Infatuation.....

[Guest]

This editorial goes to part of the nucleus of my theory that our President, while he seems like a nice guy, has conned this nation. As we watch him do the opposite (in some cases, the EXACT) of what he says (and he says it so beautifully) NOBODY is watching...NOBODY is critiquing him !

"The Obama infatuation is a great unreported story of our time. Has any recent president basked in so much favorable media coverage? Well, maybe John Kennedy for a moment; but no president since. On the whole, this is not healthy for America.

Our political system works best when a president faces checks on his power. But the main checks on Obama are modest. They come from congressional Democrats, who largely share his goals if not always his means. The leaderless and confused Republicans don't provide effective opposition. And the press -- on domestic, if not foreign, policy -- has so far largely abdicated its role as skeptical observer."

Obama has inspired a collective fawning. What started in the campaign (the chief victim was Hillary Clinton, not John McCain) has continued, as a study by the Pew Research Center's Project for Excellence in Journalism shows."

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2009/06/01/the_obama_infatuation_96768.html


"Obama's rhetoric brims with inconsistencies. In the campaign, he claimed he would de-emphasize partisanship -- and also enact a highly-partisan agenda; both couldn't be true. He got a pass. Now, he claims he will control health care spending even though he proposes more government spending. He promotes "fiscal responsibility" when projections show huge and continuous budget deficits. Journalists seem to take his pronouncements at face value even when many are two-faced."


Folks this is not a right wing nut job as some editorialist are called. A serious non partial writer...read it.

We need somebody in some corner to stand up and call him on some of the things that are going on...everything that was predicted is coming true. The government is so involved in banking and finance...own GM...the unions are growing in strength and keep an eye on legislation that will make them even stronger. This is happening at light speed and we better wake up !

Watch what he does, not what he says !!!!

[Guest]

This editorial goes to part of the nucleus of my theory that our President, while he seems like a nice guy, has conned this nation. As we watch him do the opposite (in some cases, the EXACT) of what he says (and he says it so beautifully) NOBODY is watching...NOBODY is critiquing him !

"The Obama infatuation is a great unreported story of our time. Has any recent president basked in so much favorable media coverage? Well, maybe John Kennedy for a moment; but no president since. On the whole, this is not healthy for America.

Our political system works best when a president faces checks on his power. But the main checks on Obama are modest. They come from congressional Democrats, who largely share his goals if not always his means. The leaderless and confused Republicans don't provide effective opposition. And the press -- on domestic, if not foreign, policy -- has so far largely abdicated its role as skeptical observer."

Obama has inspired a collective fawning. What started in the campaign (the chief victim was Hillary Clinton, not John McCain) has continued, as a study by the Pew Research Center's Project for Excellence in Journalism shows."

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2009/06/01/the_obama_infatuation_96768.html


"Obama's rhetoric brims with inconsistencies. In the campaign, he claimed he would de-emphasize partisanship -- and also enact a highly-partisan agenda; both couldn't be true. He got a pass. Now, he claims he will control health care spending even though he proposes more government spending. He promotes "fiscal responsibility" when projections show huge and continuous budget deficits. Journalists seem to take his pronouncements at face value even when many are two-faced."


Folks this is not a right wing nut job as some editorialist are called. A serious non partial writer...read it.

We need somebody in some corner to stand up and call him on some of the things that are going on...everything that was predicted is coming true. The government is so involved in banking and finance...own GM...the unions are growing in strength and keep an eye on legislation that will make them even stronger. This is happening at light speed and we better wake up !

Watch what he does, not what he says !!!!

The only way that's going to happen is for the Republican Party to attain a majority in either (or both) the House and Senate as a result of the 2010 election. Until then, it's "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride" for real.

If there isn't either a Republican Speaker of the House or Leader of the Senate as a result of the 2010 election, that "wild ride" is going to get scarier.

[Guest]

You are correct Steve, but we used to have the media to help the citizenary along the way !!!

This is the one thing in that article that really scares me since NOBODY is awake

"Obama's rhetoric brims with inconsistencies. In the campaign, he claimed he would de-emphasize partisanship -- and also enact a highly-partisan agenda; both couldn't be true. He got a pass. Now, he claims he will control health care spending even though he proposes more government spending. He promotes "fiscal responsibility" when projections show huge and continuous budget deficits. Journalists seem to take his pronouncements at face value even when many are two-faced."

