FEMA Stages Press Conference: Staff Pose As Journalists And Ask ‘Softball’ Questions
FEMA Stages Press Conference: Staff Pose As Journalists And Ask ‘Softball’ Questions
On Tuesday, while “wildfires raged” in California, Vice Adm. Harvey E. Johnson, the deputy administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), held a press conference at FEMA’s Southwest D.C. offices that was “carried live on Fox News, MSNBC and other outlets.” In the presser, Johnson said he was “very happy with FEMA’s response” while praising “the good messaging” of federal and local government responders.
But if the questions lobbed at Johnson seemed a bit like softballs, that’s because they were asked by FEMA employees posing as journalists. The Washington Post’s Al Kamen reports:
We’re told the questions were asked by Cindy Taylor, FEMA’s deputy director of external affairs, and by “Mike” Widomski, the deputy director of public affairs. Director of External Affairs John “Pat” Philbin asked a question, and another came, we understand, from someone who sounds like press aide Ali Kirin.
Watch a segment of Fox News’ coverage of the presser, which never mentions the FEMA stage handling:
Though FEMA told Kamen that “the staff did not make up the questions,” the press briefing was filled with softball questions and opportunities for Johnson to praise the FEMA’s response to the disaster, contrasting it with the agency’s performance during Hurricane Katrina. Kamen writes:
[S]omething didn’t seem right. The reporters were lobbing too many softballs. No one asked about trailers with formaldehyde for those made homeless by the fires. And the media seemed to be giving Johnson all day to wax on and on about FEMA’s greatness.
Considering FEMA gave reporters “only 15 minutes’ notice of the briefing,” it gives off the perception that they didn’t want reporters to show up and ask questions that would disrupt the agency’s propaganda performance.
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Was this for a SNL sketch?
October 26th, 2007 at 11:34 amGot propaganda…?
October 26th, 2007 at 11:34 amthat’s it. bush has transformed our government into a soviet style bureaucracy.
October 26th, 2007 at 11:35 amAnd these plants are different from mainstream media reporters how?
October 26th, 2007 at 11:35 am“Fox News: We report, you decide (if it’s real or not)”
October 26th, 2007 at 11:35 amI heard snippets of this on the radio that day, and all the guy did was blather on about how this was not like Katrina, and how so much better FEMA was functioning, etc. etc.
He may have used the actual word “fire” 3 or 4 times, but not once did he describe, or explain, what they were actually doing there in southern California as a response to an emergency.
October 26th, 2007 at 11:39 amCindy Taylor, I remember you. Cindy was the one who helped Mike “Brownie” Brown become a fashion God back during Katrina.
Nice to see there are still some loyal Bushies around.
Fashion Gods and more on page 17 of this document.
October 26th, 2007 at 11:41 amI’ve got family spread out all over the San Diego area. A cousin is a recently retired Fire Capt. in Carlsbad who was told to evacuate. He didn’t because he’s seen evacuated homes go up in flames just because a few embers hit the roof and he wanted to be at his home in that event. Other family is in Rancho Santa Fe, Rancho Bernardo and Escondido as well as San Diego proper. I hear the same thing from everybody; the government’s response has been slow and in some cases ineffective.
October 26th, 2007 at 11:42 ammissmolly… that’s MY line also… “…decide … if it’s real”
…
Though FEMA told Kamen that “the staff did not make up the questions,â€
then who DID?
this is so transparent…
October 26th, 2007 at 11:42 amwhen are these people gonna learn? … fact checking, video, audio…
it doesn’t make sense . …oh…
.
Just when you think this country can’t actually get any more Orwellian…
October 26th, 2007 at 11:43 amGawd!!! Talk aout PATHETIQUE!!!
October 26th, 2007 at 11:44 amF E M A = fu(king every middle american.
October 26th, 2007 at 11:45 am“the staff did not make up the questions”
WTF?? It’s one thing to say the dog ate your homework. It’s whole other thing to say the dog did your homework for you.
October 26th, 2007 at 11:45 amIt’s whole other thing to say the dog did your homework for you.
Comment by Dumb_Fox
LOL
It’s also like turning in the homework after it has passed through the dog.
October 26th, 2007 at 11:47 amwhen are these people gonna learn? … fact checking, video, audio…
it doesn’t make sense . …oh…
.
