Smoke and Mirrors
I don’t watch network news.
CNN. FOX. MSNBC.
I feel like a sheep when I watch these channels. They’ve all become these theatre productions with overblown headlines, brightly colored graphics, slick camera angles and projectile text complete with sound effects aimed to grab my attention… or spill my beer.
It’s all a “smoke and mirrors” attempt at hiding bad journalism.
And when networks can’t deliver good journalism, they resort to news delivered by non-journalistic Tom Brokaw wannabes like attorney Greta van Susteren of O.J. Simpson fame or former Congressmen like Joe Scarborough to give biased reports based on the most idiotic interview processes I have ever seen.
And don’t even get me started on Bill O’Reily. Of trash journalism “Inside Edition” fame? Please.
Anderson Cooper is the closest thing to Peter Jennings that network news has seen in years. And even he is a product of the glitz machine.
So… I tune into alternative news programs like Democracy Now! on Dish Network’s Free Speech TV.
It takes a few times to re-train our brains to listen to a professional journalist deliver the headlines. Amy Goodman doesn’t have her own make-up artist or hair stylist. She doesn’t wear suits by Dolce and Gabbana. She is a plain woman. But I can respect her. She isn’t reporting the news because it looks good on her resume. She is a true journalist. Always seeking the truth. Unbiased. Bipartisan. And no stupid questions.
I watched the news last night. And I wanted to cry. The Bush administration released the proposed 2007 budget yesterday.
President Bush proposed nearly $2.8 trillion budget and is calling for major increases in defense spending but deep cuts in Medicare and other domestic social programs. Under the proposed budget, defense spending will increase nearly seven percent to $440 billion. If approved the Pentagon’s budget will become 45 percent larger than when Bush took office five years ago.
Meanwhile, cuts are being made in hundreds of domestic programs, including education programs, environmental protection programs, numerous programs to assist low-income families, children, and elderly and disabled people, and research related to cancer, heart disease, and other medical conditions. In one case, the Center estimates 420,000 low-income seniors will lose food assistance from the Commodity Supplemental Food Program.
But what really stirred my emotions was the news that President Bush has proposed $27 million to restart the nuclear weapons program. I am still too stunned to respond. Except to say that by even bringing this issue to the table, we are trampling all over the world peace initiatives brought forth by great former leaders and presidents.
To add insult to injury, President Bush has also proposed to cut grant programs that help state and local authorities deal with evacuations, mass casualties, and managing catastrophes. Meanwhile in New Orleans, the city’s mayor, Ray Nagin, has publicly admitted he may begin seeking international aid to help rebuild the city because the federal government has been so slow in funding the reconstruction.
It’s heartbreaking.
What are we doing? When George Bush came to office, we had a budget surplus. Now we are so far in the hole, it will take a generation to bail us out. We are no longer interested in taking care of our own… our seniors will be left with less health care… our children will be left with less education and public service.
And now Karl Rove is threatening to pull political support of Republican senators who comply with Congressional hearings in the wiretapping fiasco. And indicted U.S. Representative Tom DeLay has been elected to the House Appropriations committee.
Stay tuned.
CNN. FOX. MSNBC.
I feel like a sheep when I watch these channels. They’ve all become these theatre productions with overblown headlines, brightly colored graphics, slick camera angles and projectile text complete with sound effects aimed to grab my attention… or spill my beer.
It’s all a “smoke and mirrors” attempt at hiding bad journalism.
And when networks can’t deliver good journalism, they resort to news delivered by non-journalistic Tom Brokaw wannabes like attorney Greta van Susteren of O.J. Simpson fame or former Congressmen like Joe Scarborough to give biased reports based on the most idiotic interview processes I have ever seen.
And don’t even get me started on Bill O’Reily. Of trash journalism “Inside Edition” fame? Please.
Anderson Cooper is the closest thing to Peter Jennings that network news has seen in years. And even he is a product of the glitz machine.
So… I tune into alternative news programs like Democracy Now! on Dish Network’s Free Speech TV.
It takes a few times to re-train our brains to listen to a professional journalist deliver the headlines. Amy Goodman doesn’t have her own make-up artist or hair stylist. She doesn’t wear suits by Dolce and Gabbana. She is a plain woman. But I can respect her. She isn’t reporting the news because it looks good on her resume. She is a true journalist. Always seeking the truth. Unbiased. Bipartisan. And no stupid questions.
I watched the news last night. And I wanted to cry. The Bush administration released the proposed 2007 budget yesterday.
President Bush proposed nearly $2.8 trillion budget and is calling for major increases in defense spending but deep cuts in Medicare and other domestic social programs. Under the proposed budget, defense spending will increase nearly seven percent to $440 billion. If approved the Pentagon’s budget will become 45 percent larger than when Bush took office five years ago.
Meanwhile, cuts are being made in hundreds of domestic programs, including education programs, environmental protection programs, numerous programs to assist low-income families, children, and elderly and disabled people, and research related to cancer, heart disease, and other medical conditions. In one case, the Center estimates 420,000 low-income seniors will lose food assistance from the Commodity Supplemental Food Program.
But what really stirred my emotions was the news that President Bush has proposed $27 million to restart the nuclear weapons program. I am still too stunned to respond. Except to say that by even bringing this issue to the table, we are trampling all over the world peace initiatives brought forth by great former leaders and presidents.
To add insult to injury, President Bush has also proposed to cut grant programs that help state and local authorities deal with evacuations, mass casualties, and managing catastrophes. Meanwhile in New Orleans, the city’s mayor, Ray Nagin, has publicly admitted he may begin seeking international aid to help rebuild the city because the federal government has been so slow in funding the reconstruction.
It’s heartbreaking.
What are we doing? When George Bush came to office, we had a budget surplus. Now we are so far in the hole, it will take a generation to bail us out. We are no longer interested in taking care of our own… our seniors will be left with less health care… our children will be left with less education and public service.
And now Karl Rove is threatening to pull political support of Republican senators who comply with Congressional hearings in the wiretapping fiasco. And indicted U.S. Representative Tom DeLay has been elected to the House Appropriations committee.
Stay tuned.
posted by Cgdbird at 09:10
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