SwiftVets.com

[fortdixlover]

The rancor of the left-wing campaign against George Bush and the SwiftVets, along with the communications revolution of the Internet and the clear technologic incompetence of the MSM, has created a Perfect Storm. This storm has exposed a deadly-serious issue far beyond Dan Rather's incompetence as a journalist. In fact, they're all bad journalists, as they belong to a journalistic system that is terminally defective.

What needs to be understood is that it's not just CBS that is the problem, but the entire traditional media establishment. And while CBS might have committed the most egregious abuses, can one really think that ABC, NBC or PBS are any better? We need to take from this lesson more than just "Dan Rather is a bad journalist." The lesson is that the entire traditional media establishment is intellectually diseased, sclerotic and corrupt. It will be a source of harm against the American public for as long as it remains unchallenged, unrepentant, and unreformed.

The SwiftVets and the Bloggers are mounting that challenge.

The overriding issue is that any entity with great authority but without appropriate accountability will inevitably become corrupt. Yesterday CBS spokeswoman Sandy Genelius brushed off General "Buck" Staudt's comments in splendid totalitarian style: "In a debate this heated, one can hardly expect Gen. Staudt to endorse the point of view that he exerted undue influence", she said. In other words, General Staudt can hardly be expected to admit his guilt, the guilt that we at CBS "know" is true. The SwiftVets are treated similarly as "Right-wing operatives under the command of Karl Rove and the RNC" and so forth.

What, exactly, is the difference between what CBS and other networks are doing to Bush and the SwiftVets - e.g., Rather demanding that Bush "respond to the charges against him" despite the fraudulence of the evidence - and People's Court-led communist show trials of the Soviet era, or the persecutions of the McCarthy era?

None, really. An absolute and corrupt authority, either on the left or the right, will eventually devolve to committing unjust excesses. Why? Power corrupts. Mainstream media has had enormous, unchallenged power for the last forty years. Much like inbreeding, this has led to degeneracy.

The Internet and its bloggers and BBSers have altered the playing field very suddenly and dramatically. It took a revolution in communications technology, combined with media myopia and arrogance, for this Perfect Storm to emerge. So sudden is the change, in fact, that the technology-illiterate in the mainstream media clearly are not yet able to grasp just how much their profession has come under scrutiny. The "Theatre of the Absurd" that still emanates from outlets such as CBS news, the Boston Globe, and the LA Times show just how stubborn and resistant to this unpleasant reality the mainstream media is.

The attacks on the SwiftVets's integrity, as well as scandals like Rathergate, are more than just problems, they are a symptom of a disease and a call to arms. We must go beyond asking how to get rid of Dan Rather, and ask what needs to be done to stop the systematic and pervasive distortion of information fed to the American public.

-- FDL

[jim_nyc]

I concur.

[dmackto]

Well said.
_________________
Deborah
The FROZEN CHICKEN Journal

This is no time for ease and comfort. It is the time to dare and endure.
- Winston Churchill

[Paul Woll]

OK. Now what? How do you bring to focus the unamerican tendencies of the MSM (claiming all is lost in Iraq) and the democrat party (video of soldier in surrender position). Rather is a good example of how biased and sick the whole structure is.
In our government separation of powers does not seem to include any balance against the media. There is no accountability. How can there be any? Would this fall under the judicial branch (which I find very liberal)? I don't see any checks or balances in the MSM.
What should we do? Petitions? I don't know.

[Jungle_rat]

[LimaCharlie]

My only quibble is, contrary to popular opinion, John F. Kerry does not flip-flop. John Faux Kerry is extremely consistent in his views. He is a Communist sympathizer, loves Europe more than the United States, and is an appeaser. He inherited his views from his father. John Kerry has consistently displayed his views at boarding school, through college, during his “heroic” military service, and also during his “illustrious” career in the US Senate voting against the military. He has never wavered from his purpose. His words change to achieve his purpose, but his purpose is very clear and consistent. John Kerry is truly the Manchurian Candidate. The mainstream media are just useful fools.
_________________
I was going to become an anarchist, but they had too many rules.

[ohanakat]

[FargoUT]

I have to say, I think the MSM is rather middle-of-the-road. I've come to this conclusion because of this:

Conservatives call the MSM liberal.

Liberals call the MSM conservative.

It doesn't take much to realize that the MSM is neither, but takes a neutral stance. Of course, this is the reason I listen to Hannity, watch CNN, and listen to NPR. Getting your information from one source is ignorant and almost irresponsible.

[Navy_Navy_Navy]

Interesting - you say here that you listen to Sean Hannity, but in your first post, you had your location listed as a hannityinsanity web site.

I removed it and put it in your web link section, so that it would quit screwing up the page layout and you removed it completely.

Now, you listen to him? Odd, very odd.
_________________
~ Echo Juliet ~
Altering course to starboard - On Fire, Keep Clear
Navy woman, Navy wife, Navy mother

[CTW]

[Paul Woll]

FargoUT,
You are completely clueless if you think the MSM is middle of the road. Just look at how they handled the swift boat issues, kitty kelly, barnes, etc. Do your research you will find most tv programs biased and favorable to Kerry. A majority of newspapers as well. You will see an incredible bias in the AP.
(AP Reporting crowd booed when they did not upon hearing about Clinton's heart condition).

If it was fair and balanced you would see more people calling for Kerry to sign the 180. Do you see any other radio station that has done this? Just look at how they covered the Kerry speech to the National Guard.

If you had two people... one a liar and one that told the truth and they both claimed that someone was biased you would have to look at the evidence and not just claim like you that it must be in the middle. That is the most ridiculous argument I have heard. Be real. The hypocrisy of the media in their attacks on Bush and defense of Kerry is completely obvious. I can barely watch any TV programs.

[DavidS]

Very well put. We can each have an impact.




quote="ohanakat"]

[Dimsdale]

[RMalloy]

We can make a difference. Viacom owns CBS News, their shareholders
will want an explaination as to why Dan Rather's ratings were
lower than an old Simpson's this past week. The MSM is supported by
their sponsors. The sponsors ultimately rule and will respond when
a large group of consumers tell em we won't be buying your products
as long as you put your ads during Hardball, Crossfire, ect., ect.

Same as the newspapers, they need the advertising. When we contact
the advertisors and let them know we won't be buying their products
since they have ads in USA TODAY, or the NYTimes, LATimes, ect.
Money is the bottom line for these media outlets. Our money counts!

[BB Stacker]

The only people that think that the MSM does not have a left bias are choir members that either are completely ignorant of the facts and therefore naive, or so indoctrinated by the leftist party line, that the truth no longer matters. For those who march in step to Democrat talking points, they are only looking for the next command to parrot out the party line without any truth filter what so ever. Do not try to confuse these people with facts, they don't care. It's only winning, at all costs, that matters.

It is true that power corrupts, whether on the left or right. That fact underscores the wisdom and importance or a free press. They have a sacred responsibility of fair and honest reporting to expose abuses on either side of the political spectrum. They are the publics watchdogs. But when these 900 pound gorilla news networks begin to make news instead of reporting it, it is they who are corrupt and become a danger to the society they should be watching out for. We do not need Al Jazeera to watch out for us.

We do need honesty and integrity in reporting. We do not need idealogues telling us what's best for us. It has now fallen to the new media to, not only do the job of the MSM in being the watch dog of public servants, but also be the watch dog over the MSM. This maturing of news media may have some beneficial side effects. Witness the growth of the Blogosphere.
It is now evident that each of us has responsibility to look deeper into what ever is being presented as fact. If we do not, we just end up standing with the choir.