SK,

I think you would enjoy this column from the American Prospect.

http://www.prospect.org/web/page.ww?section=root&name=ViewPrint&articleId=4346

The authors routinely refer to Punch as "powerful" or "influential," yet they spend little time discussing the nature of that power. As publisher, chairman, and CEO, Punch was selected by a self-perpetuating, private, secretive body. His length of term was indeterminate, and the grounds and method of his removal were ambiguous. This is true of many big businesses, but what is interesting about the Times is that it has a "public trust" role that normal, profit-maximizing companies don't have. We all have more of a s
take in what The New York Times does than in what a potato chip manufacturer does.

The Jewish issue, which the family is quite conscious of but reticent about discussing, also gets its due in The Trust. Highly assimilated, the Ochs-Sulzberger clan nevertheless occupies a position of tremendous visibility and responsibility among American Jewry. Journalistically, the family's greatest sin occurred during the Holocaust, when the Times went so far to avoid pleading on behalf of Europe's Jewish population that in one of its wartime stories, it reported that Hitler had killed nearly 400,000 "Europeans," but did not use the word "Jew" until the seventh paragraph.

* * * * * *

I posted this once before when I was more serious about things in general however if you read the Dennis Perrin post you will see why I really do not care what happens as the people of this country deserve everything that is coming their way. And brother is it coming, sooner or later.

Much as Carlile said, we most assuredaly have the Government we justly deserve. (let the good times roll)

Jonathan,
Are you sure that isn't the stench of propaganda instead? I'm probably wrong since I'm not a pundit, expert or an Alleged Journalist.

And Mike Meyer,
I didn't vote for these incompetent louts. This is not my government and these people are not my representatives. I am sick of this ignorant electorate that accepts 'democracy' as a good thing in a representative republic where the word 'democracy' is not mentioned in the constitution.

I really thought I would never, ever say this, but America fucking sucks! I understand that Canada is quite nice, very affordable and 'smoke friendly', if you know what I mean, eh! I think it's abooot time I moved there, eh!

On one of the forums at which I present myself for abuse, the corollary accompanying the "Israel has a right to defend herself" postulate is "Israel's been under continous rocket attack from Hezbollah for years." I can only surmise that this meme is presented in various "news" media.

One of the problems with refuting this statement is that there is no link to any article declaring that "this is now the 400th day in which Israel has not been attacked by rockets from S Lebanon." And, of course, no one can remember not having heard of these "attacks". And thus the propaganda tree is watered.

Nutbag forums are still fun - good exercise and terribly amusing, though I get tired explaining who Goldstein is.

Jonathan S. and all,
you talk about the things they don't talk about in the internets and teevee. A couple of weeks ago I was flipping channels past MTV and their version of the news was on so I stopped for a mo. They mentioned Iran's nuclear aspirations and the announcer noted that besides India and Pakistan, two of Iran's other neighbors were also believed to have nukes, Kazakhstan and Israel.

I couldn't believe it-- someone ON AMERICAN TELEVISION-- had alluded to Israeli nukes in the context of Iran's nuclear program. I guess they figure only wastoids who watch "Pimp my ride" and who will never work for the state department or vote are watching, so-- what the hell?

Have any of you seen or heard references to Israeli nukes on tv or mainstream news websites in connection to discussion of Iran?

(Of course, I've also wondered why Ahmedinejad apparently never mentions it either, because he would at least seem sensible if he publicly demanded that Israel account for and reduce her stockpile of nukes.)

I am still waiting for the MSM to have ANY news much less mention Israel has nukes in conjunction of an Iranian nuke program.

Of course I only read newspapers, magazines and blogs because I could no longer tolerate the so called news as presented by television. My last memory of tv news goes like this. Suddenly the volume of my tv was raised to an earsplitting level as a pounding rock beat emanated from my set. A vision of American troops replete with Nazi style helmets emerged and materialized out a sandstorm brandishing their weapons and weighed down with field gear running in a crouch toward the camera. Quickly this heroic vision fades to a newsroom occupied with the usual coiffed and powdered news casters talking loud and fast telling us of a powerful nation riding to the rescue, bowling down the opposition and predicting a quick victory in the pride of power and American might. This, of course, was during the first heady days of our historic rescue of Iraq from the hands of Iraq.

And that, my friends, was it for me. I had had enough of tv and the garbage culture it has created and I have not watched it ever since. I have not missed it for a moment.

Row, row, row your boat gently down the stream.

