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Rexfelum
Joined: 26 Sep 2003
Posts: 3865
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 Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2005 7:14 pm Post subject: Fox News . . . my eyes are burning . . . |
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Okay, people, now I understand. And I'm so, so sorry.
See, my family has only ever gotten broadcast TV. We don't get cable or satellite or (fill in the blank with whatever other versions exist by now) TV. We don't care. It's not like there's anything good on those versions of TV, either.
This means I'd never seen Fox News. But apparently the Broken Saints crew and fans feel it is a very biased news source. Well, okay, today I finally had the chance to watch that program while I was eating at a restaurant with a bunch of TV sets.
The program covered a bunch of stuff, like some religious controversy over Christmas (the President lit up the White House Christmas tree today, you see), and I could see how that could get offensive, but it didn't seem too messed up to me. Then it moved on to the President's recent arguments for continued "perseverance" in Iraq. (Yeah, I can see your eyelid twitching from here.) The newscaster mentioned, in favorable terms, how Bush emphasized the successes made so far in Iraq, but was willing to admit there had been problems. After all, no one could have expected how quickly the terrorists had fused with the insurgent forces in Iraq.
. . .
What.
Where did they get that.
Where did they get that . . . "information."
Or, since such information is obviously impossible to attain, why did they think they could draw that conclusion?
. . . Fox News just lied to the American public. To explain for the slow kids in the back, they just made unsupported (and contraindicated) assumptions about the "insurgent" politics and reasons for insurgency. They just stated that "insurgent equals terrorist."
This is after a recent gathering of Iraqi officials in Egypt officially declared that these people could not be called terrorists; instead, these are insurgents, expressing their extreme disapproval with the people in power in their nation, i.e., through rebelling. (Did anybody else see a news article on this declaration? For the life of me, I can't find the original again.)
Goodness, but my jaw was painfully wedged open in utter disbelief when I heard that. And there are countless people in America who will believe it. In fact, I already know the mindset involved: it's not just that they will believe it, but 9 people out of 10 won't even think it's a big enough deal to debate belief on this. If I discussed this with my average peer, I would be accused of making a big deal over nothing. ("You're calling them liars? Because you don't like a word?" Hooray for belittling! And failing to think!)
So, yeah. Now I understand more of what is wrong with the shepherds of the sheep. Thank goodness I don't have that in my living room.
--Rexfelum
_________________
"As a weekend hobby, I'm writing my autobiography. I'm having to do lots of research." --Terry Pratchett. |
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Mooshou
Joined: 20 Jan 2004
Posts: 3664
Location: Ici. Voila. C'est tout.
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| Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2005 7:56 pm Post subject: Re: Fox News . . . my eyes are burning . . . |
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| Rexfelum wrote: | Okay, people, now I understand. And I'm so, so sorry.
See, my family has only ever gotten broadcast TV. We don't get cable or satellite or (fill in the blank with whatever other versions exist by now) TV. We don't care. It's not like there's anything good on those versions of TV, either.
This means I'd never seen Fox News. But apparently the Broken Saints crew and fans feel it is a very biased news source. Well, okay, today I finally had the chance to watch that program while I was eating at a restaurant with a bunch of TV sets.
The program covered a bunch of stuff, like some religious controversy over Christmas (the President lit up the White House Christmas tree today, you see), and I could see how that could get offensive, but it didn't seem too messed up to me. Then it moved on to the President's recent arguments for continued "perseverance" in Iraq. (Yeah, I can see your eyelid twitching from here.) The newscaster mentioned, in favorable terms, how Bush emphasized the successes made so far in Iraq, but was willing to admit there had been problems. After all, no one could have expected how quickly the terrorists had fused with the insurgent forces in Iraq.
. . .
What.
Where did they get that.
Where did they get that . . . "information."
Or, since such information is obviously impossible to attain, why did they think they could draw that conclusion?
. . . Fox News just lied to the American public. To explain for the slow kids in the back, they just made unsupported (and contraindicated) assumptions about the "insurgent" politics and reasons for insurgency. They just stated that "insurgent equals terrorist."
This is after a recent gathering of Iraqi officials in Egypt officially declared that these people could not be called terrorists; instead, these are insurgents, expressing their extreme disapproval with the people in power in their nation, i.e., through rebelling. (Did anybody else see a news article on this declaration? For the life of me, I can't find the original again.)
Goodness, but my jaw was painfully wedged open in utter disbelief when I heard that. And there are countless people in America who will believe it. In fact, I already know the mindset involved: it's not just that they will believe it, but 9 people out of 10 won't even think it's a big enough deal to debate belief on this. If I discussed this with my average peer, I would be accused of making a big deal over nothing. ("You're calling them liars? Because you don't like a word?" Hooray for belittling! And failing to think!)
