdown of just how laughable the Gibson/Williams defense is, be sure to read Glenn's post in its entirety.
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What do they care, their tax bill went down.
she also admitted that the White House threatened to cut off her access after she filed critical reports
So submitting to social blackmail is what passes for journalism these days? In my day, she would have "published and be damned" and then commented on that as well.
Wimp.
How about giving the millions in the street more media coverage rather than ridiculing them as naive?
Just a bunch of liars making excuses. They would only repeat White House talking points and ignored and marginalized anyone who disagreed.
The Trillion Dollar, (One 7th of the GDP), Corporate Media in the USA is a private enterprise that exists solely to generate profits.
Their "job" has nothing to do with reporting 'the truth' to the American People.
The sooner people realize this the easier things will be.
~Nyc
What imbeciles. Gibson with his comment of 'It's not our job to debate,...' Oh, it's not? Just do what your told, no matter how much you are lied to? And Williams talking about how Bush had a blank check to spend & all that approval,... yeah, & what did he do with it? He literally could've united the world after 9/11, & he pissed it all away cheap so Cheney's Halliburton stock could grow 5000% a year.
I do not understand why people are not rioting in this country.
The White House would have cut off access. No corporate-controlled media oligarchy can afford to go to battle with the White House in the 21st-century, not when said White House can favor competitors who are willing to play its games, and not when the White House controls the media via the FCC and its own influence with the advertisers the media need for survival.
So...the oversight function historically expected from the mainstream media is forfeit.
Have we learned anything new here? Not really.
Actually, heavy handed media manipulation such as banning and cutting off a reporter and even a network was fairly well documented early in this administration, so Couric's account passes my bullshit test.
Charles Gibson is a pompous ass.His arrogance is palpable.
Fuck You Charlie!!! If you would ask any different questions if given the opportunity again then you should quit your job and go to work for McDonald's or something, because that statement is proof the even you know you are a worthless hack!
God I hate these people! What happened to America...did Reagan and his gang really screw us up that much?
it makes me weep.
Cowards, the bunch of them. Some media we have. You could tell "the big three" that the sky is blue and they would shy away from the statement or say "we need more information before confirming..."
Oh and Scotty, he said all this AFTER he left the House. Where was his bravado before? Didn't see it when he was collecting those checks.
IMPEACHIMPY.
Funny thing is, one of my favorite Sublime songs has the same title as Scotty's book.
Wonder if he listened to it while writing the book?
~Nyc
After 5 years, its really just come down to a few words for all 5 of them:
FUCK YOU Matt Lauer
FUCK YOU Katie Couric
FUCK YOU Brian Jennings
FUCK YOU Charlie Gibson
FUCK YOU nameless brunette whore
We'll never trust any of you again.
Well, at least Couric admitted she was threatened(spell check, go figure). That says a lot in and of it self.
These people in the media today really sicken me. If you're doing a job and doing it right, you don't let someone threaten you into failure. Do cops back down from giving you a ticket? Is a clerk going to back down if you pay them the wrong amount? So what the hell is wrong with these reporters they can't even do the basics of their job without the "but they threatened me" bull. They're not professionals, not even adults, if they are this vulnerable.
maybe it's just me, but I'm sensing some serious hostility here tonight.
BOYCOTT THE MEDIA!!
But, listen, let's review the rules. Here's how it works. The President makes decisions. He's the decider. The press secretary announces those decisions, and you people of the press type those decisions down. Make, announce, type. Just put 'em through a spell check and go home. Get to know your family again. Make love to your wife. Write that novel you got kicking around in your head. You know, the one about the intrepid Washington reporter with the courage to stand up to the administration? You know, fiction! ---Stephen Colbert (bless your balls)
Why are people believing any of these liars? So, liar Scotty comes out with a book. BFD. The rest went right along with it.
I refuse to listen to a single word these three bobble-heads have to say.
Was McClellan accurate in his criticism of the press? Their only truthful response can be:
"We made lots of money doing what we did, and that's the only thing we care about. We got ours."
The only thing that surprises me about any of this is the fact that such a shitty product can continue to be gobbled up by the masses.
The Daily Show is going to have a hootenanny with this one
mudshark hussein @ 16:
Mudsharks have special hostility sensors along their nose.
Highlight of the video, at the very end.
Charlie Gipson says to the Today show host (woman): "It's your show, kiddo" (translation= "I am a male chauvinist ahole")
And of course Katie couldn't possibly go on nation-wide TV and say:
"The administration has threatened this station with retaliation and restricted access if we tell the story truthfully. These elected officials don't want the public to know what they are doing, in our names. Let the administration know what you think of their threats. Call this number..."
God what a bunch of craven cowards. If the Bush administration threatened access to CBS if they didn't like the questions they were being asked, why in hell didn't they report this as the lead story on the 6 o'clock news..
And they're not just cowardly , they're liars. Who in their right mind would not ask questions about why we wanted to go to war with Iraq when we're supposed to be fighting Al Qaeda? Support for the war by the public was not overwhelming initially.
Remember that these people were culpable for hiring military analysts who they knew were pentagon propogandists. They have more guilt than most for the Iraqi mess that has killed and maimed so many people. They were wrong and it's galling that they won't face up to the tragedy that they helped cause.
fuck all these hacks...not one has credibility
take a look at the gaggle that hang with mcshouldbedeadcuzhesolderthandirt...and feed the fucker donuts
what questions??? why didnt they report that the wh and the pentagon were strong arming them
they were afraid to be called unpatriotic??? what kind of 3 column are they?
all these fucks care about is looking good on the tube, cashing their multimillion dollar paychecks and taking nice vacations on the riviera
this is why i no longer watch network news
That's because charley gibson...the pathetic debate host...and brian williams are nothing but administration shills.
I love it when they say "doh...we didn't know"..."we were duped..."...all these other dumb ass, lame excuses. They our the PRESS...our only source of info in this country, and they let us down. They are STILL letting us down.
Pathetic. Once the light is on them, they cower and cry "uncle", "....it's his fault" bull shit. Haven't we been telling the dumb asses for years now? NO EXCUSE. Our big press is deplorable. There is no excuse for their poor performance. They owe this country a HUGE apology, and they need to step down. They have NO credibility it my book.....NONE!!
e.g.: Dan Rather
While Mctell’em is the traitor du jour, it is worth remembering that it took a village of traitorous assholes in and out of the administration to a foster this nincompoop on the American people. Here is a sample of tinpot’s genius from David Letterman.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxRQuCreIKg&eurl=http://miaculpa.blogspot...
