McCain update
Media - - Posted on April, 27 at 8:33 pm by Ken L
The possible next president of the United States once again displays either his astonishing ignorance or stunning mendacity, albeit this time through the mouth of an adviser:
McCain adviser Steve Schmidt told CNN’s Dana Bash that the Hamas view was “a fair issue for the American people to ponder should he be the Democratic nominee for president.”
“Hamas has said they want Barack Obama to win. The reason for that is his policy. He wants to negotiate with the terrorist-funding, nuclear-aspiring, holocaust-denying, Israel-threatening dictator of Iran.
Iran has a ‘dictator’ about as much as the USA has a dictator … possibly less so. But we all know dictators are bad so WTF, let’s just throw the word out there and let it do some damage.
I guess it’s fair enough for politicians to engage in manifestly dishonest propaganda if nobody calls them on it. The big question is why the MSM allows people like the Bush and McCain mobs to get away with it. Oh yeah that’s right, they’re too busy tracking down that serious story about why Barack Obama is such a lousy bowler.
Posted in Media |
April 27th, 2008 at 10:34 pm
McCain’s been looking at a version of the war journalist’s guide to the world. His has countries labeled either “democracy” or “dictatorship”, I suppose, and is printed in black and white.
April 27th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
Reading this sort of BS (and Hillary’s threat to “totally obliterate” Iran) is so fucking draining. Clearly those yanks just don’t know when to give it a rest.
The course is set. The MSM is playing it’s part without missing a beat (and sadly our mob are no better). It’s going to be mostly downhill from here. Pity.
April 27th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
The amerikan MSM gets away with it because Joe Sixpack, who decides elections if he can get off his lard arse to vote, is a supremely ignorant bigot and to try to tell the truth would suggest that the amerikan lifestyle (TM@GHW Bush)is in fact negotiable. NO SUHH!
April 27th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
That’s my point, amphibious.
Without a brave, independent media, an informed and engaged populace and a restriction of the part $$$ plays in winning the presidency… the US will just continue to decay.
And there’s not much chance of any “grassroots” movement popping up to stop the rot.
The tragic thing is that they’re going to take a bunch of others with them as they go.
April 28th, 2008 at 12:10 am
Just wait and see,then you do not have the penalty of being wrong or right.Look at that photo of MCCain,do you really believe,even the average American would believe he can always look that young!? And if he does always look that young,what is he doing to look so young? Obama has a few warts around him,but he didnt get into the personal.And he may know as much personal shit on MCCain as anyone else,and well, its a patience game..isnt it!? A sort of fly like a very large Anaconda and sting like a butterfly!? MCCain the older man,has to prove he wont look silly as American President,no matter,if large numbers of Americans are behind him.I am one of Obama’s critics,but,I dont think he is a complete bloody idiot..you can have options about the American leadership..and one is just look at the recent happening today in Afghanistan,and no soothing words of war mongery,is going to soften the real bullets flying and pain.Reality from America is disengaged from the mouths of the MCCain.
April 28th, 2008 at 2:22 am
McCain’s approach is not surprising. Repugs are renowned for calling their opponents “unpatriotic” or enemy enablers and such.
“The ‘gooks’ were bombarding us with antiwar quotes from people in high places back in Washington,”
(John McCain, 1973 U.S. News & World Report)
When the WAR WHIP is wielded by those of enormous influence…& sponsors w/ campaign cash at the ready…the political “gung-hoers” in the media spotlight can’t but help dance to the WAR drums…and give it in the neck to any friend or associate that turns the HYSTERIA volume down.
Those influential sponsors include nervous Zionists (some of whom have valid reasons for being anxious but imho opening “Cheney’s Box” again will only worsen the spread of the INSANITY VIRUS)…and “Red Crescent” stressed Saudis…& kooky “Crusade” obsessed Christian zealots…& revved up private security mercenaries…not to mention every Corporate scoundrel who ever made a fast buck out of “constructing enemies” & creating “evil empires”.
Add to the mix the man they’re sponsoring, John McCain…an Air-Force HERO who can’t lift his arms due to tortue (very sad…still, lucky for him he won’t be shown up taking part in recreational sports and such…and i guess it means he’ll support bills against torture…or so you’d think)…yep, a Repug moderate so GUNG-HO he believes deep down they could’ve won the Vietnam War if not for those anti-war HATERS…
and McCain the Moderate obviously has a penchant for those known to take it to the limit…
remember this from the 2000 campaign?:
“During that year, when McCain was on the road in New Hampshire, the candidate proudly read aloud from a school report on General George S. Patton Jr. by Jimmy that he had faxed to his father: “The Tanks Will Roll On.”
