Bitter White Female--Part 2--The Amiable Duncess

Mike,

I love the blog. Although most of it seems to go over my head, I had an easier time grasping this article and wanted to put my 2 cents in.

First off, your multiple claims about the Media being "a wing of the democratic party": Perhaps this is true of specific media outlets (CNN most of the time, MSNBC), but I personally find this a gross overstatement. There is, of course, the obvious fact that Fox News is no way, no how a liberal leaning network. In fact, they are far more right than say, CNN is left. (I know you'll probably disagree with me on that, but that is my firm belief)

Another wing of the "media" (at least a part that wields a lot of influence over the voting populous) is talk radio. This can go both ways, like anything. However, the big shots in this arena, Rush/O'Riley/Savage? are clearly conservatives (O'Riley sometimes claims he's a libertarian...bullsh*t). Fox, along with these talk radio people makes up a big portion of the so called "Media" in this country and thus your assertion that all media is liberal seems an overstatement.

-continue to part 2

-part 2

On that same note, your comments that stem from this "liberal Media bias" belief, led you to talk about all the negative press towards Pallin. I'll be the first to admit, the constant coverage of her daughter's pregnancy is completely ridiculous. Obama himself denounces the coverage and said,

"people's children are especially off limits. This shouldn't be part of politics. So I would strongly urge people to back off these kinds of stories."

It's worth pointing out that conservative news outlets also covered the story. I would think the reason for this is clear. "News", in our country, has become pure entertainment. Anyone who thinks otherwise is seriously misguided. I dare you to find a "fair and balanced" newsroom. (is the associated press even one anymore?) However, once she made her speech last night I think the "liberal media" changed it's song slightly.

I urge you to pick up a copy of today's NY Post (i'm not saying this is a liberal media source), which is basically an entire issue of stroking Pallin for delivering such a hearty speech and all the great things she's going to do etc etc.

-continue to part 3

-comments part 3

Because she has been in the public eye for such a short amount of time, it's hard to make judgements on how the media is covering her (unless you want to base that judegement on 2 weeks of coverage). Of course they would jump on an abstinence-praising Republican for having a pregnant daughter. If nothing else, it highlights the absolute disregard the party has for productive and important sexual education that our children will not receive if she has her way. Teaching the abstinence-only approach is criminal. Has there EVER been a time when this actually stopped kids from getting pregnant? Some would say that these attacks were in no way personal; that they were made public and discussed to bring to the table the issue of sexual education, and how not to approach the issue. (just say no? yeah, that worked GREEEEEEAT for Reagan in his "war on drugs")

I think the coverage Pallin receives is going to change drastically once she becomes a more "real" public figure, not some abstract female governor from Alaska.

I do agree that there is a double standard for women in politics. Spot on.

My final comment is a question to you. I was wondering if you knew any details regarding Pallin's stance on the drilling for oil in Alaska's pristene wilderness. If she's all for protecting that precious tundra, does she still have your support?

-Jon

yeah yeah, i know, i spelled her name wrong about 20 times. PALIN with 1 "L". my bad.

I was going to,(for fun of course),"diss" the whole argument just for the excess "l"--(my kingdom for a horse).

Yes, if my premise is wrong on the media then perhaps I attack a straw man. Still, the argument I made is against the criticisms made against her---even if those arguments were drawn from a fair media.

But here is my issue with the media. I dislike opinion masquerading as objective analysis. If, for example, Andrea Mitchell of NBC (I pick her because she is a well respected news analyst and has been in the business for 25 years or so)is openly enthusiastic about Obama's speech and gloomy about Palin's---as if she were a democratic operative--that is bias.

In fact, that was the case. Last night, Anderson Cooper CNN was actually stating to his colleagues that maybe they had been biased in their coverage of the 2 conventions.

I think what has been tiresomely but accurately called the "mainstream media" is clearly left leaning in their so-called objective news coverage. The most biased to the left are ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, NY Times, Washington Post, The LA Times. The only news outlet one can fairly say is biased to the right is Fox News.

You are correct that most opinion based radio is definitely to the right. But they are shows which are explicitly advertised as such and not pretending to be dipassionate news coverage people.

I agree the Obama campaign stayed within bounds on their criticisms. I do not agree with their criticisms, but all candidates should feel free to criticize their opponents--what else should they do?

My preference is for the candidates to have a "no holds barred", "hang 'em high", "ultimate fighting" contest---verbally of course. I hate phony appeals to non-partisan campaigning. First of all, no one believes it--they just want the other side to stop attacking. Secondly, it is boring and uninformative when each plays to some mushy middle they do not believe in. I want to know where they stand.

The left does not like politically active women or minorities that do not fit a certain sterotype. One could say they do not like any political views from the right (same as the right feels toward the left), so what is the difference? I think the venom is higher for minorities or women who do not fit the mold than it is for white males who do not fit the mold. Could be wrong but that is my clear observation.

FYI--Michael Savage is against the Palin pick.

As far as Palin herself---she clearly has to prove herself--that is what it is all about. But she was summarily dismissed as a non-entity right off the bat. Would Tim Pawlenty (the Minnesota Governor who most thought would be picked---booooring)have been treated that way? He has a comparable record as Palin--I doubt it. My opinion is she has great potential--we'll see.

If she thought ANWAR were "Pristine Wilderness" I never would have bothered to write about her. McCain unfortunately believes it is and is also a proponent of stopping the dreaded global warming Manbearpig. The hope of the sane people among us is that Ms.Palin will nudge him away from that view over time.

I appreciate your comments "Jonathan"!!

somebody who can tell how to make a happies days? Why we should diffirent between happy and sad as two major part???i used the subject as paint the town red is to remain your made a happy day by travel....look at the beauty natural and tries MADE new.