July 23, 2008
Daily Show
.
I think the Daily Show with Jon Stewart and the Colbert Report need to start garnering some Pulitzers. This is simply because, unlike the mainstream media, neither promotes or spares anyone in their humorous quest to report the truth.
Good stuff:
.
I think the Daily Show with Jon Stewart and the Colbert Report need to start garnering some Pulitzers. This is simply because, unlike the mainstream media, neither promotes or spares anyone in their humorous quest to report the truth.
Good stuff:
.
Labels: Elect Shit Sandwich, media, Obama, Vote for Giant Douche
January 13, 2008
That's 212-664-4444
.
UPDATE BELOW
Well it wouldn't be an election year and this wouldn't be my blog if I couldn't start things off on the left foot with a good rant and a plea for support. I'm sorry if I'm bouggin' ya (I don't mean to boug ya) but there's this thing that's got me a bit steamed, and I think it's important enough to post and try to roust up some help here at 2:00 a.m. (and I've only had three beers, okay?). It will only take a few minutes of your time if you are so inclined to read/act.
Here's a pared-down version of a letter I got from the Dennis Kucinich presidential campaign (obviously I'm a supporter, but you don't even have to be a Democrat to see the validity in this):
Okay, a little more background for those who may need some convincing.
In an email to the Kucinich campaign on Wednesday, January 9, Democratic Party debates consultant Jenny Backus wrote:
NBC also sent a congratulatory note and an invitation to Rep. Kucinich to participate in the debate in Las Vegas, but less than 44 hours later the network notified the campaign that it was changing the announced criteria, rescinding its invitation, and excluding Kucinich from the debate.
NBC Political Director Chuck Todd notified the Kucinich campaign that, although he had met the qualification criteria publicly announced on December 28, the network was “re-doing” the criteria, excluding Kucinich, and planning to invite only Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama and former senator John Edwards. This marks the third time since the Iowa Caucuses that Kucinich has been excluded from a national debate for spurious, if any, reasons.
The criteria announced last month included a fourth-place or better showing in a national poll. The USA/Gallup poll earlier this month showed Kucinich in fourth place among the Democratic contenders. In the recent ABC/Facebook sponsored New Hampshire debate from which he was excluded, Kucinich, according to Facebook’s own figures, ranked fourth in popularity among Facebook members, AHEAD of New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, who participated in that event but who has since dropped out of the campaign. By the way, Dennis Kucinich has won more than a dozen major on-line polls and post-debate surveys, including Democracy for America, Independent Voters of America AND one conducted by ABC News. He also scored high if not on top of the exit polls of the debates in which he has participated.
The Kucinich campaign filed an emergency complaint with the Federal Communications Commission last week because of ABC’s decision to exclude the candidate from a nationally televised debate, and is considering legal action to address “the blatant disregard of the public interest in silencing public debate that dissents with the views of NBC, its parent company GE, and all of the military contractors and their candidate-funding corporate interests. Corporate control of the media is one issue. Corporate media control of the information that is allowed to reach American citizens is much more dangerous, much more sinister, and much more un-American.”
“When ‘big media’ exert their unbridled control over what Americans can see, hear, and read, then the Constitutional power and right of the citizens to vote is being vetoed by multi-billion dollar corporations that want the votes to go their way,” the Kucinich campaign said.
Folks, I'm not voting for DK because I think he has a chance, I'm doing it because I think his voice needs to be heard (quite specifically so that he could earn some delegates to the Democratic National Convention and be allowed to speak and influence the party platform). To exclude dark horse candidates like Dennis Kucinich and Ron Paul from debates is to say to the American people, "Here's your monologue, folks, enjoy the show."
What is NBC/GE, afraid of? All I am asking is for the opportunity to have the person who represents the thoughts and feelings of a significant portion of our citizenry be able to share his views with the nation. Is that just too inconvenient for NBC and the front runners in this election? Could it be because Kucinich is the only remaining Democratic Presidential candidate who voted against the original Iraq War authorization in 2002 AND every war-funding measure since; voted against the so-called Patriot Act; advocates a national, not-for-profit health system that covers all Americans; has called for the repeal of NAFTA and withdrawal from the WTO?
Probably, but if you please, call NBC/MSNBC at 212 664-4444 and ask for the Comment Line or email them at letters@msnbc.com to tell them you don't think it's in the interest of democracy to exclude a U.S. Congressmen who has put forth a valid effort in the presidential campaign to be excluded from national televised debates. Feel free to forward this to anyone who may be interested and by all means encourage a friend or three to contact NBC as well.