(The McCains and War: Like Father, Like Son
Sunday, Jul. 30, 2006 By MASSIMO CALABRESI)
And we remember how that other HERO Patton was always lookin’ for the next enemy…the next “Dictorship” to crush:
“Patton knew that the Americans could whip the Reds then — but perhaps not later. On May 18 he noted in his diary: “In my opinion, the American Army as it now exists could beat the Russians with the greatest of ease, because, while the Russians have good infantry, they are lacking in artillery, air, tanks, and in the knowledge of the use of the combined arms, whereas we excel in all three of these. If it should be necessary to right the Russians, the sooner we do it the better.”
(GENERAL PATTON’S WARNING: natall .com)
yep, the Russkies having shed millions of lives in the defence of their Nation were now easy pickin’s…
“i mean sh*t, what’s a million more dead or so”, between Democratic Capitalist friends, “they’re only Commie cockroaches anyway”…”why hesitate when you can FREE the World?”…
perhaps an atomic bomb or two for some Soviet industrial cities might’ve come in handy?…
then the American army could’ve gone after the other despots in Africa, the Middle East…everywhere…across the less than Democratic GLOBE…one by one…FREEDOM brought to town w/ the drop of a bomb or twelve…& then once that was over…who would be the next enemy? Those lousy PEACENIKS at home? Then those whining, “anti-military industrial complex” Libertarian types?
Screw the people’s perception…it’s the winner who writes the history books anyway…RIGHT
hmmm…
Sure, Patton was great UNLEASHED against the NAZIs…but what do we expect when we let the trained killer off its leash?…and how do we contain it later?.
It seems our HERO Patton had some grotesque views to go w/ his guts & courage:
“I know the expression ‘lost tribes of Israel’ applied to the tribes which disappeared — not to the tribe of Judah from which the current sons of bitches are descended. However, it is my personal opinion that this too is a lost tribe — lost to all decency.”
(Patton’s diary)
Oh the allies we seek out & use in the name of FREEDOM.
Still, i don’t think it would be appropriate to tarnish McCain w/ the occasional “crap” & HATE that came out of the mouth & writings of someone he promoted.
But isn’t it interesting that he smears Obama for the WORDS that come from a Hamas leader…someone he doesn’t even support?
Strange, hypocritical days indeed.
April 28th, 2008 at 2:52 am
Isn’t freedum and demockracy supposed to deliver the electorate a transparent government? Instead we have a nation of trembling paranoids manipulated by a bunch of political opportunists. Is there a more misinformed and frightened populace anywhere on earth?
Geeeazzuzzz!!! These guys believe they single-handedly won the second world war, yet they’re hooked on Ignorance and Fear.
I often tell my daughter that stupid people frighten me. Really… they do.
April 28th, 2008 at 10:02 am
Even if the American media woke up tomorrow morning and started doing what it’s supposed to do it wouldn’t help.
If the populace is frightened now imagine how they’d feel if they were informed. Doesn’t bear thinking about.
April 28th, 2008 at 11:08 am
Just goes to show that all the nasty things that are being said about Obama by the Clinton camp are a tea party compared with the shooting party that the Republicans have in mind. The bigger the lie…
April 28th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
They would be interesting, wouldn’t it, Lyn.
What if the American MSM decided to inform the people that their lifestyle was unsustainable without the aggressive use of military force?
April 28th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Sorry, he actually meant Tibet.
April 28th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
This bloke has all the qualities to become the leader of the (not so) free world. He knows FA, he’s ignorant, arrogant and is a war merchant. His main focus is on scaring the children of the empire into a threat from ghosts and anyone else he can lay his small mind to. The really sad thing is that the children of the empire are silly enough to buy it. It seems that they’ll have more of the Bush Bullying the rest of the world under another name. I truly feel sorry for the empire. They don’t seem to have an ability to think rationally.
April 28th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
The standout remark from Schmidt is “for the American people to ponder”…see em all now,just pondering.Cunning bullshit.
April 28th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Lyn said: If the populace is frightened now imagine how they’d feel if they were informed. Doesn’t bear thinking about.
Provided they learnt &/or possessed the skills of researching, analysing & recognising the recurrent symbols, motifs etc. that are used in advertising, political propaganda and so on, i think they’d be fine Lyn.
