Replies: 48 Comments

Comment #1: Dr. Alan H. Levinson said on 5/25/05 @ 1:44pm ET...

Mr. Conyers,

Sounds like it went well, but the "truth" remains in that room. The test of time will demonstrate whether greater emphasis will be placed on the examination of stories until satisfaction, not when fear stops the search for the truth. Please let your readers and followers know what we can do. Letters go out daily to tv and newspapers, but still achieve little of what needs to occur.

The right-wing has been on the offensive for a long time. In my recollection, Reagan started the Rove-ball rolling with his standard come-back..."there you go again". After implying that the questioner was off his rocker, he would go on and discuss another topic. They have perfected this style over the past 20ish years. The dems need to stop sounding like they are whining. Its time for some solid information, some "get-in-your-face" debate...some (so-to-speak) smack-down of the bull. To have two sides calling each other names and liars is a royal waste of time and energy.

The senate debates prior to the questionable agreemenmt regarding the nuclear option bored the hell out of me. Each side offered information. Each side had a point of view. Each side claimed they were telling the truth. I chose to believe those with similar views to my own, but I truly have no idea who was telling the truth. Are the repub's breaking 200+ year tradition, are the dem's? Is Owen so highly rated, or was she rated poorly as the 5/21 Houston Chronicle stated? We need a real stumper out there, someone with oomph and believability, who will not knuckle under to pressure and lies. Bush had his 60 day waste of tax-payer money. Can the Dems offer something more?

I'll continue to send letter after letter to the MSM with the hope of shaming someone into action.

Alan

Comment #2: Brett said on 5/25/05 @ 2:05pm ET...

Let's get the media playing field more level. Half of this country is being disenfranchised by the press. It's pretty obvious that much of our "journalism" is misinformation, disinformation and highly edited in favor of and by the Right. Stories are killed or buried if critical of this Administration. Cheney's office calling a network personality to tell him "they didn't like the tone of his voice."?? Outrageous.

TV and radio news operations have to be carved out and run as public service operations whose main goals are to compete for providing the truth...not ratings. CSPAN and PBS should be sacrosanct and off limits re: political parties and forces. There have to be some outlets that are unbiased and above the fray as rare voices of reason and criticism.

Thank God for Rep. Conyers and his panel. Let's get back to goals of truth, fairness and accuracy in our press....without fear of backlash or political repercussion. Our reporters and editors should be akin to federal judges....lifetime appointments without fear of being fired. It would be interesting to know how many journalists, writers, reporters, assignment editors, producers, etc have lost their jobs as a result of pursuing or airing news critical of the Right since 2000.

Comment #3: Nimitz said on 5/25/05 @ 2:20pm ET...

Who is the fat guy on the right in the picture and what is he trying to sell to JC?

JC looks like he is ready to tell him he doesn't want to buy a used car today, especially from him!

Comment #4: rocknation said on 5/25/05 @ 2:35pm ET...

Please post a commercial-free audio file of the entire proceedings as soon as possible. Even Air America stopped broadcasting it after 3PM EST.

Comment #5: Honest Abe said on 5/25/05 @ 2:36pm ET...

Hey Nimitz I don't beleive I see druggie Limbaugh anywhere in the pic. Get a Life Loser. JC Keep up the Good Fight!!!

Comment #6: Dr. Alan H. Levinson said on 5/25/05 @ 3:07pm ET...

Mr. Conyers...or anyone with info.

I am watching Senator Biden rip John Bolton a "new one" on the floor of the Senate. Paul Sarbanmes is there, and between the 2 of them, they are making much sense. However, I see fery few others in the room. Do Senators actually listen to the spiel, or are they off doing other business? Will they ever hear this stuff? Where can we find a record of who attends and who naps?

Comment #7: jdkrheum said on 5/25/05 @ 3:34pm ET...

Thanks for all the work you're doing.

Comment #8: MrBlueSky said on 5/25/05 @ 3:53pm ET...

Dear Congressman Conyers,

Do you have a formal report or Press Release of this forum?

I'd like to show it to my local radio, TV and newspapers here in Seattle.

I intend to place pressure on them to cover your important forum.

Comment #9: Danyne said on 5/25/05 @ 4:29pm ET...

