Periodicals Taking Advantage of Their Readership

Compilation ^ | 2/7/06 | RushCrush

[RushCrush]

There are a number of magazines/newspapers and other periodicals who take advantage of readership by publishing editor's opinions in the form of news. An example: Vanity Fair.

These articles are readily available, and free, on the Vanity Fair website:

The first article is from the Vanity Fair editor-in-chief, Graydon Carter. In this letter, Carter describes how he believes that "the Bush Administration has attempted to remake America into everything we have long deplored".

In what I find a most disturbing and worrying piece, Vanity Fair film critic Michael Wolff reviews a number of films, including 'V for Vendetta' which he describes as ' really about a suicide bomber. V is the bomber. The suicide bomber is the hero."

Wolff also asks: "At what point..does the Iraq quagmire become, the way Vietnam did, the main theme of popular culture?"

Richard Gooding, another Vanity Fair writer, takes on the subject of US Federal Air Marshalls in his article "In Plane Sight" in which he investigages the Miami airport shooting of December 2005 in which the Federal Air Marshall Service shot and killed a passenger who was suffering from schizophrenia.

In Gooding's articles, he outlines how the air marshal's most valuable asset-anonymity- is compromised. In a series of bullet points, the auther specifically delineates the ways in which an air marshall can be identified.

[RushCrush]

Despicable journalism. Not only are the editor's comments extremely politically biased, but the story about the Federal Air Marshall program seriously compromises the safety of every single US citizen who flies.

[A Balrog of Morgoth]

This is Vannity Fair we're talking about.....

[RushCrush]

Right but just because we know this is a group of politcal hacks it does not excuse the facts that they have now compromised the safety of every American who flies by specifically describing the ways in which to identify a US Air Marshall.

[A Balrog of Morgoth]

Par for the course.

It's what political hacks do if they are Democrat liberal hacks.

[RushCrush]

Don't you see that this is extremely dangerous?

I'm flying to Egypt in a few days, should I be worried?

[mrsmel]

Wolff also asks: "At what point..does the Iraq quagmire become, the way Vietnam did, the main theme of popular culture?"

I believe,that amongst other reasons,the leftist media misses the "glory days" of it's (self) important status during Vietnam,when they were the only game in town.I believe that they want to re-create that time,when they were the sole and undisputed channel of information to the public,which gave them unalloyed power. But they can't,thanks to the Internet and cable,and it's frustrating them down to their very souls. As my husband would say,it's a vexation to their spirits-a very uncomfortable and frustrating position. So they're trying to "trump up" Iran as another Vietnam,calling it a "quagmire". It won't work,because these days are not those days in so many ways.They know this,they couldn't be that oblivious,but nonetheless they just can't help themselves trying to recapture that time and that power. RIP,old media.

[SteveMcKing]

In a series of bullet points, the auther specifically delineates the ways in which an air marshall can be identified.

Foolishness. Undercover professionals are profoundly adept. You will not know who they are until there is a bloody hole in your body.

[RushCrush]

Here's how Richard Gooding described how the anonymity of Federal Air Marshalls can be compromised. A veritable 'how-to' for would-be terrorists to board and hijack US flights:

-These plainclothes members are not allowed to use most e-ticket kiosks, instead having to go to the ticket counter and show their conspicuously large badges.

-ecause they are armed with a handgun, air marshalls must bypass metal detectors....

-Marshals have to present their IDs a third time at the gate counter.

-At least one marshal in a team boards even before first-class and 'passengers with small children or those needing assistance'

-y the time everyone else boards, the marshals are already in their seats

...these are just a few of the identifiers outlined by Gooding.

[A Balrog of Morgoth]

Of course I can see it's dangerous.

It's just nothing new.

[RushCrush]

I'm sorry. I'm not disagreeing with you but I am just extremely outraged by this and not sure what to do.

It's truly terrifying.

Like Rush said today, every time we mention that Iran is probably going to soon have nuclear weapons, that is the clue for liberals to laugh hysterically.

I feel like I am living in an alternate universe.

[sageb1]

It doesn't matter what publication we're talking about. My daughter is taking classes. For Christmas, she asked for a subscription to Newsweek. She didn't have a clue. She was just looking for articles to help her in her studies. I refused to buy the subscription and told her why. As it is, she lives in Albany, NY and gets the Albany Times Union Union, which is so heavily leftist that I gag when I babysit and it's the only paper.

[ghostcat]

I hope the terrorists read and believe the bullet points cause I can guarantee that none of those points are useful.

[LibertarianInExile]

Actually, I found the Gooding article a pretty good one since it actually spells out what is WRONG with the Air Marshal program. If HE could find this out, why can't the government think ahead far enough to realize that so can the terrorists!?!?! The article isn't the problem--that what he writes about is reality is the problem!

That doesn't mean I approve of his conclusion, which is unsubtle (he seems to think the whole air marshal program should be ended) but it certainly is better to consider the problems with the program than put our heads in the sand and assume blithely it'll all be okay. That sort of thinking led to 9/11 in the first place.

[LibertarianInExile]

"I hope the terrorists read and believe the bullet points cause I can guarantee that none of those points are useful."

I hope you are correct.

[supercat]

I hope the terrorists read and believe the bullet points cause I can guarantee that none of those points are useful.

If I were Lord High Grand Poo-Bah of air security, those points would be useful for identifying SOME air security personnel. But I'd make sure anyone who relied upon them would be unpleasantly surprised.

[ghostcat]

While my experience is dated, I do know what a lot of the procedures were in the late 70's and early 80's. I came in contact with a lot of air marshals when I was an air courier for Brinks. I really doubt that they would have dumbed it down to this level since that time.

[LibertarianInExile]

Like I said, I hope you're right, but don't forget that this is the same service where the higher-ups gave the grunt marshals crap for dressing down over the Christmas holidays. It's too bad it's believable.

[xzins]

In my entire life I have never bought a Vanity Fair. Nor will I. I can't say with certainty that I know anyone who has.

Bottom line: In this era, why buy Vanity Fair(or any rag) when the internet exists?

[G-Man 1]

This idiot may be able to pick out some armed marshals, but might not be able to pick out marshals who do not go through the routine. THIS JERK OVERLOOKS ONE MINOR DETAIL, THE ARMED PILOTS IN THE COCKPIT. Surprise--Surprise.