CBS VP On Batiste: ‘The Viewer Might Have The Feeling Everything He Says Is Anti-Bush’
CBS VP On Batiste: ‘The Viewer Might Have The Feeling Everything He Says Is Anti-Bush’
As ThinkProgress has reported, CBS has terminated Gen. John Batiste’s consulting contract with the network over his appearance in a VoteVets ad. CBS News’ blog sought comment from Linda Mason, CBS News Vice President, Standards and Special Projects. Here’s what Mason said about Batiste:
“When we hire someone as a consultant, we want them to share their expertise with our viewers,” she said. “By putting himself front and center in an anti-Bush ad, the viewer might have the feeling everything he says is anti-Bush. And that doesn’t seem like an analytical approach to the issues we want to discuss.”
Mason’s concern is hypocritical. CBS hasn’t shown a similar level of apprehension for being painted “pro-Bush” when former White House communications director Nicolle Wallace appears on its programming. Nor has it been concerned when its military analyst Michael O’Hanlon advocated in favor of Bush’s Iraq policy.
Mason belittles Batiste’s opposition to Bush’s Iraq policy, suggesting it is not “an analytical approach.” In fact, Batiste’s opposition stems from his personal experience and involvement in the execution of the Iraq war (Batiste commanded the Army’s First Infantry Division in 2004 and 2005). And he has not allowed partisanship to influence his “analytical approach.” Newsweek reports:
Batiste says he remains a “diehard Republican” and has no intention of wading directly into the presidential campaign a la McClellan and MacArthur. He took part in the VoteVets.org campaign, he says, because it’s a “nonpartisan group.”
“I’ve had nothing but absolute support” from colleagues inside the military, Batiste said. “No one has objected.” No one — until CBS found out that he wasn’t a full-fledged supporter of Bush’s war policy.
UPDATE: Kagro X has more.
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123 Responses to “CBS VP On Batiste: ‘The Viewer Might Have The Feeling Everything He Says Is Anti-Bush’”
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Yeah, no sh*t, this is what I said yesterday. Anyone with common-sense already knows that he was worthless as a neutral consultant
May 11th, 2007 at 3:07 pmYeah, Batiste is about as fair and neutral as that fool Keith Olbermann.
May 11th, 2007 at 3:09 pm.
.
.
The American Corporate media needs to be turned off — NOW!
Throw out your T.V.’s!!!
May 11th, 2007 at 3:09 pm.
.
.
Will we ever trust our news media again? Even PBS and NPR have sold America out for 30 pieces of silver. I went to school in Europe in the bad old Pravda days and I think Pravda would be green with envy over the total propaganda blitz of the American corporate media. At least the people in the Soviet Union were smart enough to know the news was all propaganda.
May 11th, 2007 at 3:10 pmThe only bias shown here was his being let go. Simply expressing the opinion that the war in Iraq is going in the wrong direction, is a non-partisan opinion.
May 11th, 2007 at 3:13 pmbut, of course, they don’t mind if we think everything someone says is pro bush, right!! isn’t that called propaganda?
I will never turn CBS on again - for any reason. well, not like i really ever did in the first place. maybe there’s a block so it doesn’t even show up on my tv ever….
Rather than open debate, and opposing views, they (the media and their neo-con buddies) want us to be as dumb as can be….
some reading:
“The Dumbing Down of the American Mind”
May 11th, 2007 at 3:14 pmhttp://www.populistamerica.com/ the_dumbing_down_of_the_american_mind
Those @ CBS are smoking some CDS LOL
May 11th, 2007 at 3:14 pmCouldn’t have anything to do with GE owning NBC, would it? GE the compnay tha brings good thing to life (and death!— being war contractors as well).
May 11th, 2007 at 3:15 pmSorry, Ms Mason.
Gotta throw the bullsh*t flag on that one.
May 11th, 2007 at 3:15 pmGen Batiste WAS sharing his expertise, you dopes.
I guess it’s only a conflict when it goes against the Chimp.
D-I-S-S-E-N-T
May 11th, 2007 at 3:16 pmHe is not a republican, as all republicans MUST support the leader of the party and the state, herr Bush. Similarly a german could not be a good Nazi if he did not support Hitler’s decisions and leadership of Germany in WW2.
May 11th, 2007 at 3:18 pmComment by Namtillaku — May 11, 2007 @ 3:13 pm
Yeah but he was giving a non-critical assessment of the whole was in general in those ads, and its not his opinion that CBS wanted it was an informed commentary from someone who knew what he was talking about
May 11th, 2007 at 3:18 pmIt’s what happens when you aren’t a loyal Bushie. If he keeps yappin’, Bush News and CBS will smear the guy’s character. And that must be fine with Mitt Romney, since he loves his Country so much, he can’t find a damn thing wrong with it.
So why does General Batiste hate America?
May 11th, 2007 at 3:19 pmI hope Think Progress continues to hammer this issue until more MSM figures start talking about it. If Batiste’s firing can be made an issue then pundents will have no choice but to explore the content and credibility of the VoteVets ad in great detail
May 11th, 2007 at 3:20 pmZooey, Susan Sarandon has the same “expertise” that Gen. B. demostrated in those ads.
May 11th, 2007 at 3:20 pmCan’t criticize the CIC.
May 11th, 2007 at 3:21 pmMr President,
You’re a fool..
Informed commentary is an opinion. They just didn’t like his opinion, can’t have anyone disagree with Hitler now can we?
Liberal media my ass.. what we have is a country full of idiots like you, who have been told what to think.
