White House gets schooled: Don't mess with Freedom of the Press

[B_VinylBoy]

They did fill a niche, and did it pretty successfully. Prime time viewership in Q3 more than MSNBC and CNN combined. Seems like there are a lot of "right wing nuts" out there, or a whole bunch of people are watching Fox News just to shout at their TVs.

When you're the only one filling the niche, comparing their numbers to the opposition that collectively fill the other is disingenuous.

In other words... there are more of us than more of them. Deal with it.

 

[faceking]

When you're camped out on the far right fringes of the universe, everything has a liberal bias...

No.. more like filling the void that was ABC, CBS, CNN, NPR et al... there is a reason why Air America failed for the most part, yet "mainstream unbiased talk radio" survives....and Rush, Levin, Savage do just as well.

 

[B_VinylBoy]

No.. more like filling the void that was ABC, CBS, CNN, NPR et al... there is a reason why Air America failed for the most part,

Yeah, it's called the internet.
More "liberals" get their news online than from any other source. That includes television, print and radio.

yet "mainstream unbiased talk radio" survives....and Rush, Levin, Savage do just as well.

There's nothing "unbiased" about mainstream radio. Even music stations are controlled by big corporations trying to push a product.

Ironically, most Conservatives still watch the television and tune into talk radio. That's reflected with practically any statistical tally of monthly hits and links including this one. Fox News, the only news organization willing to try and cater to the lunatic fringe of the right, has NEVER come close to the amount of traffic that many "liberal" websites achieves. The latest tally continues the trend. Top 15 Most Popular News Websites

Then again, they also cater to a fanbase where many trust Creationalism over Evolution. It would make sense (in a dirty, partisan way) that the network that is #1 in television and radio would fail when it comes to more technological outlets.

 

[2322]

No.. more like filling the void that was ABC, CBS, CNN, NPR et al... there is a reason why Air America failed for the most part, yet "mainstream unbiased talk radio" survives....and Rush, Levin, Savage do just as well.

The only unbiased nationally syndicated show I know of is Coast to Coast and even then it helps to be undead, an alien, or bigfoot if you're a caller.

 

[D_Tintagel_Demondong]

Bill OhReally was one of the first to post the photo of Adam Lambert photo kissing another male. He did it before the finale, when viewers could still vote. He encouraged them to not vote for Lambert. He also 'censored' the photo in by blocking out their their touching lips, calling it, "revoltingly gross and icky and offensive." Not only was this Fox News host trying to destroy another person's career based on his sexuality, but he was undermining another Fox show, American Idol. Adam won, although I preferred Kris much more. My point is, this is not only censorship, but obvious bias.

Then I watch this video of OhReally, a 200lb child, at an Obama rally repeatedly whining at a security guy for "blocking his shot," then physically pushes him out of the way. OhReally claimed that he security guy intentionally blocked the shot, which is questionable (he was covering Obama, which is his job). He pushes the guard, saying that he had "the right to shoot the shot." Apparently "Freedom of Speech" supersedes physical assault? Ironically, he says to the guard, "That's really low-class, pal." To add more irony, Obama then comes over and warmly greets OhReally, giving him a great 'shot' in the process.

This few minutes of video is very poignant. It shows how deluded O'Reilly is. If Fox News condones bullying and lying then they are not fair and balanced, and cannot be taken seriously, let alone be called "news."

I'm an uberliberal (a "libtard," if you will), but I welcome a right-wing news channel. I advocate checks and balances and I'm always eager for a fresh perspective. I don't, however, welcome lies, browbeating and mealy-mouthed tricks.

Anybody who watches Fox News is condoning censorship and violence.

 

[SR_Blarney_Frank]

No.. more like filling the void that was ABC, CBS, CNN, NPR et al... there is a reason why Air America failed for the most part, yet "mainstream unbiased talk radio" survives....and Rush, Levin, Savage do just as well.

