Posted on 03/13/2010 10:56:23 AM PST by molybdenum
A couple of week's ago, I blogged about Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal's charm-blitz through NY, juxtaposing Fox News' Neil Cavuto's sweetheart interview with "the prince" and Charlie Rose's far more revealing conversation -- essentially, it's (everything's) all Israel's fault, and "my" 1.5 billion Muslims are all like the underpants' bomber's father. I kept thinking about Alwaleed -- his stake in News Corp., his stakes in Georgetown and Harvard -- and realized that as a leading scion of the so-called House of Saud (q: how many countries are named for their rulers?), a totalitarian theocracy whose foundational documents -- http://www.dianawest.net/Home/tabid/36/EntryId/1261/Should-Fox-News-Register-as-a-Saudi-Agent.aspx
(Excerpt) Read more at dianawest.net ...
seems like cheese time.
NOW:
In God we trust. [I have to keep reminding myself. FRegards ...]
More from the article; “Alwaleed’s long march through U.S. institutions is a mainly post-9/11 progression greased by his purchase of about a 5.5 percent stake in News Corp. in 2005, and his purchases, I mean, gifts, of $20 million apiece to Georgetown and Harvard Universities, also in 2005.
There have been other eye-catching displays of Alwaleed’s largesse — $500,000 in 2002 to the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), a Hamas- and Muslim-Brotherhood-linked entity, and a whopping $27 million, also in 2002, to the families of Palestinian “martyrs,” aka suicide bombers. These, along with Alwaleed’s self-described “very close relationship” with Murdoch son and apparent heir-apparent James, a left-wing global-warmist with virulently anti-Israel views, should only deepen Americans’ concerns about Fox’s ties to “the prince.” Recently, Murdoch and Alwaleed have discussed expanding their business relationship through the Murdoch purchase of a substantial stake in Rotana, Alwaleed’s huge Arab media company.”
40% of Americans are conservative, 40% are moderates (e.g. don't really have a philosophy and don't watch news that much and 40% are liberal.
FNC is so successful not because it's good, but conservatives have no where else to go as CNN, MSNBC, the networks, PBS and NPR fight for the liberals.
FNC has become boring;
- All Star Panel = neocon from the Weekly Standard, a lib and Charles Krathammer EVERY night
- Most conservatives can't stand Shep
- BOR has become like formula radio
-Hannity repeats himself constantly and then there's the Great, Great, Great American Panel
- Greta is actually pretty good
- There are some days when I am convinced Beck should be institutionalized
Neil Cavuto won’t appear in a turban, but any reports by any of the FOX people concerning islamic terrorist attacks will be carefully edited. Already are, according to viewers.
That's right, and I prefer the word "showman" to capitalist. Most of Murdoch's programming appeals to the lowest common denominator of the human condition, and most of the movies he produces are rife with anti-family, anti-American and anti-free market sentiments, not the least of which was Avatar.
One would think through all the hours of programming on FNC that at least one pundit would have mentioned the ridiculous anti-military and anti-American overtones of Avatar, but I didn't see even one person comment about it, not even Hannity - at least not until after Avatar made its first billion.
"FNC is so successful not because it's good, but conservatives have no where else to go as CNN, MSNBC, the networks, PBS and NPR fight for the liberals."
Absolutely. FNC is not a news gathering organization, but a commentary channel. It's too bad because conservatives could use a conservative 60 Minutes, or a Conservative Frontline, or an Conservative and earnest journalist - kind of a Conservative Charlie Rose. Instead, we get treated to blow-hard after blow-hard who is less interested in earnest conservative journalism than they're interested in pimping their latest book, or speaking gig.
And, don't get me started on the FNC website - it looks like a bunch of 13-year old boys are the webmasters, with scantly-clad "babes" plastered all over the site. It's ridiculous.
OK — counterpoint hat:
Washington Times was founded by Reverend Moon. But I am glad they’re around.
Because without a change --in format or getting rid of certain people like pretty-boy Shep or Jerry Rivers, dropping 'guests' (Susan Ostrich, NYT' Hennican) ? I can't argue very well because I pulled the plug on TV 3 years ago and get news from the 'Net and at the time had quit watching FOX because of their endless car chases & Aruba. But from what I hear, anything islamic is not cast in an unfavorable light, reports of terrorist attacks anywhere are toned down, and strong conservatives such as Steve Emerson are now rarely seen/heard on FOX. BORe is on every eve ad nauseum. Yes, Beck is crazy--but has a big following --I used to listen to his radio show but no more.
