QUOTE (Kodachi Claws @ Nov 4 2009, 07:19 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
First off, never read anything from Politico again. EVER.
The article is also wrong on several counts. Bush was given a free pass on so many things during his first term as well as the first half of his second. The Iraq War is a perfect example; the media pretty much went along with what Bush said, even though they had the means to question what went on, and hid many absolutely horrifying bits of footage from the public. Not to mention that any dissent by all networks at the time was portrayed as un-american.
2 points in particular bother me. First is the fact that Obama criticized Bush on his handling of New Orleans and yet spent only a few hours there. I'm sorry, but Bush could have stayed in New Orleans for a week and he'd still probably could not get anything done. You don't improve a community by staying there and shaking hands with residents; you sign bills and work with them. I'm not saying Obama has necessarily done anything in particular to help NO; but the amount of time you spend in a place is NOT reflective of how much you actually care for it.
Second, yes, the Obama administration is clearly sparring with Fox News, but thus far, it's just been verbal and the administration is absolutely right about them: they clearly push a right-wing agenda, and they get one too many facts wrong. Besides, what has the Obama administration done to "freeze" Fox News? Glenn Beck is still their number one program, and by far their most inflamatory (and that's saying something), openly claiming that his plans have something to do with Naziism. Almost all of the shows are still free to say what they want, and at worst the Obama administration talks back to them. Lou Dobbs keeps interviewing the birthers, and they haven't said a word about them. MSNBC is also cutting back on KO and RM to appear more balanced; if the current administration was really having its way with the media, I'd imagine they'd make them keep the network. Ari is also wrong on his MSNBC comment; what he says would have certainly happened NOW, but back when the Bush administration was in power, MSNBC was probably just as right-wing as Fox News.
It's also a blatant lie that the left is treating Obama with kid gloves. The left is actually more upset that he seems to be acting like a Republican. Michael Moore has been critical of Obama not getting tough enough on Wall Street (and points out that Goldman Sachs was his biggest contributor) and has been very critical on his war policy. Bill Maher has made fun of him several times for much of the same reasons, and even said "McCain was right in saying that he is behaving like a celebrity". Salon.com's Glen Greenwald in particular has been very critical of Obama for continuing many of Bush's policies, and even has attacked the left for doing things the right would do. I'm not telling people to like or listen to the people I've listed, they are just examples of liberals who do not stand behind Obama's every decision, and even if you personally disagree with them, they need to be given credit for attacking Obama on the same things they did for Bush. The liberals who formed a cult-like worship of Obama is tiny and is pretty much ignored for the most part.
If there's an impression of a free-pass, it's just because the media is under the impression that America loves Obama, and simply portrays him in a good light. The exact same thing happened to George W. Bush, and it was mostly secondary media outlets that were able to criticize him in any form, and it was not until Katrina that the media seemingly embraced Bush-bashing. And trust me, if a major catastrophe occurs in this country again, they will turn on Obama in a New York minute.
And while we're onto more current topics, I don't think sanctions really do work. Take every rogue nation, put sanctions on them...do you honestly think the leaders of such countries would step down or listen to our demands? No, to me, sanctions only seem to work if the said country had a government that actually cared for it's people. I want to know at what point in history did sanctions work on countries that had corrupt or oppressive governments.
The article is also wrong on several counts. Bush was given a free pass on so many things during his first term as well as the first half of his second. The Iraq War is a perfect example; the media pretty much went along with what Bush said, even though they had the means to question what went on, and hid many absolutely horrifying bits of footage from the public. Not to mention that any dissent by all networks at the time was portrayed as un-american.
2 points in particular bother me. First is the fact that Obama criticized Bush on his handling of New Orleans and yet spent only a few hours there. I'm sorry, but Bush could have stayed in New Orleans for a week and he'd still probably could not get anything done. You don't improve a community by staying there and shaking hands with residents; you sign bills and work with them. I'm not saying Obama has necessarily done anything in particular to help NO; but the amount of time you spend in a place is NOT reflective of how much you actually care for it.
Second, yes, the Obama administration is clearly sparring with Fox News, but thus far, it's just been verbal and the administration is absolutely right about them: they clearly push a right-wing agenda, and they get one too many facts wrong. Besides, what has the Obama administration done to "freeze" Fox News? Glenn Beck is still their number one program, and by far their most inflamatory (and that's saying something), openly claiming that his plans have something to do with Naziism. Almost all of the shows are still free to say what they want, and at worst the Obama administration talks back to them. Lou Dobbs keeps interviewing the birthers, and they haven't said a word about them. MSNBC is also cutting back on KO and RM to appear more balanced; if the current administration was really having its way with the media, I'd imagine they'd make them keep the network. Ari is also wrong on his MSNBC comment; what he says would have certainly happened NOW, but back when the Bush administration was in power, MSNBC was probably just as right-wing as Fox News.
It's also a blatant lie that the left is treating Obama with kid gloves. The left is actually more upset that he seems to be acting like a Republican. Michael Moore has been critical of Obama not getting tough enough on Wall Street (and points out that Goldman Sachs was his biggest contributor) and has been very critical on his war policy. Bill Maher has made fun of him several times for much of the same reasons, and even said "McCain was right in saying that he is behaving like a celebrity". Salon.com's Glen Greenwald in particular has been very critical of Obama for continuing many of Bush's policies, and even has attacked the left for doing things the right would do. I'm not telling people to like or listen to the people I've listed, they are just examples of liberals who do not stand behind Obama's every decision, and even if you personally disagree with them, they need to be given credit for attacking Obama on the same things they did for Bush. The liberals who formed a cult-like worship of Obama is tiny and is pretty much ignored for the most part.
If there's an impression of a free-pass, it's just because the media is under the impression that America loves Obama, and simply portrays him in a good light. The exact same thing happened to George W. Bush, and it was mostly secondary media outlets that were able to criticize him in any form, and it was not until Katrina that the media seemingly embraced Bush-bashing. And trust me, if a major catastrophe occurs in this country again, they will turn on Obama in a New York minute.
And while we're onto more current topics, I don't think sanctions really do work. Take every rogue nation, put sanctions on them...do you honestly think the leaders of such countries would step down or listen to our demands? No, to me, sanctions only seem to work if the said country had a government that actually cared for it's people. I want to know at what point in history did sanctions work on countries that had corrupt or oppressive governments.
Pfft...cults of personality, what can you do. They say the shiniest star is the first one to die out quickly. I guess last night was a kick in the gut...Republicans took NJ, and Virginia. But today the WH is still in denial...so sad...
Edited by Strangelove, 04 November 2009 - 03:37 PM.