Comment by katy — October 26, 2007 @ 11:42 am
They’ll learn when the American people start caring. As such, I imagine they’ll never learn.
October 26th, 2007 at 11:50 amAfter all of the screwups by this administration in the last 6.5 years, they have to be crazy, literally, not to think that someone would notice such a dog-and-pony show!
October 26th, 2007 at 11:50 amFEMA’s response to the recent events in California is apt. There is only so much that these agencies can do anyway. If one is smart, one should make sure to protect oneself, and not rely on the perceived abilities of FEMA or the Government
October 26th, 2007 at 11:50 amAnd these plants are different from mainstream media reporters how?
Comment by toasterhead — October 26, 2007 @ 11:35 am
good point. as if matt laurer, diane sawyer, harry smith and all the other msm meat puppets could ever ask a challenging question anyway. btw did you noticed the collective outrage by the msm regarding this disgusting propaganda ploy? neither did i.
October 26th, 2007 at 11:51 amFEMA’s response to the recent events in California is apt. There is only so much that these agencies can do anyway. If one is smart, one should make sure to protect oneself, and not rely on the perceived abilities of FEMA or the Government
Comment by hits — October 26, 2007 @ 11:50 am
if one were smart one would take one’s head out of one’s ass and stop being such a obvious troll.
October 26th, 2007 at 11:53 amThese clowns have to keep pulling stunts like this. They can’t do anything right and they don’t care. Their only other option is to admit it, which they aren’t going to do.
it’s like an old dog that can only one trick. He’s gonna keep doing it and doing it until you quit feeding him for good.
Save what’s left of America! Pull the plug on the GOOP today!!!!
October 26th, 2007 at 11:54 amAmerica has completely lost all authenticity.
October 26th, 2007 at 11:55 amIt’s the current regime’s wet dream…
Not only do you have a press conference that has only softball questions, the people asking the questions are on the payroll as well!
October 26th, 2007 at 11:55 amH = homonunculous
October 26th, 2007 at 11:55 amI = imitating
T = thinking
S = sentient
Goebbel would be proud.
October 26th, 2007 at 11:55 amjoe cantwell,
Would you care to make an intelligent rebuttal of my statement?
Hits
October 26th, 2007 at 11:56 amraynman
It’s the current regime’s wet dream…
Can it be used in any way to fight the fires?
October 26th, 2007 at 11:56 am#19: If one is smart, one should make sure to protect oneself, and not rely on the perceived abilities of FEMA or the Government - - Ok, to protect ourselves from fire, everyone wrap themselves in tinfoil. That should quiet down the Right wing. Oh wait….
October 26th, 2007 at 11:57 amLeftside Annie,
That’s quite good - irrelevant, but good.
Hits
October 26th, 2007 at 11:57 amBadmoodman,
Not really. But one can anticipate, spread one’s risk and where possibe cut one’s losses.
Hits
October 26th, 2007 at 11:58 amH = homonunculous
I = imitating
T = thinking
S = sentient
Comment by Leftside Annie — October 26, 2007 @ 11:55 am
Please don’t feed the trolls. They’ll just come begging for more…
October 26th, 2007 at 11:58 amand not rely on the perceived abilities of FEMA or the Government
Comment by hits — October 26, 2007 @ 11:50 am
Let me correct this for ya!
“and not rely on the deliberately engineered inabilities of the GOOPer-led FEMA or Government”. Ineptitude is not the answer to catastrophic natural disaster. No amount of brush pruning would stop a fire, or fires, of this magnitude. Under Clinton, FEMA was well-managed and effective.
Only under Herr Brusch has it become the joke it is today.
This is another case of the GOOpers deliberately botching the operation so they can step back and say, “See, govt can’t get the job done”.
Indeed, the phrase “Brusch fire” seems totally appropriate here.
October 26th, 2007 at 11:59 amAnd Bush supporters actually wonder why we don’t believe a word he or his people say. They’re getting worse and worse every day. Think this will earn FEMA a bronze medal in Monday night’s “Worst Persons”? (One of the right-wing “pundits” will undoubtedly say something worse before then.)
October 26th, 2007 at 12:00 pm#29: But one can anticipate, spread one’s risk and where possibe cut one’s losses. - - I live in Northridge, CA and got the hell pounded out of my house in the 1994 quake. How should I have protected me and my family? Live elsewhere?
