The Mechanical Voices of the MSM

Special to Free Republic ^ | 20 November, 2004 | John Armor (Congressman Billybob)

[Congressman Billybob]

Like Confederate General Jubal T. Early, I make occasional raids into Washington, D.C. The raid this week included a visit with some of my children and grandchildren, meeting Judge Robert Bork, and assorted other pleasures. But the most telling moment of the trip came in a deserted corridor of Reagan National Airport on Sunday morning. Then and there I understood the mechanical voices of the MSM (Mainstream Media).

It was a politico-religious experience, a secular epiphany, if you will.

I took a wrong turn and wound up in an empty hallway. There were moving walkways on both sides, but they were out of service and marked off with orange cones. Still, every five seconds a female mechanical voice said urgently, “Caution! Moving walkways are ending!”

In that moment I suddenly understood a talk show I’d seen an hour before, starring Chris Matthews, Andrew Sullivan and Sam Donaldson, among others. (I’m not picking on these gentlemen. Most other talking heads – with or without bad hairpieces – would have filled the bill.)

I realized there is no significant difference between these “live” talkers on the MSM, and that disembodied voice in that empty airport hallway. Before the election the MSM thought the Democrats might win. After the election, when the Republicans had won, the underlying message did not change. In thousands of words the talking heads of the MSM are repeating, ad nauseam, the same seven word message. It is:

“Caution! Republicans are bad! Democrats are good!”

Try this experiment for yourselves. Pick any talking head show. Choose any MSM print outlet; the New York Times will do nicely, thank you. Take whatever apparent story they’re talking about, and boil it down like Vermont maple syrup in the fall. When you reduce the story to its essence, beneath the level of the apparent facts of the day, see whether any political story in the MSM has any core message other than the “Caution!...”?

Bias is usually subtle. Pay attention to the verbs. I read a story right after the election on the thousands of state legislative races. The article consistently referred to seats “won” by Democrats, but seats “claimed” by Republicans. Is it any surprise that the reporters writing that were primarily Democrats? Or, pay attention to the adjectives. Others have researched to a fare-thee-well the respective use of “left-wing” and “right-wing.” Republicans often get the second label; Democrats seldom get the first one.

Are there more right-wingers than left-wingers in American politics? Check out the websites of the Congressional Black Caucus, or of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, or of almost any union (but especially the National Education Association). See if you conclude that the left wing is alive and well. Its label disappears because the MSM reporters don’t perceive the left as being “left-wing.”

When the MSM had a monopoly, facts they chose not to report simply did not exist. The monopoly has ended. Facts get reported in the alternative media. The MSM no longer controls the agenda; it can only embarrass itself by pretending that it still does.

TV requires, of course, more than just words. There has to be something to point a camera at, the apparently live and sentient pundits sitting in their chairs. But is that any more than window dressing? Does that make the content of the political shows any more substantial than that mechanical voice in the airport?

The MSM are dying by degrees in the quarterly Arbitron reports on audience shares. The MSM are dying because they insist on producing vacuous bias in their political coverage. This task will be unsettling, but I recommend it. Read the MSM, listen to them, watch them with more care than they think “dumb” Americans can bring to the task. See if you reach the same conclusion, that you’re hearing repetitive, mechanical voices from the MSM.

When the voices are clearly mechanical, they may be annoying but they seem less threatening. The true menace comes from voices which present the illusion of being real. Think of Dan Rather, Peter Jennings, Tom Brokaw, and the Hal 9000. Don’t the first three need the same cure as Hal got in the movie, 2001? Don’t they need to be deprogrammed, back to a time before they learned to lie, or worse, learned to believe their own lies?

Don’t they all need to go back to Urbana, Illinois, in 1992? Shouldn’t they all be asked to sing us a song before they fall silent? “Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer true ....”

[Congressman Billybob]

Two people on this thread have already given you the source. You seem to have a reading problem, as well as a difficulty in "playing well with others."

BB

[JehngisKahn]

BTW, your "authoritative" citation above, for which you did not give a link: Monocacy National Battlefield

This is the site of the July 9, 1864 battle that has been dubbed, `The Battle that saved Washington`. Confederate General Jubal T. Early defeated Union forces commanded by Brig. General Lew Wallace. Wallace's troops delayed Early, which enabled Union forces to marshal a successful defense of Washington, D.C.

You tell them they're wrong."