May 11th, 2007 at 3:22 pm“Some say….”
What does KATIE have to say about this?
Yeah, that’s what I thought. Nothing.
$$$ Corporations rule!
Freedom of the Press — buh bye!
May 11th, 2007 at 3:23 pmcomparing the general’s action to an individual who gives his opinion is ridiculous.
the generals chose to do a commercial that was anti-Bush.
the ex-administration official is asked to give his opinion about the Bush administration on CBS.
are the people that run thinkprogress.org this stupid? this small? this ridiculous?
I am afraid to say that the answer is yes.
May 11th, 2007 at 3:27 pmComment by Can-O-Whoop-Ass — May 11, 2007 @ 3:22 pm
I guess I would have been more clear if I had said “vulgar opinion”.
May 11th, 2007 at 3:27 pmDamn that liberal media!
May 11th, 2007 at 3:28 pmZooey, Susan Sarandon has the same “expertise†that Gen. B. demostrated in those ads.
Comment by Mr. President
Bullshit.
May 11th, 2007 at 3:29 pmMr. Precedent, sir, may I remind you of your photo spray this evening at the Gulf Coast Realtors Assn. fund raiser, and that you need to take your meds, get changed, and go down for your nappy.
May 11th, 2007 at 3:30 pmSir.
Karl wants you to be a little more presentable tonight, and coherent, if that’s possible.
We really need you to stop wasting so much time betraying your ignorance here in the blogosphere.
Sir.
oh this is ridiculous and to compare this to giving your opinion on Bush is ridiculous!!!!
retards of thinkprogress.org, yes you who run this site. how the fuck does it equate to do a commercial against Bush and his policy, outside of CBS and against your contract, to giving your opinion after being asked about it on CBS.
care to explain retards? why does any type of logica escape Liberals, why?
May 11th, 2007 at 3:30 pmWill we ever trust our news media again? Even PBS and NPR have sold America out for 30 pieces of silver. I went to school in Europe in the bad old Pravda days and I think Pravda would be green with envy over the total propaganda blitz of the American corporate media. At least the people in the Soviet Union were smart enough to know the news was all propaganda.
Comment by Chauncey Gardner — May 11, 2007 @ 3:10 pm
I can agree with your feelings though I being American have not been exposed to Pravda. That being said the next shoe will fall over the last remaining bastion of open news soon enough. That last place is the internet and it does not reach everybody.
A big point to make is that during any war the media can and is controlled at all costs. There was a 1st Amendment case over Anti Draft fliers being handed out during the draft. The Supreme Court said that banning the fliers did not break the 1st Amendment during war time. So since there is a war on I’m surprised that there is still an internet at this point.
In some ways the internet is a two edged sword. In using the illegal alien issue as an example we can see that foreign nationals have planted themselves online to help gain sympathy and support for their derailment of the entire nation. Boldly socialists and communists are able to take stands against things that should be common sense.
CBS and all the rest are for better or worse completely controlled by the same military that has been running the whole show since World War One.
May 11th, 2007 at 3:31 pmMajor General Batiste was wronged, like it or not.
May 11th, 2007 at 3:32 pmSusan Sarandon is an actress. Maj. Gen John Batiste was the commander of the 1st Infantry Division in Iraq. They are not the same and the Gen does know what the fu*k he is talking about.
He has been there and literally “done that,” unlike all of the trolls who visit here, the administration and the right wing pundits.
May 11th, 2007 at 3:32 pmWhat *I* want to know is:
why aren’t you reporting on those two British journalists they are running over — BECAUSE
….they released the memo WHERE BUSH ASKED TONY TO BOMB AL JEZZERAH????
You don’t think this is a(nother) WAR CRIME???
May 11th, 2007 at 3:33 pm…and its not his opinion that CBS wanted it was an informed commentary from someone who knew what he was talking about
Comment by Mr. President — May 11, 2007 @ 3:18 pm
Shit for brains, just flush the toilet and we’ll all be better off.
If I use your yardstick, this Major General’s opinion has more credence than anyone sitting in the White House right now. Thanks for clarifying that for us.
It’s ok if YOU support this president’s war blindly, you can’t help yourself. You and your fellow 28%’ers suffer from authoritarian personality;
The authoritarian personality does not want to give orders, their personality type wants to take orders. People with this type of personality seek conformity, security, stability. They become anxious and insecure when events or circumstances upset their previously existing world view. They are very intolerant of any divergence from what they consider to be the normal (which is usually conceptualized in terms of their religion, race, history, nationality, culture, language, etc.) They tend to be very superstitious and lend credence to folktales or interpretations of history that fit their preexisting definitions of reality (thus the Founding Fathers of the US are conceptualized of as supporters of white nationalism.) They think in extremely stereotyped ways about minorities, women, homosexuals, etc. They are thus very dualistic- the world is conceived in terms of absolute right (their way) Vs. absolute wrong (the “other” whether African American, liberal, intellectual, feminist, etc.)The authoritarian personality does not want to give orders, their personality type wants to take orders. People with this type of personality seek conformity, security, stability. They become anxious and insecure when events or circumstances upset their previously existing world view. They are very intolerant of any divergence from what they consider to be the normal (which is usually conceptualized in terms of their religion, race, history, nationality, culture, language, etc.) They tend to be very superstitious and lend credence to folktales or interpretations of history that fit their preexisting definitions of reality (thus the Founding Fathers of the US are conceptualized of as supporters of white nationalism.) They think in extremely stereotyped ways about minorities, women, homosexuals, etc. They are thus very dualistic- the world is conceived in terms of absolute right (their way) Vs. absolute wrong (the “other” whether African American, liberal, intellectual, feminist, etc.)