October 26th, 2007 at 12:00 pmThe Republic of Stupidity,
“Brusch Fire” is a hilarious term, although ultimately, irrelevant. Trust me, if a fire’s chasing you, you will be better served by relying on your own intellect, as opposed to that of FEMA.
Hits
October 26th, 2007 at 12:00 pmWould you care to make an intelligent rebuttal of my statement?
Hits
one must make a intelligent statement in order for one to receive an intelligent rebuttal, mustn’t one?
(your turn)
October 26th, 2007 at 12:02 pmI hear the same thing from everybody; the government’s response has been slow and in some cases ineffective.
Comment by Badmoodman — October 26, 2007 @ 11:42 am
listening to AirAmericaRadio the past days… most of the callers, no,
ALL of the callers commenting on these fires said the it was the PEOPLE, the neighbors and citizens who were helping the most…
all well and good, great even - but the government doesn’t need to
October 26th, 2007 at 12:02 pmtak the credit for all of it…
…
“Brusch Fire†is a hilarious term, although ultimately, irrelevant. Trust me, if a fire’s chasing you, you will be better served by relying on your own intellect, as opposed to that of FEMA.
but you are without “intellect”. what would one such as you do then…?
October 26th, 2007 at 12:03 pmI think it’s time for the Pres to buy out at least FAUX news so that so that all americans can pay for goodie style news. We should pay for what works for us, right?
Put Ruperert and Billo and Sean on the gubmint dollar.
then again maybe Rupert has some kind of deal already?
October 26th, 2007 at 12:04 pmjoe cantwell,
Would you care to make an intelligent rebuttal of my statement?
Hits
Comment by hits — October 26, 2007 @ 11:56 am
Joe, if I were you, I’d wait until he makes an intelligent statement. His statement said nothing about the FEMA phony baloney press conference (the topic of this thread), and the rest of it is just blather without making any actual points to rebut. For example, is he saying that FEMA is superfluous? It doesn’t need to exist at all? We can’t really tell.
October 26th, 2007 at 12:04 pm“It makes a significant difference when you have somebody in the statehouse willing to take the lead,” Bush said, according to the Associated Press.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ 2007/ 10/ 26/ bush-takes-shot-at-katrin_n_69972.html
It makes a significant difference when you have a loyal Bushie in the statehouse willing to forward the political affiliation of voters with insurance claims to the insurance lobby. Then we will take the lead,
October 26th, 2007 at 12:06 pmBush meant to say
And these plants are different from mainstream media reporters how?
Comment by toasterhead — October 26, 2007 @ 11:35 am
good point. as if matt laurer, diane sawyer, harry smith and all the other msm meat puppets could ever ask a challenging question anyway. btw did you noticed the collective outrage by the msm regarding this disgusting propaganda ploy? neither did i.
Comment by joe cantwell — October 26, 2007 @ 11:51 am
And where is Helen Thomas when we need her?
October 26th, 2007 at 12:06 pmSo in other words, the Bushies have now bypassed the inconvenience of bringing in faux reporters from the outside, like that “Jeff Gannon” from “Talon News” who was unmasked a couple of years ago, or the pure bribing of “journalists” to issue Bushie spin without disclosing the financial arrangements. It’s so much cleaner to have your own government employees “be” the “reporters.” Not only is it more efficient, you don’t have to spend taxpayer dollars on outside “contractors.”
Brilliant!!
October 26th, 2007 at 12:07 pmJoe, if I were you, I’d wait until he makes an intelligent statement. His statement said nothing about the FEMA phony baloney press conference (the topic of this thread), and the rest of it is just blather without making any actual points to rebut. For example, is he saying that FEMA is superfluous? It doesn’t need to exist at all? We can’t really tell.
Comment by missmolly — October 26, 2007 @ 12:04 pm
i noticed that… i’m just having fun with him :) watch. he’ll be back. he can’t leave. he’ll be late for work (if he has a job). then he’ll be fired. what does one do then?
October 26th, 2007 at 12:07 pmopposed to that of FEMA.
Hits
Comment by hits — October 26, 2007 @ 12:00 pm
hits’ comments and replies in general don’t really address the issue w/ FEMA, do they? When a fire of this magnitude gets going, people do have to run for their dear lives. But there is a point where a coordinated response is necessary to minimize the damage and help the people whose lives have been devastated. Half a million evacuees?