Thank you as always, Congressman, for all your efforts, and tireless fight for what is right and true...

Comment #10: Susan said on 5/25/05 @ 4:43pm ET...

Dr. Levinson:

If you thought Biden was strong, you should see what Sen. Voinovich (R. Ohio) said later. I hope you are watching. He is very emotional and obviously concerned about this guy. WOW!

Maybe since he got so upset, they may all hear about it and understand how important this is. Now Chris Dodd is calling this a "lonely moment" and complimenting him. Great class!

Comment #11: Jack said on 5/25/05 @ 4:54pm ET...

They are off at hearings and meeting with constituents mostly.

Comment #12: Wayne Collins said on 5/25/05 @ 4:57pm ET...

The links on the judiciary democrats website on this page

http://143.231.86.196/judiciary_democrats/mediabias.html

mostly don't work.

Comment #13: Mark Zollinger said on 5/25/05 @ 5:06pm ET...

Good job, Rep. Conyers! Please keep up the good work. The only thing I worry about is that none of this will actually see the light of day in the mainstream media.
Also, good job to all the participents.

Comment #14: Hannah said on 5/25/05 @ 5:36pm ET...

Rep. Conyers:

Congratulations on this forum and to all of the participants! I look forward to seeing it on CSPAN.

I was glad to hear that Rep. Wasserman Schultz was there. I became a big fan of hers when I stumbled upon the 30's working group (I think that's what it's called) on CSPAN a month ago. Rep. Wasserman Schultz called Bush on his stubborness re Soc Sec private accounts, against the strong disagreement of most Americans, by comparing him to her own small children who stomp their feet and have a fit when they are told "No". She also put down the Bush family in general, incl. Jeb, governor of her state. Brava!!!

Dr. Levinson: sometimes it is hard to know who is "spinning", who is outright lying, and who is telling the truth. Sometimes you have to dig for the truth. Other times it comes soon. Ex. yesterday Sen. Frist declared that Priscilla Owen had broad bipartisan support, however today only two Dems voted for her, one Repub (Chafee) voted against, and Sen. Jeffords (I) voted against. So two Dems for, minus one Repub against, is "broad bipartisan support". Not the way I would describe it.

Comment #15: Doug said on 5/25/05 @ 6:03pm ET...

Rep. Conyers,

Please keep us up to date and let us know when C-SPAN will air the forum.

I had a horrible experiance trying to listen via AAR Online. Within seconds of connecting to what I belive was your introduction, you were cut off by commercials that were selling the same crap I get in my spam: Viagra, Cialis, Levitra, Depletchya, eatchya...mortgages, insurance, I had to turn it off. What you have to say is too important for comercial (SPAM) interuptions.

It was hypocrisy at its' finest

-Doug

Comment #16: Jane said on 5/25/05 @ 6:15pm ET...

Dear Mr. Conyers:

Are there no other legislators that can follow your fine example to the world? You are taking on so much - its not just the media problems, but you are asking for accountability where it needs asking. Plus you even make time to blog to the peeps. Thank you with all my heart, and with some luck and tenacity, we'll begin to break down the machine. You have many supporters.

Comment #17: Kira said on 5/25/05 @ 6:18pm ET...

This is such an important topic, I'm so very grateful you are working on this and keeping it "kicked" in the news (hopefully someone has the cojones to carry the story.)

"No government ought to be without censors & where the press is free, none ever will."
Thomas Jefferson, letter to George Washington, September 9, 1792
3rd president of US (1743 - 1826)

Also - it's going to be a difficult job - but there is a small handful of intelligent questions posed on the 2nd thread regarding religious intolerance to which I would appreciate hearing your response.

Thank you so much, Representative Conyers for the great work you are doing. It is very much appreciated and there are many more who appreciate your efforts who read but don't post comments. Probably a least 6 or 7 more :grin!:

Comment #18: hannah said on 5/25/05 @ 6:28pm ET...

Sen. Carl Levin is right now (6:30 EDT) talking about the Downing Street Memo (MINUTES) on the floor of the Senate!

Comment #19: Susan Carr said on 5/25/05 @ 7:49pm ET...

FLOWER ARRANGEMENT PROPAGANDA!