The void was present for people who can't stand to hear anything which contradicts their dogma. You know, the people who thought Dan Rather was a threat to democracy because he dared to question the veracity of Bush's military record?

Most people are capable of living in the real world where party affiliation is irrelevant to the merit of an argument. For those who aren't, Fox News indeed filled the void and they can now feel nice and safe amongst uniformly like-minded folks. Those who watch it generally watch it exclusively. The rest of the world tends to consume news (and I use the phrase loosely) from a variety of sources. You know, those "lib'rul" ones?

 

[Trinity]

The void was present for people who can't stand to hear anything which contradicts their dogma. You know, the people who thought Dan Rather was a threat to democracy because he dared to question the veracity of Bush's military record?

Most people are capable of living in the real world where party affiliation is irrelevant to the merit of an argument. For those who aren't, Fox News indeed filled the void and they can now feel nice and safe amongst uniformly like-minded folks. Those who watch it generally watch it exclusively. The rest of the world tends to consume news (and I use the phrase loosely) from a variety of sources. You know, those "lib'rul" ones?

Fox News is #1 for a reason. The void existed. CNN and the others were acting as Obama surrogates and not reporting the news. They ignored anything that wasn't favorable to Obama and people are fed up with it.

Fox is leading CNN to actually cover the News Obama isn't happy with...ergo the White House's War started with Fox "so other news organizations don't follow Fox."

The elections in NJ and VA, the Tea Parties and the Townhalls still aren't sinking in for the Obama Administration and die hard Obama FANS. The people are not supporting the Obama and Democratic Agenda which is threatening America's strength and future.

It isn't about Party. It's about policy. It just so happens that the Democratic Party is the party in control and their policy is out of whack.

 

[Ericsson1228d]

The only unbiased nationally syndicated show I know of is Coast to Coast and even then it helps to be undead, an alien, or bigfoot if you're a caller.

Awesome. I do miss the good old Art days though.

 

[B_VinylBoy]

Fox News is #1 for a reason. The void existed. CNN and the others were acting as Obama surrogates and not reporting the news. They ignored anything that wasn't favorable to Obama and people are fed up with it.

Fox is leading CNN to actually cover the News Obama isn't happy with...ergo the White House's War started with Fox "so other news organizations don't follow Fox."

CNN reaches out to more people OVERALL when you combine all outlets for news. Their website alone reaches out to more people than Fox plus all of Conservative talk radio COMBINED. However, if you want to sit around the boob tube and the music box acting as if this is the only medium that matters, then go right on ahead. The rest of modern day America will use their computers for other things than just reading the news feeds of Stormfront.

The elections in NJ and VA, the Tea Parties and the Townhalls still aren't sinking in for the Obama Administration and die hard Obama FANS. The people are not supporting the Obama and Democratic Agenda which is threatening America's strength and future.

The same people are also not supporting Palin, Beck, Armey and the rest of the lunatics on the right as displayed in the 23rd District of New York. Your point, Obamaphobe?

It isn't about Party. It's about policy. It just so happens that the Democratic Party is the party in control and their policy is out of whack.

And the Republican Party is eating their own, trying to enforce some phony ass image into what it means to be Conservative in this country. Right now, with an approval rating in the low 20s, the Republican base is the prime example of a party that is "out of whack". Corzine deserved to lose his post in NJ, and it's not as if anyone is losing sleep over Virginia... a state that has traditionally voted Republican in Presidential elections for the last 2 DECADES. As usual, your perpetual hard-on for everything anti-Obama pokes through.

Of course, none of this will sink in your brain, and I can already sense you typing something stupid such as, "You don't understand" or "Wrong", acting as if your opinion and your view is the only one worth paying attention to. And I'm actually surprised that I'm actually responding to something you've said. But the truth behind these so-called ratings need to be exposed for what they are: another dishonest, pigeonholed, narrow minded fact from fringe Republicans.... and Obamaphobes just like you.