The ‘liberal media’ let howlers like this go by without more than a little chuckle, after all, who needs a smart president? Not them. They didn’t need any brains to do their jobs and being preznit couldn’t be all that much harder. Gov’mint, what was there to understand? No doubt, it made a lot of them feel good that they could actually think of themselves as a little smarter than tinpot. That way they could indulge him his little malaprops, his mental meanderings, his obvious falsehoods. Patronizing power, of course, comes with a responsibility to protect power. And that responsibility they carried out well.
Um gonna lob you a softball...and you hit it back to me, m'Kay?
As he showed in the last Democratic debate, Charles Gibson is a pompous, arrogant, condesending, elitist ass. He'll NEVER admit a mistake.
One Year Wonder @ 13:
Well I'm willing to give the nameless brunette whore another chance..
Hulk @ 28:
I feel your rage.
Let's hope that Telecommunication Act of 1996 can be reversed, and the corporate media monopolies BUSTED.
Watching David Gregory on Hardball was laughable. He is as much to blame as Bush they all are for not doing their work and digging for answers
listen most of you bought the package ,all the way up to this election, you let them herd you away from kucinich and edwards , and sicked you on to clinton and obama ,didnt you notice the news whores keeping the cameras off the politicians they didnt want you to vote for? didnt you see the news pimps keep focusing only on clinton and obama? did you think they did that because they loved you? you were snookered, led like a good little sheep flock!
Hulk @ 28:
What good is an 'apology' from a bunch of liars? It's an empty gesture.
pleaae note the anchors appeared together to kick off the anti cancer campaign..which was oversadowed by Scottie's book launch.
let's give the co-conspirators an opportunity to explain their actions with a day in court.
As Woodward and Bernstein demonstrated, there's more to journalism than press conferences.
Why all the righteous indignation at this stage of the game? We have been, are being, will be, spoonfed by the MSM for years. No revelation. When was the last time in the past three weeks you have seen a report coming out of Iraq? You haven't. The press is one big bucket of lard all in cohoots about the presidential race. Nothing else matters. It dominates 24/7. Any real, hard news surrounding rising gas and food prices? Not much. And when Couric tells us that her press access might have been cut off, that tells the whole story in a nutshell.
If these spineless creatures, passing themselves off as journalists and reporters, got together and demanded accountability, even if it meant walking out of the press room en masse, we may would start to feel as if we counted. We don't. And as long as they come to love their overblown salaries and the possibility of rubbing shoulders with those they supposedly cover, then nothing changes.
Do you think they are going to admit that they were taken for the idiots that they are? They have learned from Bush - keep to the script and let the people think whatever they want. These jerks will never admit that the Bushies had them.
Every college in these United States offering a degree in Journalism should immediately have its accreditation called into question. Perhaps a more appropriate title to place upon the diplomas of these graduates might be "Bachelor of Arts in Punditry and Sycophancy." It would be more accurate.
What a mess we've made of ourselves.
This is why I stopped watching TV news and started going online and to the blogs for information...this and grandma's cat stuck in a tree as the lead story on the local news.
I've said it before and I'll say it again.
the internet is awesome, and our society could be so much awesome-r if used correctly. lightning-fast transmission of data to millions of readers, real time, unfiltered, uncensored...
and what are we doing with it? lolcats. myspace. facebook. rickrolls. and what have you.
its like - its like living in Italy in an era of unprecedented quantity and quality of olive and tomato crop yields... and the citizens using the crops to engage each other in a wacky food fight rather than feeding the downtrodden.
its like that. news anchors regurgitating political talking points, then guerilla marketing each other hip new mp3-sharing websites, or what have you.
history - our children, and grandchildren - are not going to look back kindly on this generation. no offense to the bloggers writing the articles on C&L, or the posters responding. but lets face it. we're a minority. we live, and thrive, within a cesspool of uneducated, self-serving douchebags... with such great potential sitting idly next to all of us.
*sigh*... - Katie Couric shouldn't even be at the status she's at. she's just pretty. thats all she provides, a pretty face delivering sugar-coated heavily-censored bad news. not unlike Dana Perino. Charles Gibson is a young baby boomer outside his intellectual jurisdiction when it comes to web 2.0 shit. Brian Williams looks like the kinda guy who'd put a roofie in a sororstitute's drink. of course they caved to pressure... thats why they got promoted in the first place.
Thank God for Helen Thomas, one of the few remaining "real journalists"
I don't buy that "mistakes were made" bullshit coming out of some of the more prominent members of the Corporate -owned, members in good standing of the Beltway Village media. We on the Left were saying FROM DAY 1 that invading Iraq was a mistake; that the WMD rationale was horseshit, but what did we get from the Mainstream Media? We got Tweety gushing over Bush's manly flightsuit to a degree that was embarassing. We got "journalists" from CNN practically having orgasms while reporting about 'SHOCK AND AWE!" "SHOCK AND AWE!" "NAVY SEALS ROCK!!". Those who questioned the war were called traitors and defeatists. Now that Simple Scotty is trying to rehabilitate his reputation while throwing a large number of his colleagues under the bus, we're supposed to buy this line that "Well, ya know, that George Bush he sure did tell us a whopper didn't he?" Sorry. but I'm not buying it, not from any of the warmongers and propagandists.
That practically made me throw up.
Brian Williams basically said he had to be in New Orleans, with bodies floating by, to be able to see the truth. What a fucking idiot.
All of them are idiots. Self-serving, pampered, ratings- and career-obsessed idiots.
And lets not forget, RICH idiots. Every one of the so-called journalists on that clip makes at least a couple of million bucks a year (little Katie Couric makes about $10 mill). They're set for life. They live in spectacular houses, have personal assistants and staff to attend to them, they never have to worry about health insurance, recession, or the price of gas. Their kids all go to private schools. They have fat pensions for when they get too wrinkly to sit on camera any more. They're stars - what the fuck do they care about journalistic integrity? About holding the elected representatives of the people accountable?
They're not Murrow or Cronkite or Helen Thomas (the last one left with any spine at all), they're just the filler between the Preparation H commercials.
Every one of these media darlings rides to work every day in a chauffeured town car. When was the last time Matt Lauer or Katie Couric even shopped at a supermarket? Years, I bet.
They're bubble dwellers, just like Bush. Nothing they say means anything.