During WWII, the FBI worked undercover finding Nazi spies/agents/disruptors, plus plain old homegrown nazi-symps & agitators, and they arrested them & they went to prison for the duration or duration +. Some were just shot. Anyone spouting propaganda was only tolerated for so long (like Father Coughlin)
Like a billboard for a whoorehouse.
“Didn;t know Rev Moon founded it....but he wasn’t a terrorist or part of a worldwide enemy sworn to kill or convert the “infidels”.”
Good point. I’ll quote anyone who might offer a glimmer of truth. As I understand it, Murdoch’s been saying that he’s going to offer more truth to the muslims out there, that it’s a ‘give and take’ arrangement to help bring peace.
Regardless, it’s good that people keep a mistrustful eye on news sources.
Regardless: in God we trust, buyer beware, trust but verify.
You go, man. We don’t want to get blindsided.
FRegards ....
I find myself watching Fox less and less. This bears watching, especially how often they have critics of Islam on. Wonder if Steve Emerson has been appearing often lately?
But Fox had a big boost after the 2008 elections and the leftist takeover of Congress and the WH. They’re still riding that tide, so it’d take a while for this sort of negative to affect their ratings much.
Before entering his Murdoch association, Alwaleed gave a remarkably candid interview in 2002 about what Arab News described as his belief that “Arabs should focus more on penetrating U.S. public opinion as a means to influencing decision-making” rather than boycotting U.S. products, an idea of the moment.
The Arab News reported: “Arab countries can influence U.S. decision-making ‘if they unite through economic interests, not political,’ (Alwaleed) stressed. ‘We have to be logical and understand that the U.S. administration is subject to U.S. public opinion. We (Arabs) are not so active in this sphere (public opinion). And to bring the decision-maker on your side, you not only have to be active inside the U.S. Congress or the administration but also inside U.S. society.’”
And active inside U.S. society living rooms — even better. Alwaleed would seem to have hit on a Fox strategy some time after Rudy Giuliani refused to accept, on behalf of a 9/11-shattered New York City, his $10 million check-cum-lecture that essentially justified the al-Qaida attacks as having been a response to U.S. foreign policy.
This was “such an egregious, outrageous, unfair offense that I would have nothing to do with his money either,” Sean Hannity said at the time on Fox News’ “Hannity & Colmes,” his remarks (and those of other Fox personalities) recently re-examined by the left-wing group Media Matters. “This is a bad guy,” Hannity said. “Rudy was right to decline the money.” Bill Sammon called Alwaleed’s check “blood money,” adding, “we’re better off without it.”
How terribly ironic that this same “bad guy” is now a News Corp. blood-money bags, a boss who must be handled with care as, for example, Fox host Neil Cavuto did in a deferential interview with Alwaleed last month.
How does this influence Fox News coverage? It’s impossible to say. Alwaleed has bragged that it only took a phone call to ensure that Fox coverage of Muslim rioting in France not be described as “Muslim” rioting in France, a boast News Corp. has never denied. This week, security analyst Joseph Trento, in light of recent negotiations between Alwaleed and Murdoch, mused online whether his own recent interview on “Fox & Friends” didn’t appear in Fox’s online video cache because he had told host Steve Ducey that “Saudi Arabian money was still financing al-Qaida.” The doubt itself is damaging.
Meanwhile, spokesmen for terrorism-linked and Alwaleed-endowed CAIR still appear on Fox shows, for example, while Dave Gaubatz and Paul Sperry, likely Fox guests as conservative authors of the sleeper-hit book “Muslim Mafia” (an expose of CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood), get zero airtime. The more important question becomes: How does Alwaleed’s stake in News Corp. affect what Fox News doesn’t cover?
If they don’t report, we can’t decide. This, for a sharia prince, could be worth millions.
A limited government must have citizens with a healthy dose of suspicion. Blind trust is dangerous.
We had this topic a fews weeks ago:
“Islamophobes’ unwelcome at Fox News”
“Today, I’m not invited at Fox News. Neither is Robert Spencer or Brigitte Gabriel,” he laments. “But Ibrahim Hooper is invited to speak at Fox News. It used to be that experts on terrorism who are critical of the Islamic views [were] able to get a voice on Fox News. Those days are gone,” said Walid Shoebat.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2453165/posts
I guess time will tell if this is the case now.
“..As I understand it, Murdochs been saying that hes going to offer more truth to the muslims out there, that its a give and take arrangement to help bring peace..”
Peace, always peace......Neville Chamberlain & his “peace in our time”. Thank God for that cigar-smokin’ Winnie guy.
The stock is publicly traded - why don’t conservatives buy shares in News Corp and start making noise?
Anyone know the dif between the NWS and NWSA tickers?
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