Seems to be a lift from Epinions, which I hope you realize is not quite an authority on such matters, since it was written by some lay person as a lark--as are their other epinions. LoL

http://www.epinions.com/park-Parks-All-MD-Monocacy_National_Battlefield I hope that isn't the basis of your "authority" in this matter. LOL.

Join Epinions | Help | Sign In

Advanced Search

Home > Sports & Outdoors > Parks

	Monocacy National Battlefield
	Overall rating:  This product has not yet been reviewed.   Write a Review	Compare Prices   View Details   No Reviews
		Subscribe to reviews on this product

View Details

Nearest City	Frederick, MD
Phone	301-662-3515
More Information
In a battle here July 9, 1864, Confederate General Jubal T. Early defeated Union forces commanded by Brig. General Lew Wallace. Wallace's troops delayed Early, however, enabling Union forces to marshal a successful defense of Washington, D.C.
Return to top

Help | Member Center | Message Boards | Privacy Statement | Site Index  
About Epinions | Careers | Contact Epinions | Merchant Center | New Merchants | Advertising  

Epinions | DealTime USA | DealTime UK | PriceTool | shopping.com

© 1999-2004 Epinions, Inc. Trademark Notice

Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources,
so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.

[JehngisKahn]

"You should confirm all information before relying on it."

Good advice from Epinions. LOL

[ForGod'sSake]

A terrific read. Thanks for the ping FBD. Mark Twain had insights that have withstood the test of time, eh? One of my favorites, particularly as it relates to the media:

A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.

FGS

[JLO]

You so funny!

Kerry wannabe!
===
For the record I've been following FR since 1997.

Catch a clue.

---

LMFAO!!!

[JehngisKahn]

"Since the official site of Early's battle with Wallace uses "T" as the middle initial, that's a legitimate use. Got it?"

The closest thing to an official site would be the Federal Government Park Service's site--since they own the land. And it was from thence I got the autobiography link"

http://www.nps.gov/mono/mo_jubal.htm

Let the record that you failed to provide a link for either of your false claims--and have tried instead to attack me personally.

[MeekOneGOP]

¿¿¿¿¿¿

[MeekOneGOP]

We shall see. I think probably so, thanks. :^)

[JLO]

Wanker, no doubt since removed.

Best to you - JLO

[JehngisKahn]

Funny isn't it. And before 1997 I was on the Prodigy Whitewater board--with a stop at a.c-e.w. before. I remember this sight when only JimRob and Bob Schmidt used to post articles.

And let me tell you, in the early days--even before there was registration, and for quite sometime after, you had to actually deal with the statements rather than jump up and down shouting "unclean!"

Many thought that showing registration date would be used by people with no other arguments. And it has been turned off before in the past because it is abused that way.

There aren't many of the old guard around anymore. And posts like yours are part of the problem I suspect.

[JLO]

Ya right! JehngisKahn ala Kwrry. FOAD.

[JehngisKahn]

"Ya right! JehngisKahn ala Kwrry. FOAD."

What a retort!

Anyway, be sure to ping me when BB provides a citation for his two claims.

Thanks! LOL

[ForGod'sSake]

Havin' fun hoss?

And posts like yours are part of the problem I suspect.

Personally, I dont' think your posts concerning what is at most a side note in an otherwise excellent piece adds anything to the overall ambiance here.

Do you actually have any thoughts regarding his primary topic?

FGS

[JoJo Gunn]

It's been lurking since '97.

Now that impresses me above all else.

[MEG33]

I get the connection now..Jubal A...Jubilation

You will find your posting experience more pleasant if you disagree without being so disagreeable.

One can be right without being pretentious.The word liar is particularly loathsome..mistaken is better..I believe.

[JehngisKahn]

"Do you actually have any thoughts regarding his primary topic?"

Do you mean the author's insight that the mainstream media is biased in favor of the Dem/Libs?

Yeah, you coulda knocked me over with a feather!

[JLO]

Well, I'm guessing you are someone I may know. 1986 was a good deal of great guys! I won't say names - hope you crossed over.

[JehngisKahn]

"It's been lurking since '97."

Who said "lurking"?

And it's considered polite to ping the person you're mocking I believe.

[George Smiley]

Brings to mind my favourite Ralph Waldo Emerson witticism:

The more he spoke of honour, the faster we counted the spoons.

[ForGod'sSake]

Do you mean the author's insight that the mainstream media is biased in favor of the Dem/Libs?

Just an observation, but if your manners don't improve, I don't think you're gonna be around long. FWIW.

That said, you did in fact miss the point. Now I'd be happy to go over it with you if you'd like...

FGS