Say Anything Blog

When I read an article from the Washington Post or New York Times I don’t think of myself as reading a factual accounting of current events, I think of myself as reading some reporter’s opinion-based accounting of current events.

You are not alone in this belief Rob.
Here is another good blog on that very subject.

http://sigmundcarlandalfred.wordpress.com/2006/11/29/the-church-of-msm/

Of course you guys think the media is too left, because you’re very far to the right. The reality of it though is that most mainstream media outlets are owned by super-rich, uber-conservatives who benefit directly from republican policies. If there is bias in the MSM, it’s to the right.

For example, Matt Lauer *just* finally admitted that The Today Show believes that there’s a civil war going on in Iraq, when most Americans have believed that for a lot longer:

A majority of Americans think Iraq is in the midst of a civil war, a new Harris Interactive poll finds, and few are confident that Robert Gates’s nomination as Secretary of Defense will improve the situation there.

Sixty-eight percent of U.S. adults said they believe there is a civil war in Iraq, the online poll from Nov. 13 to Nov. 20 found, compared with 14% who disagree and 18% who aren’t sure.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/11/30/114435/40

Of course you guys think the media is too left, because you’re very far to the right.

Of course, this is a big lie.  The truth is, conservatives have stayed where we are, which is to support the founding principles of the USA, while the Dems have gone farther and farther to the left.  Their lie, repeated here by Chad, is that there is some sort of balance, in that their far leftieism is somehow mirrored by our moving way to the right.  Nothing could be farther from the truth.  We haven’t moved; they have.  It’s that simple.

"If the good men are silent only the wicked are heard.” - Edmund Burke

Of course you guys think the media is too left, because you’re very far to the right. The reality of it though is that most mainstream media outlets are owned by super-rich, uber-conservatives who benefit directly from republican policies. If there is bias in the MSM, it’s to the right.

The fact that these media organizations are apparently owned by super-rich Republicans (and I’m not saying they are, the NY Times is certainly owned by liberals) doesn’t mean that media coverage isn’t biased.

Some 85% of reporters are registered Democrats, and you think they’re pushing a right-wing bias?  Come off it.

I think it’s hilarious that you lefty idiots think Drudge and Fox are so awfully biased to the right.  A recent study showed that Drudge is actually closer to the middle than any other news outlet, and Fox isn’t far behind though a little more to the right.

I think you and the rest of your buddies at Daily Kos are so far to the left that any sort of reporting that doesn’t match up immediately with your leftist view is considered “right wing.”

When you’re off in left field, everything looks like it’s to the right.

For example, Matt Lauer *just* finally admitted that The Today Show believes that there’s a civil war going on in Iraq, when most Americans have believed that for a lot longer:

Right.  According to an online poll.  A polling method we all know is so accurate that its findings are beyond reproach or questioning.

You, Chad, are a parody of yourself.  Seriously.  You make me smile.

The war against illegal plunder has been fought since the beginning of the world. But how is… legal plunder to be identified? Quite simply. See if the law takes from some persons what belongs to them, and gives it to other persons to whom it does not belong. See if the law benefits one citizen at the expense of another by doing what the citizen himself cannot do without committing a crime. Then abolish this law without delay … If such a law is not abolished immediately it will spread, multiply and develop into a system.

Frédéric Bastiat, The Law

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

When you’re off in left field, everything looks like it’s to the right.

Maybe you should take your own advice. I’m not the one claiming bias, you are. I’m simply pointing out that it doesn’t make sense for there to be any left-leaning bias...unless we’re all just supposed to accept your made up statistic that 85% of all reporters are registered Democrats, which even then wouldn’t be much of a case.

I can see why you guys would think there’s some huge conspiracy and all the media is against you, when you’re way off on the right fringe.

Chad: It’s not a conspiracy; that’s just another leftie straw man argument.  It’s a commonality of ideology.  You guys are ideologically bound to sell your agenda.  Anyone who deviates even slightly from your ideological position, like Joe Lieberman, gets purged.  You guys have no tolerance for diversity of opinion.  The left is totalitarian, just like your diety Karl Marx.

"If the good men are silent only the wicked are heard.” - Edmund Burke

That should be “deity”.

"If the good men are silent only the wicked are heard.” - Edmund Burke

What the hell are you talking about? “You guys”? When did I ever say I was in control of a mainstream media outlet? When did anyone ever say that Joe Lieberman was? I don’t understand your rambling.

Maybe you should take your own advice. I’m not the one claiming bias, you are.

Says the guy who thinks the results of an online poll shows that Matt Lauer has a right-wing bias.

You’re a clown.

The war against illegal plunder has been fought since the beginning of the world. But how is… legal plunder to be identified? Quite simply. See if the law takes from some persons what belongs to them, and gives it to other persons to whom it does not belong. See if the law benefits one citizen at the expense of another by doing what the citizen himself cannot do without committing a crime. Then abolish this law without delay … If such a law is not abolished immediately it will spread, multiply and develop into a system.

Frédéric Bastiat, The Law

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

Chad: By “you guys”, I am referring to you and all the other lefties who try to disseminate your propaganda.  Duh.  Joe Lieberman was purged from the Party for having one diverse opinion, which was my point.  As you can see, I understand your rambling.

"If the good men are silent only the wicked are heard.” - Edmund Burke

Nice strawman. I never said that. You’re a liar.

Previous comment was directed at Rob.

As for 108...and what the hell does that have to do with bias in the media? You’re not making any sense.

Chad: Sorry for going over your head.  What I said was that you lefties are ideologically in lockstep.  That means the commonality of agenda applies to all you lefties, including the ones that make up the majority of the TV and print media.  Get it now?  The ideas you spew on this blog are shared by all your ideological brethren in the MSM.  Check the reader blogs for even more evidence of this concerning Ahmadinejad sharing your ideology, as well.

"If the good men are silent only the wicked are heard.” - Edmund Burke

I think you and the rest of your buddies at Daily Kos are so far to the left that any sort of reporting that doesn’t match up immediately with your leftist view is considered “right wing.”

When you’re off in left field, everything looks like it’s to the right.

Or is your view the only correct one on this issue, since you’re completely free from bias on it?

Contrary to popular beliefs, newspapers and media outlets in the US have historically had a political leaning.  While objecivity is the goal of the reporter, it is not the goal of the editor or newspaper. 

For a long time in this nation’s history, a town (or city) had dozens, if not hundreds of different newspapers.  Each of these papers pushed an agenda of which the owner hired editors to advocate on behalf of.  A person could get any different number of viewpoint about a particular newstory.  It was up to the reader to filter out the ideology form the facts.  In many ways, the earlier news consumer was more saavy and aware than today’s.

Now, with only one or two papers in a city, the consumer is only given news from one perspective.  To complicate this problem, is the myth that newspapers must be ‘neutral’ and ‘unbiased’.  It seems that this myth was a tool, to mislead the news consumer into taking what one publication says as ‘objective fact’.  Since that prevailing wisdom has been repeated thousands of times, it has become a fact.  To quote Aldous Huxley - “64000 repetitions makes it the truth”

That is why the blogosphere is such a threat to the traditional media:  It is a return to the days when you had hundreds of voices reporting on a story.

Chad:  As long as you keep seeing what you believe, there will never be any room for objectivity.  You need to start believing what you see.

One of the Blogger’s jobs is essentially to provide an opinion of the factual accounts in a news story.  Some News Reporters are wanna-be Bloggers.  Reporters, Editors, Publishers, Owners, should all have their own Blogs where they are free to opine to their hearts content.  Otherwise, please give us ‘just the facts, ma’am/sir’!

Jim Lehrer appeared on the Colbert Report on Monday (11/29/06)- very funny - Jim was brilliant.  Jim told Stephen that his show (The News Hour with Jim Lehrer) is so boring because all he does is report the news with a flavor of neutrality - it is the viewer who brings their bias to the news.  Well...... he should tell that to all the other guys, because the other guys are bringing their bias to their news reporting!  And that’s a fact! 

One of the Blogger’s jobs is essentially to provide an opinion of the factual accounts in a news story.

Not really; remember “Rathergate”?  What propelled blogging onto the front pages was the questioning and revealing of somewhat less than factual info in the MSM.  Never forget.  The truth is out there, but the MSM just isn’t interested in it.

"If the good men are silent only the wicked are heard.” - Edmund Burke

Isn’t the reverse true with conservatives? “When you’re off in right field, everything looks like it’s to the left”?

No, it’s not.  Conservatives have stayed put, supporting the founding principles of the US, while the lefties have become increasingly Marxist over the years.  The only “right-wing” in this country is the NeoNazis and the white supremacists, who are essentially ignored by the MSM unless they can be used to smear Republicans.  That is the logical mistake you lefties make, Dave.  You think that one group moving to the left causes those who disagree with them to move to the right.  That just isn’t true.  It is propaganda rhetoric, though.

"If the good men are silent only the wicked are heard.” - Edmund Burke