It's a surreal self evaluation that's going on amongst the press right now. They've gotten it so wrong for so long, that they are all circling the wagons and INSISTING that they did the best job they could have with the information available to them. (sound familiar?) Point is, as all of us are painfully aware, they did not to their jobs and pissed their pants at the thought of not having "access" to this administration.
Rico @ 43:
I would like to know how many of these clowns have a degree in Journalism? I would bet most of the talking heads don't.
"[Couric]...also admitted that the White House threatened to cut off her access after she filed critical reports."
Wouldn't that have been a MUCH better story than the Augean Stable amount of horseshit she's been shoveling instead.
"I'd like to tell you what the WH has to say about this, but since I gave as unbiased report as I was able on their previous dealings which THEY considered less than flattering, they will not speak to me anymore. Our President apparently wants to direct they way we present the news to you, as if we were his press office."
Points missed, Katie. Too bad. You were murder when you ambushed 41 while Bar was giving you the WH tour.
they are just proving that they believe their audience is absofuckinglutely stoopid!
Annoyed Canuck @ 48:
BRAVO, AC! BRAVO! I couldn't have said that better myself.
I noticed that this morning watching a few minutes of MSNBC's Morning Joe (or whatever it's called). All three were ready to impugn Scott McClellan and question his motivation. None of these MSM people want to admit their own complicity in all the Bush wrong doings. It's just amazing and pathetic. I've lost all respect for the MSM news. What's worse is that despite everything, they still haven't gotten any better. Frankly, I'm grateful that Scott is stepping forward. It takes guts to go up against this administration. I think he's actually a decent guy that got swept up in their deceit. I'm sure he was kept in the dark on many issues, and it took some time to recognize and accept what was going on around him. They used him to go out there and spread their lies. George Bush could commit a despicable crime on camera in front of their eyes, and they'd still refuse to hold him accountable.
Yeah let's let the MSM evaluate the job the MSM did in the buildup to war. And let's let filmmakers review their own films in the paper. We all know they'd be objective.
CoIntelPro for Democratic Party Victory @ 52:
Its sad but most of the audience to these shows are stupid.
burnt @ 45:
If prettiness is measured on the inside, then Helen Thomas is the real pin-up girl.
As for Perino: She is such a dog (you know which word I really mean...), her name ought to be spelled Purina.
Did anybody see the contortions that David Gregory went through on Hardball in an attempt to keep any fault form landing in his lap? He damn near pulled a muscle.
The sad truth is that we all know the MSM failed us miserably in the lead up to war. And they have failed us repeatedly since.
That is the very reason that places Crooks and Liars exists. They, and other bloggers, have attempted to fill the void left by our cable and network news programs.
So good for Scott McClellan for FINALLY saying the things that we already knew were true and have just been waiting for somebody close to the White House to confirm it.
miss_kitty @ 51:
Good point miss_kitty. very good point.
I learn more from people I don't even know on C&L then all the tv talking heads put together. Thanks everybody for keeping informed.
If we blame the media (justified) let's not forget who authorized Dubya and Dick's Excellent Adventure, the Congress by signing the War Resolution.
More people than just the Bush Administration deserve the Hague, including a good number of the 2003 Congress.
Watch Tom Brokaw mumble his way through blaming everyone but journalists for this
Gibson proved what an out of touch, lost it, bubble boy, complacent, non-journalist he has become with that UNBELIEVABLY bad performance at the Clinton Obama debate!!!
they are too smart NOT to be complicit.
C Cooper @ 22:
Can they squeeze all this in one hour? The shit that came out of the bobblehead already been compress to last several mini series on this subject alone.
If McCain becomes president they will swoon all over themselves because this is the "Straight Talk Express Maverick".
If Obama becomes president it will be another round of pure silence since they won't want to be labeled "racist" for questioning or critiquing. He will get a pass just like Bush for implying if you are not onboard than you are "unpatriotic".
If Hillary becomes president they will continue the gang mentality and feel they have the right to ask "how is your marriage going these days you stupid, pantswearing bitch?"
Nothing will change. The sheep will bleat just as much than as now.
I think we all know that we lost the 4th estate along time ago. It started with Nixon and has been down hill ever since then. Newspapers around the country don't even have half the reporters they once had. Everything is taken off wire services now which are bought and paid for by a small group of power full people. It is not in the interest for these people to inform the public about what they are really doing. If they had done their job we would not have had 8yrs of bush.
I've been watching the coverage and the conclusion is simple: the media is totally incapable of reporting on their own complicity in this whole affair. Maybe it's time to once again do something that was popular in the 60's: "Tune out and turn on."
The arms bussiness is arming the world agaisnt us, so we all need to keep pressure on our govenors to build up state malitia. This is how every war is lost and thanks to non experience and complicity, of Bush you can be sure we are sacrificial lambs, because they NWO can't afford to lose face.
CoIntelPro for Democratic Party Victory @ 64:
That's right...
I wonder if ...... the networks could be tried as conspirators along with the criminals in the Bush Administration for propagandizing the American People. It is against the law after all and they put all the message force multipliers on the public airwaves.
I'm tired of these lying sons of bitches. Charlie Gibson would do everything the same? Was the German press this compliant?
Shameless propagandist who further the interest of the corporate masters in the interest of the New World Order and money.
we lost Connie Chung to Gingrich interview of the "Bitch" name calling of Clinton,
lost Dan Rather to Bush interview on his missing record of service,
lost Phil Donahue to his rationalizing the movement for peace instead of war,
and we lost Bill O'Reilly brain, but thank god he won the honor award for best stenography in the media.
kevin @ 69:
...that was beautiful!...good post.
lol
What? Who? Us? Complicit in selling the war? Don't be silly.
What? Who? Us? A cover-up? What cover-up? Don't be silly.
Mike Mid City @ 72:
And did Dubya do this alone? Remember the War Powers Act requires Congress to authorize the war. Hang the members of the 2003 Congress that voted for the war, too, the blood is on their hands just as much as on the Chimp's.
Gibson: "... questions were asked."
Me, shouting at the screen: "Yeah, and answers, when the administration gave them, were repeated without any skepticism."
Gibson sounds like such a total fuckwit in this video. He may be some kinda "icon" to some people, but I'd say he's the embodiment of all that is wrong with the news media elite in America. He's out of touch, and he's too cozy with the political elite and business elite.
Bill O'Reilly and Rush Limbaugh definitely fit the description of Tokyo Rose of the Republican party.
Nixon had 225 indicted officials under his administration, and I wonder how many Bush will get?