[Guest]

You are correct Steve, but we used to have the media to help the citizenary along the way !!!

This is the one thing in that article that really scares me since NOBODY is awake

"Obama's rhetoric brims with inconsistencies. In the campaign, he claimed he would de-emphasize partisanship -- and also enact a highly-partisan agenda; both couldn't be true. He got a pass. Now, he claims he will control health care spending even though he proposes more government spending. He promotes "fiscal responsibility" when projections show huge and continuous budget deficits. Journalists seem to take his pronouncements at face value even when many are two-faced."
Well, the good thing is that the 2010 election usually only drags out about a third or fewer of the registered voters. So, it doesn't take a large turn-out of any specific group to sway an election.

The bad thing is that a disjointed Republican party has to work like the dickens to keep what it has, and seeking gains will be even harder work.

But, nothing ventured.......

[Guest]

Basically we have a state-run media that never asks tough questions. It's as if they are afraid they will be thrown in the Gulag if they make any waves. Can you imagine the repercussions if Laura Bush said things like she was not proud of America? Can you imagine Vice President Cheney getting away with the crap that Biden says.
Tonite I watched part of President Reagan's speech in France to comemorate the 40th anniversery of D-Day. When I compare the difference between that man and the guy we have today..it is stark, indeed.
Reagan always talked about how good America is. "We are the beacon on the hill". The annointed one says nothing good about america and even apoligizes for all our alleged wrongs.
Did you see him walking with the two other "leaders"? He walked like it was all about him...that guy is the most arrogant [material removed by Tony] I ever saw.
I am personally embarrassed that he is over there right now.
Ok...I'm going back to my "Saving Private Ryan" movie right now. They are getting ready for the invasion of France.

[Guest]

I saw Reagan's speech, also. Very touching. I wonder how Obama is going to work in his apology, when he gives his speech there.

[Guest]

The only way that's going to happen is for the Republican Party to attain a majority in either (or both) the House and Senate as a result of the 2010 election. Until then, it's "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride" for real.

If there isn't either a Republican Speaker of the House or Leader of the Senate as a result of the 2010 election, that "wild ride" is going to get scarier.That election is essentially "tomorrow". Do you see any rising stars in the GOP to fill those shoes and capture the votes?

[Guest]

That election is essentially "tomorrow". Do you see any rising stars in the GOP to fill those shoes and capture the votes?
No, but there doesn't have to be a Pied Piper. Step #1 is to win the local representative elections. Step #2 is up to the winners in Step #1, as they agree to a Speaker/Leader. That takes care of Congress.

Personally my preference has always to have one party control Congress, and the other party control the White House. That was, it takes a super-majority for a new law or expenditure, and if it takes more than a mere majority (which is party-controlled), then the odds are the action is really good for the nation as opposed to the party. One-party rule usually results in "change" as the boilerplate foreword in the next election.

[Guest]

Basically we have a state-run media that never asks tough questions. It's as if they are afraid they will be thrown in the Gulag if they make any waves. Can you imagine the repercussions if Laura Bush said things like she was not proud of America? Can you imagine Vice President Cheney getting away with the crap that Biden says.
Tonite I watched part of President Reagan's speech in France to comemorate the 40th anniversery of D-Day. When I compare the difference between that man and the guy we have today..it is stark, indeed.
Reagan always talked about how good America is. "We are the beacon on the hill". The annointed one says nothing good about america and even apoligizes for all our alleged wrongs.
Did you see him walking with the two other "leaders"? He walked like it was all about him...that guy is the most arrogant Bas*** I ever saw.
I am personally embarrassed that he is over there right now.
Ok...I'm going back to my "Saving Private Ryan" movie right now. They are getting ready for the invasion of France.

State-run media? I can't decide if that notion is silly or merely stupid. It has Limbaugh/Hannity/Savage written all over it. Why don't people think for themselves, rather than pass along the idiocy of the right-wing radio entertainers who just want to create controversy for its own sake?

[Guest]

State-run media? I can't decide if that notion is silly or merely stupid. It has Limbaugh/Hannity/Savage written all over it. Why don't people think for themselves, rather than pass along the idiocy of the right-wing radio entertainers who just want to create controversy for its own sake?