*whoosh*
May 11th, 2007 at 3:35 pmBullshit.
Comment by Zooey — May 11, 2007 @ 3:29 pm
Okay, Sarandon and Robbins together
May 11th, 2007 at 3:36 pmAnti-Bush? Come on CBS….Bush has a 28-32% approval rating! Who was Batiste gonna piss off?
May 11th, 2007 at 3:37 pmPfft. Yet another non-issue.
May 11th, 2007 at 3:38 pmAnit Bush?
So what?
Is CBS a news organization or a Bush appologist?
Americans deserve to hear all news!
May 11th, 2007 at 3:39 pm“someone who knew what he was talking about
Comment by Mr. President — May 11, 2007 @ 3:18 pm”
What are YOU talking about? Re-read that paragraph…
May 11th, 2007 at 3:39 pmI don’t see what the big deal is. CBS is a business, they have decisions to make based on the demographic that they seek to appeal to. Batiste can be viewed by them as a good guy of sound judgement, but if they view him as having a partisan bent, and that’s not what their demo wants (and believe me, they’ve done exhaustive polling to define what that is), they have every right to stop asking him for contributions.
It’s all good anyway… He should be involved deeply with votevets. I think the organization has a lot to gain from senior commanders. Most of their appearances on TV are low-level soldiers - not to say that their input isn’t just as damning of the Republicans as Batiste’s is.
May 11th, 2007 at 3:41 pmThere need to be checks on the corporate media. All we get is corporate propaganda anymore.
May 11th, 2007 at 3:41 pm“I am afraid
Comment by valiantthehater — May 11, 2007 @ 3:27 pm”
We’ve noticed…
May 11th, 2007 at 3:41 pmIf you continue to watch CBS (or ABC, NBC, Fox, or BBC) you are pro-war and actively participating in the murder perpetrated by the corporations behind the networks. That’s the bottom line and it’s your choice.
If you don’t throw out your TV, like suggested above, then you might as well walk up to an 18 yr old service member and piss on them before blowing them up. At least that would be an honest approach.
May 11th, 2007 at 3:43 pm#34,
Turn it off and stop watching.
May 11th, 2007 at 3:44 pmAnother example of how the Rethugs “eat their own”. You know they’re deteriorating when this occurs.
May 11th, 2007 at 3:45 pmoh people this is ridiculous, no one is silencing the General. You can go watch the video on YouTube, and many other websites.
once again, this is much to do about nothing.
and to compare it to the OPINION asked of the ex-administration member is pathetic, ridiculous, grabbing at straws, etc, etc.
Obviously thinkprogress.org is run by idiots, hate Bush cult members.
and for them to cry about the general being fired when they were part of Imus being fired is hypocritical. But what can we expect from Liberals, but pure hypocrisy.
May 11th, 2007 at 3:45 pmHe said he’s a “diehard” republican…..
May 11th, 2007 at 3:45 pm“No one — until CBS found out that he wasn’t a full-fledged supporter of Bush’s war policy.”
Yes, that’s the way it is. If you are on any of the major television stations (with possibly the exception of NBC), if you are not a “full-fledged” supporter of Bush and his war policy you are wrong. The only people who are right (in the news) are the people who support Bush’s policies. Funny thing, though, 67% of the people in this country are not “full-fledged” supporters of Bush’s war policy. Seems to me, if I was a news station, I would listen to what they people think. And I might stop lying to the public. Every time I hear one of the idiot trolls on this site say something about the “liberal press”, I want to puke.
May 11th, 2007 at 3:46 pmLooks like CBS is pro war. Maybe they could do something to help boost enlistment and provide relief for the troops.
May 11th, 2007 at 3:46 pmThis from the network that featured Rush Limbaugh as part of the nightly news in Couric’s first week when she had decent ratings. Pathetic - but that’s nothing new. Colbert summed it up thus: “The president makes decisions. He’s the Decider. The press secretary announces those decisions, and you people of the press type those decisions down. Make, announce, type. Just put ‘em through a spell check and go home.”
May 11th, 2007 at 3:46 pmGen. Baptiste is NOT anti-Bush! He voted for him twice. He’s a life long republican from a family of republicans. He simply disagrees with the handling of the war — that’s it! This is absolutely ridiculous.
May 11th, 2007 at 3:47 pmvaliantthehater sez:
Well, you seem to be OK with it (provided the opinion is a negative one). Why is a positive opinion OK, but not a negative one?
You’re right…it’s substantially different. In the first instance, CBS is offering itself as a platform to catapulting pro-Chimpy propaganda, free of charge. In the second instance, a group of concerned citizens purchased airtime to express their views.
The message is clear. You can express all the opinions about Chimpy you like, and if they’re positive, you’ll be handed a forum in which to do so…but if your opinions are negative, you’ll be punished, even though you paid for the time yourself.
There’s a big difference, VTH…and you and your ilk are on the wrong side of it.
May 11th, 2007 at 3:48 pmJust keep telling yourself that, brown shirt.
May 11th, 2007 at 3:49 pmPretty sure that “Valiantthehater” is just a wingnut that posts on Politico as “Vlad the impaler”. The dude is awful, has no idea what he’s talking about, and everyone should just blow him off, or he’ll be on every post on here.
May 11th, 2007 at 3:49 pmIf you don’t throw out your TV, like suggested above, then you might as well walk up to an 18 yr old service member and piss on them before blowing them up. At least that would be an honest approach.