Aw, don't be too hard on Katie. If she was denied access she would also probably lose that all-important invite to the WH correspondent's dinner. Now who would want to miss out on dinner with Bush, Perez Hilton and Pamela Anderson?
end of snark
This is just pathetic. If they were getting "strong armed" by the bush administration, didn't that give them a clue that something wasn't right? Wouldn't the "insidious pressure" just be another thing to let the American people know about?
i think a lot of this is nonsense.
there were plenty of good, solid questions asked from the media -- they just got stonewalled by the administration (and mclellan himself).
they didn't ask enough of them -- but they asked plenty of them.
These rubber stamp meat puppets are as valuable to democracy as third rate Hollywood junket whores.
Not their job to "debate" the White House? Only to "ask questions"?
Lazy, goose-stepping fucks.
Gibson is a corrupt weenie, pure and simple.
The death and destruction of hundreds of thousands of lives, perhaps millions, lie at the feet of these people called "journalists".
If they had done their job, the Iraq Occupation would never have happened and Bush would have been impeached for trying to wage preemptive war with no justification.
These elitists have the blood and suffering on their hands just as Bush, Cheney, Rice, Powell, etc. have.
They are scum.
The only ones who really stand out are Bill Moyers and Helen Thomas. The rest are just a bunch of bobblehead idiots with a press pass.
to re-evaluate is too much like "investigative" reporting. It would mean thinking and questioning, and that is just not their jobs. As Steven Colbert said, their job is just to take down everything the president says, like stenographers. As a matter of fact that should be their job title stenographer, or better still trained parrot.
Likely the safety of their families and the posh lifestyle their families enjoy were dangled before them. No excuse.
I knew. We knew. Why didn't you --the experts-- know??????? Not buying it Charlie. You failed us.
kevin @ 69:
9/11 did not do that.
Access and Money did it.
Pat J @ 85:
add naomi klein please.
where are the crusading journalists of yesteryear. When they talk of an "understanding" of what their job entails, that is a cop-out of the first degree. It's simply a candy-ass way of saying if did not have the courage to ask and to push for the truth, Helen Thomas not withstanding. So Let's know them for what they are, complicit in the bush dealings and cowards and media whores all. They sold their ethics for their jobs and the thought of a book exposing all "later on."
How anyone can say that the mainstream media is liberal, is beyond me. They are towing the republican line, and its in plain view. The witch hunt of Clinton Lewinsky further proves the media is not left leaning. The idiots of the bible toting war mongering right, cannot fathom why the 6pm new anchor was not clamoring for war against a country that never attacked us, and thus label them as being "liberal media".
Its really sad that the best news programs we have are on the comedy channel.
paranoia @ 65:
it's gonna be funny and mclellan will be on June 2
What I would like to know is WTF happened to Woodward and Bernstein.(chirp)
no longer a proud american @ 91:
you could ask bob schieffer that one.
Annoyed Canuck @ 48:
Your entire comment is excellent, but this one sentence is exceptional!
mudshark @ 94:
you've seen the books. they are celebrities now.
All the "top dogs" of the MSM television circle didn't want to lose their cushy jobs, perks and salaries, so they just toe the company line...which is tantamount to NOT participating in competent, actual journalism.
To the extent that they were NOT fulfilling their duty and professional aptitude as a journalist should bring them all a great deal of shame and does, indeed, make them complicit. If they had one ounce of the journalistic integrity of those investigating Watergate or Vietnam, then perhaps this might have been averted.
But the Congress is even more to blame than the self-important media figures. So, in fact, are the many Americans cwho yelled and screamed obscentities at me and others who protested our ridiculous & completely needless INVASION of Iraq.
But the ONLY criminals that should be sent to jail are those who KNOWINGLY allowed false information to be disseminated to encourage & solidify support for the invasion of Iraq.
CoIntelPro for Democratic Party Victory @ 89:
I am so gratified that I am not alone in this thinking. The Press in this country sucks the big one. I trained as a journalist way back when and now i'm ashamed to say i almost joined that profession. Stick a mich in the grieving mother's face over a lost child and ask her, "can we hear your thoughts on that." That's what the press has evolved into or just as bad is the tell the child a bedtime story voice" of the moderator of the tv series "Dateline, NBC." He has a sing-song voice designed to appeal to all denizens of the thousands of trailer parks across this vast nation. But hell, it's a living and he's getting notoriety and a buck. Edward R would be proud.
David Gregory is the new Jeff Gannon. He has become Rove's boy toy. His arrogance would not allow him to admit to having his tounge implanted on Bush's ass.
Ed Henry...looser
Candy Crowley...worthless
Wolf Blitzer.....part of the pro israeli movement...so wants a war. Wolf hates all muslims
Dana Bash.....worthless....wussie
John King......boderline retarded.
They are all a bunch a wussies and liars.
CoIntelPro for Democratic Party Victory @ 97:
yeah, I know. But I thought if anything this last 7.5 years would've sparked the last of their journalistic integrity, and pushed them to do something. But , NOPE!
Matt @ 92:
that was the cover story. the truth is plainer now than it has been for a while. they are trying to pretend they were duped or coerced. they've been part of it all along, whether or not they wear platinum handcuffs. and others like david gregory et al aspire to that payday.
no longer a proud american @ 99:
I am glad they don't refer to themselves as the fourth estate anymore.
mudshark @ 101:
nope! just rich, fat and happily covering their eyes and ears.
Jack Jett @ 100:
DG has joined the ranks, hasn't he?
CoIntelPro for Democratic Party Victory @ 105:
Jack, this was pretty damn funny.
and Cointel, DG was never in anything but the ranks.
paranoia @ 78:
geez, it would be such a badge of honor to be indicted under this administration. I still look with awe at those in the military who have had the courage to speak out and expose themselves to the wrath that will be thrown their way in the form of "you joined, you knew what you were getting into, you have to follow orders." Blah, blah, blah. those few who have had the courage to disobey are the real heroes of this generation. We need to support them.
Charlie Gibson: I am the world---I am the children...
The same incompetent that laughed as he said "We're losing the audience" at the last Obama/Clinton farce of a debate---screw you pal, and your coward syncophant colleagues who call themselves "journalists." You congratulate yourselves on how great and valuable you are---but all of you are an utter disgrace to your profession. Do us a favor---stop poisoning our airwaves with your arrogant tripe.