Destruction on this scale is WAAAAAYYYY beyond the means of individuals, or individual communities, or even whole states to deal w/ effectively, and in some case, like massive storms, the damage can be spread across multiple states.
That is why FEMA was created, and under Clinton, it was a well-run, effective operation, but hey, Clinton appointed people w/ ACTUAL experience in dealing w/ large-scale disasters.
As for Brownie? I guess he finally got some experience in dealing w/ disasters, espeically PR ones. Perhaps in 2009, we can have the entire country declared a disaster area, but unfortunatley, it will not be a natural catastrophe… it will have been a man-made one.
October 26th, 2007 at 12:08 pm–Comment by hits — FEMA’s response to the recent events in California is apt. There is only so much that these agencies can do anyway. If one is smart, one should make sure to protect oneself, and not rely on the perceived abilities of FEMA or the Government–
Uh, FEMA is THE government, and as the name implies, it is the agency that deals with emergencies–there’s nothing else for them to do but help people when they need it.
October 26th, 2007 at 12:08 pmWhy is it that when the president and vice president lie, distort, and disingenuously manipulate cherry-picked facts to support an unconstitutional and internationally illegal war of choice in a land far away, all Americans are expected to rally behind them, but when a natural disaster strikes against our fellow Americans right here at home, “it’s a local event”?
October 26th, 2007 at 12:09 pmAnd where is Helen Thomas when we need her?
Comment by missmolly — October 26, 2007 @ 12:06 pm
Giving Osama bin Laden a blowjob, if the White House is to be believed.
October 26th, 2007 at 12:11 pmwhy the White House didn’t think of this earlier is beyond me. it’s genius (in a criminal sort of way).
October 26th, 2007 at 12:27 pmFEMA’s response to the recent events in California is apt. There is only so much that these agencies can do anyway. If one is smart, one should make sure to protect oneself, and not rely on the perceived abilities of FEMA or the Government
Comment by hits — October 26, 2007 @ 11:50 am
This shits guy thinks people should fight their own wildfire and when they can’t they should remember to evacuate themselves before they get charred. Starve a troll, starve a troll, starve a troll …
October 26th, 2007 at 12:28 pmmy goodness, wayne s…. … why? …
October 26th, 2007 at 12:29 pmthe white house HAS thought of this earlier…
October 26th, 2007 at 12:33 pmthey got caught too… remember jeffgannon/guckert?
male whore / ace white house reporter…
…
FEMA’s response to the recent events in California is apt. There is only so much that these agencies can do anyway. If one is smart, one should make sure to protect oneself, and not rely on the perceived abilities of FEMA or the Government
Comment by hits — October 26, 2007 @ 11:50 am
Is that the attitude that you’d have towards, say, a tornado victim?
“Well, it’s your fault that you built your house in the path of a tornado that you should have known would hit 20 years later.”
October 26th, 2007 at 12:33 pmYep.
We have achieved communism. Now we need a special “political” department in each town’s police force…
Oh sorry it will be called “anti-terrorism task force”, of course. Its job will be to recruit informers to oversee any anti american sorry any suspicious terrorist behaviour.
October 26th, 2007 at 12:35 pmComment by katy — October 26, 2007 @ 12:29 pm
It was meant in sarcasm - she doesn’t support the president, so she must be supporting the terrorists. Okay, so they never actually came out and said that’s what she’s doing. But the way they treat her, they might as well.
I believe that the administration treats real journalists (which excludes FNC people) the way they do because they simply cannot stand up in front of them and justify their actions, or be completely truthful about them without appearing to be uncaring, selfish, and inhumane people who want nothing more than the oportunity to make a boatload of money off the rest of us. (As if having more money than you can possibly spend in one lifetime, or even two, is a worthwhile goal to have.)
October 26th, 2007 at 12:35 pmI live in San Diego - just south of Marine Air Station Miramar. The local response (both government and citizen) was outstanding. For FEMA or Mr Bush to suggest they helped during the fires is nonsense. Even John Garamendi (Lt. Governor) asked Bush to stay away if all he was going to do was bloviate and waste our time with speeches. Everybody (except hits) knows Bush is a loser and a footnote in history. Hanging your star onto bushes wagon will surely cause your downfall. The speeches look like circle jerks - everybody thanking everybody else.