Sure their “world will wobble” for awhile…but it’s preferable to remaining dormant…cowed…unknowingly ignorant…fearful based on consuming lIES & DECEIT.
Too many people take their NEWS at “face value”…& even tho they suspect they are being pushed BS they don’t attempt to look beneath the surface…see if the reporting is credible.
Too often the info provided by the media benefits the advertisers & Corporations that are in some way linked to that particular news organisation. It’s rarely in their interest to INFORM the public on stuff that might benefit their competitors…that can be business/media competitors &/or an alternative socio-political system…even economic policies/ideas that don’t benefit their sponsors.
That’s why I suspect that Al Gore in 2000 was painted so ugly by many in the Corporate Press…perhaps the shareholders/moguls/gatekeepers recognised his habit of bringing up Global Warming issues (certainly a distraction from “war-mongering) & the fossil fuel types needed to keep him & his lot out long enuff to BUY INTO some of those GREEN ENERGY & PUBLIC TRANSPORT projects…
& in turn sabotage them (think headlines focusing on “FOOD SHORTAGE PANIC” possibly due to bio-fuels) whilst sucking out the profits…it’s possible.
This is why so many people are concerned about the Lobbyists/Sponsors behind polies…& behind the MEDIA.
The fact that Obama gets a heck of alot of campaign contributions from individuals on the internet is fairly reassuring. Tho he’s not perfect…as he says himself. He also has his wealthy backers. It’s the amount of influence on policy formation & implementation that matters in the long run.
And certainly McCain pushed “campaign reform”…but TRICKY DICKS can be put in place years before & “constructed” as Moderates & REFORMERS in order to be available as a VALID POPULIST CANDIDATE when things turn somewhat sour for the initial WAR-GUNG-HOERS (like Bush & co.)
It’s important to have the skills at your disposal to “LIFT THE VEIL”…& break the mirrors, blow away the smoke…and look closer at the candidates…their past deeds & voting record…what they offer in-depth…
for instance, their support for Teacher Unions & the legacy (perhaps) deriving from their past policies. (ie: Doesn’t look like Bill was a real public teacher buster to me…some see that as good, others bad…me good)…and Bill Clinton had to be dragged kicking & screaming into WAR (think the former Yugoslavia).
The role of Hillary in that government is also important…considering partners can have oppositional views on important issues…take different roads…but I think it’s interesting that Bill & Hillary have stuck together thru thick & thin…at least for campaign purposes…perhaps their beliefs & values are not as disimilar as sometimes we are led to believe? Real Centrists…considering the public’s view of the rising cost of private education & war-making these days.
Presently, i’m thinking Clinton/Obama for the Presidency…but mebbe Obama/Webb…& a few other options i’ll keep to myself for now.
This is an interesting article from Elizabeth Edwards…the wife of former Presidential candidate John Edwards:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/27/opinion/27edwards.html?_r=1&oref=slogin#
(NY TIMES: Op-Ed Contributor
Bowling 1, Health Care 0
By ELIZABETH EDWARDS
Published: April 27, 2008)
DEMAND MORE FROM YOUR MEDIA…AND YOURSELF…NO LONGER EYES WIDE SHUT.
April 28th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
Who will be the next President? As to me I don’t know and don’t know who can know
April 29th, 2008 at 2:08 am
Thought ‘The Daily Show’ team have been hitting their stride again lately. Funny as buggery whilst showing how the media types like George Stephanopoulos are giving McCain an easy ride. Wish i could find the vid.
Here’s an article from Buzzflash looking at the HATERS…Neanderthals of radio & TV who gave McCain a hard time (probably to make him appear more Moderate than he really is)…but also would boil Obama & Hillary in a big pot if they had the chance…holding spears w/ gnarled hands covering their loincloths…:)
http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/editorblog/085
April 30th, 2008 at 9:02 am
Arianna at Huffington Post provides some useful insight into why the mainstream media keeps rehashing the same old stories and interpreting far too many of them, & recent news/issues, by pulling out the antiquated & poisonous guide ‘How to analyse the news from a “fair & balanced” loopy Right perspective’…
she also recognises McCain for the TRICKY DICK that he is…aptly referring to him as the Far-Right’s “Trojan Horse”:
Indeed, we are in the sixth year of an unnecessary and immoral war that has cost tens of thousands of lives, globally discredited the United States and has left us all less safe than the day Shock and Awe began. But the media are still debating the war’s “progress,” and describing the state of Iraq as “a mixed bag” — which is a little bit like going to the doctor and having him tell you that you have a brain tumor but your acne has cleared, and you considering the diagnosis “a mixed bag.”