World Press Freedom Day in the Eyes & Ears of the Beholder
by Trish Schuh May 29, 2007
Arab American News
UNITED NATIONS- On the annual World Press Freedom Day in May, UNESCO hosted an event for journalists called "Press Freedom, Safety of Journalists and Impunity." Under Article 1 of its Constitution, UNESCO is the only United Nations agency with a mandate to defend freedom of expression and press freedom.
United Nations Correspondent Association President Tuyet J. Nguyen spoke about the life-threatening danger faced by journalists covering such war zones as Rwanda and Iraq where the media is controlled by special interests or armed political parties.
Mr. Georges Malbrunot of France's neocon Le Figaro spoke of newsgathering under various "vicious surveillance" states- all Arab- and starting with Syria. In contrast, Malbrunot's embedding with American forces in Iraq was "not a bad solution", but opened embeddees to paranoid Arab charges of being "a spy...Its one of the major blames addressed to the foreign press today... Of course this blame is 99.9% wrong, but in the minds of these people who suffer from "conspiracy theory" this accusation is serious" and can cost a journalist his life. "There is alot of work to do to convince these groups that the journalist is not a spy." Malbrunot added that it is the work of Muslim Imams, scholars, leaders etc to persuade their Muslim flock of this fact... "Only then will the fate of the global war against terror be dramatically changed."
This writer asked the panel if journalists themselves could ever be partly responsible for such suspicions? Citing CNN's Anderson Cooper, who admitted spending his earlier summers working for the CIA: "Doesn't this kind of moonlighting put other journalists at risk?"
No response from the panel.
Representing half a million media professionals around the world on behalf of the International Federation of Journalists was Judith Matloff, a Professor at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, and a member of the International News Safety Institute. Professor Matloff implored the international community to uphold UN Security Council Resolution 1738 which prohibits the killing and targeting of media, and protects free speech and freedom of the press globally.
In a followup conversation by telephone on May 25, I asked Prof Matloff for her opinion on how UNSCR 1738 applies to Lebanon's Al Manar TV and the LMG communications network- Lebanese media outlets bombed by Israel during the 2006 war, and officially censored as a "terrorist organization" by the US Congress? Regarding this unprecedented, landmark free speech/censorship law- Ivy League academic Matloff said she was "unfamiliar with these situations" and refused to comment on "Middle East issues. "I am an Africa specialist".
But wasn't free speech protected equally around the world under Res 1738? In the Middle East, as well as in Africa? Being a media expert, could she comment on what a law equating the media with "terrorism" could mean for freedom of the press? Concurrent with the repeated bombing of Al Jazeera in Afghanistan and Iraq?
"I never heard of that," Matloff said.
With her credentials- shouldn't she have been familiar with such momentous "situations"?
Or perhaps she could assess how the MSM's advocacy of falsehoods promoted an illegal war in Iraq? "The New York Times has apologized," she said, referring to a full page 'mea culpa ad'. But isn't the NYT repeating the same misleading tactics to promote a next war in Iran?
With this and similar questions, Matloff responded like a true press "pro": avoiding ethical implications, defending her product- the status quo, and referring most opinons to "other supervisors" or experts. Her refrain of "I don't know", "don't remember", "can't comment" captured the essence of a White House Press Briefing.
As a trainer of America's next generation of government "privatized propaganda contractors," (tomorrow's 'Mercenary Press') Matloff diverted the subject, passed the buck, and expertly earned her tenure...
On Press Freedom Day I spoke briefly to New York Times correspondent Warren Hoge about the media, Iraq and World Press Freedom Day.
Q: Its World Press Freedom Day and I just wanted to ask if you have any comments about The New York Times and their reporting in the runup to the Iraq War, and if you feel any kind of responsibility?
A: I can't talk about that- we've already said everything about that to be said in the paper, and I really don't want to add to it. I mean, The New York Times- more than most newspapers- has absolutely admitted what we thought was faulty and what was not. There's just nothing I can add to that at all. And I certainly don't want to talk about that on
Press Freedom Day when our thoughts are with Alan Johnston and other journalists that are being killed.
Q: Well my thoughts are also with the Iraqis. There are half a million dead- thanks in part to
your newspaper-
A: Oh come on.
Q: Your newspaper was one of the primary advocates for the war-
A: Oh come on, I can't talk to you-
Q: Your newspaper was primary- yes it was- Judith Miller got a security clearance from Donald Rumsfeld, sir-
A: The New York Times is not responsible for any dead Iraqis. I won't listen to that-
Q: None of the other American journalists but Judith Miller from your paper got a security
clearance from the US Defense Secretary himself. How is this different from working for the government?
A: You are are defiling Press Freedom Day- Shut up! This is about Press Freedom, this is not about defiling the Press. We've just come back from a demonstration for Alan Johnston for journalists being killed and that's what this day is about- Press Freedom.
Perhaps BBC World News Editor Jon Williams best summarized the outcome of "shutting up" journalists: "We must not stand by and allow the intimidation of journalists- wherever it happens. If we do, we will pay a heavy price... There will be no eyes or ears telling us what's going on. We won't have the insight from those able to make sense of it."
But then, that may be just how the Powers That Be really want it.
" although she also admitted that the White House threatened to cut off her access after she filed critical reports"
no wonder couric's getting canned from being the cbs anchor. no 'nads.
please, please tell me that all the writing to the blogs on these all important issues is not just an exercise in futility, a preaching to the choir, save the few republican or conservative trolls whose job it is to keep abreast of what the libs are up to and to stir the pot.
The current "Big Three" (Charlie Gibson, Brian Williams and Katie Couric) are employees of the State Department.
The last "Big Three" (Brokaw, Rather and Jennings) were employees of the State Department.
They were forced into early retirement for their unconvincing PR performance concerning events on September 11th, 2001.
Jennings, permanently.
Establishment MSM bought & paid for/embedded with the banking/oil & military-industrial complex. Currently carrying on the self-same warmongering propaganda lies readying US citizens for the bombing of Iran. Sickening spectacle, for sure.
Ekk
I read Charlie Gibson's response and Gregory seems to be trying to toe the same line. Gregory got harder in his questioning later on, and sooner than most, but he was no Helen Thomas during 2002 and 2003. I think guys like Charlie Gibson would sell us a war with Iran if the WH asked him too because they care about ACCESS and not the truth.
Is McClellan sick or something? I mean, Tony Snow sick?
Why on earth did he just stand there and dish out the crap and defend it for so long, knowing full well that what he was doing was shameful and wrong?
