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A New Era of Credibility
Tax Relief ^ | September 17, 2004 | Tax Relief

Posted on 09/17/2004 4:27:35 AM PDT by TaxRelief

The conservative web group, FReerepublic.com, in its quest for "truth in media", may have accidentally stumbled across the means for unseating the leftists' obsession with "tolerance".

For over a year now, Freerepublic.com bloggers (Freepers) have been publically challenging the "factual information" disseminated in news stories published by the main stream media (MSM). The website's members have picked apart undocumented statistics; they've delved into the partisan semantics of questions on political polls; they've "FReeped" online polls to prove the uselessness of easily manipulated data; they've exposed sub-groups of radical activist organizations like "PETA", which pose as research "think tanks" and "responsible physicians"; they've bombarded news stations with phone calls and emails when the reporting is blatantly one-sided or even false; and finally, as this summer draws to a close, they have begun to publically object to lazy and biased newscasting.

As the analytical members of the conservative website FReerepublic.com have relentlessly challenged the credibility of the MSM, they have also simultaneously proven a theory that our forefathers discussed as they authored the first ten Amendments to the US Constitution; the Freedom of the Press has to be absolute, not just because truth is critical for sustaining a democracy in an otherwise Socialist world, but because truth itself cannot be ordered or legislated; it is the process of discourse, debate and disagreement that leads to true enlightenment.

However, as history has shown numerous times in the past, when "enlightenment" rears it's shining head, "darkness" goes on the defensive. Clearly, the crowd that seeks the truth is in direct conflict with those that "believe" truth is subjective and personal.

In the early seventies, a movement that focused on "prejudice" and "intolerance"--catch words intended to stop random and cruel discrimination against people with different colored skins--ballooned into a social behavior fad that temporarily pushed aside conservative etiquette. As a result, an entire generation of young people has now been raised believing that the concept of "maintaining a good reputation" is a selfish ploy perpetuated by adults who seek to control the scope of their teenagers' sexual activity, that everyone has the right to choose his own moral framework, and that questioning another's reputation is the equivalent of discrimination based on ethnicity.

In the process of subverting social norms, the simple concepts of credibility, honesty and reputation were thrown out with the bath water. A few folks saw what was happening along the way; many had to go through their own life experiences to become aware of the problem, and some have only just figured it out. Regardless of what brought them to this point, conservatives are coming out of the closet in droves, and it seems they are not willing to just "sit back and take it" anymore.

This past week "FReepers" crossed a critical threshold in their war on liberalism. By exposing, Dan Rather, a long-time icon of the MSM, as a man who is, at best lazy and partisan, or at worst dishonest and partisan, they actually were successful in preventing a paparazzi attack on the White House.

The rumbling volcano finally erupted when Dan Rather of CBS news--apparently oblivious to the "New Media"--happily presented some weak, insupportable "evidence" that a sitting president had attempted to shirk his duty as an American by either (a) serving in the National Guard rather than the regular army, or (b) missing 3 months of his 6 years service in the National Guard.

Rather's "evidence" consisted of "testimony" from partisan hacks and misquoted experts, and copies of memos "signed by" a man who died years ago (thereby unseating the commonly accepted theory that "dead men can't tell tales").

A FReeper, "Buckhead", immediately challenged the authenticity of the memos. Within hours, CBS's self-satisfied smiles were wiped off their faces, by the analytical branch of the "New Media".

This may well have been an historical moment; the MSM had probably never been diverted from its modus operandi of accuse-and-attack so successfully in the past. The MSM understandably was stunned to discover that the "seekers of truth" had reached a critical-enough mass to subvert "Plan A", the accuse-and-attack mission plan that had withstood the test of time; and to squash "Plan B": blame "intolerance" for anything that goes wrong. For forty years, the MSM had misused the concept of "tolerance" to cover-up its inadequacy, its laziness and the many, many errors made in haste, all because of a desire to get credit for "breaking the story".

Unfortunately for the MSM--but fortunately for America--FReepers and other rightwing bloggers are calling for a New Era of Credibility. Rightwingers are relying on the age-old premise that each individual is only as good as his honor and his ability to seekout and relay the truth (rather than the leftist theory that each man is only as good as his college degree--whether earned or gifted). The conservative bloggers harken back to the biblically-sound theory that a reputation once damaged is rarely ever recovered.

There may be no greater service that FReerepublic.com can do for the American people than to continue their mission to expose the MSM's poor journalistic practices (like quoting and enshrining of "unnamed sources"; the use of un-authenticated documents; the poor selection of interviewees; personal relationships between editors and partisan hacks; the backroom cover-up games and the rampant plagiarism of blogs and other reporter's articles). Perhaps they will even bring about the demise of the monopolistic mainstream media altogether.

Liberals may have attempted to destroy the value of a good reputation by telling kids not to "judge" others and to be "tolerant", but those same leftists did not eradicate the quest for truth well enough to prevent a powerful force from re-emerging and continuing on with the mission to conquer social misbehavior.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; US: North Carolina
KEYWORDS: freepersinpajamas; lyingmedia; medialies; napalminthemorning; pajamadeen; pajamapeople; rathergate
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To: blackie

Yep as old vets of the Klamath Sucker Fish wars, the enviral fires of Oregon wars and other wars, we have been there.

Freepers do make a difference!


161 posted on 09/17/2004 10:14:01 AM PDT by Grampa Dave (When will the ABCNNBC BS lunatic libs stop lying to Americans? Answer: NEVER!)
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To: Bigun

I totally agree, Bigun. How are you, btw?


