Archive for the ‘internet/free speech’ Category

Phil Griffin is shocked SHOCKED…

Posted: January 24, 2010 by datechguy in internet/free speech
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…that one MSNBC host might have considered this:

worthy of public critique.

We have many strong personalities with differing, passionate opinions, but it is important to remember that we are all on the same team. I want to reiterate my long-standing policy: We do not publicly criticize our colleagues. This kind of behavior is unprofessional and will not be tolerated. emphasis mine

And what was that unprofessional behavior that crossed the line, I hesitate to post it, but here it is:

Obermann calls Brown a “homophobic racist reactionary” who “supports violence against women.” How reckless and how sad.

How unprofessional! How inflammatory, how disruptive!

The real issue here is that MSNBC’s evening lineup is designed for a niche market. That niche is a far left market and its viewership and ratings reflect it. Morning Joe audience is much more mixed and tends to appeal to both sides of the aisle. Mr. Scarborough also has a radio program that precedes Rush Limbaugh on the air and has a different demographic and frankly temperament.

There is nothing wrong with niche marketing, you can make a good living off of it, but niche markets usually have specific wants. As long as MSNBC’s profit is dependent on that niche market what is considered “unprofessional” and what is considered “passionate” will be defined by said market and might cause some confusion when viewed by people outside of it.

Update: Daily Gator links. Thanks.

And although Olberman, (and likely Griffin) would disagree, it has been a good week hasn’t it.

I guess the NYT has a long memory…

Posted: January 23, 2010 by datechguy in internet/free speech
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…thus even Charles Johnson’s (peace be upon him) sudden reverse of direction was not enough for them to give him the type of undying love that those who leave the right normally get.

In fact when you have Robert Stacy McCain & Patterico on the same side concerning this you know it must be bad news for Johnson.

Well he still gets 250x the traffic I get and I’m actually pleased to read he has a fiancée since as I’ve said the right woman makes all the difference in one’s life.

So Johnson is making a living off his site; it is coded well and he’s welcome to it. I’ve covered the Johnson/McCain fight closely which resulted in my own banning, and Peg’s and ironically led to my friendship with Stacy resulting in the rather exciting events of the last week. For all that the bottom line is the same as before: Johnson’s attacks on individuals were dishonorable.

I do have to disagree with Patterico on his third Update. If Johnson hadn’t been hitting them the Times in the past they would have fawned all over him. To suggest that the NYT would normally accurately cover the story requires a willing suspension of disbelief. The irony is that the Times showed its bias this time by simply telling the truth.

Update: Pam Geller comments in the same restrained way she dances in a chair when celebrating.

Gail Huff (Scott Brown’s wife) was in a A Music Video!

Posted: January 22, 2010 by datechguy in elections, internet/free speech, oddities, opinion/news
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A MU-ik Videoh! Well we central mass Rednecks are outraged thar! That rock and roll stuff leads to a wiggling and a gyratin and next thing you know you end teaching kids to go ’round with near nutton on ‘tal!

You know I was always under the impression that our friends on the left were supposed to be more well “liberal” about this kind of stuff. I’m sure they must believe this music video disqualifies her from her position at WCVB.

The media here is pretty liberal but I’m wondering if the people at Chanel 5 are rethinking that. They know Gail, they know she kept quiet as things were said about her husband and daughters, I think this is going to backfire. It certainly isn’t going to endear the Huffpo to people who have watched her locally for many many years.

If knowing him made a difference to voters then knowing her will make a difference to local reporters.

One word: Dishonorable.

Update: The Lonely conservative is wondering why he posted on the subject. Why so I would link back of course! The real question is why Robert Stacy hasn’t posted on the subject yet. If there is one thing I’ve learned about him in the last week it’s he has an eye for a beautiful girl. Meep (who I mistakenly thought was Dan’s wife) at POWIP says this:

I find the whole thing very puzzling, in that these people pride themselves as being very knowledgeable, but cannot figure out what would be actually offensive to Massachusetts voters, even the conservative ones. We might be social conservatives, but we’re not the group who thinks females ought to be covered in black tents. These people keep crowing about eschewing stereotypes, and then invent some cardboard cutout idea of what a conservative is.

Yup that’s pretty much it.

Update 2: Pirate’s cove has a point:

I’m convinced. Scott Brown is not qualified to be a U.S. Senator. Next thing you know, we’ll find out that he had sex. With his wife!

He Just doesn’t fit in.

Update 3: Robert Stacy Links me all over. The fact that some people are making what they are of this say a whole lot more about them then it does about Scott Brown. (And yes this is identical to the other update, I’m cheep when it comes to pixels too.)

Palin/McCain It’s the honorable thing to do…

Posted: January 20, 2010 by datechguy in internet/free speech, opinion/news
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A lot of people are upset about this:

Sarah Palin, McCain’s former running mate and perhaps the most powerful brand in Republican politics, will stump for McCain in Arizona on March 26 and 27, a Palin adviser told CNN. The presence of Palin – and the considerable crowds and media attention she will draw – might give pause to J.D. Hayworth, the former Republican congressman and radio host who opposes McCain’s position on illegal immigration and is mulling a Senate run of his own.

Although some might disagree I think this is not only the right thing but it tells me something good about Sarah Palin, to wit:

You might recall I talked to the Mayor of Fitchburg yesterday, although it may hurt her politically she honored her 20 year friendship with her when she needed it, not discarding her for political expediency.

Sarah Palin was chosen by John McCain to be his running mate, when others have attacked her he not only did not, but also didn’t betray his friends who did the attacking. He was loyal.

Sarah Palin knows that a McCain endorsement will hurt her with the tea party people and with people who don’t like McCain. It doesn’t matter, McCain stood by her, she is standing by him.

This is important, if your pol is not honorable then the right position is only right until they need a new one (read Harold Ford).

Remember if she would sell McCain she will sell you.

Update: Michelle doesn’t like the situation but acknowledges the problem:

Tea Party activists are rightly outraged by Sarah Palin’s decision to campaign for McCain, whose entrenched incumbency and progressive views are anathema to the movement. At least she has an excuse: She’s caught between a loyalty rock and a partisan hard place.

Conservatives for Palin notes she is getting hit hard, but Hotair I believe gets it right:

I don’t think anyone will be swayed by Palin’s endorsement. No one seriously believes she’d be backing him if not for her personal loyalty to him, and McCain’s sufficiently infamous for his centrism that even her support won’t scrub him clean in the eyes of tea partiers. Which means this is actually a pretty shrewd move on her part: She gets credit for being a good soldier, especially in light of the sniping at her from his former campaign aides, whereas he gets maybe a few extra votes from conservatives.

We discussed this before he went home and Stacy thought the fault was McCain for putting her in that position.

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