Posted on 09/05/2005 5:40:25 PM PDT by ventana
I watched Fox News over the last few days. I don't have tv, as of recently, at my own home. Self-editing in order to get to all those books that never get read when TV is a click away. Daughter needs a break from the easy entertainment, too. Been there, done that before; and read a lot! But, anyway, I was on vacation at the Beach with TV, and glad for it.
The news had us riveted to the monitor. The chaos was cataclysmic. What was happening? Were welfare blacks going mad? Where was the Governor? Was the government ignoring the plight of those in New Orleans? Was Bush in touch? What was wrong with the Mayor of New Orleans? How many people were affected? What was happening, what were they going through, what could be done? This was what was going through our minds. And we wanted to know: who could we trust to get us the real story?
Amidst all this Shep was great. He was human in the way he put a human face on what we were watching. He was a journalist. He had class. He may be possibly responsible for actually moving the rescue mission forward by hours if not days. We felt his palapable anger and frustration as he stood on the bridge stating, then grumbling, then lamenting, then bewailing the lack of action. He was a voice in the abandonment. He spoke to us, for us, and , most importantly, for them. His impassioned pleas and description, his true balance in the face of two sided finger pointing--wherein he explained that there WAS bad behavior, but there WAS ALSO a lack of response to human need that, he hinted, insiniuated a note of complacency, a complacency that might not have charitable origins, got everyone's attention.
Shep did yeomans work. He continued to point out that Aid was promised and Aid was not arriving. He put a human face on a catastrophe.He allowed his emotions to work in front of the camera for the good of his fellow man, knowing, I believe, full well he was compromising his Journalistic position as a professional above the fray. He did it to save lives. He is a hero.
Shep Smith should win a Pulitzer, and I hope he does.
Surely you jest about the champion fool jester of all.
The fact that Roger Aisles seems to like to hire pretty boys is besides the fact of Shep's performance. Nevertheless, I like Roger and I like Shep. At least I know what I am getting. I really wish Peter Jennings and Tom Brokaw and Dan Rather had worn mascara! They certainly slathered on the pancake. Aren't they all just pretty boys, anyway? V's wife.
Then he should consider a career change.
Bill is seasoned..I respect him- in spite of his pretty boy looks. Just because he worked for CNN doesn't mean he's a lib...I remember many times hearing him try to calrify or balance the reporting over there.
Shep- I don't know what to say...mostly I was too distracted by HIM..he got in the way of his story. I felt he was extremely exploitive of the events he covered.
I don't dislike Shep as much as I used to.
His key stock in trade seems to be an ability to babble incessantly while covering live events.
Too bad
Shep didn't understand 3 things1. people in other parts of New Orleans,2. people in other parts of Louisianaand3. people in other SouthEastern statesalso needed help.
Put my vote in as hero.
We get all 'emotions are bad' sometimes. But emotions are what define a moment and the degree of horror being experienced. He was 'there' with the people, fighting for him. So yea, he dun good ;)
I'm curious to see what his position is on the subject.
I personally think he's OK for a reporter.
Yes, we do see it differently and I will continue to tell every one I see and everyone who will listen exactly what I think. It takes a lot to make me mad, but once I am, I don't forget. President Bush has enough on his plate without having to shoulder the blame that is being heaped on him by some shallow little newstwerp who can't contain his emotions in the middle of a crisis.
Bill Hemmer is one of my favorite reporters -- only guy I liked on CNN. He is articulate, gets right to the point, and doesn't get over emotional. My idea of a journalist.
If you think the way to report something is to take a position on a freeway and keep saying whassup doc, then he did a good job.
I'm not really the person to ask.
I did not see any of the coverage until Friday night. He has never been my favorite reporter, as my wife will attest, but he seemed to be doing an ok job-although he appeared to have been doing a lot of crying previous to coming on the air (to me, anyway).
v.
Not by choice, but I have found myself put into a position where "when in danger, when in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout" was the rule of the moment.
Almost in a panic and mind racing, I wanted to nail my foot down to the floor to keep from running away, but I had no choice in the matter, there was simply no one else to take control of a bad situation.
Only with G_D's help did I prevail, but I had to fight down every instinct to do otherwise.
Shep Smith always seemed to me to be able to detect BS during an interview. It does make me wonder, the way he seems (to me) to flirt with Deb Skinner.
Good post V's W! I try not to watch too much cable news, but I usually find SS interesting and entertaining. The immediacy of his "reporting" from NO was compelling.
What on earth would you do or say if you were standing there watching people with no food or water and babies either dying or near death and your truck is getting in and out, but no one else is even trying no matter how many times you say it on the air? You are watching people so close to death and so desperate for assistance and might not go into drama mode???????? c'mon........... lest ye not judge til you stood on that Interstate in his shoes or worse in their shoes... Shep had water.
Foolishness sticks to Shep like his wolly coat.
Foolishness sticks to Shep like his wolly coat.
Foolishness sticks to Shep like his wolly coat.
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