Daily Archives: Friday, February 6, 2009

” US military turned into global propaganda machine” says AP head

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LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The Bush administration turned the U.S. military into a global propaganda machine while imposing tough restrictions on journalists seeking to give the public truthful reports about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Associated Press chief executive Tom Curley said Friday.

Curley, speaking to journalists at the University of Kansas, said the news industry must immediately negotiate a new set of rules for covering war because ”we are the only force out there to keep the government in check and to hold it accountable.”

continue reading here:  http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/02/06/us/AP-Curley-War-Reporting.html

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Posted in Media failures, Military matters, Propaganda

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Looks like they made a deal

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Senators Reach Deal to Cut Stimulus Bill to $780B

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/02/06/washington/AP-Congress-Stimulus.html?_r=1

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Posted in Economic stuff

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Today’s snark

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Eric Boehlert of that fine organization known as Media Matters will be on CNN at around 3:20 to discuss this column, assuming a white woman doesn’t go missing.    Atrios at Eschaton

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Posted in Today's snark

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What would Jesus get early tickets to?

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The latest schedule for the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C. late February:  Possible presidential candidates include Rep. Paul Ryan (WI), speaking Thursday, Rep. Mike Pence (IN), speaking Thursday — he’s invited, not confirmed — Gov. Mike Huckabee, on Thursday, Gov. Sarah Palin, on Thursday — invited, not confirmed, and Rep. John Shadegg (AZ). On Friday, Sen. John Cornyn speaks in the early morning; Newt Gingrich hosts a screening of a movie about Ronald Reagan. Ron Paul and Mitt Romney speak in the afternoon. On Saturday, Rick Santorum begins the day and Gov. Tim Palwenty is an invites speaker.  The lovely Ann Coulter speaks at noon. And Rush Limbaugh finishes the conference.  http://politics.theatlantic.com/2009/02/limbaugh_at_cpac.php

 

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Posted in Future of the GOP and conservative movement

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Quote of the day – “Locutions” category

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Bill Bennett on the subject of Rush Limbaugh stating he “hopes Obama will fail”.

“The locution ‘I want him to fail’ is not what you say the first week the man’s been inaugurated … the rhetoric could be improved.”

Yes.  That’s…uh…level-headed of you, Bill.  I guess it is like when Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says that Israel ought to end up in the sea, the problem is one of ‘locution’.

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Posted in Propaganda, Today's quote

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The beautiful

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Posted in The beautiful

Seeger Sessions (The Band’s ‘Atlantic City’)

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This piece goes 0 – 60 real quick.  And in style.

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Posted in Today's music

Nichols and May

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I’ve posted this before but it is so exceptionally funny that I’ll probably put it up top once every few months just to share with as many folks as possible.  As you’ll hear, they are in the studio working up a routine.  This is an MP3 file I found a few years ago and it’s quite safe even if your computer throws up an automatic alert.

ni-nichols-and-may-at-work-mike-nichols-and-elaine-may

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Posted in Detritus

The subservient, obsequious, ass-kissing American media

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In response to an earlier post here, a chap included a youtube video of the British Foreign Secretary being interviewed on BBC.  Those of you who attend to Brit media will appreciate how much more aggressive they are there in contrast to America as regards their questioning of political figures.  It’s bloody refreshing.

On the other hand, it is also bloody depressing that the media here, in a republic, treat senior political figures as if they were monarchs. 

That earlier post is here:  http://bernielatham.wordpress.com/2009/02/04/uk-judges-acccuse-us-of-threat-over-torture-case/#comment-208

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Posted in Media failures

Congressman bites SEC officials

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Delicious!

h/t Myron

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Posted in Economic stuff

Krugman on Morning Joe

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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036789/vp/29051511#29051511

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Posted in Economic stuff, Politics and the economy

I did not know this!

Posted on Friday, February 6, 2009 | Leave a comment

The “Bush Legacy Project”, the on-going campaign which began about 8 months ago out of the White House to bolster the reputation of Bush and his tenure as president, had a precedent.  Will Bunch mentioned it last evening on Rachel Maddow’s show…the “Reagan Legacy Project”.

Take a look at the Sourcewatch page on it:  http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Ronald_Reagan_Legacy_Project   Note particularly the advisory board headed up by (big surprise) Grover Norquist.