I don't know if you are calling me stupid or the others you mentioned. Do you know my reading viewing habits? I have watched the press conferences and heard the soft-ball type questions that are asked of this administration. Where are the tough questions that they threw at Tony Snow?
Create controversy???? Are you for real or is your head buried too deep into the New York Times? Look...we are not supposed to flame each other so I will not address you personally anymore.
I personally visit left-leaning sites to see where they are coming from on various issues. You can't critique the other side if you don't know the other side.
In a perfect world there is no sides. Unfortunetly there are factions out there with motives. :shrug:?Can you really tell me with a straight face that this administration receives the same scrutiny that the previous one did?

Keedy

[Guest]

State-run media? I can't decide if that notion is silly or merely stupid. It has Limbaugh/Hannity/Savage written all over it. Why don't people think for themselves, rather than pass along the idiocy of the right-wing radio entertainers who just want to create controversy for its own sake?

One does keep hearing the same mantras repeated over and over on these entertainment(??) shows. Mainstream media, left wing media, socialism, Marxism, communism etc.

[Guest]

so very obvious ALIGNMENT. And since so many like to always put issues in terms of Bush.....does any warm blooded human with a pulse think the treatment of the past POTUS and the current POTUS are in any way equitable?

The answer: one could do no right and the other can do no wrong.....

If you want a better perspective on BHO read the news from the UK, Germany or any other non US media. You will note a very different picture.

BTK

[Guest]

I agree, this administration is getting softball treatment...just as Reagan did. I am not at all suggesting that you are stupid. I don't even know you or your news-seeking inclinations. The problem that I have is the notion that the media is state-run. It clearly is not but its reporting is shallow and incomplete.
When some politician or media pundit makes a statement that is obviously in juxtaposition with facts and reality, today's crop of weak, silly-ass reporters simply report it -- making no effort to factually show the errors or misrepresentations of the quoted statement or how it conflicts with what they (the politicians and pundits) have stated in the past. In my mind, nearly all of the media -- left, right, center -- is guilty of this.
Exhibit A -- Judith Miller, formerly of the New York Times, who presented as fact the misrepresentations offered by the previous administration in the run up to the invasion of Iraq. Then Cheney, in turn, cited that paper in support of his false and misleading claims re weapons of mass destruction and the bone-headed notion that Iraq was in cahoots with Bin Laden. The NY Times eventually had the good sense to can her. Does that wash her up in the media? No, she becomes a "journalist commentator?" on Fox News, for heavens sake!
Tell me that's not silly or stupid.

[Guest]

I agree, this administration is getting softball treatment...just as Reagan did. I am not at all suggesting that you are stupid. I don't even know you or your news-seeking inclinations. The problem that I have is the notion that the media is state-run. It clearly is not but its reporting is shallow and incomplete.
When some politician or media pundit makes a statement that is obviously in juxtaposition with facts and reality, today's crop of weak, silly-ass reporters simply report it -- making no effort to factually show the errors or misrepresentations of the quoted statement or how it conflicts with what they (the politicians and pundits) have stated in the past. In my mind, nearly all of the media -- left, right, center -- is guilty of this.
Exhibit A -- Judith Miller, formerly of the New York Times, who presented as fact the misrepresentations offered by the previous administration in the run up to the invasion of Iraq. Then Cheney, in turn, cited that paper in support of his false and misleading claims re weapons of mass destruction and the bone-headed notion that Iraq was in cahoots with Bin Laden. The NY Times eventually had the good sense to can her. Does that wash her up in the media? No, she becomes a "journalist commentator?" on Fox News, for heavens sake!
Tell me that's not silly or stupid.


There is no doubt the Judith Miller story as you tellit is dumb !

There are numerous storied from the right and the left !

The basic idea of this thread is this.....during the campaign for the candidacy and the Presidentacy the media just stop looking into anything and fawned all over candidate Obama.

Can you imagine ANY CANDIDATE OF ANY PARTY AT ANY TIME having this background (the Wright connection which would just about eliminate any other candidate...the Ayers connection, and there IS a connection.....and to save a bunch of words, his basic training and where he came from and what he did...two autobiographies which differ by the way in many areas) even getting close to a nomination ? I dont think so. You can debate any individual issue but be honest....any politician with half this baggage cannot get the nomination !

This country was so hungry for change...any change and this man has amazing oratory skill, the media just ignored his past and fawned.

I will predict that there will be book written just on the subject of how the media misplayed this primary and general election.

There is nobody questioning this administration and there is much to question ! MUCH

[Guest]

Bucco--- Read "A Slobbering Love Affair" by Bernie Goldberg.

[Guest]

Bucco--- Read "A Slobbering Love Affair" by Bernie Goldberg.



