October 1st Podcast

Here’s a link to my interview with Aleks, of Taking Back America.

 

New York Times Says the Darnedest Things, Regarding ACORN, Van Jones, and so on and so forth

What do you make of this? Yes, it is humorous, but, I don’t think that was the main effect they were going for, over at Marxstream Media, Manhattan.

THE PUBLIC EDITOR
Tuning In Too Late

By CLARK HOYT

Published: September 26, 2009

ON Sept. 12, an Associated Press article inside The Times reported that the Census Bureau had severed its ties to Acorn, [sic, ACORN] the community organizing group. Robert Groves, the census director, was quoted as saying that Acorn, one of thousands of unpaid organizations promoting the 2010 census, had become “a distraction.”

What the article didn’t say — but what followers of Fox News and conservative commentators already knew — was that a video sting had caught Acorn workers counseling a bogus prostitute and pimp on how to set up a brothel staffed by under-age girls, avoid detection and cheat on taxes. The young woman in streetwalker’s clothes and her companion were actually undercover conservative activists with a hidden camera.

It was an intriguing story: employees of a controversial outfit, long criticized by Republicans as corrupt, appearing to engage in outrageous, if not illegal, behavior. An Acorn worker in Baltimore was shown telling the “prostitute” that she could describe herself to tax authorities as an “independent artist” and claim 15-year-old prostitutes, supposedly illegal immigrants, as dependents.

But for days, as more videos were posted and government authorities rushed to distance themselves from Acorn, The Times stood still. Its slow reflexes — closely following its slow response to a controversy that forced the resignation of Van Jones, a White House adviser — suggested that it has trouble dealing with stories arising from the polemical world of talk radio, cable television and partisan blogs. Some stories, lacking facts, never catch fire. But others do, and a newspaper like The Times needs to be alert to them or wind up looking clueless or, worse, partisan itself.

Some editors told me they were not immediately aware of the Acorn videos on Fox, YouTube and a new conservative Web site called BigGovernment.com. When the Senate voted to cut off all federal funds to Acorn, there was not a word in the newspaper, although a report in the Caucus blog that day covered the action. When the New York City Council froze all its funding for Acorn and the Brooklyn district attorney opened a criminal investigation, there was still nothing.

Readers noticed. James Jeff Crocket of New Britain, Conn., spoke for many when he said he was sure he knew why the paper was silent: “protecting the progressive movement.”

The piece goes on, tip-toeing an imaginary line between confession and denial, apology and excuse. This, particularly, brings a lasting smile:

Jill Abramson, the managing editor for news, agreed with me that the paper was “slow off the mark,” and blamed “insufficient tuned-in-ness to the issues that are dominating Fox News and talk radio.” She and Bill Keller, the executive editor, said last week that they would now assign an editor to monitor opinion media and brief them frequently on bubbling controversies. Keller declined to identify the editor, saying he wanted to spare that person “a bombardment of e-mails and excoriation in the blogosphere.”

Despite what the critics think, Abramson said the problem was not liberal bias.

Liberal bias? Naaaa. The solution to the not really bias? Let us see that again: “…assign an editor to monitor opinion media and brief them frequently on bubbling controversies.” The “controversies” of “opinion media?” Is that what you call journalism, from those pesky Americans who happen to believe government should abide by the Constitution, Mr. Hoyt? And, do you really purport, your comrades are so Old World that they fail to heed any particular kinds of new, er… “opinion media?”

Here is how it closes. (Still grinning and shaking my head, as fingers move on the keyboard.)

But Rosenstiel said The Times has a particular problem with conservatives, especially after its article last year suggesting that John McCain had an extramarital affair. And Republicans earlier this year charged that the paper killed a story about Acorn that would have been a “game changer” in the presidential election — a claim I found to be false.“If you know you are a target, it requires extra vigilance,” Rosenstiel said. “Even the suspicion of a bias is a problem all by itself.”

The public editor can be reached by e-mail: public@nytimes.com.

Do you really think he is reachable? Look up! Take my hand, Clark! What are you trying to say, Mr. Hoyt? Hint: what were you just trying not to say?

Here is one email, to the public editor:

Come out from that closet,
Before the door closes,
And brings more pain,
To your reporters’ toeses.

Escape “the polemic world…
…of” which your noses,
Snort up all their lines,
from the Daily Kozes.

Okay, maybe not straight from Daily Koz, all the time; call it poetic license. And, if you read this as you begin your day, Clark, I don’t mean to distract you too much, during the morning conference call with Pravda John Podesta.

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Also see: Michelle Malkin – A welcome message for the NYT’s new “opinion media monitor”

‘Obama Man’ Song (Video and Lyrics to the Tune of ‘Candy Man’)

(Update: Now see “Obama in Mom Jeans,” another great song by Greg Morton!)

Here’s a funny parody called the “Obama Man Song” that pokes fun at Barack Obama’s administration, as sung by comedian Greg Morton.

 

Lyrics (By Greg Morton):

Alright everybody:
AIG, Bank of America, Citigroup, First National, Lone Star!
What do you want, 1…2…3…Hundred Billion?
Come on over! I’m your Candy Man!

Who can fix the mortgage?
General Motors too?
A bailout check for me,
And a bailout check for you.

Obama Man…Yes, Obama Man Can.
Obama Man can, ’cause he mixes it with hope and makes the world taste good.

Who can give ya health care?
Who can save the poor?
Who can pick the teams
That are in the final four?

Obama Man…Yes, Obama Man Can.
Obama Man can, ’cause he mixes it with hope and makes the world feel good.

Obama Man takes problems, and he makes ‘em…he makes ‘em…he turns ‘em into cream and peaches, sugar-coated, smooth-tongued speeches. (I hope he practice’ what he preaches!)