So, yeah. Now I understand more of what is wrong with the shepherds of the sheep. Thank goodness I don't have that in my living room.
--Rexfelum |
ding ding ding, we have a winner here folks  Welcome to the group Rexy babe, remember to take the blue pill at night. Why do I have to keep reminding people about that? 
_________________
Run mad as often as you choose, but do not faint!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTcz-etqwKg |
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CaptivatingAngel
Joined: 30 Sep 2004
Posts: 1106
Location: City of Angels, California
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| Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2005 2:15 pm Post subject: |
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I never watch Fox News, or news on TV anymore, for the most part.
But yeah, I'm sure some of you have read or heard the following story...
Senate Committee to Hold Session on Newspaper Propaganda
Meanwhile, top Pentagon officials will appear before a closed-door session of the Senate Armed Services Committee today to answer reports the US is paying Iraqi newspapers to publish military propaganda. Senior Pentagon officials say they have yet to receive an explanation. After the story broke earlier this week, General George Casey argued the program should not be publicly discussed because it was classified. Asked about the issue Thursday, military spokesperson Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch appeared to defend the program without confirming its specifics. Major General Lynch said: "We don't lie. We don't need to lie. We do empower our operational commanders with the ability to inform the Iraqi public, but everything we do is based on fact, not based on fiction." State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters: "The State Department is working with journalists in Iraq to help them develop the skills that you all have in terms of reporting and journalistic ethics and practices… This is a country where free media didn't exist for decades, so they are learning. We think it's important to assist them in that."
Uh huh... ~pops a blue pill~
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"Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind." -Albert Einstein |
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Rexfelum
Joined: 26 Sep 2003
Posts: 3865
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| Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2005 4:22 pm Post subject: |
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Wait, which color pill is which, again?
(Rustle, rustle.)
Mmm, polka-dots . . .
--Rexfelum
_________________
"As a weekend hobby, I'm writing my autobiography. I'm having to do lots of research." --Terry Pratchett. |
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illiterate
Joined: 16 Apr 2005
Posts: 1500
Location: Boonies.
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| Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2005 7:32 pm Post subject: |
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What does the red one do again...?
I kinda...took it...
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detonathor
Joined: 18 Oct 2005
Posts: 39
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| Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2005 2:32 pm Post subject: |
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I was flipping through the channels one day when Fox News shouted "CANNIBALISM IN VIDEO-GAMES!!!!!!!!!!!!!" 
Ooookay... |
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TClaymore
Joined: 06 Feb 2002
Posts: 1523
Location: NewJersey (no lie!)
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| Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 9:54 am Post subject: |
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...I still like Adult Swim.
It rules.
_________________
"The good writers touch life often. The mediocre ones run a quick hand over her. The bad ones rape her and leave her to the flies."
-Mr. Faber; Fahrenheit 451
"No matter where you go, people are connected."
-Lain Iwakura |
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Kiretsu
Joined: 10 Aug 2003
Posts: 3726
Location: Next to the salt.
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| Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 10:22 am Post subject: |
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I get all the news that I need from the weather report.
_________________
Intelligence ruins perfectly good adventures.
My quandaries make my head spin and my tummy growl.
There's plenty of room for all of God's creatures, right next to the mashed potatoes.
Live every week like it's Shark Week! |
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illiterate
Joined: 16 Apr 2005
Posts: 1500
Location: Boonies.
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| Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 11:52 am Post subject: |
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| TClaymore wrote: | ...I still like Adult Swim.
It rules. |
Agreed.
It rulesx10.
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Kiretsu
Joined: 10 Aug 2003
Posts: 3726
Location: Next to the salt.
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| Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 1:15 pm Post subject: |
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| illiterate wrote: | | MTV Blows |
....
Oops, wrong thread. 
_________________
Intelligence ruins perfectly good adventures.
My quandaries make my head spin and my tummy growl.
There's plenty of room for all of God's creatures, right next to the mashed potatoes.
Live every week like it's Shark Week! |
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HearMeRoar
Joined: 27 Feb 2003
Posts: 905
Location: Stoke-on-Trent, UK
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| Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2005 6:34 am Post subject: |
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*Nods* It makes me shudder to think how many people buy it though.
Christ on a stick, ours isn't far from being as bad. I was wondering if anybody else heard about the trial that went on over here. Two members of parliment were taken to court in breach of the official secret's act when a memo was leaked. It was allegedly a conversation between Bush and Blair about their approaches to the war. Bush, allegedly, wanted to be more foreceful, mass bombing towns with known resisters and if i recall, wanted to move on to other nations. I'm searching for a transcript but because of the official secret's act, most sources have been removed.
