Archive for the ‘media’ Category

The Anchoress writes THE Arizona media post

Posted: January 13, 2011 by datechguy in media
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I’m in the process of writing a critique column for the Examiner on the media’s reaction events in Arizona but if spend the entire day working on it I suspect it will not compare to this post by Elizabeth Scalia the Anchoress.

“Today was supposed to be set-aside for the victims,” someone posted on twitter, “Palin decided she is one of them.”

No. Sarah Palin made a statement that was contextual, relevant and appropriate to the day. The press, if they really wanted to put the day aside for the victims, could have simply reported that Palin made a statement, and moved on. In truth, they could have utterly ignored Palin’s statement altogether, because she really is not part of this story.

But they did not, because they cannot. Where Sarah Palin is concerned, the mainstream press and the political pundit class are like 14 year olds obsessing over the social order of the cafeteria, and especially that stupid new cootie girl, ewwww.

They are the spiteful, malevolent and immature teenagers in “Carrie,” armed with pig-blood and just looking for any opportunity to pour it.

They are repulsive in their clique; one wants to take them by their shoulders and shake them and say “grow up! GROW UP!”

Read the whole thing, is it the best piece I’ve seen on the subject. Also not to be missed is NeoNeocon’s piece.

I believe that, like her or hate her (and I’ve gone on record saying I don’t think she’s a good candidate for the 2012 presidency), Palin chooses her phrases carefully and knows what she’s doing. And I would guess that, as a religious Christian and strong supporter of Israels and Jews, Palin knows exactly what the blood libel is and has an awareness of the history behind the use of the phrase.

I am wondering how it would feel to be reeling from hearing the dreadful news of the Tucson assassination/massacre, and then almost immediately to find oneself accused of inciting it by press and an opposition solemnly and sanctimoniously intoning the charge in transparently hypocritical hope of elevating the tone of political discourse while simultaneously pointing the finger of bloody guilt at their hated opponent. You know, the phrase “blood libel” might just come to mind.

I know I will add only a few hits after Glenn and Elizabeth but I can say that she as intelligent and delightful in person as she is online.

Update: More attempted scrubbing on the left, and makes the following point in a follow up post:

What is most remarkable about these death wishes is that they were done in the open and often with the identity of the person not hidden. The identities of the tweeters and the people who “liked” the Facebook pages were readily identifiable in many cases.

Why do these people, many of whom are professionals, feel no fear in expressing such death wishes in the open?

Because they know that the media will never call them out for death threats against Sarah Palin. I will be delighted in a show like Morning Joe proves me wrong.

The Palin Derangement Syndrome continues on Morning Joe

Posted: January 13, 2011 by datechguy in media
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Still collecting on my thoughts about Obama’s speech (read it, sounded good in my head) but on the air on Morning Joe after 15 minutes of praising the president it is all Sarah Palin.

Politico talks about the “contrast” between the speeches and Joe, Mika and Harold Ford are all going off on her saying she should be quiet (Likely the only woman pol that the media can say basically “shut up” to without being called sexist). Watching it I can’t believe the degree of Sullivan’s syndrome among the panel.

I’ve read the various commentaries on Instapundit and noticed a link to the Anchoress. Elizabeth Scalia is one of the most level-headed people out there and I trust her judgment:

She liked the president’s speech very much but had this to say about the media:

Will the speech change anything? Charles Krauthammer, in post-speech remarks, said he thought it would put a stop to the insane, Palin-heavy rhetoric of the past few days. I hope that is true but I have my doubts. On twitter, I watched a number of journalists (Andrea Mitchell, Dave Weigel and others) immediately begin either talking about or snarking about Palin, and I couldn’t help thinking, “the president–your president whom you love–just gave the speech of his presidency and not five minutes later you’re on Palin again? Conservatives are here praising the president, and instead of joining in, you’re obsessing on Sarah Palin? Does that seem like normal, rational, healthy behavior or sick obsession?All emphasis mine

Guys I like you, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing Mike and Willie and they are regular guys. Joe, Mika I hope to meet you someday (at CPAC perhaps this year?) and suspect I will like you as well but guys you are really obsessed on Sarah Palin and it really makes you guys look ugly.

Don’t take my word for it, take Elizabeth’s word for it, she is a prayerful and steady woman and always means to help.

She also wrote THE piece on the subject of the media actions of the week. It is so good it deserves it’s own commentary post.

DaTechGuy on DaRadio with Val Prieto + our Arizona special

Posted: January 12, 2011 by datechguy in DaTechGuy on DaRadio, media, opinion/news, special events
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If you missed last weeks show with Val Prieto or the one hour special about the Arizona shooting, have no fear you can listen to it here.

DaTechGuy show 8 PLUS our Arizona Special with John Weston, Roxeanne DeLuca, Val Prieto, Robert Stacy McCain and Barbara Espinosa

And remember all our episodes are available off the blog.

The media tells us who they fear

Posted: January 12, 2011 by datechguy in culture, media
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One of Rush Limbaugh’s favorite lines about the media and the democrats is they will tell you who they fear by their reactions.

One of the reason’s why the media has no problem “calling out” the Tea Party without evidence and why they have no problem going after the Catholic Church is not only do they disagree with their positions, but they understand and no they actually have no physical reason to fear them.

At No Paesran via Glenn we see the difference between reporting on people you fear vs people you don’t. First the shooting in Arizona and the Conservatives in Le Monde:

The shooting in which a Democrat was seriously wounded in Arizona has appalled the American Left, which denounces the “poisoned rhetoric” of the ultraconservatives…

He continues illustrating the comparative nonsense within the paper itself and their willingness to post blames, Yet not two weeks after the attack in Alexandra against Coptic Christians that was international news (prompting a rare positive reaction) we have this story out of Egypt:

An off-duty policeman has opened fire on a train in Egypt, killing a Christian man, but it is unclear whether the attack was sectarian.

At least another five people were reported to have been injured in the shooting on a train between Assiut and Cairo.

Officials said at least four of those hurt were Coptic Christians.

That’s just the fact but note how the story ends:

The BBC’s Jon Leyne reports from Cairo that it is difficult to see how the gunmen would have known he could target Christians by boarding the train.

Here you have the media making it a point to say it’s hard to see a direct religious connection the lack of evidence to make a connection to radical Islam vs the Coptic.

Although he approves of that last statement No Paesran’s head spins:

It is unclear whether the attack was sectarian! We learn that “Officials said at least four of those hurt [there were five wounded altogether] were Coptic Christians” and we learn that “Witnesses said hundreds of Christians later clashed with police outside the hospital where the wounded were taken” and we are reminded that “Tensions between Muslims and Christians in Egypt have been high following a bomb attack on a Coptic church in Alexandria at the new year that killed 23 people.” But! It is unclear whether the attack was sectarian!

All of this speaks volumes. I think it’s not just bias, I think it is the knowledge that if the BBC suggests islamic violence they may have to deal with repercussions personally.

Restraint is easy when your skin is at stake.

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