Terrific op/ed on the media coverage of Iraq

[dcOne 2]

I'm talking about the delusional knee-jerk Bush apologists who somehow think he's doing a super job.

 

 

A super job compared to what? What would be a "super job" anyway?

[Strike 4,946]

And I got the response I've come to expect from delusional Bush apologists:

 

* Barely read the Op/Ed before calling it garbage (without arguing with any of the points)

* Throw up ridiculous straw man arguments, like the Op/Ed was saying Bush doesn't want to win in Iraq

* Respond to an Op/Ed about Cheney's claims of media bias by calling the media biased

* Attack the poster of said article or at least try to change the subject.

 

In fact, this is pretty much the Bush playbook: Deny, lie, attack. Deny, lie, attack. Must protect the Great Leader at all costs. The conservatives I respect have a core set of principles that don't change according to circumstance. For example, guys like Andrew Sullivan and William Buckley who recognize that Iraq is a mess and the admin's rhetoric doesn't fit the situation on the ground.

 

The "conservatives" I don't respect are really just Republicans - guys like you and CMH who stand for absolutely nothing (but you'll still tell me you like small government and low spending while you defend Bush - talk about "Delusion Gulch") and will say anything, no matter how patently stupid or dishonest, to protect the Great Leader Bush.

 

WTF are you rambling about? All I said, and I see others have said that same thing, is that the media COULD report on some of the positive things happening in Iraq. Heck, they could do it here too but they don't. And I said that's the reason I don't watch most news shows. You leaping to these conclusions from those comments just shows that you're not in this for intelligent discussion, just to be a ...well I can't say it now. But, as I said before, I should have known better than to attempt intelligent discussion with you.

[GobbleDog 919]

PR wise, I think Bush's worst enemy is usually himself. Intentionally or not, he often comes across as arrogent and uncaring when I think he's actually trying to personify a strong leader image. I voted for him and even I can admit he has poor charisma.

 

But I think that image has probably demonized Bush more than it should.

[cmh6476 957]

it doesnt matter what's being reported. The fact of the matter is that this reporter is trying to say the Administration is more concerned about their egos/ GOP control than success in Iraq, which is downright ridiculous people.

[MDC 6,859]

PR wise, I think Bush's worst enemy is usually himself. Intentionally or not, he often comes across as arrogent and uncaring when I think he's actually trying to personify a strong leader image. I voted for him and even I can admit he has poor charisma.

 

But I think that image has probably demonized Bush more than it should.

 

I think Bush has good charisma; I just think he's surrounded himself with bad people. They've been spinning this war for so long, and their rhetoric is so divorced from reality that the people just aren't buying it anymore. First it was the WMDs, Mission Accomplished, Rumsfeld calling the insurgency a few "dead enders," Cheney's "last throes" comment, then Abu Ghraib and Bush's "we do not condone torture" comment (while WH lawyers work out a legal framework for torture), etc.

 

I think this White House is trying to portray an image of success, but they've so blown their credibility on the Iraq issue that nothing Bush or Cheney could say will change public opinion much. Lately you'll notice that Bush has been mixing some reality in his speeches - acknowledging that there have been setbacks and mistakes, but stressing that we are making progress. This is a good strategy, but it's coming years too late.

[parrot 789]

it doesnt matter what's being reported. The fact of the matter is that this reporter is trying to say the Administration is more concerned about their egos/ GOP control than success in Iraq, which is downright ridiculous people.

The biggest testimony to the fact that Bush is more concerned with image than results in Iraq is the fact that Donald Rumsfeld still has a job. He has been an abject failure at every stage of this war. His disregarding of the troop level recommendations of the best military planners on the planet in favor of his own off-the-cuff figure is a big part of the reason Iraq is the clusterfock it is. But Bush just keeps right on patting him on the back and saying what a wonderful job he has done, because to do otherwise we be to admit a failing, and we know that ain't about to happen.

 

If John Kerry came out with a can't miss plan for peace in Iraq tomorrow, do you think the administration would sign on? Of course not, because while they may want a peaceful Iraq, they damn sure want credit for a peaceful Iraq.

[hoytdwow 202]

PR wise, I think Bush's worst enemy is usually himself. Intentionally or not, he often comes across as arrogent and uncaring when I think he's actually trying to personify a strong leader image. I voted for him and even I can admit he has poor charisma.

 

But I think that image has probably demonized Bush more than it should.

 

Also, he is dumb

 

it doesnt matter what's being reported. The fact of the matter is that this reporter is trying to say the Administration is more concerned about their egos/ GOP control than success in Iraq, which is downright ridiculous people.

The Republicans won't be able to "succeed" in Iraq the way they want to if they are not in control of goverment.