For the locals here is San Diego there is a common phrase making the rounds: “If you didn’t bring a shovel or a check, get out of my way!” I think that sums it up nicely.
October 26th, 2007 at 12:37 pmyes, i knew it was sarcasm wayne… perhaps if you switch phrases around that comma, it would have read as such much easier…
October 26th, 2007 at 12:39 pmjust not sure why YOU would put out such nasty talk…
…
Hillbilly obviously never learned to read since the topic of this thread is staged press conferences and not the war in Iraq.
October 26th, 2007 at 12:39 pmone should make sure to protect oneself, and not rely on the perceived abilities of FEMA or the Government
Comment by hits — October 26, 2007 @ 11:50 am
Okay, so that is your personal attitude, no doubt in keeping with your personal value system. Fair enough, even if most people would describe you as a total jerk. But realize this: only a tiny percentage of Americans share your callous social Darwinist attitude. When the hateful a**holes at places like AEI and CEI tried to push this talking point in the aftermath of Katrina, they quickly shut their yapping traps because it became almost instantly apparent that this is a fringe attitude that repulses most Americans, and that putting this callousness on display was hurtful to the GOP cause. So keep it up, smart guy, and watch your precious GOP get smashed in 2008.
October 26th, 2007 at 12:41 pmSpeaking of news did you know that not 1 American soldier died in Iraq last week….well no…………, did you know that not one Iraqi solder died in Iraq last week……..well no! THIS WILL NOT BE REPORTED BY THE MSN AND MOST HERE WILL BE NONE THE WISER. FOX NEWS IS TO ONLY OUTLET TO DATE THAT HAS BROADCAST THAT FACT!
Comment by Billy Hill — October 26, 2007 @ 12:32 pm
Oh, yes. Iraq is truly an idyllic paradise now.
Tell me, did Fox report on any of these incidents on Wednesday?
October 26th, 2007 at 12:42 pmThis is probably the sickest thing I’ve ever heard of taking place in the eye of the media. This should be a major story, and everyone involved should be made to explain this in a Senate committee hearing.
This should be a prosecutable offense.
October 26th, 2007 at 12:42 pmComment by hits — October 26, 2007 @ 11:50 am
By the way, nice try at derailing the thread. This thread isn’t about why FEMA shouldn’t help. It is about how FEMA put on a profoundly dishonest dog and pony show to pretend that it is helping. That FEMA feels the cowardly need to do something this dishonest shows just how much they realize that most Americans WANT the federal government to provide help when disasters of this scope happen.
October 26th, 2007 at 12:43 pmFEMA’s response to the recent events in California is apt. There is only so much that these agencies can do anyway. If one is smart, one should make sure to protect oneself, and not rely on the perceived abilities of FEMA or the Government
Comment by hits — October 26, 2007 @ 11:50 am
Yeah, there’s only “so much” they can do…with the money they get from your taxes.
I mean, it’s hard enough work to actually TAKE that money, how can you expect them to effectively do their job with that money, too?
You’re what we call in the trollosophere, a rank amateur, son.
Granted, the neocons want government to be so small it can be drowned in the bathtub…but yet, they keep taking money out of (middle) America’s pockets. Seems to me, if the government is going to cede ALL of its responsibility to its citizens, it should stop requiring us to pay taxes, yes?
Tell Sean & Rush we said “Hi.” And by “Hi,” we mean “f*** all y’all.”
October 26th, 2007 at 12:44 pmSpeaking of news did you know that not 1 American soldier died in Iraq last week
When you say “last week”, do you mean the period from Oct 14-Oct 20? Because according to Anti-War.com, we lost these people:
That list appears considerably longer than “not 1 soldier”, and only one of them was over the age of 30. Maybe you’re right inthe sense that it wasn’t 1 soldier, but eight.
October 26th, 2007 at 12:44 pmComment by toasterhead — October 26, 2007 @ 12:42 pm
Nice job shoving some reality down dumb trailer park trash Billy Hillbilly’s throat.
My sincerest apologies to anyone out there living in a trailer park.
October 26th, 2007 at 12:45 pmjust not sure why YOU would put out such nasty talk…
…
Comment by katy — October 26, 2007 @ 12:39 pm
Sorry, but sometimes I can’t help it. The Republican Noise Machine just gets to me, and mere cynicism is unsatisfying. I will try to do a better job of controlling my sarcasm in the future. Apologies for being a “naughty, nasty boy.”