If anyone remains under the mistaken apprehension that we are engaged in something less than a propaganda alley-fight, disabuse yourself of it.  If you’re comfortable with the consequences of modern Republican governance, relax.

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Posted in Bush legacy project, Culture war, Politics and the economy, Propaganda

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Brilliance from John Cole – “You’ll Never Get This 21 Minutes Of Your Life Back”

Posted on Friday, February 6, 2009 | Leave a comment

Instapundit, Malkin, and Joe the Plumber discuss politics for PJTV.

There is so much to love about this, I don’t know where to start, but certainly Joe the Plumber bemoaning the lack of spending cuts and general program cuts in the stimulus bill was a highlight. It is almost as if he doesn’t have the first damned clue what he is talking about. A close runner-up would be Instapundit heralding Bush’s MBA as evidence of his awesome managerial skills. There was just so much to love, it is hard to narrow down the “best” parts.

I really don’t understand how bipartisanship is ever going to work when one of the parties is insane. [italics added] Imagine trying to negotiate an agreement on dinner plans with your date, and you suggest Italian and she states her preference would be a meal of tire rims and anthrax. If you can figure out a way to split the difference there and find a meal you will both enjoy, you can probably figure out how bipartisanship is going to work the next few years.  http://www.balloon-juice.com/?p=16770

Watch the insane people here:  http://www.pjtv.com/?cmd=video&media-id=4522&video-id=1320&video-title=Conservatism_20%3A_Joe%2C_Obama_Appointments_and_Stimulus_Fund&series-name=PJTV_Daily_

h/t digby

 

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Posted in Center-right nation, Culture war, Future of the GOP and conservative movement

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Quote of the day – “sanity” category

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“This is not a game.  This is not a contest for who’s in power and who’s up and who’s down.”   Barack Obama  http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2009/02/obama_asks_democrats_to_quickly_pass_stimulus_plan.php

Let’s add another here too, from Josh:

It [house Republican economic knowledge and ideology] really does approach flat earth territory.

When you step back from the immediacy of the moment and consider just what nonsense these guys are spouting and what games they’re playing while the country is legitimately in danger, it’s breathtaking. All the reporters have fallen down on the job. But maybe we can hope for more tide-turning tomorrow.   http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/ (see A Turning Tide?)

 

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Posted in Culture war, Economic stuff, Obama, Politics and the economy, Propaganda

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Bill Kristol gets role in new version of 1984

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He read for the role of Winston Smith but wasn’t right for the part.   Instead, he’ll be doing the narration for the “Two Minute Hate” video.  

Being on the edge of a severe depression isn’t of much importance to Bill.  But perpetual war, there’s the ticket.

  http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/016/111wvmhb.asp

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Posted in Propaganda

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England still getting snockered by snowfall and cold

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/feb/06/snow-britain-weather-travel

ps…”snockered” is improperly used here but I just like the sound of it

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Posted in Detritus

I’m waiting for an accident between two of these British buses

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LONDON, Feb. 5 — Three Christian groups in Britain are putting ads on city buses proclaiming that there is a God, a reaction to a high-profile atheist campaign here that has spread around the globe.

From the United States and Canada to Italy, Spain and Australia, nonbelievers have been placing anti-religious ads on buses — usually seen promoting toothpaste, cellphones and other products — and stirring up national debates about God.

Thousands of people in Britain recently raised $200,000 to place an ad on 800 London buses that reads: “There is probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.”

Now, just as that campaign has ended, the Christian Party is putting up its response: “There definitely is a God.” The Russian Orthodox Church’s bus ad reads: “There is a God. BELIEVE. Don’t worry and enjoy your life.” And in the next few days, the Trinitarian Bible Society will be posting a line from Psalm 53:1: “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.”   http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/05/AR2009020503150.html?hpid=sec-world

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Posted in Culture war

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Quote of the day – “Ready the neighborhood guillotines” category

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Somehow, Washington has lost any sense of what’s at stake — of the reality that we may well be falling into an economic abyss, and that if we do, it will be very hard to get out again.  Paul Krugman  http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/06/opinion/06krugman.html

 

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Posted in Culture war, Economic stuff, Future of the GOP and conservative movement, Politics and the economy, Propaganda