What is behind the media’s lapdog devotion to the messages and framing of the Right? It’s a combination of self-loathing and abject fear. The media wear their dread like a cheap aftershave. The broadcast networks and the cable news channels live in mortal fear of a dip in the ratings, and newspapers are constantly checking their pulse — convinced by their deteriorating profits and market share that the end is near. So they continue to offer the views of the newly marooned Right more than equal time.
and:
Over this past year, it has seemed that America is ready to define a new center and to turn a new page and close the book on this tragic chapter of our history. The nomination of John McCain, however, could obstruct this transition. McCain is the Trojan Horse the Right desperately needed to put a faux maverick, faux independent, faux straight-talker imprint on the same ruinous policies that have taken us down this dark road.
(Arriana Huffington at Huffington Post - Probing a Political Paradox: Why the Discredited Right Still Sets the Agenda and Dominates the Debate, Posted April 28, 2008)
The rest can be found at her site.
April 30th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Well put, nasking.
It just reinforces my view that the course was set long ago and, despite any temporary tacks to port, we will keep getting closer to the bloody iceberg.
April 30th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
I agree Mars…but there is still HOPE we can turn this TITANIC-like situation into a star ship…:)
My comments regarding Hillary…then Obama from Lav Prod:
“I see her more as a strong, smart, firm leader who demonstrates durability, pragmatism and resilience (there’s that word again)…occasionally she has to be cruel to be kind. Bit of a Captain Kathryn Janeway but one growing up in somewhat dystopic society that has been painted w/ a coat of PROSPERITY.
Hillary is running a SMART race in the moral vacuum caused by the “gotcha” media & Rovian/Limbaugh/O’Reilly politics…the excess consumption & debt accumulation deriving from resource & housing booms…& bogus WAR…those who criticise most of her tactics are often the same hypocrites who greedily fed off this redistribution of income to THE FEW.
Apart from the bona-fide “sustainable energy” & anti-Iraq invasion types who instinctively go into paroxysms of vomiting over Bill & Hillary’s tactics (there’s been a near decade of such responses…particularly on the Blogs)…forgetting that the Clinton govt. will be there to supply you w/ the bucket & wash cloth if you require it, provided you’ve made the effort to go out & purchase them/or make them yourselves…whilst the Busheviks & Bush-lites just stand at a distance grinning, making dumb jokes, recording your humiliation in order to make a quick buck. Then they’ll send you the bill for staining the carpet.
Imho, having a character like Obama on your team, w/ his type of associations, and ability to act as a “drawcard” for certain groups could be a blessing in disguise…particularly as time & events move on.
From what i remember, didn’t Captain Janeway after some REAL TENSIONS successfully bring together the Maquis (rebels/freedom fighters who mistrusted ‘The Federation’) and Voyager crews?…:) And then they boldly fought/navigated/used diplomacy to make their way back HOME? She also helped a Borg reclaim her individuality from the hive mind.”
(Obama on Four Corners: Lavartus Prodeo, Apr 29th, 2008)
and anyone who doesn’t believe that the Neo-Cons don’t have MANY allies spreading deliberate distortions as part of a “divide & conquer” Presidential campaign strategy need look no further than this blatant ATTACK on Bill Clinton RIGHT here in Australia:
http://blairboltwatch.wordpress.com/
I’ve also noticed a concerted effort to destroy Al Gore’s credibility before the 2008 Democratic National Convention…combined w/ the WISH by many a Far-Right loop that the “divide & conquer” tactics will lead to a 1968 Chicago style MELTDOWN.
Creating ‘faux’ perceptions & turning UGLY dreams into REALITIES is a F/T job for many of these wank*rs. Think the Iraq invasion to begin with.
I wasn’t so sure about Hillary…but as time passes i’m having a rethink…the fact she’s walking into the BLOWHARD’s den (O’Reilly Show) demonstrates to me she knows that showing up these pipsqueaks for the mossies they truly are is the best way to BEAT the REAL monsters on the opposite side of the CHESS BOARD.
Sometimes, when your PLANET has been transformed to GROTESQUE by a CORRUPT & SLY government you need to ACT like the average MONSTER’s citizen in the marketplace in order to achieve your goals.
HOPE & PRAGMATISM live!