Thanks,
Tim the crazy politico
THIS JUST IN:
Judge says MSNBC debate must include Kucinich
Andrew Malcolm of the Los Angeles Times:
A judge in Nevada has just ordered MSNBC to include Rep. Dennis
Kucinich in Tuesday's Democratic Party presidential debate in
Las Vegas or he will cancel the forum.
Senior Clark County District Court Judge Charles Thompson vowed
to issue an injunction halting the nationally televised debate
if MSNBC failed to comply. Kucinich had filed a lawsuit seeking
to be included just this morning.
The judge ruled it was a matter of fairness and Nevada voters
would benefit from hearing from more than just Hillary Clinton,
John Edwards and Barack Obama. Kucinich had been invited to
participate in the 6 p.m. Pacific debate Tuesday, but that
invitation was rescinded last week ... So set up a fourth
podium.
RIGHTEOUS ! ! But I would not be surprised if corporate sponsors pressure MSNBC to let the judge cancel the debate in order to give their lawyers time to file appeals that would keep DK out.
UPDATE BELOW
Well it wouldn't be an election year and this wouldn't be my blog if I couldn't start things off on the left foot with a good rant and a plea for support. I'm sorry if I'm bouggin' ya (I don't mean to boug ya) but there's this thing that's got me a bit steamed, and I think it's important enough to post and try to roust up some help here at 2:00 a.m. (and I've only had three beers, okay?). It will only take a few minutes of your time if you are so inclined to read/act.
Here's a pared-down version of a letter I got from the Dennis Kucinich presidential campaign (obviously I'm a supporter, but you don't even have to be a Democrat to see the validity in this):
Dear Friends,
Once again, America is faced with questions about the rights of Americans to decide for themselves who they should be allowed to vote for in this crucial Presidential election. In Nevada, it's a question of whether the GE-owned NBC television network should have the power to decide who your choices should be for President.
The decision by NBC to exclude Dennis from next week's Presidential debate - even though he met the criteria - is outrageous. NBC and MSNBC have made a corporate decision to exclude the one and only voice who represents you and those things that the Democratic Party should stand for. If you are as outraged as we are, please call NBC/MSNBC at 212 664-4444 and ask for the Comment Line or email them at letters@msnbc.com
PLEASE share this message with everyone you know so that the voice of the people will be heard.
Strength through Peace,
The Kucinich Campaign
Okay, a little more background for those who may need some convincing.
In an email to the Kucinich campaign on Wednesday, January 9, Democratic Party debates consultant Jenny Backus wrote:
“Now that New Hampshire is over, we are on to Nevada and our Presidential Debate on Tuesday January 15. This letter serves as an official invitation for your candidate to participate in the Nevada Presidential Debate at Cashman Theatre in downtown Las Vegas. You have met the criteria set by NBC and the Debate.”
NBC also sent a congratulatory note and an invitation to Rep. Kucinich to participate in the debate in Las Vegas, but less than 44 hours later the network notified the campaign that it was changing the announced criteria, rescinding its invitation, and excluding Kucinich from the debate.
NBC Political Director Chuck Todd notified the Kucinich campaign that, although he had met the qualification criteria publicly announced on December 28, the network was “re-doing” the criteria, excluding Kucinich, and planning to invite only Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama and former senator John Edwards. This marks the third time since the Iowa Caucuses that Kucinich has been excluded from a national debate for spurious, if any, reasons.
The criteria announced last month included a fourth-place or better showing in a national poll. The USA/Gallup poll earlier this month showed Kucinich in fourth place among the Democratic contenders. In the recent ABC/Facebook sponsored New Hampshire debate from which he was excluded, Kucinich, according to Facebook’s own figures, ranked fourth in popularity among Facebook members, AHEAD of New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, who participated in that event but who has since dropped out of the campaign. By the way, Dennis Kucinich has won more than a dozen major on-line polls and post-debate surveys, including Democracy for America, Independent Voters of America AND one conducted by ABC News. He also scored high if not on top of the exit polls of the debates in which he has participated.
The Kucinich campaign filed an emergency complaint with the Federal Communications Commission last week because of ABC’s decision to exclude the candidate from a nationally televised debate, and is considering legal action to address “the blatant disregard of the public interest in silencing public debate that dissents with the views of NBC, its parent company GE, and all of the military contractors and their candidate-funding corporate interests. Corporate control of the media is one issue. Corporate media control of the information that is allowed to reach American citizens is much more dangerous, much more sinister, and much more un-American.”
