Say Anything Blog

I like the answer too.

Interesting you should bring this up--especially in light of today’s revelation this appointed administration has been caught bribing yet another journalist with taxpayer monies.

The “reporter” who asked this question was Jeff Gannon of Talon News.

Of course, Talon News is little more than a GOP front organization whose CEO runs GOPUSA--a GOP lobbying organization.

In various dictatorships and third-world banana republics, it’s common practice for the regimes to bribe journalists or even create their own state-run media outlets to portray the corrupt regimes in the best possible light.

In various dictatorships and third-world banana republics, it’s common practice for the regimes to bribe journalists or even create their own state-run media outlets to portray the corrupt regimes in the best possible light.

So, was Bill Clinton a dictator?

For instance, let’s say I was your stockbroker and my company told me to push purchases of XYZ stock because they want to pump up the price. So, I dutifully call you up and sell you on this great ‘hot tip’ about XYZ. Now, you *might* make money on XYZ or you might lose your shirt. Have I behaved ethically?

That would be a great analysis, if we were talking about stock brokers.  But we’re talking about journalists.  His premise was correct and while the question was no doubt delivered with a certain amount of partisan snark it was perfectly legitimate. 

How are Democrats reconciling their talk about economics with their stance on social security?

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

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The “reporter� who asked this question was Jeff Gannon of Talon News.

Of course, Talon News is little more than a GOP front organization whose CEO runs GOPUSA–a GOP lobbying organization.

That doesn’t neccessarily make him wrong.

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

Josh: Once more, Gallagher’s profession is as an opinion writer.  Given that Gallagher has (sort of) apologized and the fact that even many conservative publications have identified her actions as rather smelly, I’d suggest the case is very much open.

Even your president has ordered his cabinet to stop bribing journalists.  Doesn’t sound like the actions of someone who has done nothing wrong.

“That doesn’t neccessarily make him wrong.”

Actually, it does, Rob.  It’s a matter of ethics.  Most professions have ‘em.  For instance, let’s say I was your stockbroker and my company told me to push purchases of XYZ stock because they want to pump up the price.  So, I dutifully call you up and sell you on this great ‘hot tip’ about XYZ.  Now, you *might* make money on XYZ or you might lose your shirt. Have I behaved ethically?

Most reasonable folks would say no and they’d be right.

Hold on while we bring this topic to a screeching halt:

“I was not paid to promote marriage. I was paid to produce particular research and writing products (articles, brochures, presentations), which I produced. My lifelong experience in marriage research, public education and advocacy is the reason HHS hired me.

But the real truth is that it never occurred to me.”

Case closed.  BAR OPEN.  We can now count the number of corrupted jedi I mean journalists on one finger.

No wait make that two fingers:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5952770833

HEH.  Now that is funny.  However this does raise the question: how did Revan and Malak turn so many jedi and republic soldiers to the dark side?  The answer is the Star Forge of course, but my master tells me it is because they are natural leaders, with a strong control over the force.  Eh whatever.

Rob, no you are wrong because the “right opinion” is not constitutional, and therefor should be censored. [/sarcasm]

Thank you Jadegold for pointing out who the reporter was… it was a great question and an even better answer.

"That still doesn’t explain how Democrats are reconciling their talk about the economy with their talk about social security. “

That’s another subject unrelated to this one.  But I’d be happy to entertain it.

First, it’s important to realize Harry Reid never mentioned ‘soup lines.’ Guess who did?

Second, Senator Clinton’s views of the economy are shared by many conservatives--including Sen. Lugar (R-IN).  Record deficits, a falling dollar, stagnant wages, relatively high unemployment--not an attractive picture.

"That would be a great analysis, if we were talking about stock brokers”

It’s analogous.  Gannon is being paid by a GOP front organization to promote the GOP; that’s not journalism--it’s propaganda.

"I don’t mean to get petty about this, but weren’t two of the Crossfire hosts on CNN paid consultants to both Bill Clinton and John Kerry?”

I’ll type very slowly for Joe.  Paul Begala and James Carville were campain consultants and advisors for our last democratically-elected President.  I *think* (not entirely certain) Carville may have done work for Kerry’s campaign.

Now, Joe, here’s the really important part.  The part you’ll really have to read to understand the issue:  Begala and Carville disclosed this to the audience.  Everyone who watched CrossFire knew Begala and Carville worked for the Dems.  And they said as much on the show.

Another important part: Carville and Begala aren’t journalists.

An interesting but less important part: opposing Carville and Begala would frequently be GOP campaign consultants.  And those consultants fully disclose who they were working for.

It’s analogous.

Perhaps.

That still doesn’t explain how Democrats are reconciling their talk about the economy with their talk about social security.

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

I don’t mean to get petty about this, but weren’t two of the Crossfire hosts on CNN paid consultants to both Bill Clinton and John Kerry?

"How can Democrats talk about the economy falling apart while maintaining a cheery outlook on Social Security?”

Because the SS trustees who put together the forecasts for long-term SS solvency are using very low economic growth rates.

Here’s a quiz for you, Rob--which rate of economic growth is greater?  The one used by the SS trustees?  Or what we experienced during the Great Depression?

I’m aware that Reid never used the words “soup lines” (heard it on Rush) but that doesn’t change the fact that both he and Sen. Clinton have been describing a wretched economy.  Fine.  Lets not argue that point now.

Instead, I’d like you to answer the question I’ve asked in my last few comments: How can Democrats talk about the economy falling apart while maintaining a cheery outlook on Social Security?

And it is related because you dismissed Gannon’s question out-of-hat when he was asking the President how he’s going to handle Democrats who are changing their story from issue to issue in an effort to, essentially, oppose every single thing the President is for.

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

Because the SS trustees who put together the forecasts for long-term SS solvency are using very low economic growth rates.

Blah, blah, blah.

Social Security is broken.  Democrats don’t want to fix it because it will deprive them of the ability to raid Social Security for funding and they don’t want to let the President or Republicans get credit for fixing a problem.

When the Democrats are willing to step up, admit there’s a problem and at the very least offer an alternative solution to Bush’s plan then I’ll gladly join you in dismissing any comments about the Democrats being “divorced from reality.”

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

"Social Security is broken. “

There’s no evidence to support such a contention. It’s currently running a surplus as it has done since its inception.

If the economy grows at a meager 2.2% annually (a figure about 40% lower than the past 75 years of economic growth), it stays solvent indefinitely.  And that’s if we do nothing.

Now, you’re proposing privatization--promising that everyone will see rates of return of 5, 6, 7% or more.  Problem for you folks to figure out is that if you’re getting those kind of rates of return then the economy must also be going great guns ---meaning SS is never in danger of ‘breaking.’

Can’t have it both ways, Rob.

Jadegold says, “relatively high unemployment”

The U.S. has “relatively high unemployment”?  Are you divorced from reality?

Within the next two decades there will be two retirees to support for every one worker.

In addition to that, the Social Security “fund” is really just a box full of IOU’s from the government who has been raiding that fund for dollars for decades.  Which means that eventually the government will have to pay those IOU’s back.  By the government, I mean taxpayers will have to pay them off.

You don’t see a problem here?  Clinton certainly saw a problem with Social Security back in 1998 when we were trying to figure out how to use our budget surplus.  He wanted to use it to fix social security, and I supported him then.  We didn’t fix it and now Democrats tell us there isn’t a problem.

If that doesn’t mean they’re divorced from reality, I don’t know what does.

And our unemployment rate has been hovering around 5.5% for the last year or so, a rate a lot of economists consider “full employment.” Sure it can go down, but its not as high a rate as you suggest.

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs: