Say Anything Blog

How is this supposed to be surprising?  They are known for printing false stories, they have a track record.  Look up Stephen Glass, a writer who printed loads of BS stories for them in the past.

Arthur Sylvester, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, was the man most responsible for “giving, controlling and managing the war news from Vietnam”. One day in July 1965, Sylvester told American journalists that they had a patriotic duty to disseminate only information that made the United States look good. When one of the newsmen exclaimed: “Surely, Arthur, you don’t expect the American press to be handmaidens of government,” Sylvester replied, “That’s exactly what I expect,” adding: “Look, if you think any American official is going to tell you the truth, then you’re stupid. Did you hear that?—stupid.”—William Blum

“All the war-propaganda, all the screaming and lies and hatred, comes invariably from people who are not fighting.”
“Every war when it comes, or before it comes, is represented not as a war but as an act of self-defense against a homicidal maniac.” —George Orwell

Every time the media gets caught up in one of these scandals using either a fake or nonexistent source, doctored photos, or someone that is manipulating the media with false accounts, they double down.  The protect their sources.  They defend them.

I have always had this motto when dealing with the police--i.e. traffic stop, etc.  First, act stupid.  Don’t lie, but act stupid.  Pretend you didn’t know what you were doing.  When that doesn’t work, your ass is caught.  No sense lying or acting stupid anymore.  Just start asking for forgiveness.

I have always had this motto when dealing with the police--i.e. traffic stop, etc.  First, act stupid.  Don’t lie, but act stupid.

I take the exact opposite approach. Almost every time I have been pulled over has been for speeding. I know immediately why they pull me over and I just can’t lie about it. When they inevitably ask if I know why they pulled me over, I tell them exactly what speed I was doing. Oftentimes, this frank honesty is enough for the officer to decide to let you go with a warning.

Just start asking for forgiveness.

Bad form. If I were a police officer, I would then give the ticket or arrest out of principle.

Simple politeness, respect for the authority, and frank honesty works best for minor traffic violations.

When they inevitably ask if I know why they pulled me over, I tell them exactly what speed I was doing. Oftentimes, this frank honesty is enough for the officer to decide to let you go with a warning.

I am not a fan of that.  I don’t ever volunteer any information.  If you offer information that you know you were committing a crime, then that is the end of it.  Make them tell you why they pulled you over, even if you know why.  They ask to get you to volunteer information.  And I said don’t lie.  That is always my policy.  Never offer anything.  Never volunteer anything.  Make them tell you why they stopped you.  It could be for not wearing a seatbelt or a bad taillight or whatever, but they have to tell you.  But once you are caught and they know you are caught, then suck it up, don’t make excuses, and be polite.  I agree with that. 

And that is why New Republic should be doing.  Going back and evaluating how they got into this mess internally and confirming when people catch mistakes.  They have had enough time to sort out the story and they have way more information than anyone else has.  Don’t volunteer that the reporter lied or was a douche.

Come out and confirm the Internet buzz that the story was inaccurate.  Explain that there was no intentional misconduct by the paper and that due dilligence was not done.  And leave it at that.  Retract the story since you are so busted anyway, and then everyone gets off your ass and it goes away. 

But this is like getting caught speeding and having a pound of weed in the trunk.  Then when the officer is gonna write you a warning, telling him to eff off.  Getting into an argument until he searches the car and finds the bigger scandal or issue in the trunk.

Make them tell you why they pulled you over, even if you know why.

Yeah,..but it’s kind of hard to pull off the “no, why did you pull me over” routine when I was just going 20 or more over. It’s not like I’m pulled over for going five over, I’m hauling ass!

Speeding tickets: 91 in a 70, 93 in a 70, 91 in a 65, 80 in a 70 and 85 in a 70.

Where’s America’s Autobahn? I feel cheated.

I don’t ever volunteer any information.

Me too.  What you say can and will be used against you.  Anyway, why do they, the cops, ask you if you know why they stopped you when they know fully why and should be the ones to tell you.  My best line to the cops is ‘What seems to be the problem?’

You don’t have to be a moron to be a liberal Democrat but it sure helps.

At least your service personnel are allowed to talk to the media, post blogs, video, bulletins, images.

The (British) MoD has issued new guidelines to personnel in the army, RAF, and navy. They state soldiers can no longer blog, post on bulletin boards, or release video, stills or images.From BBC

I’ve never gotten a ticket. Only been pulled over once, on Christmas Day, and breathalysed. Have been stopped and searched, but have always found honesty, forthrightness and helpfulness to be the most productive course of action. It got me out of sticky jams in the past.

Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric.

Me too.  What you say can and will be used against you.  Anyway, why do they, the cops, ask you if you know why they stopped you when they know fully why and should be the ones to tell you.  My best line to the cops is ‘What seems to be the problem?’

I don’t offer up anything anymore. One time a cop asked me if there is any legal reason why I was speeding and I said, just stupid. I got a ticket. A year a go Jan I got pulled over twice in a two week period by the GF sherifs. One time it was 0245 in the morning going 70 in a 55, the guy saw my Work Uniform (a DHS uniform) and the deputy let me go. I expected a ticket but didn’t get one.

Another time same thing, going home about a week later same scenario 65 in a 55, I was excellerating when I saw the cop. Saw my work Uniform, the guy let me off with a written warning. Neither time did I offer up anythign and I kept my mouth shut. I thanked the Deputy both times for letting me go and not giving me a ticket, I expected to get one both times.

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