“When ‘big media’ exert their unbridled control over what Americans can see, hear, and read, then the Constitutional power and right of the citizens to vote is being vetoed by multi-billion dollar corporations that want the votes to go their way,” the Kucinich campaign said.
Folks, I'm not voting for DK because I think he has a chance, I'm doing it because I think his voice needs to be heard (quite specifically so that he could earn some delegates to the Democratic National Convention and be allowed to speak and influence the party platform). To exclude dark horse candidates like Dennis Kucinich and Ron Paul from debates is to say to the American people, "Here's your monologue, folks, enjoy the show."
What is NBC/GE, afraid of? All I am asking is for the opportunity to have the person who represents the thoughts and feelings of a significant portion of our citizenry be able to share his views with the nation. Is that just too inconvenient for NBC and the front runners in this election? Could it be because Kucinich is the only remaining Democratic Presidential candidate who voted against the original Iraq War authorization in 2002 AND every war-funding measure since; voted against the so-called Patriot Act; advocates a national, not-for-profit health system that covers all Americans; has called for the repeal of NAFTA and withdrawal from the WTO?
Probably, but if you please, call NBC/MSNBC at 212 664-4444 and ask for the Comment Line or email them at letters@msnbc.com to tell them you don't think it's in the interest of democracy to exclude a U.S. Congressmen who has put forth a valid effort in the presidential campaign to be excluded from national televised debates. Feel free to forward this to anyone who may be interested and by all means encourage a friend or three to contact NBC as well.
Thanks,
Tim the crazy politico
THIS JUST IN:
Judge says MSNBC debate must include Kucinich
Andrew Malcolm of the Los Angeles Times:
A judge in Nevada has just ordered MSNBC to include Rep. Dennis
Kucinich in Tuesday's Democratic Party presidential debate in
Las Vegas or he will cancel the forum.
Senior Clark County District Court Judge Charles Thompson vowed
to issue an injunction halting the nationally televised debate
if MSNBC failed to comply. Kucinich had filed a lawsuit seeking
to be included just this morning.
The judge ruled it was a matter of fairness and Nevada voters
would benefit from hearing from more than just Hillary Clinton,
John Edwards and Barack Obama. Kucinich had been invited to
participate in the 6 p.m. Pacific debate Tuesday, but that
invitation was rescinded last week ... So set up a fourth
podium.
RIGHTEOUS ! ! But I would not be surprised if corporate sponsors pressure MSNBC to let the judge cancel the debate in order to give their lawyers time to file appeals that would keep DK out.
Labels: couldn't we just TRY a hardcore lefty for four years folks?, Kucinich, media, politix, protest, terms of enragement
December 21, 2007
The town cryer from hell
.
Hear Ye, Hear Ye!
The Federal Communications Commission passed new media ownership rules by a three to two Bushco party-line vote this week. This opens the door for fewer and bigger media companies to decide what Americans see, hear and read in the news as the big fish can more easily swallow up local news outlets. The FCC did this despite a HUGE public outcry - in the required public comment period, 99 percent of the respondents opposed media consolidation! This is because they realize that fewer outlets in the media mean less honest oversight of the news, and more bias because of the pressure of large corporate interests and the emphasis on the bottom line over truth and accuracy.
Just a few examples pointed out by Norman Solomon of Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting:
And then there's Solomon's exchange with Glenn Beck, CNN's pinnacle of integrity, who had invited Solomon on his show to point the finger at NBC for its conflicting interests in news reporting that affects its parent company General Electric:
So there you have it, the facts that show you’ve got to be careful about where you’re getting your news from (especially that gawldurn LIBERAL MEDIA!). As Solomon said in closing his column, "Wouldn’t it be nice if once in a while somebody came on and said, you know, I don’t really have an agenda except the truth? It’s my truth. If you don’t like it, you should go someplace else."
As Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY) said in an op-ed response to the FCC vote, "The airwaves are owned by the public, not the mega media corporations. The American people deserve information from many different, independent outlets, with diverse, fair coverage from all sides of an issue, and different points of view."
The last thing our democracy needs is fewer independent media voices. Congress has the power to reverse this rule change, and if you agree that they should, let your voice be heard. Following the vote, a bipartisan group of 26 senators sent a letter to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, vowing to "immediately move legislation that will revoke and nullify the proposed rule." Please give these Senators a stronger voice by also signing this online petition.
For more on big media and net neutrality matters, checkout Freepress
.
Hear Ye, Hear Ye!