Comment by Fed the Fcuk Up! — May 11, 2007 @ 3:43 pm
Hmmm - are you deliberately trying to alienate those who would agree with you? You’re painting a picture with too broad of a brush, and in so doing becoming exactly like those you abhor. Thought police, be they left or right, are still thought police. I will decide for myself, thank you.
May 11th, 2007 at 3:49 pmMore clarification of my last post. Forgot to mention that Baptiste is not even anti-Iraq-War. Just against how it is being / has been handled. I’ve heard him on interviews. I’m glad he’s against the handling of the war, but wish he WAS actually anti-war. CBS is acting silly here.
May 11th, 2007 at 3:50 pmThis whole “authoritarian personality” thing isn’t quite what you make it out to be.
If I had TAP then I would be with you guys, demonizing others.
But actually, I’m just here to be annoying
May 11th, 2007 at 3:51 pmPretty sure that “Valiantthehater†is just a wingnut that posts on Politico as “Vlad the impalerâ€. The dude is awful, has no idea what he’s talking about, and everyone should just blow him off, or he’ll be on every post on here.
Comment by imorgan82
Shorter version: Don’t feed the trolls.
May 11th, 2007 at 3:53 pm“I am afraid”
Comment by valiantthehater — May 11, 2007 @ 3:27 pmâ€
….without question, but don’t forget delusional
May 11th, 2007 at 3:53 pmValiant,
Could you take a break from your usual rants and tell us why the hell you decide to dedicate so much of your life to posting here? I just don’t get it. You say offensive things like “thinkprogress.org is run by idiots”. You say all sorts of bad things about ‘liberals’. I, for one, am not swayed by any of your arguments and am thoroughly annoyed by your presence. Do you really think you’re winning people over with your rants? Or are you just doing your best to trash the comments section of a well-respected, left-leaning blog? Or is this what you do for fun? Really, let’s hear your true intentions. No lies or spin.
May 11th, 2007 at 3:54 pmThe Big Eye is watching YOU.
May 11th, 2007 at 3:54 pmHey Valiant Douche Bag you are still just as stupid an ugly as yesterday, and the day before, and the day before that.
I hope you get cancer and …..wait, you ARE CANCER, cancer can’t get cancer….oh now I see how that works.
Valiant Douche Bag is full of sh!t daily
May 11th, 2007 at 3:55 pmBig up to Namtillaku. Fed the Fcuk Up just named every news outlet besides CNN and said they are pro-war. First off, MSNBC is more liberal these days than CNN, which I wholeheartedly support. Politics is not so black and white, and statements likening tuning into CBS to pissing on a member of the military is just not a sane comment. News is a fallible entity just like anything else, and they have decisions to make in how they run their company.
Don’t be one of these crazy liberals who connect tangentially related facts together to make conclusions that are not grounded in the real world. It makes us all look like idiots.
May 11th, 2007 at 3:58 pm#48,
May 11th, 2007 at 3:58 pmNo, not at all. Just not presenting things in the traditional “sanitized” manner.
the paternalism in that statement is sickening. but then maybe cbs is saying its viewers are too friggin stoopid to understand.
perhaps katie should just stick with media tours of her colon.
May 11th, 2007 at 3:58 pmYou’re right…it’s substantially different. In the first instance, CBS is offering itself as a platform to catapulting pro-Chimpy propaganda, free of charge. In the second instance, a group of concerned citizens purchased airtime to express their views.
The message is clear. You can express all the opinions about Chimpy you like, and if they’re positive, you’ll be handed a forum in which to do so…but if your opinions are negative, you’ll be punished, even though you paid for the time yourself.
There’s a big difference, VTH…and you and your ilk are on the wrong side of it.
Comment by TripMaster Monkey — May 11, 2007 @ 3:48 pm
Oh please quit your crying and whinning!!! it is pathetic how you Liberals are whinning like little children over this.
1) the general broke his contract by joining an advocacy group. Know what that is, right? there are all types of advocacy groups.
2) CBS is paying the ex-administration official to give his opinion about Bush, positive, negative, it doesn’t matter. He is being paid by CBS to give his opinion. The general was not being paid by CBS to make an anti-Bush commercial.
3) CBS has plenty of anti-Bush personnel, starting with Katie Couric. You idiots also forget the fake Reagan movie that they made.
4) Thinkprogress.org and many on the left had no issue with Imus being fired. So do you care about this general being fired.
5) CBS is a corporation, just like NBC it has the right, whenever it wants and according to contract, to fire anyone it feels like.
It is you Liberarls who want to take away the rights of corporations to run as private entities. Typical of Liberals.
If this general believes that CBS broke his contract, he can take CBS to court.
Until then, if you don’t like CBS, turn off your television or stick to the mentally ill channel, NBC/MSNBC.
May 11th, 2007 at 3:58 pm#56,
Yes, the fact that CBS is owned by one of the largest defense contractors is totally irrelevant.
More koolaid for you?
May 11th, 2007 at 3:59 pmThats because 67% of the people are traitors. It’s time to dump the constitution and instate the Ten Commandments! “Gods Laws”. Then we can kill anyone who dare speaks out against our great leader. Freedom is for losers and traitors. If God wanted men to be free, then he wouldn’t have made laws. But he did, so it’s every duty of every man to follow all TEN of them. Including that false God one.
When us Christians take total control of this great country, and it won’t be much longer, we can crucify all the 67% traitors of the United Christian States of America!! It’s what God wants.