THe best i can do is quote this article
| Quote: | Memo reveals Blair’s clash with Bush
Robert Winnett, Whitehall Correspondent
A LEAKED secret memo that sparked fevered speculation in Westminster last week records one of the most sensitive meetings between Tony Blair and George W Bush.
The Sunday Times has established that the meeting was a far-ranging discussion about the two leaders’ approach — and differences — towards policy throughout the Middle East.
The exact contents of the memo, allegedly leaked by a senior government official to an MP’s aide, have not been published because the government has threatened to prosecute anyone who does so under the Official Secrets Act.
A Cabinet Office official and an MP’s researcher who are alleged to have handled the memo and are due to appear in court this week could face prison sentences.
According to initial reports, the document records a discussion between Bush and Blair in which Bush suggested bombing an office of Al-Jazeera, the Arabic television station. The reference may well have been a joke, although yesterday a station executive delivered a letter to Downing Street urging Blair to clarify the reports.
The discussion, held at the White House in April 2004, is understood to have revealed fundamental differences between the Americans and British on the Middle East peace process, the reconstruction of Iraq and the possible use of Iranian help against the insurgency.
On April 16, 2004, Blair, accompanied by Sir Nigel Sheinwald, his foreign policy adviser, and Jonathan Powell, his chief of staff, met Bush and Colin Powell, the then US secretary of state, in the White House.
Two days before the meeting, Bush had endorsed Ariel Sharon’s plan for the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. But the right of return for millions of Palestinian refugees to land seized by Israel since 1948 was blocked. The plan was met with fury in the Arab world. It also angered Blair as it ended two years of diplomatic efforts by the British on the “road map” to Middle East peace.
According to Anthony Seldon, Blair’s biographer, who has interviewed those briefed on the meeting, this marked a “significant” setback for Blair. The prime minister was also said to be angered by the US failure to consult him on their private negotiations with Sharon. However, in public Blair remained supportive of Bush.
The two leaders also clashed over the future of Iraq. Blair arrived at the White House from talks with Kofi Annan, the secretary-general of the United Nations. This is thought to have led to a “frank” discussion with Bush, who had to be persuaded of the need for the UN to “guide” the composition of the new Iraqi administration. However, the UN’s input has since been minimal.
Compounding Anglo-American tensions, Sir Jeremy Greenstock left his position as Britain’s special representative in Iraq just days before the meeting, after disputes with the US over reconstruction policy. Powell said Greenstock was “no shrinking violet” in articulating his concerns to the Americans.
Greenstock is currently barred by the Cabinet Office from publishing his memoirs detailing his experiences.
At the time of the White House meeting, the Americans were fighting in Falluja against Sunnis backed by foreign fighters linked to the Al-Qaeda leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. More than 600 Iraqi civilians were reported to have been killed in the offensive. A memo leaked to The Sunday Times last year revealed deep misgivings within the British government over America’s “heavy-handed” tactics.
The White House meeting is thought to have covered how the British were secretly liaising with Iranian “diplomats” in Baghdad in the hope that they would mediate with the Shi’ite leader Moqtada al-Sadr.
Iran is now suspected of funding and training insurgents in southern Iraq, so the disclosure of any evidence that Blair was prepared to negotiate with them in 2004 would be embarrassing.
This part of the discussion also revealed information about British and American intelligence sources in Iraq and military strategies. It is this material that the government is most concerned to prevent leaking into the public domain. |
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Formerly "Broken-Angel" and still a proud member of C.O.R.A.
"Walls are not Doors!"
"Fuck is not a colour!" |
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tobias
Joined: 01 Oct 2004
Posts: 298
Location: Berlin, usually
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| Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 11:17 am Post subject: |
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| illiterate wrote: | What does the red one do again...?
I kinda...took it... |
Funny, I have come to think of you as kind of more of a blue-pill kind of guy.
Me, I don't take pills any more. I found they were interfering with the effects of alcohol and caffeine...
| Kiretsu wrote: | | I get all the news that I need from the weather report. |
Not sure if anyone else got that, but thanks. Not a bad song to have in my head for the rest of the day.
-t (the only living boy in Berlin...?)
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"I try to be as progressive as I can possibly be - as long as I don't have to try too much..."
- Lou Reed, 'Beginning of a Great Adventure' (New York) |
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Zero (The Anon One)
Joined: 24 Apr 2002
Posts: 3089
Location: Double your classics!
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| Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 11:24 am Post subject: |
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I cut back on the caff because I found it was interfering with the effects of schizophrenia.
And maybe there's an idea for a movie there, Tobias: Kurt Russel is Tobias Tinker in "Escape From Berlin."
_________________
"I told the people of my district that I would serve them as faithfully as I had done; but if not ... you may all go to hell, and I will go to Texas"
-Davey Crockett |
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