The Federal Communications Commission passed new media ownership rules by a three to two Bushco party-line vote this week. This opens the door for fewer and bigger media companies to decide what Americans see, hear and read in the news as the big fish can more easily swallow up local news outlets. The FCC did this despite a HUGE public outcry - in the required public comment period, 99 percent of the respondents opposed media consolidation! This is because they realize that fewer outlets in the media mean less honest oversight of the news, and more bias because of the pressure of large corporate interests and the emphasis on the bottom line over truth and accuracy.
Just a few examples pointed out by Norman Solomon of Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting:
* ABC, owned by Disney, doesn’t disclose in their relevant news reports about Disney’s stake in sweatshops.
* Fox News and the Wall Street Journal, owned by the same entity - Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp - don’t disclose that the ownership is entangled with the Chinese government to the detriment of human rights but to the advancement of the profit margin of the parent company.
* CNN has a huge multi-BILLION dollar stake in Internet deregulation, and the failure of the Congress to safeguard so far what is generally known as "Net Neutrality." So every time CNN does a news report on the Internet, on efforts to regulate or deregulate or create a two or three-tier system of the Internet, CNN News should disclose that Time Warner, the parent company, stands to gain or lose billions of dollars in those terms.
* Chevron is a funder of key news programming on PBS. They were an underwriter of "Washington Week" last year, and now the massive energy firm currently funnels big bucks to the most influential show on PBS, the nightly "NewsHour with Jim Lehrer."
* The corporate funders of the "NewsHour" now include not only Chevron but also AT&T and Pacific Life. There must be dozens of journalistic reports on the program every week - whether relevant to the business worlds of energy, communications or insurance - that warrant, and lack, real-time disclosures while the news accounts are on the air. Meanwhile, over at "Washington Week," the corporate cash now flows in from the huge military contractor Boeing and the National Mining Association.
* And that’s just "public broadcasting." On avowedly commercial networks, awash in corporate ownership interests and advertising revenues, a thorough policy of disclosure in the course of news coverage would require that most of the airtime be devoted to shedding light on the media outlet conflicts-of-interest of the reporting in progress.
And then there's Solomon's exchange with Glenn Beck, CNN's pinnacle of integrity, who had invited Solomon on his show to point the finger at NBC for its conflicting interests in news reporting that affects its parent company General Electric:
Solomon: A major advertiser for CNN is the largest military contractor in the United States, Lockheed Martin. So when you and others...
Beck: I got news for you, Norman. Norman...
Solomon: ...promote war, when you and others promote war on this network...
Beck: Norman...Norman...
Solomon: ...we have Lockheed Martin paying millions of dollars undisclosed. So I would quote you...
Beck: Norman...Norman...
Solomon: "Promoting but not disclosing is a bad way to go."
Beck: Norman, let me just tell you this. First of all, Lockheed Martin is not a corporate overlord of this program.
Solomon: It’s a major advertiser on CNN.
Beck: That’s fine. That’s fine. Advertisers are different. But let...
Solomon: Well, it is fine, but it should be disclosed.
Beck: Norman, let me just tell you something. If you think that it’s warmonger central downstairs at CNN, you’re out of your mind. But that’s a different story.
Solomon: Well, upstairs, when I watch Glenn Beck, in terms of attacking Iran, it certainly is. It’s lucrative for the oil companies, as well as for the major advertiser on CNN, Lockheed Martin.
So there you have it, the facts that show you’ve got to be careful about where you’re getting your news from (especially that gawldurn LIBERAL MEDIA!). As Solomon said in closing his column, "Wouldn’t it be nice if once in a while somebody came on and said, you know, I don’t really have an agenda except the truth? It’s my truth. If you don’t like it, you should go someplace else."
As Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY) said in an op-ed response to the FCC vote, "The airwaves are owned by the public, not the mega media corporations. The American people deserve information from many different, independent outlets, with diverse, fair coverage from all sides of an issue, and different points of view."
The last thing our democracy needs is fewer independent media voices. Congress has the power to reverse this rule change, and if you agree that they should, let your voice be heard. Following the vote, a bipartisan group of 26 senators sent a letter to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, vowing to "immediately move legislation that will revoke and nullify the proposed rule." Please give these Senators a stronger voice by also signing this online petition.
For more on big media and net neutrality matters, checkout Freepress
.
Labels: analysis, gummint, journalism, media, politix
February 06, 2007
Cursed paparazzo !
.