May 11th, 2007 at 4:00 pm“but if they view him as having a partisan bent, and that’s not what their demo wants (and believe me, they’ve done exhaustive polling to define what that is)….”
Is that unlike the partisan bent that CBS has? And if their polling told them that the American public wants more of what Bush has been doing for the last 6 years, CBS needs to get a new polling outfit and ask for their money back.
May 11th, 2007 at 4:03 pmSeems CBS learned their lesson from the Dan Rather fiasco.
May 11th, 2007 at 4:03 pmIt is you Liberarls who want to take away the rights of corporations to run as private entities. Typical of Liberals.
corporations shouldn’t have rights. When they have more rights than the people do, it’s the beginning of facsism.
May 11th, 2007 at 4:05 pmVoteVets….that impartial group funded in part by Move-on’s George Soros???….Gee, why would CBS think Batiste is anti-Bush??? It might have been fun to put Baptiste up against a “Give the Surge” a chance General but in the end, Baptiste comes across as another VoteVet mouthpiece, Wesley Clark…..
General Batiste - Welcome to the real world of corporate America.
May 11th, 2007 at 4:06 pmLike we all need another reason to not watch the CBS Shitty Evening News, with Katie in one of her funeral director outfits. Since leaving the Today Show has anyone seen this women wear anything other than Black? The news, especially shitty corporate news, is depressing enough.
I get all the news i need from blogs anyway.
May 11th, 2007 at 4:09 pmFunny CBS never had such qualms about putting on their warmongers…not once, not ever
May 11th, 2007 at 4:09 pm#60
Dude, I read Chomsky. I understand all of this and what you’re getting at. I’m not debating that our media is run by corporate assholes who are hellbent on sucking us all dry of every penny we’ve ever come across, and that in every way they’re totally corrupt.
I would point out that Bob Schieffer is not exactly a nobody at CBS, and he’s very war-critical, and when he interviews Dick Cheney, he’s the only person in the media to ask the obvious questions. No one is firing him. I’m just trying to say that Batiste was pushed out because he’s an analyst, and supposedly objective (I personally do not think his VoteVets appearance conflicts with that). If shit is going to hell in a handbasket in Iraq, CBS doesn’t want their analysts to be up for political inquiry. There’s no Kool Aid here. I’m not saying that the American public doesn’t piss on our troops (just look at our low taxes in a time of war where they get shitty armor).
May 11th, 2007 at 4:10 pmIs CBS some sort of guardian of their viewers? It’s too condescending to intervene on behalf of viwers to shut down the voice of an experienced soldier and patriot.
May 11th, 2007 at 4:12 pmHey Valiant Douche Bag does your stupidity ever stop, you have to be one of the lowest scum sucking subhuman bottom feeders ever….even your pets hate you.
Go level your trailer, and mow the lawn so your hillbilly neighbors can see those fine cars parked there.
And you are very creepy too.
Hating Valiant the idiot daily
May 11th, 2007 at 4:13 pmHow do you think General Patton would have been viewed if he criticized FDR for putting in the more accommodating Omar Bradley to assist Eisenhower and lead the charge across France??
Progressives would have been foaming at the mouth…and not because your moms washed your dirty mouths out with soap. If there is ANYTHING TP can do to help defeat our military (we KNOW how important it is for Progs to trash conservatives and ESPECIALLY GWB) you sure are ready to do YOUR part…..Shame on you!
May 11th, 2007 at 4:13 pmOliver Wendell Holmes ruled that it was illegal to distribute fliers opposing the draft during World War I. Suspending free speech was permissible because it presented a “clear and present danger” to military recruitment.
Executive Order No. 9066 was issued by President Roosevelt in December 1941. 100,000 Japanese (LEGAL) residents in the United States were rounded up and forced into concentration camps.
My point is that the media has always been molded, controlled and regulated so that the USA comes out looking all bright and cheery no matter what. During war dissent is abolished since the military works by chain of command and ORDERS. Individuality must be replaced by groupthink. This is the part that many don’t understand. As consumers we derive individuality through clothing, style, arts, etc. War requires pure groupthink to even have a chance to work.
Imagine a battlefield full of individuals that cannot take orders or give them. That is the battlefield the members of this site would make if we were all forced to serve. War many times demands the ultimate sacrifice of life. So, I’m not suggesting that I am for war but am pointing out that at any time the Executive Order for martial law can arrive and to think that this is impossible goes against the facts.
May 11th, 2007 at 4:14 pmGeorge W. Bush…, that “reaching across the isle” presidential candidate funded in part by Big Oil???…, Gee, why would the majority of the American people think Bush is corrupt??? It might have been fun to put Bush up against a Gore in a fair vote count, but in the end, Bush was handed the presidency by a conservative leaning Supreme Court…,,
George Bush - Welcome to the real world of corporate America.
May 11th, 2007 at 4:14 pmcorporations shouldn’t have rights. When they have more rights than the people do, it’s the beginning of facsism.
They don’t have more rights than people. Corporations cannot vote in November.
May 11th, 2007 at 4:15 pmIf this general believes that CBS broke his contract, he can take CBS to court.
Until then, if you don’t like CBS, turn off your television or stick to the mentally ill channel, NBC/MSNBC.
Comment by valiantthehater — May 11, 2007 @ 3:58 pm
Valiantthewhateverthehell. It’s pretty obvious from this post that you are a different person than usually posts under the hater moniker. Hater has horrible spelling skills, and non-existant puctuation. VenusHater why don’t you just pick a name and stick with it?