Merrily, merrily, merrily life is but a dream…

"The fact that TV is a source not actively or critically attended to was made dramatically evident in the late 1960s by an experiment that rocked the world of political and product advertising and forever changed the ways in which the television medium would be used. The results of the experiment still reverberate through the industry long after its somewhat primitive methods have been perfected.

"In November 1969, a researcher named Herbert Krugman, who later became manager of public-opinion research at General Electric headquarters in Connecticut, decided to try to discover what goes on physiologically in the brain of a person watching TV. He elicited the co-operation of a twenty-two-year-old secretary and taped a single electrode to the back of her head. The wire from this electrode connected to a Grass Model 7 Polygraph, which in turn interfaced with a Honeywell 7600 computer and a CAT 400B computer.

"Flicking on the TV, Krugman began monitoring the brain-waves of the subject What he found through repeated trials was that within about thirty seconds, the brain-waves switched from predominantly beta waves, indicating alert and conscious attention, to predominantly alpha waves, indicating an unfocused, receptive lack of attention: the state of aimless fantasy and daydreaming below the threshold of consciousness. When Krugman's subject turned to reading through a magazine, beta waves reappeared, indicating that conscious and alert attentiveness had replaced the daydreaming state.

http://dieoff.org/page24.htm

You all really should see this video if you have not already.

Via Larry Johnson whom I have been following for some time now.

http://noquarter.typepad.com/my_weblog/2006/08/george_bush_and.html#comment-21144906

And the video itself.

http://www.crooksandliars.com/posts/2006/08/14/olbermann-the-nexus-of-politics-and-terror/

I think you will like Keith Olbermann and his nexus of fear and politics.

No offense, Rob, but I remember old obnoxious Keith when he was a sportscaster on KTLA channel 5 in Southern California. I can't stomach him now anymore than I could then. Calling him a journalist is the same as referring to George Bush a brilliant statesman!

"a"
Canadians are ok folks. I worked for one once, Byron, he was nuts but I think that was because he had been down here too long. Real good guy though, tried to do good by his employees. If you're really going I would suggest doing it before the DRAFT. Social Security is in such bad shape you know they'll draft the old folks first. Besides, historicaly, colledge students riot. Grannie can take a bullet just as good as Junior.
Rob:
I always wondered why time would disappear so fast when I watch TV.
cavjam:
Golstein was my StepGrandfather. (only he was just using the name of Gold at the time. I suppose to avoid prosecution. My Dad didn't know his name was Meyer until he joined the Navy.)

Americanintifada,

I never watch sports organized or otherwise because I never cared about who could do what with balls and sticks even if they were freaks of nature and I always new I would not live forever so I know nothing of Olbermann and his criminal past. However I liked his video which I thought put the evidence together nicely.

Mike,

The Canadians are nice people and having been there for a couple days I learned they do not live in igloos though they do believe all Americans have guns. I heard Bush is planning to draft the six Iraqi that are still alive in order to invade Iran but that could just be a rumor.

Rob:
It WAS just a rumor. Cousin Deadeye's paln calls for none to be left alive. Grandma and Grandpa are slated for the Iranian invasion. He's said many, many times "We've GOT to do something to fix Social Security and SOON!!!" It's like killing two lawyers with one stone/shot. This way you can own your own account by bringing your own rifle and ammunition. (best to invest in your own body armor and helmet too. Budget cuts you know)

Mike,

This is the last straw, not including Jack Straw. I am heading for Canada where I hope to build a new democracy for a better world and Condi Rice. I feel too socially insecure to stay here in Wonderland any longer. Praise God and pass the barf bucket.

Rob,

I did see that clip, but every time Olbermann speaks I can't help but think of all the times he tried to be clever reporting about how the Angels lost again. I can't help myself, but football hooked me long ago and it's a habit I don't want to break. Much like Dr. Gonzo with his cigarette and date rape habits. Raoul Duke will always be considered the best sportscaster ever in my book!

Mike,

I noticed that the Army recently upped the age to 42 because they can't seem to meet their recruitment goals. You're right about students rioting so I guess I'll drop back in to school to avoid the draft...AGAIN! Their commercials used to be aimed primarily at the jocks, flooding all of the college football games last season, but I noticed that they are everywhere on every single station.

Sing along with me now:

"Be...all that you can be...in the Aaaar-mee!"

Whoops! Wrong jingo...I mean, Jingle. What's the newest? Oh yeah, "Army of One....One dumbass for signing up!"