The Bush-Rove political machines are experts at making slanted news appear to be straight news! Have you ever ordered or received a flower arrangement and then were disappointed in the results? Some flowers were dead, the arrangement was covered up with “filler” flowers and large fresh blooms hid the less attractive or slightly wilted other flowers!

The MSM reports on pro-Bush agenda items like large blooms! When a story really would hurt a Bush arrangement, like a dead flower it must be eliminated! THE DOWNING STREET MEMO, OR TOTAL DEATHS IN IRAQ!! When vital issues are at stake like Nuclear Option or the John Bolton nomination or the real situation in Iraq, use a lot of “filler” to distract attention away from the real facts, such as a bad job performance or a power grab to eliminate the minority! MAKE SURE THE LARGE BLOOMS ARE REPEATED IN A PROMINENT ORDER TO SHOW THEIR BEST FAVORED SIDE, and spray them with a lot of B.S, to keep them alive! It’s best not to keep the flowers in a highly lit area or they could be exposed!

The German Minister of Propaganda, Joseph Goebbels, once warned, “Propaganda has only one object: to conquer the masses! Every means that furthers this aim is good; every means that hinders it is bad!” Has the Bush Administration read the “Goebbels Diaries!??” That means we had better be discriminating readers!

Comment #20: Dr. Alan H. Levinson said on 5/25/05 @ 8:49pm ET...

I just got the most ridiculous e-mail letter from Democrats.gov that appears to be a letter from Senator Harry Reid to Nancy Pelosi. It made me want to puke. I'll post it here, then my response. If this is the best we've got, I'm horrified!!

Subject: A Victory for Democracy

Dear Nancy,

The so-called "nuclear option" is off the table. This is a significant victory for Democrats but more importantly for our country, for democracy, and for all Americans. The integrity of future Supreme Courts has been protected from the undue influences of a vocal, radical faction of the right that is completely out of step with mainstream America.
While I do not support several of the judges that were agreed to, I am pleased that responsible Republicans and my Democratic colleagues were able to put aside their differences and worked to retain checks and balance-s and ensure all voices are heard in our democracy.
Congress is a separate and equal branch of government -- that is our founding fathers' vision, and one we hold dear. Democrats will never tolerate abuse of power and have worked hard to make sure George Bush and Dick Cheney know their attempt to trample the Constitution and grab absolute control is over.
This victory is yours too. I know many of you signed petitions, wrote and called your members of Congress, and wrote letters to the editor. In this battle, you made the difference.
Now Democrats will turn to work on the people's business. We need to protect retiree's pensions and long-term retirement security. We need to expand health care opportunities for all families. We need to address rising gasoline prices and energy independence. And we need to restore fiscal responsibility and rebuild our economy so that it lifts up all American workers. We need to ensure our troops have the resources they need to fight in Iraq and that Americans are free from terrorism. That is our reform agenda, the people's reform agenda. Together, we can get the job done.

Thank you,

Harry Reid

NOW MY RESPONSE:

Are you kidding me? You consider this a victory? All you guys ended up doing was capitulating...not sticking to your guns. The result is simply a delay...an agreement to go through the whole thing again later, while giving up on the judges you thought should be disqualified. Now Owen is in, and likely most of the others will get in as well.

By forcing Frist to go through with his deal..."if" he would have, you would have helped the republican party dig their own '06 graves, and they still would have gotten their judges in. Now they appear more reasonable, and more willing to work with the dems. I am a democrat, and proud of it...but I am ashamed of the party and their abject failure to hold their ground!

To both you and Ms. Pelosi (another mouth with no teeth), stop the bull...stop the dumb-speak...the spin makes me dizzy, not elated. Grow some testicles (metaphorically speaking), find someone with guile, determination, guts, and the where-with-all to stand-up and speak. Find a camera...follow Bush to whatever rock he slithers out from under...ask the hard questions...never mind the attempts to diminish your reason...ask more tough questions. When he is finally unable to answer because his vocabulary is so limited, then just maybe you will crack the fascade of imbecilic cherub charm.

Dr. Alan H. Levinson
NY

Comment #21: Kira said on 5/25/05 @ 9:04pm ET...