Was he saving this information all that time just so that he could earn all of this blood money from the sales of his book on the backs of the thousands (including some 3000 American service people) who were needlessly killed while he stood there and defended his Führer like a good little Goebbels..?
ageekymom @ 46:
The only true journalist within the WhiteHouse Press Corp.
Should have heard David Gregory covering his ass on his show today. Then again, Gregory and his wife got to go to the White House to dine with the Queen and Helen was not invited I bet.
Look at these clowns in their designer suits, well made up. They get up in the morning, work out with the personal trainer, go to the t.v. studio and read from the teleprompter. They are not journalists. They are told what to say. They are full of shit and so full of themselves.
How interesting that the MSM is quick to point out that the Bush Administration wasn't forthcoming or interested enough to look at the facts. Yet the MSM is in the same boat.
They are unwilling to seriously critique their own actions, They, like the media is unwilling to be honest about what happened.
It is no wonder their ratings continue to decline.
Hey, just like Bush.
This may be a bit off topic. I received this strange email from my sister. She is a level headed person and as far as I know not prone to auditory hallucinations.
I was watching CNN Larry King and the commercial came on...I think Acura, I don't know, but I kept hearing, "John McCain, vote John McCain, John McCain, vote John McCain...." What the heck is that? If you get a chance, listen to it and see if you hear this.
Does anybody have a recording of this, to try and verify if my sister is hearing things or not?
Couric is an overpaid bush ho, like so many others in the MSM. No surprise she would play dumb when it comes to grilling bush.
McClellan said Bush loyalists will no doubt continue to think the administration's decisions have been correct and its unpopularity undeserved. "I've become genuinely convinced otherwise," he said.
http://members5.boardhost.com/medialens/msg/1211991236.html
IMHO the neoconers in the Bush administration working with the banking/oil & military-industrial complex never were in any doubt about the real reasons for this invasion/occupation. To them is was/is not an unnecessary war, and McCLellan was/is an idiot if he believed any of the bullsh*t he was employed to spout.
Neither he himself nor the media were misled - they were complicit, then, as they are now drumming up support for the planned bombing of Iran.
Ekk
yeranalyst @ 119:
I am an idiot savant, I suspect. I'd like to have the opportunity to personally check this ad out..
You have to come to the blogosphere to sort out the truth from the lies. Not that everything here is 100% but at least you have the option of shopping another site. The MSM speaks in one voice. They are corporate shills getting paid more than any one of us will see in a lifetime. They lie, distort, obfuscate and the public eats it up. When I see comments praising Hannity, Matthews, O'Reilly or Olbermann for "tellling it like it is" I want to throw up. Instead I turn off the tv as it just increases my cynicism and does no good for my blood pressure. You won't see coverage like we get in other countries. I especially admire the Brits for letting their reporters bore right into their political guests. This is the way it should be done. You want to spin, I will catch you.
notice how they all refer to mccain as a war hero. by doing this they denigrate real war heroes.
So Rev. Wright is right about the "corporate media." What else is he right about? Evidently a lot because of the fuss that same media made about some of his comments.
That's fine, they can be in denial all they want. They are not watched by anyone anyway. So who cares? Their ratings are in the toilet for PRECISELY this reason.
They are NOT TRUSTED to tell the truth at all. It's common knowledge they are the new PRAVDA. It's OK, let them keep lying. They'll be lying the whole way to the unemployment line. The mainstream media companies they used to work for will be bankrupt as well.
Good riddance.
It's always nice to know that the system is working - and I support it completely!
Dammit. I was replying about a comment I made at #122 which is apparently being scanned by the site monitors at c&l. That's all I meant.
One Year Wonder @ 13:
Yep. That's the lesson in this horrible period in our nation's history....These MSM mother fuckers should never ever again be trusted. Fat Scotty's shitty book has succeeded in exposing the MSM as being contributors in mass murder. The defensive reaction from the right wing and the MSM is very telling in regards to WHO FEELS GUILTY. The double talk from these two groups tonight has been mindboggling. Scottie will need to get in a witness protection program.
That was truly nauseating. They're giggling and preening while discussing a failure that cost hundreds of thousands of lives.
The most shocking statement was Gibson's. It's not their business to "debate"? How do you ascertain the f**king truth if you don't debate the crap being fed you by propagandists?
That expresses the fundamental problem with media today. When its top representatives, like Gibson, actually advocate stenography, you know nothing's going to change anytime soon.
Where are the journalism schools, like Columbia, in all of this? The people who teach journalism should be in an uproar. I know only of Mark Crispin Miller really conducting a critique as a member of the academy.
JohnnyThief @ 6:
That asshole David Gregory was saying the same thing on "Hardball" today.Yeah, just like he danced with Karl Rove. That told me tons about this ass kissing piece of "what the fuck"!
I think the carrot of media consolidation has something to do with it. Remember, this is Federal Government (FCC) regulated television. In the past, the courts have held that democracy depends on “an uninhibited marketplace of ideas in which truth will prevail” - a marketplace where there is a “wide diversity of viewpoints from a multiplicity of sources.” It is the express intention of the corporate owned government to minimize diversity of viewpoints. Primary target is Aljazeera English, which, if you ever watched it, you would see that it is the BBC on steroids.
30 or 40 years ago, it was Radio Free Europe and Voice of America that brought diversity of viewpoints to people behind an iron curtain. Now it is us that has to seek the news outside our own borders. The McLear news hour on PBS is still fairly good.
Back during the run up to the war, I was listening to an Real Audio stream from the Guardian (British) regarding the misrepresentation by the Bush administration regarding the French position on Iraq.
Stream is still up - can be listened to here. Real Audio 2min, 43 sec.
I knew the war was BS because I wasn't relying on these local propagandists for my news. It seemed obvious at the time to me, that if all this myriads of WMD was true, then the weapons inspectors could be pointed to an instance of them, which would have triggered UN support for the war, with UN funding, like Iraq 1. Now we know why Bush didn't pursue that route.
One reason why I opposed the war was because we had saw during the 1980s with the Iraq-Iran war, that these countries canceled each other out somewhat. It has lately occured to me that the neocons had to know then, in 2003, that removing Iran's number one security threat would improve Iran's standing in the area. Therefore, I think Iran was a target, back in 2003, after the cakewalk war with Iraq, and perhaps Syria was done. That's why there is no talking, because both sides know that it's a charade. That's also why it's in Iran's interests to keep the troops bogged down in Iraq, especially with '♫♫ bomb, bomb, bomb Iran ♫♫' McCain with a decent shot at becoming President.
However, bomb them now, and gas goes to $6 or more. The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.