Who can take tomorrow,
Spend it all today?
Who can take your income
And tax it all away?

Obama Man…(Everybody!) Yes, Obama Man Can.
Obama Man can, ’cause he mixes it with hope and makes the world taste good.

Yes, Obama Man takes
Every speech he makes
And gives it a whole bunch of thinkin’,
When Michelle Obama’s winkin’.
(Then he runs it by Abe Lincoln!)

Who can buy an iPod,
Give it to the Queen?
Who can take economy
And turn it into green?

Obama Man…Yes, Obama Man Can.
Obama Man…Obama, man…Obama Man…

Hey Chrysler, GM…you want some money? Ford, you want some? No, you don’t? OK, more for GM! God Bless this mess everybody! Obama Man can!

 

The Second American Revolution

Thomas Paine, author of “Common Sense,” returns to modern times to pleas for a second revolution to take back America, Now!

 

Re-Schedule: Interview with Andrew Gillette – Painter

UPDATE: Well, folks, our re-scheduled interview today had technical difficulties, as well (so sorry, Andrew!!). We’re going to do this again on Wednesday evening, at 9PM Central. Hope you all can be there!

Andrew Gillette donates part of the proceeds for his paintings to the Fisher House, a home away from home for the families of injured military personnel. Andrew will be telling Jenn on Saturday why he does that, and talking with us about the concepts of realism v. abstract, about commercialism and politics in art, and about promoting art sales through Twitter and Web 2.0.

Join us Saturday at 3PM Central time on Blog Talk Radio – you can listen in by clicking the link below, or come join the chat, by clicking here (you will need to sign up for free BTR account to join the chat). If you miss the live podcast, the archive will be availble at the same link within about an hour after the show is finished.

 

Meanwhile, check out some of Andrew Gillette’s art on Fine Art America, and on CafePress.

 

Sarah Palin Takes On The Media

In an interview for the forthcoming documentary “Media Malpractice” Governor Sarah Palin, for the first time at length, takes on the media coverage of her and the 2008 campaign.

Let’s Play Pretend

‘This video was made to give the US supporters of Hamas something to think about. It is an interesting take on the Israeli – Palestinian conflict.

Hamas Woman Vows To Blow Herself Up Among ‘The Apes And Pigs’.

Hamas woman, with a very annoying voice, vows to become ‘martyrdom-seeker’ and blow herself up among ‘the apes and pigs’.

Israeli Air Force Strikes Hamas Government Complex in Gaza

When will Hamas learn not to mess with Israel by launching rockets into their territory. When they do, the following is the result.

Joe Scarborough – Stunningly Superficial, Embarrassing

Dr. Brzezinski gets personal on Joe Scarborough’s  “Morning Joe.” calling him “stunningly superficial” and “embarassing.”

Straight No Chaser: 12 Days of Christmas

This video has received nearly 10M hits since it was posted by mikado95 on YouTube in 2006. From the Straight No Chaser Website, where you can buy the CD:

“Originally formed a dozen years ago while students together at Indiana University, the a cappella group has reassembled and reemerged after their video for ‘The 12 Days of Christmas’ became a phenomenon with almost 8 million views on YouTube. In an era when so much pop music is the product of digital processing and vocal pro-tooling, Straight No Chaser is the real deal- the captivating sound of ten unadulterated human voices coming together to make extraordinary music that is moving people in a fundamental sense…and with a sense of humor.”

 

Top Mug Shots of 2008

From cross dresser to Joker, the smoking gun makes the most of mug shots.

Debate on Pastor Rick Warren Pick for Obama Inauguration

The talking heads argue if Rick Warren should be allowed to give the invocation at Obama’s inauguration.

A Soldier’s Silent Night (Music and Lyrics)

This poem was written by Lance Corporal James M. Schmidt in 1986. It was recorded by Father Ted Berndt of Bread of Life Charismatic Episcopal Church in Dousman, Wisconsin, who was alos a Marine and WWII Purple Heart recipient.

His son has a website dedicated for the song: SoldiersSilentNight.com

LISTEN HERE

Lyrics, courtesy of the Tank Master Gunner:

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, HE LIVED ALL ALONE,

IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE.

I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,

AND TO SEE JUST WHO IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT, A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,

NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS, NOT EVEN A TREE.

NO STOCKING BY MANTLE, JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,

ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.

WITH MEDALS AND BADGES, AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,

A SOBER THOUGHT CAME THROUGH MY MIND.

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT, IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,

I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER, ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.

THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING, SILENT, ALONE,

CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE, THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,

NOT HOW I PICTURED A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.

WAS THIS THE HERO OF WHOM I’D JUST READ?

CURLED UP ON A PONCHO, THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

I REALIZED THE FAMILIES THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,

OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.

SOON ROUND THE WORLD, THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,

AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.

THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,

BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS, LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.

I COULDN’T HELP WONDER HOW MANY LAY ALONE,

ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.

THE VERY THOUGHT BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,

I DROPPED TO MY KNEES AND STARTED TO CRY;

THE SOLDIER AWAKENED AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,

“SANTA DON’T CRY, THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;

I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, I DON’T ASK FOR MORE,

MY LIFE IS MY GOD, MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS.”

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,

I COULDN’T CONTROL IT, I CONTINUED TO WEEP.

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS, SO SILENT AND STILL

AND WE BOTH SHIVERED FROM THE COLD NIGHT’S CHILL.

I DIDN’T WANT TO LEAVE ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,

THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR SO WILLING TO FIGHT.

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER, WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,

WHISPERED, “CARRY ON SANTA, IT’S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE.”

ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH, AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.

“MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT.”

Also see: A Soldier’s Christmas

Iraqi Throws Shoe at Bush

U.S. President George W Bush is attacked by an Iraqi reporter with a shoe.