Great email back Dr. Levinson -- I got the same email and was disgusted. You've inspired me to write my own "damn fools" response.

They should be reminded to listen to George Galloway's speech over & over until they learn how to properly debate the issues with this bullying party.

Comment #22: Hannah said on 5/26/05 @ 2:32am ET...

#20 & #21
I get the feeling Sen. Reid says all these nicey nice things, but behind the scenes is tough as nails. Not long ago I read an interesting story about his standing up to the mob when he was gaming commissioner in Nevada.

I was disappointed with the deal, too, but wonder if the Dems would have prevailed in the nuclear option. I wonder if moderate Repubs, facing the Rove machine, would have the guts to vote against it.

Kos (dailykos) had some interesting points (summarized here) about why the deal was a good thing:
1 Dems are at a 10-seat disadvantage. Not a position of strength.
2 Reid had 49 sure votes against the nuclear option and needed two of four undecided Repubs to get to 51.
3 Had Reid come up short, the filibuster is dead.
4 If the filibuster is dead, Bush names *anyone* he wants to the Supreme Court and there's not a thing the Dems could do about it.

I think the American people are looking for a voice of reason and compromise and Sen. Reid and the Dems are fulfilling this, while the neocons are doing themselves political damage. Poll after poll shows that the Repubs are losing this ideological battle.

The blame for the current situation belongs squarely on Bush, his "mandate", and the neocons in the administration and Congress. It also lies with right wing extremists Dobson and Perkins dictating their will on the neocons. Had Bush nominated decent people to posts and the courts, all of the time used to debate these contentious nominees could have instead been used to solve some real problems!!!

Now that Owen is confirmed, we have now moved back to Bolton. Ugh. Let's pray that enough Repubs get a conscience and vote against this awful pick. Sen. Voinovich was quite emotional in his floor speech today in his opposition to Bolton. I hope some moderate R's were listening.

Comment #23: Denise Hesse said on 5/26/05 @ 6:58am ET...

What can I say, except thank you again Rep Conyers! Sometimes it seems like you and the colleagues that stand with you are the only members of the House that are in tune or seem to give a rip about the "real world" issues that deeply affect every day life for so many Americans. Thanks again, you have delivered another top notch event that has laid the ground work for reform and attempted to bring to the people what the right wing does not want us to see. Good job,!

Thanks for fighting the good fight
Thanks for answering the call!

Comment #24: Paul said on 5/26/05 @ 8:15am ET...

Well said, Denise. Thanks for the good fight.

Comment #25: paul said on 5/26/05 @ 8:44am ET...

Susan Carr, nice analogy re. propaganda. I'm reminded of one of the best Republican propaganda strokes (as I saw it), which happened after the Democratic convention, a convention that went pretty well for Kerry and the Democrats - a nice big flower for them.

Wasn't it a day or two later that the oddball terror warning came out about possible attacks on financial centers, warnings that were based on old news? As I remember it, those warnings neatly took the edge off Kerry's post convention poll gains. I think that statistics have shown that terror warnings almost always coincided with Bush poll gains.

At the time, some folks suspected that the neatly timed financial center terror warnings might have been a Republican attempt to steal Democrat thunder with a brightly colored "flower" of their own. Many pooh poohed such cynical doubts.

I wonder if they are still pooh poohing after Ridge's recent acknowledgement that at times, or even frequently, he disagreed with terror alerts that the Bush administration insisted on.

Oh wait, that news didn't get much play, did it!

Comment #26: Hannah said on 5/26/05 @ 8:58am ET...

Thanks for your thoughts on the filibuster "compromise". I see it completely differently, but I hope I'm wrong, so I appreciate any attempts to explain how it wasn't just a capitulation.

The way I see it, the Dems gave up the principle of the filibuster by, in essence, giving right of approval to the Republicans. I suppose that if moderate Republicans show that they really are willing to buck the extremist party line, that could work. But I really don't see much indication that that will happen. What I see is the occasional rebellion that is readily put down or minimized. Specter here, Voinovich there ... I'm not sure it amounts to much. When the hammer hits the gavel, they seem to line up like robots, for the most part.

So as I see it, the Dems gave up the principle of filibuster.