October 26th, 2007 at 12:48 pmMy sincerest apologies to anyone out there living in a trailer park.
Comment by VerbalKint
None taken. We do prefer the term “Modular Home Communities” :)
October 26th, 2007 at 12:51 pmOh but we’re not approaching pre war Nazi Germany, right?
Comment by BARTLEBEE
No Bart, we are well past that. If there was any real media scrutiny in this country, the MSM would be SCREAMING about this charade of a “news conference”. All I hear is ….. (crickets chirping).
October 26th, 2007 at 12:54 pmThat list appears considerably longer than “not 1 soldierâ€, and only one of them was over the age of 30. Maybe you’re right inthe sense that it wasn’t 1 soldier, but eight.
Comment by Wayne A. Schneider — October 26, 2007 @ 12:44 pm
That’s a lot of commas.
October 26th, 2007 at 12:54 pmRupert Murdock’s FAK News reaches a new low.
October 26th, 2007 at 12:58 pmSurprise..! Media is becoming very soft,and instead of playing ‘the examiners’ part’, media instead playing ‘the enablers’ part.
This morning Condi Rice was on NBC Today show interviewed by Matt Lauer and she was saying this adminstration liberated millions of Iraqis from Saddam the tyrant.
October 26th, 2007 at 12:58 pmMatt should have asked her about the price that was paid,and how many millions of Iraqis became refugees as a result,and around one million died…but Matt said nothing and Condi proceeded to sell the other coming war with Iran.
[…] If one is smart, one should make sure to protect oneself, and not rely on the perceived abilities of FEMA or the Government
Comment by hits — October 26, 2007 @ 11:50 am
You are suggesting that the fire departments of our communities be disbanded and have all of our citizens try to put out the fire themselves?
Are you moronic or just ignorant?
October 26th, 2007 at 12:59 pmFEMA’s response to the recent events in California is apt. There is only so much that these agencies can do anyway. If one is smart, one should make sure to protect oneself, and not rely on the perceived abilities of FEMA or the Government
Comment by hits — October 26, 2007 @ 11:50 am
ohh….. it’s hard to ignore your arrogant ass. Do I have a gem of a FEMA
story I could share with you. I personal experience if you may, that smacks this ignorant statement square upside the head.
Question:
Is it arrogance, hits? Or ignorance that is the wind beneath your wings?
Answer:
I don’t know, and I don’t care.
…damn you suck.
October 26th, 2007 at 1:03 pmIf one is smart, one should make sure to protect oneself, and not rely on the perceived abilities of FEMA or the Government
Comment by hits — October 26, 2007 @ 11:50 am
When the next earthquake strikes, I’d like to hear from you. If your’re found by a government trained dog underneath the rubble, I’m going to be happy and laugh!
October 26th, 2007 at 1:04 pmNone taken. We do prefer the term “Modular Home Communities†:)
Comment by StratRat — October 26, 2007 @ 12:51 pm
I myself am living in an extended stay hotel right now. It is interesting.
October 26th, 2007 at 1:08 pmThe Jeff Gannon school of journalism.
October 26th, 2007 at 1:10 pmMore stagecraft. This “administration”–and I use that word loosely–has always been about salesmanship, never leadership. Too bad they suck rocks at both!
October 26th, 2007 at 1:10 pmSpeaking of news did you know that not 1 American soldier died in Iraq last week….well no…………, did you know that not one Iraqi solder died in Iraq last week……..well no! THIS WILL NOT BE REPORTED BY THE MSN AND MOST HERE WILL BE NONE THE WISER. FOX NEWS IS TO ONLY OUTLET TO DATE THAT HAS BROADCAST THAT FACT!
Comment by Billy Hill — October 26, 2007 @ 12:32 pm
—-
Things that don’t happen are news now?
October 26th, 2007 at 1:11 pmThis should be a prosecutable offense.
Comment by imorgan82 — October 26, 2007 @ 12:42 pm
Only in the court of public opinion.
It’s deceptive spin and dirty politics, but it’s not - and shouldn’t be - illegal. What it should be, however, is criticizable. The fact that this is not receiving mainstream coverage just shows how tight the corporate-government-media complex is.
October 26th, 2007 at 1:12 pmIs there any integrity anywhere in this government? Propaganda is now blatantly employed as “real news.”