 

[Ericsson1228d]

Obamaphobe (Oh-bahma-fohb), n. a person who looks negatively upon 1) dramatic increases in the national debt, 2) increased unemployment, 3) government takeover of auto industry 4) government takeover of the banking sector 5) broken campaign promises (see related articles on "Lower taxes for 95 percent of the population" and "Closing Guantanamo Bay.")

Usage:

"That guy works 40 hours a week, pays for a healthcare plan he is happy with, supports his family, and pays his mortgage as he agreed to do, but he doesn't like the President, what an Obamaphobe!"

 

[SR_Blarney_Frank]

Of course, none of this will sink in your brain...

Which is generally the cue to stop responding to the same asinine quackery.

Obama could find the cure for cancer and a certain faction would complain that it costs too much and the gubbamint has no business getting involved in curing my fatal illnesses. It's probably a secret plot of some sort... insert hysterical paranoid theory here.

 

[B_VinylBoy]

Obamaphobe (Oh-bahma-fohb), n. a person who looks negatively upon 1) dramatic increases in the national debt, 2) increased unemployment, 3) government takeover of auto industry 4) government takeover of the banking sector 5) broken campaign promises (see related articles on "Lower taxes for 95 percent of the population" and "Closing Guantanamo Bay.")

You could have simplified the whole thing by saying:
A person with an unhealthy distrust of government (esp. the current administration), fueled by their own beliefs of paranoidal conspiracy theories, fringe right winged talking points and a steady denial of other points of view that don't associate with one's norms.

"That guy works 40 hours a week, pays for a healthcare plan he is happy with, supports his family, and pays his mortgage as he agreed to do, but he doesn't like the President, what an Obamaphobe!"

Case... in... point.
As if everyone who has a full time job, pays for healthcare, supports their family and pays their mortgage somehow connects with your ideology. You've described the majority of people in this nation. Many more of these people work more than 40 hours a day. Many more of them have a healthplan that they're satisfied with, but would ALWAYS welcome a chance to get something better if it presented itself. They also support their families the best way they can. They pay mortgages, rent or whatever they can to keep the roof over their heads. Some may even have grievances with the current administration.

The issue is, you're too busy trying to draw a picture of what an Obamaphobe looks like based on your own biases. Meanwhile, all you have to do is look in a mirror.

 

[Trinity]

CNN reaches out to more people OVERALL when you combine all outlets for news. Their website alone reaches out to more people than Fox plus all of Conservative talk radio COMBINED. However, if you want to sit around the boob tube and the music box acting as if this is the only medium that matters, then go right on ahead. The rest of modern day America will use their computers for other things than just reading the news feeds of Stormfront.

We are talking about Cable News Network (CNN) that's Cable as in Cable Television. Fox is beating them up, down and sideways in ratings. Perhaps CNN should drop out of Television News all together and become simply an online News website.

The same people are also not supporting Palin, Beck, Armey and the rest of the lunatics on the right as displayed in the 23rd District of New York. Your point, Obamaphobe?

You must be mistaken. For one they are completely different people in NJ and VA. For two, The Democrat barely won in NY. If Scozzafava had never been appointed she would have never split the vote with the Conservative. Hoffman will be back in 2010 and Owens may be in the fight of his life.

And the Republican Party is eating their own, trying to enforce some phony ass image into what it means to be Conservative in this country. Right now, with an approval rating in the low 20s, the Republican base is the prime example of a party that is "out of whack".

The Republican party isn't eating their own. That's what Democrats do. People on this very board want to take Lieberman down for not going along with madness. Scozzafava held true to none of the major principles of a Conservative. She was a moderate liberal.

I'm glad Republicans won't allow Democrats to define them or their "tent." Nor should they. Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats polls are deplorable and their agenda is polling that way as well. The recent election caps off the Tea Parties and Townhalls in demonstrating the voice of the American People regarding just how out of whack and out of touch Obama and the Democrats are with the needs of the American people.