Charles Gibson is a known idiot.
no longer a proud american @ 111:
what it is, is the ability to circumvent the msm so that one can analyze the bullshit in the privacy of one owns home, and commisurate with the like minded around the world
nothing more...nothing less
we stay aware
At this point, the reality disconnect has to be considered a neurological issue.
Pax, Steve
Gibson: “I’m not sure we would have asked anything differently [if given an opportunity to do it again.]”
And you wonder how the country got to where it is today. What a complete ass.
JohnnyThief @ 6:
Because the same corporate media has anesthetized them into ignorant bystanders.
"Networks at work, keepin' people calm"
-Rage Against the Machine.
Control the Debate and control the message .
Not surprising the focused on the supposed " tough questions " during press conferences , ballyhooed by David Gregory , however when most people got their info from the constant bombardment of " OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM " .." Shock and Awe " , the dozens of Pro War Generals , Colonels , CIA , State Dept . lap dogs , the infrequent press conference only taught us one thing , that you couldn't rely on the W.H. for the truth .
So did Gregory google aluminum tubes and find out they weren't the right size for a nuclear weapons program , HELL NO . Did he read the Guardian report THE NEXT DAY , indicating the mobile Bio weapons trucks accusation was ridiculous , because a CANVAS SIDED truck would leak , and kill every body , HELL NO . Did they point how ridiculous powell's assertion little biddy model planes could fly bio weapons across the ocean , HELL NO.
Did NBC or ANYBODY ask , why so much was done to take apart Iraq's Economic System , selling off most of their State owned corporations , by orders of BREMMER and how allowing American Banks to buy off 100 % of each iraqi Bank , when it was limited to 35% foreign ownership, before the illegal invasion and the absurdity of Bush inviting Chalabi , to " help write the iraqi Constitution , a CONVICTED FELON.
Did NBC EVER do t least ONE lousy story about PNAC , the Project for the New American Century , laying out the plan for a military take over of the Middle EAST and Eurasia , written in part by Bloody Dick Cheney . HELL NO aND OF COURSE they knew about it , the need for a " NEW Pearl Harbor" .
No , they just help sell the war producing their war game maps , weapons graphs glorifying the effectiveness of their weapons . and that pathetic tom " council OF foreign Relations MEMBER " bROKAW , DID a great job proclaiming , " We broke it , so we own it " . i bet there isn't an Iraqi alive who would agree with that obscene comment , by a so called journalist . We can go on the censorship of the .. operation of Special planning cabal , operating in the Pentagon and a lot other proven FACTS they ignored .
The complicit media has blood on their hands .
Another shill for the administration, Charlie Rose, has egg on his face now. Every political interview for 5 years now, he has asked "Don't you think the Iraq war could still be reagrded a success given some time?" What an ******e
Rotten Charlatans and Liars... They're the worst. At least we knew Scotty was full of lies and deception. The Courics of this world are filthy deceivers, pretending to work for the citizenry's best interest, but in fact selling us blood and poverty.
To hell with NBC!
JohnnyThief @ 6:
Too lazy and scared. Content to lick the boots on their necks than stand up and take back what is rightfully theirs.
Suggesting that Scotty did it for the money is a painfully shallow attempt at discrediting him. Not only in all likelihood did he receive a very attractive severance package, but he could have continued to tow the line. He could have written a book titled Why Bush is the best president ever, and it would have been gobbled up by delusional right-tards from coast to coast. Dick Cheney would have purchased the first ten truckloads just to get it on the best sellers list. He could have had speaking engagements and the lucrative fees that go with them, all he had to do was continue jacking off every drooling right-tard in the echo chamber from the discovery institute to the Club for Growth.
The jig is up right-tards, the first step is admitting you have a problem. Step 9 is making apologies to everyone you've hurt. Get yourselves checked into a clinic you sick f@cks.
Well, I went to the link in this story and tripped across a link to write to Katie Couric at her blog. What a nice thing to allow direct email these days. Anyway, here is my open letter to her at ABC....
To: couricandco@cbs.com
Subject: What a pleasure that we can email you directly and that Katie herself MIGHT read it.
Seriously, since the "for profit media" fell into disfavor it seems harder and harder to reach anyone via email. I am glad this site is open to receiving email and I will not abuse that invitation.
I would like to draw attention to the conversation of this morning that is going all over the web from the morning show at NYC. Where Katie, Brian, and that ABC guy were all discussing Scott McClelland's views that the media did not do its job in the run up to the war.
The only person who took any responsibility at all was Katie. Kudos to her for that.
The truth is that while the for profit media was pussyfooting it for the Bush White House, there were MILLIONS of protesters marching all over the world to say Hell NO to war, but big media didn't cover it. It seemed the wishes of the people of every nation for a life of peace is relegated to the dust bin of your office trash cans because the story did not comport to the financial needs of big media. While the owners of big media protected the crimes of this government, it stuffed it's pocket on amounts of money that will never ever be discovered or reported.
Americans truly suffered for decades by not receiving the real news that the journalists are bound by all that is holy in this democracy to protect. The truth. The truth is that millions of people have died in numerous nations while corporations USE the American military to steal resources that belong to those nations. Why do you think you are the ONLY protected group in America? Because we can not enjoy our beautiful land and live in peace and have prosperity and hope and solve our problems without knowing where we are, what is going on, and the truth of all of it.
The truth is that this administration is a fascist dictatorship dripping in blood and big media has been it's puppets from the beginning. Big media proven how comfortable it can be to live in a fascist state if you have the right job and you support the regime, no matter how much blood must flow to fill your coffers.
The reason big media ratings are falling is because America is waking up to what has happened and they are very angry and don't trust big media anymore. Katie specifically blew her chance at the "big" desk by inviting Limbaugh and Bush on her first week... in the name of bipartisan friendship she once again allowed the Republicans to be falsely cast as the wronged party and invited them "especially" to put forward their views while ignoring the fact that both people were hated in the nation. Millions of Americans turned off their TVs for good for the evening news after that. It was really way too much.
Now the pendulum is swinging back to the saner side of national life big media wants to climb on board the next chapter and pretend the last chapter didn't happen. That is not going to fly folks. Until the mega stations are sold on the auction block the audience will never return. Big media has broken trust with the American people and with the people of the nations of the world. People do not believe your news stories anymore, and the game of "read between the lines and guess what is really going on" has grown old and died. There is no further value in the shows.