I feel stupid that I didn't know of this book. Just saw it on Barnes and Noble and will be ordering it !

Thanks for the reference !

[Guest]

State-run media? I can't decide if that notion is silly or merely stupid. It has Limbaugh/Hannity/Savage written all over it. Why don't people think for themselves, rather than pass along the idiocy of the right-wing radio entertainers who just want to create controversy for its own sake?

Do you believe that the general news media is doing its job of giving us all of the facts about government without slanting it to advance an agenda?

Yoda

A member of the loyal opposition

[Guest]

I don't see so much an agenda...I see incompetence in the so-called 'mainstream media' (I don't clearly know who is part of that, let alone who so decreed it). Some pundits are calling it an agenda to suit their agenda. Fox and MSNBC are both at fault.
If you want a refreshing view, Google both McClatchey News and the Christian Science Monitor.

[Guest]

State-run media? I can't decide if that notion is silly or merely stupid. It has Limbaugh/Hannity/Savage written all over it. Why don't people think for themselves, rather than pass along the idiocy of the right-wing radio entertainers who just want to create controversy for its own sake?

Ohhhhhh, creating controversy for the sake of controversy (and big bucks)..... and also ruining the Republican party.

You know though, I had thought that Limbaugh and Co. were just ventriloquists.

Boomer

[Guest]

Ohhhhhh, creating controversy for the sake of controversy (and big bucks)..... and also ruining the Republican party.

You know though, I had thought that Limbaugh and Co. were just ventriloquists.

Boomer


Not sure I was speaking of the "Limbaugh and Co", Hannity, Savage, etc.

Was speaking more of those who are charged with covering news and asking the questions we need to have asked along with investigating !

[Guest]

Not sure I was speaking of the "Limbaugh and Co", Hannity, Savage, etc.

Was speaking more of those who are charged with covering news and asking the questions we need to have asked along with investigating !



Actually, Bucco, I think we are talking about the same thing.

Why have we allowed the media to render us a nation of puppets? Political discussion must be avoided more and more. At a recent family event, my sister-in-law kept making warning "buzzer" noises when our discussions started to cross over into political. It was funny. But sadly, it was needed, to keep the peace.

I do believe that Limbaugh and Co. have, for some reason, caused so many to simply check their critical thinking skills at the door and be willing to simply repeat the latest catch phrase. But I don't take the left off the hook either. I have most often found though that the far right just gets angrier faster. And communication shuts down. They start to chant the latest thing they heard on Fox Newspeak. Nothing is original thinking on the part of the individual.

Why are there no real reporters anymore? Because we as a nation do not demand it. We are willing to abdicate our thinking to whoever taps into us emotionally. Why we are not outraged by what has happened to the economy and with so many other things, I will never understand. DC is guilty across the board. Where is the outrage? Why aren't we marching in the streets rather than sitting back in front of the big screen, turning into a nation of cash cows for entertainers masquerading as "Good Americans."

A month ago, I ventured in here to Political and I started a thread that I titled "It Was My Party and I'll Cry If I Want To." A little discussion actually went on, for a brief, very brief time. But then the pattern reared its head. And the stuff of the media catch phrases took over. It's a circle in here for the most part, you know. Moderates do not fit in.

I fear for the future of our nation, too. Why are we so willing not to think? It is surreal. It is like one of those futuristic movies or novels. In 1984, I was a part of discussion of the novel 1984. Just a couple of decades early I guess.

Something funny though that I noticed about my little visits into the Political forum. Last month and this month, too, I showed up close to the time of the full moon. Funny. A pattern I saw. I guess that explains it. Seeya next month.

Boomer

[Guest]

I think the so-called moderates have tried to express their frustrations and were mocked and demeaned by the media. I am, of course, talking about the "tea party" demonstrations. I went to one last April and I read all the signs and talked to alot of the participants. These people were just working stiffs concerned about the future of the USA. Many brought their children. It was the most peaceful, thoughtful gathering I have ever been to.

How did the media portray it? They called them bigots, racists and used sexual terms by calling them "tea-*******" After they went home after the demonstrations they saw themselves portrayed that way. It was frustrating. The only news broadcaster that showed them in a favorable mode was Fox News. Why was that????????
Where is the moderate voice??????? Where can concerned citizens turn to????? It is no small wonder that they tune in to the extreme right....they can more identify with them then the one's that mocked them.
Keedy