My assignment at the state Capitol today was interrupted by a hoopladamous* media circus. The four co-stars of Wild Hogs stopped in Atlanta today on a tour which combines film promotion with public service, the former being the typical star attraction of such events and the latter taking advantage of the former to get out a message about motorcycle safety. The movie is about four middle-aged guys who take off across the country on their Harleys. I saw the trailer during the Super Bowl and it looked like it might be pretty funny, what with the four-ply strong comedic cast of John Travolta, Tim Allen, Martin Lawrence and William H. Macy.
It was pretty cheesy in so much as they arrived by motorcade and then got on bikes to roll the last 200 yards to the press conference. All but Lawrence, that is, who for whatever reason came up riding shotgun in the schmancy Governor's Office of Highway Safety Viper (or some such souped up vehicle).
With the Capitol locked down I figured I might as well go be in the right place at the right time, which didn't work out so well at first since my camera malfunctioned just as they approached on the bikes. A quick remedy and I was set to get a few head shots from a decent vantage point on the stairs above the stars and the dignitaries. When they egressed from the scene into the building I got close enough to kiss Macy, which of the four I would prefer for such had I (and of course he) been so inclined. I avoided kissing Travolta as I didn't want Pancake #24 all over my face - yeesh, it was gross. With the throng/entourage I scammed my way past the door cop (apparently I had improper credentials and then apparently he did want to deal with it). I sidled up along Tim Allen but was thwarted from getting a decent photo by a member of their security detail.
The stars were supposed to do a photo shoot with legislators out in the rotunda, but security had fucked up crowd control and put the kaibash on it. I realized this and so went about my merry way while slightly-too-awestruck women waited for the actors outside the guv's office. I learned later that they did indeed slip away through one of the many secret passageways from the Capitol.
I rate the experience as a fun aside (with pics for the grandkids) to an otherwise boring day.
*dibs
Travolta The Pancake Man
Tim the Tool Man and Revolta
Martin "not quite as handsome or talented as Denzel" Lawrence
Bill, you're the greatest. Don't ever change.
.
My assignment at the state Capitol today was interrupted by a hoopladamous* media circus. The four co-stars of Wild Hogs stopped in Atlanta today on a tour which combines film promotion with public service, the former being the typical star attraction of such events and the latter taking advantage of the former to get out a message about motorcycle safety. The movie is about four middle-aged guys who take off across the country on their Harleys. I saw the trailer during the Super Bowl and it looked like it might be pretty funny, what with the four-ply strong comedic cast of John Travolta, Tim Allen, Martin Lawrence and William H. Macy.
It was pretty cheesy in so much as they arrived by motorcade and then got on bikes to roll the last 200 yards to the press conference. All but Lawrence, that is, who for whatever reason came up riding shotgun in the schmancy Governor's Office of Highway Safety Viper (or some such souped up vehicle).
With the Capitol locked down I figured I might as well go be in the right place at the right time, which didn't work out so well at first since my camera malfunctioned just as they approached on the bikes. A quick remedy and I was set to get a few head shots from a decent vantage point on the stairs above the stars and the dignitaries. When they egressed from the scene into the building I got close enough to kiss Macy, which of the four I would prefer for such had I (and of course he) been so inclined. I avoided kissing Travolta as I didn't want Pancake #24 all over my face - yeesh, it was gross. With the throng/entourage I scammed my way past the door cop (apparently I had improper credentials and then apparently he did want to deal with it). I sidled up along Tim Allen but was thwarted from getting a decent photo by a member of their security detail.
The stars were supposed to do a photo shoot with legislators out in the rotunda, but security had fucked up crowd control and put the kaibash on it. I realized this and so went about my merry way while slightly-too-awestruck women waited for the actors outside the guv's office. I learned later that they did indeed slip away through one of the many secret passageways from the Capitol.
I rate the experience as a fun aside (with pics for the grandkids) to an otherwise boring day.
*dibs
Travolta The Pancake Man
Tim the Tool Man and Revolta
Martin "not quite as handsome or talented as Denzel" Lawrence
Bill, you're the greatest. Don't ever change.
.
Labels: makeup, media, movies, photography
January 05, 2007
Leaker Stands Up
.
National Public Radio reports that at the Association of American Law Schools annual conference Thursday, a panel discussion on prosecuting government employees who leak information to the media included an unexpected contribution.
Listen to the brief story - it made my journalistic heart all warm and toasty.
.
National Public Radio reports that at the Association of American Law Schools annual conference Thursday, a panel discussion on prosecuting government employees who leak information to the media included an unexpected contribution.
Listen to the brief story - it made my journalistic heart all warm and toasty.
.