[cmh6476 957]

email sent to this joker:

 

 

You are an idiot if you believe the President's top priority is maintaining power for the GOP. His main priority is winning the war on terror and establishing democracy in the Middle East.

 

Lucky for you your mindless followers buy your rhetoric to salvage your employment.

 

Chad

 

 

he actually responded

 

 

Dear Chad -

Thanks for your thoughts.

I think you misread what I said. I said the goal of their rhetoric is maintaining their power. I'm sure the president tells himself he needs to maintain his power so he can do the things you mention.

chris

[George Carlin 1]

Bill Maher is the man

[Franknbeans 46]

it doesnt matter what's being reported. The fact of the matter is that this reporter is trying to say the Administration is more concerned about their egos/ GOP control than success in Iraq, which is downright ridiculous people.

Sell it!

[cmh6476 957]

The Republicans won't be able to "succeed" in Iraq the way they want to if they are not in control of goverment.

 

And you actually think this plays into his strategy?

[MDC 6,859]

he actually responded

 

That's focking hysterical. You actually bothered to email that guy - then he emails you back and explains the Op/Ed exactly the way I've been trying to explain it to you all day.

 

Don't you feel like a tard now?

[mighty_thor 115]

he actually responded

 

That writer sure made you look stupid. I love the way he played the high road after you called him an idiot. You really came off classy in that exchange

[cmh6476 957]

That writer sure made you look stupid. I love the way he played the high road after you called him an idiot. You really came off classy in that exchange

 

yeah, but he don't know me

[mighty_thor 115]

yeah, but he don't know me

 

He does now. I told him that you are a puppet for Congressman Sam Graves.

[MDC 6,859]

He does now. I told him that you are a puppet for Congressman Sam Graves.

 

I emailed him yesterday to tell him that I loved the Op/Ed, and "Chad" is a paid GOP mouthpiece.

[hoytdwow 202]

And you actually think this plays into his strategy?

Yes, I do. Bush has 2 more years in office after the elections in November. If the Republicans turn away from him because they think he hurts their chances for 2008, then he won't be able to get things done.

[MDC 6,859]

Yes, I do. Bush has 2 more years in office after the elections in November. If the Republicans turn away from him because they think he hurts their chances for 2008, then he won't be able to get things done.

 

The GOP will probably hold onto the Senate, but if they lose a house of Congress the White House will have to start worrying about investigations and subpoenas.

[DanXIII 8]

WTF are you rambling about? All I said, and I see others have said that same thing, is that the media COULD report on some of the positive things happening in Iraq.

 

While I agree with your sentiment on the surface, the fact remains that the opening of a new school or the fact that a neighborhood in east Baghdad finally got electricity after 3 years is simply not newsworthy. /shrug

[mighty_thor 115]

yeah, but he don't know me

 

Do you really work for this idiot:

 

U.S. congressman proposes suspending non-resident visas to secure borders

19:06:23 EST Mar 28, 2006

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (CP) - In an effort to thwart terrorist attacks on American soil, a Missouri congressman is proposing the suspension of all non-resident visas in the United States - including tens of thousands of Canadians who work in the country.

 

Republican congressman Sam Graves says the U.S. needs to enforce tougher measures on visitors in the name of national security.

 

"We have taken steps in recent months to boost security along both of our borders. It is not enough and we still have more to do," Graves writes in his weekly newsletter, titled Straight Talk with Sam.

 

"I have proposed suspending non-resident visas. It only makes sense to shut off a leaky faucet in order to fix it."

 

Graves has long been a staunch advocate for visitor visa reform; he introduced a bill last year calling for the suspension of "certain non-essential visas."

 

Under the legislation, family-sponsored immigrant visas for siblings and children over the age of 18 by permanent American residents would be suspended, as would visas for foreigners seeking work in the U.S.

 

Laura Tumak, a Canadian who has worked in the U.S. on an annual work visa called the Trade NAFTA visa since 1999, said she was enraged by the newsletter, which she described as an affront to law-abiding foreigners living and working south of the border.

 

"I know that he couldn't shut down any of these visa classes by himself, but that he would have the nerve to suggest it - it just smacked of bigotry," said the 33-year-old Tumak, a lab technician originally from Hanover, Ont., about 200 kilometres northwest of Toronto.

 

"There's that implication that we're not legal, that there's something wrong with us being here."

 

More than 64,000 Canadians were working in the U.S. on the so-called TN visas in 2004, according to an American immigration think-tank called the Migration Policy Institute. That's down dramatically from a 2001 estimate of more than 92,000.

 

Tumak said the growing fear over national security and terrorism has her considering a move back to Canada.

 

"I have considered returning to Canada where I don't have to worry every year about whether or not I can stay," she said. "I enjoy my lifestyle here in Missouri. This underlying threat of being uprooted at any time is difficult."