At this point the people of the nation are just waiting for you to loose enough money to go away because we don't want to see or hear you anymore. The whole lot of you need to take a Dan Rather like powder and retire.
You guys' time has come and gone. Thank goodness for America. Thank goodness for the World.
I said in the beginning of this email I would not abuse the invitation to talk to you. But I did not promise to lie to make you happy. What I have said is the truth and the pain you might feel in reading it is relative to your complicity in the great crimes that have occurred. You see, on your watch, you let the press in America loose face and become less relevant than at any time in our nation's history. In fact, you are complicit in the many crimes because you aided and abetted the cover up of all of it.
It is truly a sad state of affairs.
You will never know how truthful this email message is until you remove yourselves from NYC and D.C. and go out into the nation and live in other cities as normal people without your fame and buffer of cash to separate you from reality.
The blood is on the media's hands just as much as as it is on Bush, Inc.
The media talking heads and anchors and hosts all did their jobs properly. They would not have done anything differently because they all did their jobs properly.
People writing here seem to be of the mistaken opinion that the USA has a free press. It hasn't. The corporate media is owned by the same forces that own the Government, the intelligence services, the military corporations, the pharmateutical corporations, the Universities etc etc etc. They are all there to create and impose their (the global elite's) version of reality. The TV anchors merely imprint their part hypnotically. They imprint a false belief that they are the independent watchdag of Government and business, that they are there to freely inform an electorate, so that in their free democracy, they may make informed decisions when they vote. That is such a huge crock. In reality they manipulate the masses into following what the global elite want. If and when the masses become restless and look like actually getting off their collective, overfed asses and taking action, then the media will turn on the politicians until the "other lot" are elected and the masses go back to sleep. Then the real rulers carry on with their agenda, without change, as before, regardless.
No matter how much they clean and shine these little turds they still smell. Their ratings are in the shit hole where they belong for for the best reason in the world, nobody believes a word they say. Had they not been sucking bushs dick the whole time, they would not have been duped, not that I believe they ever were. The best show katie ever did was getting her butt checked on national tv, now thats the real katie, say ahhh please.--CEO
I'm just so glad they can sit down and have a respectful discussion about what happened and then a good laugh about it, now that they can look back and see that they played a key roll in murdering 1 million people. Most people would be distraught and probably much more defensive than these guys. It's just like water off a duck's back to them. Couple trillion dollars, million people dead, really not our job to debate things, or ask hard questions. We just sit here an say the words on the teleprompter that were written by our producers, who were told what to say by the company execs, who were handed talking point memos by the white house.
So we did our jobs, and got paid a shit load of money to shut up.
Hmmmm .... the poor poor mal-iodined ken dolls of evening's mainstream information confess that an administration marshaled by an Alfred E Neumanish - whot me worry and recognized top turd useful idiot fall guy with an IQ of 93 throned on a mighty manure heap of lesser useful idiot turds idiots owned by the Exchange was able to slam dunk all them NYC fancy pants smarty pants, also owned by the Exchange into beleiving something that 99% of the universe (and most Americans) knew was a lie .... Hmmmm. Poor poor pretty boys - it's a sure bet the guys that own the media - General Electric - Lock Heed Martin - Boeing - KBR - BECHTEL are going to raise a big fuss. Those poor companies were duped, like the rest of us, into billing our treasury (that would be us) for trillions of dollars in unneeded bomb and bullet machines.
Poor poor ken dolls - their vinyl brains must be starting to fry - makes you wonder if any have yet considered the fate of poor poor fellow professional of days gone by, Doctor Paul Joseph Goebbels, when the Exchange owned him and his boss and convinced them, through more than words, that Leon Trotsky was about to genocide them. Lot's o buck in international mass murder - you can work both sides - before - during - and after - ahhhhh ... the Exchange.
Old Gibson said, in his best sunday best that the intelligence was wrong - what could they do? Charlie - you're the press - the middle men and administrators of power lie to you all the time - you should know that - but it goes beyond the waining shrivelization of your boob tube vanity. Charlie then involked the heart wrenching post 9 11 era i knew it - i knew it - how many puked when Charlie flouted the cliched flatulence of post 9 11 traumatic syndrome - speaking of which - maybe it's time you begin the road to redemption and ask some real questions `bout that `un Charlie Boy!
But it's more than stupid. The genocide was sold with the help of Lois Lane, aka Judith Miller of the NYT. Judy had a WHite House Issued Top Secret Clearance - she must of really had a bad bout of P911TS (Post 9 11 Traumatic Syndrom), Her and Chilabi spun it good z-nuff to get start the "big" barbecue. But the facilitation of war crimes don't stop with Judith Miller and the NYT. The Washington Post heroine of the hour was none other than shadow boxed Iraqi Gulag Rape Victim Hanna. She was even on CNN with Connie Chung telling all roasting by the tube of her tribulations and multiple rapes at the hands of Saddam's SS prison guards. Of course - she went on tour and spoke to sayanic congregations. Then, one day in LA, she is watching the news - and accuses a stranger who had never been to Iraq of [also] raping her. It turned out that while Hanna was in the Iraqi Rape Prison System, other people she saw on TV or while riding in the cab had also raped her. She was headlines in the lie and back page under the fold in the retraction.
If the press ain't stupid, then they're part it. If the press is stupid, they're still part of it. They facilitated this like their boards of directors owned stock in the war and commodity factories. At CNN, the director of the foreign editorial policy board, on 911, was Robert Kimmit - who was also - at the same time - the CEO of United Defense. He is now an Assistant Treasury dude. His brother, General Kimmit, was the boss at Abu Gharib when those photos were made. That sure pissed a bunch of the locals off - I wonder how much money United Defense made off shooting back at them pissed off Iraqi? General Kimmit was promoted to the Pentagon where he now polishes knobs. BTW - the father of the Kimmit boys had Carter's ear leading up to the Iran Hostage Crisis.
Is there such a thing as coincidence?
tyree @ 36:
And more then one person was screaming about it. I know I was, I have been disenfranchised, I want to vote for Kucinich, I want to know what we can do to reverse that particular fuck up. I want the big 3 sanctioned for not giving equal amount of time to ALL of the candidates.
These people are anything but dupes. They were entirely and knowingly complicit in the run-up to the war. They are not journalists at all. They simply disseminated whatever the White House ordered them to with no questions asked. Couric is so stupid, she doesn't even realize that being denied access IS the story.
Hey people, the news media IS ENTERTAINMENT, not news. Real investigative political reporting at the national level ended with Watergate.
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