October 26th, 2007 at 1:15 pmPerino, said, well they apologized for poor judgment.
That’s the end of it??!
They accomplished their mission, then apologized and all is well again.
OMG - these people have taken Orwell’s “1984″ and taken his fictional government to an art form.
The media should be hopping mad that they were played like fiddles, but I haven’t heard too much. LIke everything else of importance, they briefly note it, then go on to the latest Hollywood scandal or non-story and take up hours reporting nothing.
That’s it — the news media have become “Seinfeld” — shows about nothing.
FOX NEWS IS TO ONLY OUTLET TO DATE THAT HAS BROADCAST THAT FACT!
Comment by Billy Hill — October 26, 2007 @ 12:32 pm
Without anything to back up their news, as usual
October 26th, 2007 at 1:16 pmI really don’t care anymore about this kind of stuff. There is no difference whatsoever between the media, the corporations or the government. None.
We have 3 branches of government alright, the executive, the corporate and the media.
http://leftopia.blogspot.com/ 2007/ 10/ new-three-branches.html
October 26th, 2007 at 1:17 pmFOX NEWS IS TO ONLY OUTLET TO DATE THAT HAS BROADCAST THAT FACT!
Comment by Billy Hill — October 26, 2007 @ 12:32 pm
Fine, now can we find the WMD’s
October 26th, 2007 at 1:20 pmFox News- Fairly Unbalanced I’m Afraid
October 26th, 2007 at 1:20 pmIt’s sad and pathetic. The dumbing down of journalism. Edward R. Murrows is rolling over in his grave.
October 26th, 2007 at 1:22 pmFOX NEWS IS TO ONLY OUTLET TO DATE THAT HAS BROADCAST THAT FACT!
Comment by Billy Hill — October 26, 2007 @ 12:32 pm
we lost these people: Oct. 14, Pfc. Kenneth J. Iwasinski…Oct. 14, 1st Lt. Thomas M. Martin…Oct. 14, Spc. Jason B. Koutroubas, 21…Oct. 14, Sgt.1st Class Justin S. Monschke…Oct 16, Spc. Micheal D. Brown…Oct 17, Spc. Vincent A. Madero, 22…Oct 18, Staff Sgt. Jarred S. Fontenot…Oct. 18, Spc. Wayne M. Geiger…Oct. 19, Cpl. Erik T. Garoutte…
Comment by Wayne A. Schneider — October 26, 2007 @ 12:44 pm
Hey, Fox News never allowed the truth to get in the way of their propaganda…
October 26th, 2007 at 1:22 pm#52 - “Speaking of news did you know that not 1 American soldier died in Iraq last week….well no…………, did you know that not one Iraqi solder died in Iraq last week……..well no! ” Comment by Billy Hill — October 26, 2007 @ 12:32 pm
Hmm. I wonder if anyone told the DOD. They’d better cove up the fact that there have been deaths this week in Baghdad and the Salah ad Din Province.
http://icasualties.org/oif/BY_DOD.aspx
Then again, Faux news doesn’t let the facts get in the way of a story to support the failed GOP.
October 26th, 2007 at 1:34 pm#96 - Ooops! My pardon! You said “Last week”! That would be the 18th - 24th.
“Cpl. Erik T. Garoutte, 22, of Santee, Calif., died Oct. 19 in Baghdad, Iraq. He was assigned to 1st Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team Company, Marine Corps Security Force Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Norfolk, Va.”
http://www.defenselink.mil/ releases/ release.aspx?releaseid=11428
“Spc. Wayne M. Geiger, 23, of Lone Pine, Calif. died Oct 18 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. He was assigned to 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany.”
http://www.defenselink.mil/ releases/ release.aspx?releaseid=11429
“Staff Sgt. Jarred S. Fontenot, 35, of Port Barre, La., died Oct. 18 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries suffered from an improvised explosive device and small arms fire during combat operations. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Co.”
http://www.defenselink.mil/ releases/ release.aspx?releaseid=11427
I wonder if these soldiers just don’t count according to Faux News? Maybe they were against the War of Occupation, and therefore “phony soldiers” according to Rush Limbaugh?