Granted, the Dems probably would have lost on the Senate vote (though we don't know that). Then the next step would have been for them to take the case to the people all out. Freeze the Senate, take the case to the people and take a stand.

We must remember that the Dems have hardly been overusing the filibuster. Far from it.

Now they've given up the principle of it, without a fight.

But, that said, I'm listening. I would love to be wrong about this and I'll be most happy to have my views changed!

Comment #27: Paul said on 5/26/05 @ 9:05am ET...

Whoops, that last comment was by Paul addressed to Hannah, not by hannah!

Comment #28: fact said on 5/26/05 @ 9:16am ET...

WOW! Who is that fat guy trying to sell used cars to JC?

Comment #29: APWU Steward said on 5/26/05 @ 10:22am ET...

While listening to the comments on Air America Tuesday I thought I heard that Hannity - Roger Ailes - and Limbaugh were invited to tesitfy as well.

Did I hear right and why has that not been mentioned on the Blog or in this forum. Perhaps that is the real story.
These guys, Hannity - Ailes and Limbaugh rail against the percieved bias daily and yet when given an opportunity to respond...

APWU - Steward

Comment #30: rainbow sally said on 5/26/05 @ 10:36am ET...

Thank you John.

I won't give up either.

Comment #31: Chris said on 5/26/05 @ 1:40pm ET...

Rep. Conyers,

I just found your blog site and will be a regular visitor. As for a personal request, please keep the pressure on the Bush Administration regarding the Downing Street Memo.

Thank you, and God bless...

Comment #32: Rob said on 5/26/05 @ 1:50pm ET...

Thank you for all the hard work you're doing not only for your constituents but for the country as a whole. We need more representatives like you to hold the administration's and the Washington press' feet to the fire.

On that note, let me advertise: an email interview with Raw Story's Larisa Alexandrovna is at realitique.com.

Comment #33: aar said on 5/26/05 @ 2:31pm ET...

Who is FAT BOY in the picture?

Is that AL FRANKENBURGER, Mr. Conyer's suck up?

Comment #34: Hannah said on 5/26/05 @ 3:05pm ET...

Paul #26:
I do agree with you, too. I can certainly see both points of view and I was mightily looking forward to the Dems pushing forward their agenda, since it is truly what America wants and needs.

Since Frist and Graham have said they will not relinquish the nuclear option should the Dems filibuster someone for reasons they don't consider extreme, this is far from over. But again, the majority of the American public wants balance and bipartisanship. A poll announced yesterday even showed that 2/3 of America wants judges to be approved by a 60 vote minimum, not 51.

The Repubs are on the wrong side of just about every issue!!! The Dems need to keep pushing.

Reid has said the Dems will filibuster Myers and Saad - at least he did the other day after the agreement was announced. Stay tuned.

Comment #35: maxie said on 5/26/05 @ 3:32pm ET...

parentsagainstadraft"

Date: Thu, 26 May 2005 18:40:34 -0000
Subject: [FightTheDraft] Rangel to Introduce Draft Bill in 2005


I just called Congressman Rangel's office to find out if he is still
planning to reintroduce a Draft bill. The answer was an
unqualified "YES." He plans to do so this year.I just received this email on my yahoo group email.I knew it was only a matter of time before this started,we may be at war with out own govenment before long.

Comment #36: Valley Girl said on 5/26/05 @ 7:17pm ET...

Dear Rep. Conyers,

I don't know if you've seen this article or not, but I found it more than interesting. Well worth a read.

A Democracy Can Die of Too Many Lies by Bill Moyers

http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig6/moyers1.html

Comment #37: hardy said on 5/26/05 @ 7:27pm ET...

FAT BOY = Franken. That is funny. He really is one ugly fat boy isn't he?

Comment #38: My 2 Cents said on 5/26/05 @ 10:28pm ET...

There is no surer sign of the fact that the tide has turned against the moronic right wing than them getting desperate enough to visit websites like this one and call people names.

"Squawk! Franken's fat! Squawk!"

Memo to "Hardy" and Admiral Nimitz: find something better to do. Does it occur to you that your administration's poll numbers are in precipitous decline? Are you capable of associating anything in particular with that fact?