 

In a written statement to The Canadian Press, Graves said the suspension would allow U.S. authorities to conduct an overhaul on the country's immigration and naturalization system.

 

"We need to halt all non-resident immigration in order to examine our system and put into place a program that ensures we are thoroughly checking those coming across our borders," the statement said.

 

"This would temporarily suspend immigration for those looking to work in the U.S. and not become a resident."

 

Graves said his constituents have been "overwhelmingly supportive" of the proposal, which he said takes the right approach to tackling the national security issue.

 

"This measure is extremely fair in the fact it treats everyone seeking non-resident immigration equally," he said.

 

"Requiring sufficient background checks before allowing people into the U.S. is a common sense way to promote national security."

 

Great idea. Lets kick out thousands of workers because they are foriegn. Hurt businesses and alienate decent people. His constituents have been overwhelmingly supportive? Where do you live? I think there must be lead in the water there. I can't belive idiots like this actually get elected.

 

http://www.cbc.ca/cp/world/060328/w032878.html

[ZeroTolerance 583]

C'mon...some of you act like it makes a difference on whether a dem or rep. is President.

 

Someone made a good point!

 

The fact the Bush Administration is a miserable failure is NOT because they are Repbulican, it is because they are grossly incompetent. The two are not inseperable.

[Voltaire 5,033]

As somebody exposed every day to the Chinese news media I'm really p*ssed off that the administration appologists in the USA want to censor what is and isn't reported in Iraq.

 

It's the meida's job to keep the government honest.

 

I've accidentally stumbled across two big protests/demonstrations here in Guiyang. On Wednesdays and Saturdays I travel to a nearby suburb named Xin Tian Zai to teach. One Wednesday last December I got a telephone call to take a taxi to the Guiyang outskirts and walk to another point about two miles up the road. Cars were parked in the middle of the road -there's only one road to XTZ, dozens of people with yellow banners, yellow headband/ribbons were chanting and screaming. Police all standing around in a group together, really not doing much of anything. Apparently, the government was tearing apart a cemetary and replacing it with some commercial development. The other one was similar, I lefth wit the impression that the government was shutting down a hundreds of years old Buddist shrine on prime inner city real estate.

 

I was really curious if this stuff would make the local news, as expected it didn't ... just the regular happy news we usually get. We do get tragic traffic accidents all the time, the government is willing to look at bad stuff like that to get folks to get folks to pay attention to traffic laws. There was a big hoopla about closing the bird/animal market on the river to help clean it (positive steps can't complain) but I'm pretty sure the journalists pointing out how the city dumps untreated waste into the river that runs through the city would get locked up together with their boss.

[Soonerman 0]

As somebody exposed every day to the Chinese news media I'm really p*ssed off that the administration appologists in the USA want to censor what is and isn't reported in Iraq.

 

Wanting the media to report on other things in addition to their single-minded focus on the latest car bomb is just about the opposite of censorship.

 

HTH

[MDC 6,859]

Wanting the media to report on other things in addition to their single-minded focus on the latest car bomb is just about the opposite of censorship.

 

HTH

 

I'm still waiting for you guys to tell me what super news is coming out of Iraq that the news media is ignoring? Or are you just sure that there's loads of good news coming out of Iraq, but you don't know what it is because the media won't tell you?

 

The only people complaining about the media are Bush apologists. The guy is so patently incompetent and Iraq is such a total clusterfock that crying "bias!" is the only card left to play.

[cmh6476 957]

I'm still waiting for you guys to tell me what super news is coming out of Iraq that the news media is ignoring? Or are you just sure that there's loads of good news coming out of Iraq, but you don't know what it is because the media won't tell you?

 

The only people complaining about the media are Bush apologists. The guy is so patently incompetent and Iraq is such a total clusterfock that crying "bias!" is the only card left to play.

 

 

I may be speaking for myself here, but I think you misinterpret my feelings re: the lack of positive coverage as anger/ resentment towards the media as oppossed to what it really is, which is sympathy to our troops for their efforts and contributions not being appropriately recognized. And it isn't like it's the fault of the media as to what they are putting out there. You have a paper on one hand reporting all the feel-good stories on the schools and power plants and free elections, and then another paper reporting death and destruction and distraught and tell me which one your average joe is going to pickup.

[Toro 1]

1. Bush is an idiot.

2. No politician tells the truth.

3. Most journalists are more about creating social change through the media, rather than being an objective reporter.

4. MDC is a tool.

 

That is all.

[footballpowers 0]

1. Bush is an idiot.

2. No politician tells the truth.

3. Most journalists are more about creating social change through the media, rather than being an objective reporter.

4. MDC is a tool.

 

That is all.

 

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