May 11th, 2007 at 4:17 pmIt is a good thing they have good fictional programs, because they aren’t very good at the real thing since Rather..i.e. “Katie Kure-all” They should stick to things they don’t write.
May 11th, 2007 at 4:17 pmWhen I was a young man, my grampa told me that back in 1940, “Good” was fighting a battle and had almost taken over Europe, but “Evil” had taken over with the help of the Americans and Jews. He said that the “Good” had learned that they needed to take over the camp of “Evil” so they began to infiltrate the American system. It took 50+ years but we now have control again. Or at least we are almost there. Soon “Good” will have total control and then we can start to cleanse the World of “Evil”, starting with all those folks who had the misfortune of not being born as a white man.
It is time for the cleansing to start here in the United Christian States of America. I see that my brothers, valiant venus, Patrick1 and Mr. President know that the time for us is NOW! Let’s stop and cleanse God’s world of the varmits.
May 11th, 2007 at 4:18 pmThey don’t have more rights than people. Corporations cannot vote in November.
Comment by m12 — May 11, 2007 @ 4:15 pm
They don’t NEED to vote in November, do they?
May 11th, 2007 at 4:18 pmComment by Parrotlover77 — May 11, 2007 @ 4:14 pm
What is it that triggered WW1 & WW2 Parrotlover??
May 11th, 2007 at 4:20 pmValiant,
Could you take a break from your usual rants and tell us why the hell you decide to dedicate so much of your life to posting here? I just don’t get it. You say offensive things like “thinkprogress.org is run by idiotsâ€. You say all sorts of bad things about ‘liberals’. I, for one, am not swayed by any of your arguments and am thoroughly annoyed by your presence. Do you really think you’re winning people over with your rants? Or are you just doing your best to trash the comments section of a well-respected, left-leaning blog? Or is this what you do for fun? Really, let’s hear your true intentions. No lies or spin.
Comment by Vinnie — May 11, 2007 @ 3:54 pm
Get over yourself Vinnie…
1)I am not here to win anyone over. I enjoy reading how retarded the left is. I enjoy manipulating the retarded left wingers. They are too easily manipulated. The second that a counter opinion is posted, they all flock like blind sheep and attack that counter opinion. It is pathetic.
2)thinkprogress.org is NOT a well respected site. It is actually quite laughable and ridiculous site. Just because the voices in your head tell you that it is well respected…..it doesn’t mean that it is. Only retards consider thinkprogress.org a well respected site.
3)Stop crying about me throwing out insults or anything like that. Liberals are masters at spewing venom, hate, vile, etc against anyone they disagree with. If you don’t like my tone or how I speak to the demented liberals on this site, ask your Liberal retards to start respecting those they disagree with. My treatment of Liberals is but a reflection of how they treat others. Get out of the fucking chicken if you can’t stand the heat.
May 11th, 2007 at 4:20 pmMy comments are no more vile than that of 99% of the Liberal retards that post on this site.
If this general believes that CBS broke his contract, he can take CBS to court.
Until then, if you don’t like CBS, turn off your television or stick to the mentally ill channel, NBC/MSNBC.
Comment by valiantthehater — May 11, 2007 @ 3:58 pm
Valiantthewhateverthehell. It’s pretty obvious from this post that you are a different person than usually posts under the hater moniker. Hater has horrible spelling skills, and non-existant puctuation. VenusHater why don’t you just pick a name and stick with it?
Comment by Namtillaku — May 11, 2007 @ 4:17 pm
oh shut the fuck up namtillaku…….you stupid paranoid liberal fucks….
pathetic how stupid you people are. it is the same person, you idiot.
May 11th, 2007 at 4:22 pmThey don’t have more rights than people. Corporations cannot vote in November.
Comment by m12 — May 11, 2007 @ 4:15 pm
Corporations ARE the vote in November.
May 11th, 2007 at 4:22 pmThank you TP for “sensitivly” editing my comments in #65. I don’t know what came over me when I suggested that General Patton would be excoriated for discussing his agreement or disagreement w/ FDR. Granted, Baptiste is retired ….. Thanks, TP, for continuing to push for “anti-Bush” retirees so as to further erode morale…..Keep up thye good work!!
May 11th, 2007 at 4:23 pmAh yes -
The Mass Media: Deciding how the public will react…
Tools and sheep. Slaves to their profit margin.
May 11th, 2007 at 4:23 pmm12, that’s a entirely stupid comment. Corporations absolutely have all of the rights of a person. This is of course, not to say that they are a person. I would love to watch the news coverage of Walmart going to vote in whatever church their district votes in.
Additionally, its worth nothing that the 13th amendment abolishing slavery has been used hundreds of times in the protection of corporate rights to every one time it’s been used to justify a civil rights verdict. Corporations unequivocally have more rights than any person does.
May 11th, 2007 at 4:25 pmEveryone should contact David Letterman (seriously) and ask that he have Gen. Batiste on as a guest. In the past Dave has shown a willingness to stick it to his network and openly mock them when appropriate. He (Dave) has also demonstrated his own frustration with Bush and the WH policy. I would love to see Gen. Batiste and Dave have a chat about how idiotic CBS is.
May 11th, 2007 at 4:26 pm#76 - As an American whose mother escaped occupied Austria as a child (my mother lost all in her family who did not get out before the war) you are a PIG from the bowels of HELL. The most vicious anti-Semitism these days emanates from the Left…..I will give your tortured personality no further thought……….