Corzine deserved to lose his post in NJ, and it's not as if anyone is losing sleep over Virginia... a state that has traditionally voted Republican in Presidential elections for the last 2 DECADES. As usual, your perpetual hard-on for everything anti-Obama pokes through.

Though doth protest too much.

But the truth behind these so-called ratings need to be exposed for what they are: another dishonest, pigeonholed, narrow minded fact from fringe Republicans.... and Obamaphobes just like you.

You describe your sad attempt to use website hits because CNN and the rest are showing so poorly in Cable Television ratings which is what they pioneered the field in and are named after.

 

[SR_Blarney_Frank]

The Democrat barely won in NY.

Barely won in a district that has been Republican since the 1850s. OK, if that makes you feel better. But elections aren't like horse shoes and hand grenades.

Scozzafava held true to none of the major principles of a Conservative. She was a moderate liberal.

Yes, because as we know Newt Gingrich and the NRA always endorse moderate liberals.

 

[Ericsson1228d]

You could have simplified the whole thing by saying:
A person with an unhealthy distrust of government (esp. the current administration), fueled by their own beliefs of paranoidal conspiracy theories, fringe right winged talking points and a steady denial of other points of view that don't associate with one's norms.

First off, a level of distrust of the government is ALWAYS healthy, no matter what party is in power.

Second, fueled by "own beliefs and conspiracy theories"? Obama made the promise to reduce taxes, nobody on the right "cooked that up." Who conspired to have Obama take over GM? Who conspired to not close GITMO?

I know that some people like to paint Republicans as conspiracy nut-jobs, but NONE of those things mentioned above are a product of any "conspiracy theory," they are the actions of the current administration. That is why many people disapprove of Obama. Actions (or lack thereof) speak louder than words, something Obama apparently didn't learn in 1st grade - he will learn soon enough when his first (and only) term is up.

 

[SR_Blarney_Frank]

Obama made the promise to reduce taxes, nobody on the right "cooked that up." Who conspired to have Obama take over GM? Who conspired to not close GITMO?

The bigger issue is that Republicans seem to think the world was created in Obama's image on January 20th, 2009.

We have dimbulbs like Cheney claiming that it's time to quit 'dithering' on Afghanistan. Pardon me but where the fuck was the urgency during the last 7 years of the Bush administration? And didn't that $2.4 trillion in estimated costs to fight two largely unnecessary wars drive up the deficit just a wee bit?

Likewise it was Hank Paulson in the prior administration who forked over $700 billion to financial institutions as well as to GM and Chrysler.

The Bush Medicare Prescription drug act was passed in 2003 with an estimated $1.2 trillion price tag - twice the original estimate and largely unfunded by any offsetting revenues.

As for Gitmo, the bigger question is, who created that mess to start with? And who has unsuccessfully tried to block the transfer of prisoners out of it? Hint, the party starts with "R"

So when Republicans - who blew trillions on government healthcare programs, industry bailouts and unpopular wars - suddenly pretend that they're not only against these things but that it's a threat to our very democracy... they're understandably met with a hearty fuck you by anyone with a memory beyond the current administration.

 

[Ericsson1228d]

I think you make good points, Stevenvegas.

The electorate spoke last November by electing a democrat, arguably because of animosity toward the Bush administration.

I am simply stating that, as things stand right now, Obama is setting himself up to feel the wrath of that same electorate.

Whatever party people "belong" to, they still vote for whomever they want. Republicans and Democrats and Independents who were disenchanted by 8 years of Bush voted for Obama. The same thing can happen in another 3 years, when Democrats and Republicans and independents who voted for Obama feel that they elected a talking head and nothing more, and decide to get him out of there.

The Presidency is not a beauty contest, Obama needs to get things done or he WILL be replaced.

 

[Ericsson1228d]

The bigger issue is that Republicans seem to think the world was created in Obama's image on January 20th, 2009.