Congressman Conyers, KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK. We'll turn this around.

Comment #39: Kira said on 5/27/05 @ 1:45am ET...

Hah! #38 -- I believe it's the lazy 101st keyboardists wingnut reserves who should be in Iraq, fighting this war they supported & voted for. Shame on you chicken hypocrites.

Comment #40: Hal Snyder said on 5/27/05 @ 4:37am ET...

Thank you, Congressman Conyers, and please keep up the fight. Without an effective press our country is running off the rails. We desperately need honest and in-depth review of what is going on.

At the Media Reform Conference - http://www.freepress.net/conference - in St. Louis two weeks ago, Representatives Maurice Hinchey, Bernie Sanders, and Diane Watson mentioned a congressional caucus on the Future of American Media. I wonder if the Forum on Media Bias is related to that effort.

Comment #41: Phyllis Smith said on 5/28/05 @ 11:48am ET...

It sounds encouraging. The Right still seems to be able to make a very big deal of every liberal error, while squelching very effectively discussion of even their largest and most flagrant mistakes. The lies about WMD's did not get nearly as much attention for nearly as long as Monica.The truth about the Jessica Lynch "rescue" was a mere whisper, the May 1rst memo hardly aroused a whimper. It remains very disheartening.

Comment #42: Teresa Teng said on 5/28/05 @ 11:10pm ET...

Re: #4

Check out http://www.cspan.org/VideoArchives.asp?CatCodePairs=,&ArchiveDays=100&Page=1

They should have an archive of the forum posted on Tuesday.

Comment #43: B.Jeany said on 5/29/05 @ 5:23pm ET...

I TiVod the conference from last night's C-SPAN broadcast, and I think it's a must-see for those of us who're determined to take the country back. I can't find the program archive in the listings, but I only went in about 12 or 13 pages. If anyone has a link to the archived streaming file, would you please post it?

Comment #44: Dottie Ji said on 5/29/05 @ 10:54pm ET...

I have the greatest respect for you Mr. Conyers, for your work on Election Reform and now the Downing Street Memo. Please keep up your good work--at least there's someone I can be proud of in Congress.

Comment #45: Julie Spears said on 5/30/05 @ 6:00pm ET...

I feel so priviledged that I was able to see "The Future of the Media" on C-SPAN the night before last, and I wish that everyone in the country, not only those with cable television, could witness the "speaking truth to power" that I did.

I thank Hon. John Conyers and his colleagues from the House that joined the discussion for their concern and support for the hard fight ahead to restore the freedom of the press, so necessary to our democracy.

The panel was extraordinary--every one of them brought insight and ideas to the table.

This forum was the first time in several years that my heart has been lifted with hope for the future of our country.

Comment #46: Scott Lahteine said on 5/31/05 @ 7:11am ET...

The question of Media Bias is certainly not a left-right or liberal-conservative issue. This is the most important thing to realize. There is a great documentary called Manufacturing Consent which goes into astounding detail about the workings of propaganda with an emphasis on the academic work of Noam Chomsky. In particular it displays that the media is tailored towards "affluent" audiences in the interest of increasing advertising revenue. The result of this kind of media is that nothing is reported that might shine negatively on the establishment or threaten the interests of the large corporations that own these media.

There is no real need for explicit censorship in the most extreme sense. Rather, those who display signs of independent thinking are simply discouraged from rising very far in the media establishment. Those like Greg Palast who dare to perform investigative reporting in the Woodward and Bernstein manner are forced outside of the American media establishment and find safe harbors in alternative media or foreign media.

The media is an extension of industry, and no industry consciously allows itself to be subverted from within. Its primary aim is to distract, disillusion, and engender distrust and ambivalence in the democratic process. Entertainment and sports focuses on low-order dynamics and seek to act as enablers for the ethos of conspicuous consumption. By praising beauty and putting down ordinary human flaws they seek on a certain level to alienate us from ourselves and each other so that we will seek material comforts like food, drink, etc. They create imagery that encourages differentiation through narrow social cohesion based around concepts like shallow style or "family" identity. While holding these things up as right and good, they conceal the fact that such identifications are really intended to work against global consciousness and the sense of world-citizenship.