May 11th, 2007 at 4:27 pmMcArthur was taken out of the Korean theater and later forced out of the military for criticizing the President’s handling of the Korean war!
was this a bad thing?
please…..stupid liberals, with small minds.
they want to shut down Foxnews, they want all conservative voices to be taken out of radio. The same retards that are crying about this general bbeing fired, where the first ones in line that pushed for Imus to be fired….. and now they whine abou this general being fired because he broke his contract with CBS?
oh the humanity, oh the Liberal stupidity, the Liberal hypocrisy.
how stupid can human beings be? just read what Liberals say on sites like thinkprogress.org. Stupidity has no boundries in the Liberal ranks.
May 11th, 2007 at 4:27 pm1. CBS’ Schieffer let Cheney falsely claim Reid is “adamantly opposed to any funding for the troops.”
http://mediamatters.org/items/200704170007
2. CBS’ Mitchell called Supreme Court decision on detainees “a victory … in the war on terror.”
http://mediamatters.org/items/200704030011
3. Reported White House criticism of Pelosi Syria trip, but not its silence on GOP-led trip. Bob Schieffer, April 1 edition of CBS’ Face the Nation.
http://mediamatters.org/items/200704020007
Note: Don’t bother telling me that Media Matters is a liberal site (Ewww… O’Reilly just popped into my head) and slanted. Media Matters gives the transcript AND video.
May 11th, 2007 at 4:29 pmThey don’t have more rights than people. Corporations cannot vote in November.
Comment by m12 — May 11, 2007 @ 4:15 pm
A railroad attorney made President named Abe Lincoln for all the good he did singlehandedly screwed the POOCH by giving CORPORATIONS the STATUS of INDIVIDUALS. By freeing the slaves he created an entire nation of slaves made of all races to be managed by growing corporations.
This is a fact and before that protections were in place to protect people over businesses. He gave us back the horror of eminent domain, monopolies, bill collectors, IRS and more. To check this, just tell the IRS that you don’t want to pay taxes anymore and see what happens! Thanks Abe it was no wonder that Booth came for you!
May 11th, 2007 at 4:29 pmm12 - you idiot - corporations don’t need to vote in november - they’ve bankrolled the freaking candidates…
May 11th, 2007 at 4:30 pmThere is no need to watch these big networks news, if you are interested in an honest and reliable news.
Computer is the best source…
Why would I wait for Katie Couric to read CBS tailored and altered news for me?!.
The same applies to other major networks …..FOX ,ABC,CNN ,and NBC.
Just two months before the Iraq war started in 2003,MSNBC cancelled Phil Donahue show,because Phil. criticised the administration for its drive to invade Iraq.
May 11th, 2007 at 4:32 pmHuh? Germany, maybe? What does that have to do with anything? I was just doing a parody of VV, bad punctuation included.
May 11th, 2007 at 4:34 pmvaliantthehater = broken record about apples and oranges.
Let me make this clear - RACISM is NOT a part of the Protest against the Iraq War.
Stop with the lame comparisons - you don’t know your history, you don’t know your politics, you don’t know shizz.
May 11th, 2007 at 4:34 pmRepeat of #3 - Well Said:
.
.
.
The American Corporate media needs to be turned off — NOW!
Throw out your T.V.’s!!!
May 11th, 2007 at 4:36 pm.
.
.
Corporations ARE the vote in November.
If you say so. I suppose if you ignore possibly the most important right we have, corporations do have the rights of people.
Have a problem? Blame the utterly abusive 14th amendment.
May 11th, 2007 at 4:37 pmm12 - you idiot - corporations don’t need to vote in november - they’ve bankrolled the freaking candidates…
Comment by Technodaoist — May 11, 2007 @ 4:30 pm
Isn’t that comment amazing Technodaoist? If you wanted something that the government could only give you who has the direct pipe a citizen or a corporation?? What are lobbyists then m12? Who are the heads of corporations like GE? Wealthy? Yes! Connected? Yes! Do any of them run for office? YES
Before Duck Cheney became the VP do you even know who he was m12? Those heads of state are tied directly to the heads of commerce called CORPORATIONS…. Thanks Honest Abe the Carpetbagger!
May 11th, 2007 at 4:41 pmMcArthur was taken out mostly because he was inept and ineffective as a general. He had a big mouth and great quotes, like most chickenhawk republicans, but he was inept; from Inchon to the end of the war, he was one of the worst American general in WWII.
May 11th, 2007 at 4:42 pmValiant obnoxious:
Again, you seem to be quite retarded. #76 was using a little literary device that we liberals like to call “sarcasm”. The statement meant to imply the opposite conclusion from that which is articulated, a hallmark of sarcasm. The outrageousness of the claims should be your alert that the writer does not actually mean what their words say. Read a book.
May 11th, 2007 at 4:43 pmAs an American whose mother escaped occupied Austria as a child (my mother lost all in her family who did not get out before the war) you are a PIG from the bowels of HELL. The most vicious anti-Semitism these days emanates from the Left…..I will give your tortured personality no further thought……….
Comment by valiant venus — May 11, 2007 @ 4:27 pm
Oh, I’m sorry. but you talk like your are on “our” side, not the liberals side. And don’t ever call me a left scum. I hate the left.
And anit-Semitism is the same as Anti-Islam. Only the shade of their skin is different. If you are with us Christians, then you need to dump your Jewish ancestory aside and join the fight with God. Just whose side are you on anyway?
May 11th, 2007 at 4:49 pmHuh? Germany, maybe? What does that have to do with anything? I was just doing a parody of VV, bad punctuation included.
Comment by Parrotlover77 — May 11, 2007 @ 4:34 pm
You mentioned Big Oil in your post. I asked if you realized what the trigger to WW1 & 2 was and you indicated “the Germans”.