October 26th, 2007 at 1:38 pm“Speaking of news did you know that not 1 American soldier died in Iraq last week….well no…………, did you know that not one Iraqi solder died in Iraq last week……..well no! †Comment by Billy Hill — October 26, 2007 @ 12:32 pm
By “American soldiers” he meant Blackwater contractors. You know, real soldiers, not those “phoney soldiers” with the American flag on their sleeves.
October 26th, 2007 at 1:41 pmHey, Fox News never allowed the truth to get in the way of their propaganda…
Comment by missmolly — October 26, 2007 @ 1:22 pm
Let me show you another bit of news that Fox is not going to announce
October 26th, 2007 at 1:42 pmCan you believe Hillbilly and Fox News lied about there being no Iraq casualties. I’m shocked I tell ya, shocked.
October 26th, 2007 at 1:45 pmMy sincerest apologies to anyone out there living in a trailer park.
Comment by VerbalKint
None taken. We do prefer the term “Modular Home Communities†:)
Comment by StratRat — October 26, 2007 @ 12:51 pm
Hillbilly doesn’t live in one of them fancy communities. He lives up in the hollow on a spot of land not big enough for a double wide. Especially with his ma buried in the back yard.
October 26th, 2007 at 1:47 pmjoe cantwell,
Would you care to make an intelligent rebuttal of my statement?
Comment by hits
No because there was no intelligence in your statement.
October 26th, 2007 at 1:48 pmOh but we’re not approaching pre war Nazi Germany, right?
Comment by BARTLEBEE — October 26, 2007 @ 12:51
Nope, we’re way past prewar Nazi Germany. The Administrations level of Fascism is no on par with fully entrenched in WWII Nazi Germany.
October 26th, 2007 at 1:49 pmWe have achieved communism. Now we need a special “political†department in each town’s police force…
Oh sorry it will be called “anti-terrorism task forceâ€, of course. Its job will be to recruit informers to oversee any anti american sorry any suspicious terrorist behaviour.
Comment by timotheus — October 26, 2007 @ 12:35 pm
Communism is an economic system. What WE have is an autocracy, moving toward totalitarianism. What we DO NOT have is a democracy anymore.
October 26th, 2007 at 1:52 pmAnd where is Helen Thomas when we need her?
Comment by missmolly
In the back of the room behind two very tall reporters. Anyone notice that David Gregory has been promoted to the front of the room? Must be all that dancing he has been doing with Karl Rove and other GOOPER friends.
October 26th, 2007 at 1:53 pmBut we’re not quite to pre-war Germany yet.
No, what we have is the primoridal ooze of fascism.
October 26th, 2007 at 2:02 pmAmericans be mindful; these are the same scumbags that will null and void our system of government during any national emergency. It will set-up a centralized government to control an otherwise lawless populous. They don’t only manage emergency efforts, this includes setting up a government and new laws. Seems this administration is halfway there. The heading ‘Corrupt Establishment’ is accurate.
October 26th, 2007 at 2:07 pmWhen they make us wear “Lâ€s on our shirts to identify us in public, and start seizing liberals possessions and homes, THEN we’ll have arrived.
Comment by BARTLEBEE — October 26, 2007 @ 1:57 pm
Well there does seem to be a large incidence of tazing and excessive force by police officers. And really since there is so many brown people in the US they don’t really need to tattoo every one to mark them as undesirable.
October 26th, 2007 at 2:08 pmFor when we finally succumb to fascism - you might need some of the tips in here:
http://www.wired.com/ politics/ security/ magazine/ 15-11/ ff_chinafirewall
October 26th, 2007 at 2:10 pmWhen they make us wear “Lâ€s on our shirts to identify us in public, and start seizing liberals possessions and homes, THEN we’ll have arrived.
This is the internet age. They have already done this electronically.
October 26th, 2007 at 2:13 pmHeil Heckuvajob!
Comment by BARTLEBEE — October 26, 2007 @ 12:52 pm
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How about “Heiluvajob”…?
Suits me just fine. ;o)
October 26th, 2007 at 2:15 pm“Facts are stupid things.”
- Ronald Reagan
October 26th, 2007 at 2:16 pm“Facts are stupid things.â€
- Ronald Reagan
Comment by Leftside Annie
“Reality has a well-known liberal bias.”- Steven colbert
October 26th, 2007 at 2:24 pmProfessional wrestlers have more credibility than this administration.
October 28th, 2007 at 12:11 amDamn this is crazy.
October 30th, 2007 at 11:26 am