The right-wing media particularly plays on negative emotions, fears, and social divisions to further its aims. You will notice the mastery that the right-wing media figures have at invoking negative imagery and emotionally potent oversimplifications. They attack the image, they attack the character, they attack the style, and they avoid issues of substance. They appeal to the need for people to feel that they are "good americans" by propping up a straw man of "bad americans" who can be recognized by their non-conformance to certain narrow aesthetic standards. Their purpose is to rally the coarse, the selfish, the mean, the fearful, and to demonize the generous inclusive soul. By a slow and steady and continuing process they are building a power base of deceived citizens who perceive the world as a competitive arena and America as a moral bludgeon to the rest of the world.

They shape perception by pretending most of this stuff. They feign outrage in order to distract people. They pretend that their spin on various issues represents a valid reaction with a valid ethical core. But it is obvious to anyone who watches these folks for any length of time that they are simply pressing a fascist agenda. Their most effective strategy has been to pretend that there is a "liberal bias" in the media. They have done this systematically for more than 20 years in order to cow the media into avoiding anything that might imply a "liberal bias." The very term "liberal bias" is comically oxymoronic, however, because "liberal" means (in this sense) to include a diverse array of voices. We don't get anything like that here in our media, especially not TV news. Instead we hear primarily from white male representatives of business and industry, or a round-robin panel of "experts" from ideological thinktanks whose job is to subvert fact in favor of their interests. The media as I say have been cowed, but now since the media is so consolidated and this strategy turns out to be a profitable and useful approach for them they are willingly getting deeper and deeper into propaganda.

This country was established on the principle of a separation of powers in order to prevent oppressive powers from overriding the interests of common people. It is essential to recognize emerging powers as we go forward with our great experiment and push for increasing oversight over these emerging powers. The primary power now is the military industrial complex. They garner billions of dollars from projects like the occupation of Iraq which is then converted directly into political influence. Under this administration an enormous amount of tax revenue has been laundered through the Iraq project to friends of the Bush family in Texas and elsewhere. That money is being funneled directly back into their political base to further entrench their power. The media has been 100% complicit in this process because they recognized early on the enormous windfalls that come from cheerleading a war.

This is why the current administration is so anxious to go on these right-wing pundit shows and lend these hacks an air of validity. This is why someone like Rush Limbaugh - master propagandist - is on the Army's own taxpayer-funded radio station. These coarse men who serve the function of industry bludgeon are not taken seriously by any educated person, and yet the POTUS himself loves them with a special fondness.

The only solution going forward is to press for increasing oversight, to explicitly recognize the media and the military industrial complex as real branches of this Government of by and for the People. They must be pushed out of the halls of power and they must be made to account for their disproportionate influence on our laws and policies. They should never again be permitted to manufacture a war of THEIR convenience utilizing OUR government.

Let's keep the conversation going. An informed and educated populous is essential to a functioning democracy. With this in mind, burying the facts is not just selfish and irresponsible of the media, it is absolutely seditious.

Comment #47: Glynn Wilson said on 5/31/05 @ 5:14pm ET...

I was hoping to post a link to the forum on freedom of the press, but this Web site is so badly done that I guess the cause is hopeless. So is Al Franken's Web site. We've got to do better people.

Glynn Wilson
Editor & Publisher
Locust Fork Publishing
http://www.locustfork.net

Comment #48: Chris said on 6/1/05 @ 1:54pm ET...

Under the heading "Fox News admits bias," I found this excerpt on slate.msn.com today. Quote is from Scott Norvell, London bureau chief for Fox News. This was in the May 20 edition of the WSJ (European edition):

"Even we at Fox News manage to get some lefties on the air occasionally, and often let them finish their sentences before we club them to death and feed the scraps to Karl Rove and Bill O'Reilly. And those who hate us can take solace in the fact that they aren't subsidizing Bill's bombast; we payers of the BBC license fee don't enjoy that peace of mind."

"Fox News is, after all, a private channel and our presenters are quite open about where they stand on particular stories. That's our appeal. People watch us because they know what they are getting. The Beeb's institutionalized leftism would be easier to tolerate if the corporation was a little more honest about it."

Full article at http://slate.msn.com/id/2119864/#ContinueArticle

-C