162 posted on 09/17/2004 10:14:27 AM PDT by MistyCA
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To: timberlandko
"We must never forget, however, that winning an egagement, or even a campaign, is not winning the war. The only way to carry the issue is to maintain the momentum of victory, press the attack, take the fight to the enemy, direct the battle, and force the opponent's moves. It is not time to gloat, it is time to push back all the harder.

Right you are!

Sixteen years ago, Dan Rather tried attacking Bush 41, who immediately put the smackdown on him. Today, Dan Rather tries to not only get even for that but to throw a national election, by viciously attacking the man's son with smears and forged memos. Now Dan Rather is getting the WH smackdown treatment again.

Here is a...

List Of CBS Sponsors

Here is a...

Map Of CBS Radio Affiliates

Click on a region and the list appears. Some of these stations, eg. 2 in Houston, are already cutting the airing of CBS news, demanding that CBS come clean. Type the stations call letters and frequency, eg. "610 KFRC", into google and you will know if the station has an online presence. They will probably be even more receptive to your complaint if they broadcast online. Be especially attentive to stations in your local area. Email, phone, fax, write, and call in to talk shows. If you have time and inclination, you could even contact the stations sponsors directly as well.


Here is a...

List Of CBS TV Affiliates

Both domestic and foreign. Do the same google search as for radio affiliates and then contact them.

Let's not let Rather and CBS off the hook!



163 posted on 09/17/2004 10:15:04 AM PDT by Bonaparte (and guess who sighs his lullabies, to nights that never end...)
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To: meyer

I have a feeling a lot of people will adopt it! :)


164 posted on 09/17/2004 10:15:09 AM PDT by MistyCA
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To: TaxRelief

Wow. BUMP for Free Republic.
Bookmarked.


165 posted on 09/17/2004 10:21:55 AM PDT by Lancey Howard
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To: MistyCA

I've passed it on to some friends, which I rarely do.


166 posted on 09/17/2004 10:21:58 AM PDT by capydick ("Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism." --George Washington)
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To: MistyCA

True, plus you can actually comment on and debate news and issues here, while in the old media all you can do is read or listen to some talking head.


167 posted on 09/17/2004 10:23:38 AM PDT by Wolfstar (Silence in the face of atrocity is complicity. Vote GWB 11/2/04 for 9/11/01 & the Russian kids.)
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To: MistyCA
Oh I'm FINE and getting better by the minute!

I have been waiting for this for a LONG time as YOU well know!

168 posted on 09/17/2004 10:23:41 AM PDT by Bigun (IRSsucks@getridof it.com)
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To: TaxRelief

I love the article, but I must've missed something. What is the source?


169 posted on 09/17/2004 10:24:13 AM PDT by P8riot (A gun is just a substitute for a penis, so when attacked by a mugger one should pull out a..........)
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To: TaxRelief

Very well thought out and composed article.

Considering the shoe string Thomas Paine started out with, Freedom of the Press now applies most truely to the pajama brigade.


170 posted on 09/17/2004 10:25:10 AM PDT by TASMANIANRED (What did Kerry know and when did he know it?)
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To: MistyCA

ping. The truth finally comes out.


171 posted on 09/17/2004 10:28:08 AM PDT by ableChair
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To: Rightly Biased; TaxRelief

The New Media - reporting for duty!

There are so many doing such a good job right now - but let us press on to the prize ahead...


172 posted on 09/17/2004 10:28:53 AM PDT by dandelion (http://johnkerryquestionfairy.blogspot.com/)
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To: TaxRelief

Great article. The MSM is dying and they knoe it but are too arrogant to acknowledge why.


173 posted on 09/17/2004 10:29:18 AM PDT by Blood of Tyrants (God is not a Republican. But Satan is definitely a Democrat.)
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To: Diogenesis

Can you out a little red book in their hands, too?


174 posted on 09/17/2004 10:30:04 AM PDT by Blood of Tyrants (God is not a Republican. But Satan is definitely a Democrat.)
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To: MistyCA
Thanks again for the *ping*, Misty. Here's a *ping* for you! It's long, but VERY informative.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1189418/posts

175 posted on 09/17/2004 10:30:18 AM PDT by Marie (Diversity is useless unless it is the result of the pursuit of excellence ~ Quinn)
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To: Grampa Dave
Roger that ~ Dave!

We are winning ~ the bad guys are losing ~ trolls, terrorists, democrats and the mainstream media are sad ~ very sad!

~~ Bush/Cheney 2004 ~~

176 posted on 09/17/2004 10:31:08 AM PDT by blackie (Be Well~Be Armed~Be Safe~Molon Labe!)
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To: Grampa Dave

"Free Republic: Daily Exposing the lies of the Old Media"?


177 posted on 09/17/2004 10:31:17 AM PDT by Robert A Cook PE (I can only donate monthly, but Kerry's ABBCNNBCBS continue to lie every day!)
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To: TaxRelief; MistyCA
Outstanding! Thanks for the Ping, Misty.

(Changing tag line)

178 posted on 09/17/2004 10:39:13 AM PDT by rightwingreligiousfanatic (Member: Vast Right Wing Pajamasphere ("powerful and well financed"))
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To: Arrowhead1952; TaxRelief; PhilDragoo; Liz; onyx; nicmarlo; Happy2BMe; potlatch; devolve; MEG33; ...

Dubya: FreeRepublic.com IS the "Best site on the 'Net!"


179 posted on 09/17/2004 10:44:06 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP (There is only one GOOD 'RAT: one that has been voted OUT of POWER !! Straight ticket GOP!)
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To: borisbob69

Marsmmm... ggl! Blotch'a!!


180 posted on 09/17/2004 10:50:50 AM PDT by paulklenk (FOUR MORE WARS!)
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