He's had a year already to do something, and hasn't.

How much more time will the people give him?

I think everyone's patience will be worn pretty thin in 3 more years, and I would bet that Obama will still be blaming Bush.

 

[MercyfulFate]

He's had a year already to do something, and hasn't.

How much more time will the people give him?

I think everyone's patience will be worn pretty thin in 3 more years, and I would bet that Obama will still be blaming Bush.

He's done a bunch, although not nearly as much as I had hoped. I hope he ends both wars for one, brings the joke of a "war" on drugs to a slowdown (unlikely, as most of these are) repairs global image further (he's done this, but there's still work) helps give a nudge to American industry, and more.

 

[B_VinylBoy]

First off, a level of distrust of the government is ALWAYS healthy, no matter what party is in power.

Of course it is.
But when this distrust gets to the level of birtherism and teabaggery, then there's a problem. Everything in moderation.

Second, fueled by "own beliefs and conspiracy theories"? Obama made the promise to reduce taxes, nobody on the right "cooked that up." Who conspired to have Obama take over GM? Who conspired to not close GITMO?

Who still has 3 more years to make due with their promises?
One of the lamest arguments Obamaphobes had about those who voted for him was that we were "supposed" to view him as a messiah who was going to wave some kind of magic wand and get everything done. Meanwhile, arguments such as these suggest that you were the one expecting the wand to be waved and "change" to happen overnight. Too concerned over the gimmicky catchphrases of a campaign instead of the real chore ahead.

Reduce taxes? Any person with common sense knows that certain taxes were going to be raised since we were in a recession regardless of who was in office. That's simple economics... not a campaign promise. Obama hasn't taken over GM either, but your clever use of the word conspire is a play that even Hannity or Limbaugh would be proud of. Use the scare tactics on those who are affected or jilted to action by political buzzwords... that doesn't work here. Gitmo? Well, now we have something that we agree on to some extent. But there's reasons why I'm not as concerned about it. For starters, where are the issues surrounding torture and unfair treatment of inmates? REAL ones, not just some unfounded claims from opinionated blogs or editorials? Until we see some emerge, or hear our current administration essentially speak in a matter a-la-Cheney in the defense of the use of torture, then Gitmo doesn't concern me as much. I'll put that on the rest of the "to do" list and see if it actually does get done within his remaining time in office. I don't whine and bitch about it like the rest of the dissenters.

I know that some people like to paint Republicans as conspiracy nut-jobs,

I don't do that to all Republicans. However, I don't have kind things to say to the ones on the fringe who are essentially making their own party unwelcome to others because they're not "Conservative" enough. Their hate & fear mongered agenda may make it easy for me to vote for someone every election, but it does take away options for whom I deem to be worthy opponents. I've voted Republican in the past (do I have to mention Weld AGAIN to prove my point) and would do it again if the right one emerged.

but NONE of those things mentioned above are a product of any "conspiracy theory,"

Which is why you used the word conspire TWICE to echo your disdain more of those tired, Conservative talking points. Nice try.

they are the actions of the current administration. That is why many people disapprove of Obama.

Some of these actions were also of the previous administration as well, yet there wasn't a single complaint from many of the current opposition. Hence a major hypocrisy that echos a level of distrust I have with most Obamaphobes, but I digress. It usually takes more than just a year and a laundry list of campaign promises that couldn't be met within 25% of his time in office for me to "disapprove" of Obama. As scrupulous as I can be at times, I'm also not pessimistic.

Actions (or lack thereof) speak louder than words, something Obama apparently didn't learn in 1st grade

You obviously haven't paid attention to every single action made by people of the current administration, along with other people in Congress that have made things difficult to get anything done in a timely fashion. Which makes your "conspire claims" even more laughable.

he will learn soon enough when his first (and only) term is up.

Yawn... Crystal Ball Politics.
Wake me when you're back in the present. Or at least bring back the PS4 when you make your next trip to the future, OK?