In fact the Germans were just participants of the wars but the trigger for those wars and all wars is “the quest for resources” or “competition for resources”…
Since WW1 the main resource still in contention is in fact BIG OIL! Oil is everything to us now and that is why it is BIG OIL. You can say it was race or religion but in the end it has something to do with a resource.
ENERGY
May 11th, 2007 at 4:50 pmWATER
FOOD
GOLD
SLAVES
Saywho - Probably true, but you read way too much into my very simple parody post.
May 11th, 2007 at 5:14 pmSaywho - Probably true, but you read way too much into my very simple parody post.
Comment by Parrotlover77 — May 11, 2007 @ 5:14 pm
It is important that we realize that terrorism is just a cover for…
Hi,
We will be taking your oil today and every day till there is just about none left. If you try to stop us we will tell the rest of the world that your religion is to blame or your skin color is to blame. Then we will kill you like the Spawn of Satan that you are. We will rape your women and even your kids!
Sincerely Uncle SAM
PS: Enjoy Democracy!
May 11th, 2007 at 5:39 pmIMORGAN - Thanks for the tips on “clever” literary “devices” - so if I want to tell a joke about black slaves I should bring up the KKKK? Forgive me, some things are “funny” in ways I’d not considered….15 million in concentration camps - only 6 million Jews “hahahaha”…And can we tell a joke about the 21 million dead Russians????? And how about that pre-cursor to the fun-filled children’s game “Hide and Seek”….they used to call it “Hde the Jew in the Attic”. heh-heh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’ve read plenty of books - - UNFORTUNATELY what you could learn in a book isn’t often taught - morality.
May 11th, 2007 at 5:44 pmThe most vicious anti-Semitism these days emanates from the Left…..I will give your tortured personality no further thought……….
Comment by valiant venus — May 11, 2007 @ 4:27 pm
Evidence for this == null. Not pro-Israeli != anti-semite.
May 11th, 2007 at 5:59 pm#101,
Great. Now go explain to Iraqis (the real kind and not the US puppets in the green zone) the morality of the US “business” there.
Or, how about explaining to Africans the morality of ignoring the continuing genocide while “capitalizing” on the arms sales.
Yes, morality is a wonderful thing. Too bad most Americans are so delusional that they think murdering innocent people for the sake of personal luxury is a moral act. But go on preaching your hateful brand of “morality”, I’m sure some skinheads would agree with you.
May 11th, 2007 at 6:08 pmBottom line: CBS News is last place in the ratings. Their corporate board is completely clueless. They are the ones who thought it might be a winner to make the evening news “cute” with little Katie. Their ratings have tanked. They WISH they had the same ratings they had when Rather was behind the desk.
On another note, little M12 blames the 14th Amendment for the fact that corporations have the rights of individuals. Funny, conservatives always complain about activist judges. Does any sane person believe that the people who voted to ratify the 14th Amendment thought it pertained to corporations? Here’s a modest proposal: if corporations want to be treated as individuals, they cannot own other corporations (that would be slavery) and they must cease to exist after about 75 years (individuals die).
May 11th, 2007 at 6:46 pmI’ve read plenty of books - - UNFORTUNATELY what you could learn in a book isn’t often taught - morality.
Comment by valiant venus
Whatever.
May 11th, 2007 at 7:23 pmI’ve read plenty of books…
Comment by valiant venus #101
virulent venereal,
“My Pet Goat” and “The Little Engine Who Could”…
…are not considered “scholarly” works…
May 11th, 2007 at 7:39 pmAnd that is wrong because … ? Why dont you make him a King and impaled all people that want a Republic?
May 11th, 2007 at 7:41 pmWhy shouldn’t anyone watching a consultant who praises Dubya’s policies to heavens conclude that “expert” has quaffed way too much Kewl-Aid and is totally biased toward Dubya and the neocons. Doesn’t that make such an “expert”’s opinion and commentary suspect too. Are we to understand that only one viewpoint can be believed? Why bother having any “experts” on at all? Just let Katie read her script.
May 11th, 2007 at 7:48 pmValiant: “what you could learn in a book isn’t often taught - morality.”
How utterly, pathetically ironic that a defender of the most AMORAL administration in memory can presume to lecture us on morality.
May 11th, 2007 at 7:50 pmThen Ms. Mason and her cohorts are asses. General Batiste is a courageous man who is speaking from experience. Frankly, the way that Bush has bungled this ill-thought war, I think that the General is being kind.
May 11th, 2007 at 9:52 pmNo, mister VP, Ihave the feeling everything YOU say is PRO-Bush.
May 11th, 2007 at 9:58 pmanti-Bush = anti-Hitler.
May 11th, 2007 at 10:22 pmMore Bushie CBS history:
(From “Podvin on the Media 1/31/02″)
What we’re getting from CBS is just more of the same - only now we’re aware of it.
May 11th, 2007 at 10:49 pmBatiste remains a die-hard Republican? And I thought he was a pretty smart guy.
I stand corrected.
May 12th, 2007 at 1:01 amWhen you have senior military lifetime rebubicans ragging on this administration, you know the wheels are coming off. And remember, it’s not just one. How many former generals have criticized this admin? Unprecedented…
May 12th, 2007 at 2:07 amCBS, once a respected name in news programming. Now a sycophant of the Bush plutocracy.
May 12th, 2007 at 6:23 amCBS = FOX, no difference!
May 15th, 2007 at 4:48 pmMay 15th, 2007 at 4:51 pm