Don't Fear the Blog and the Fury

BusinessWeek online ^ | FEBRUARY 17, 2005 | Stephen Baker

[M. Thatcher]

Their latest victim: Eason Jordan, CNN's chief news executive. He resigned on Feb. 13 after conservative bloggers feasted on a controversial statement he made in late January at the annual World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland, about the U.S. military. His allegation -- that coalition soldiers in Iraq mistook journalists for enemies and killed them -- brought down a storm of criticism on him and his network.

[Congressman Billybob]

No. According to the reporting which occurred in the blogosphere, Eason Jordan claimed that the US soldiers had "targetted" 12 journalists, not "mistook them for enemies and killed them" as this reporter writes in his first graph.

It is long enough after the fact that anyone covering the story now SHOULD get it right. This reporter fails to do that. We STILL want to see the videotape of that session in Davos so there is NO doubt exactly what Jordan said.

Congressman Billybob

Latest column, Confessions of a "Salivating Moron"

[Tweaker]

I stand corrected katy,thanks.I picked up the wrong name.
Sincere apologies to you Thatcher, I'll be more careful from now on.

[conservativecorner]

They do hate the bloggers with a searing passion, but can you really blame them after we took down Rather and Jordan by holding them accountable for their words of untruth. Let them continue to think they can get away with calling opinion fact. It's a real be-ach when you have to back your claim. Just ask Mr. Rather and Mr. Jordan.

[JesseJane]

Just another FYI ping..

DB, you nailed it. The counter offensive has begun..

[G.Mason]

"His (Eason Jordan) allegation -- that coalition soldiers in Iraq mistook journalists for enemies and killed them -- brought down a storm of criticism on him and his network."

Stephen Baker is but one very small example of exactly why the internet is fast becoming the wooden stake in the heart of the MSM.

Like the Dimocrat Party, they cannot see, or hear the freight train coming and aren't aware they have camped out on the tracks.

I hear the train a 'comin ... It's 'comin down the tracks ...

[dirtboy]

If Thatcher is going to write a piece, he should get his heart right.

IMO the dilution of what Jordan said by this journalist was probably deliberate. Downplay what your guy did, make up charges and question the motives of the other side, and before you know it the article portrays Jordan in a sympathetic light.

[zygoat]

"Uh oh, sounds like a parody for DFU - Don't fear the blogger (Don't Fear the Reaper). :^)"

Don't fear the FReeper?

[dirtboy]

If Thatcher is going to write a piece, he should get his heart right.

IMO the dilution of what Jordan said by this journalist was probably deliberate. Downplay what your guy did, make up charges and question the motives of the other side, and before you know it the article portrays Jordan in a sympathetic light. Look at the use of adjectives - "conservative bloggers" - but no mention of Jordan's political sympathies. No mention that "liberal" Chris Dodd was aghast at what Jordan said. And no mention of Jordan kissing up with Saddam and downplaying Saddam's atrocities in order to maintain access for CNN in Iraq.

The irony is, this guy is probably receiving a sh**storm of email as we speak, detailing his every misstatement and omission. And he's probably deleting them all, except for the ones that call him names, to use in his next column about how uncivilized and rude all the bloggers are.

[Alia]

ROFL!!! The MSM doth protest tooo much, methinks. The real story is what was the conference really about. Frankly, I smell a rat over the "eason" comment, as well as Sens Dodds and Franks "suddenly" finding "patriotism" BUT (swoon) only after Gergen "put them on the spot". (upload cartoonish visuals of Patrick Henry: Give me liberty or give me death.) This is hootable. And smells of the standard Dem "redirect". I wonder who scripted this one.

Oh but yes... keep that focus on the eeevvvilll bloggers. Uh-huh.... And the MSM is trying to keep a straight face through all this, IMHO.

The bloggers did good work. I have no doubts they will continue to.

[JesseJane]

Don't fear the FReeper?


I LOVE IT.

[3AngelaD]

Precisely. I quit reading when I got to that, realizing the guy either doesn't know what he is talking about, or is being deliberately misleading.

[NavySEAL F-16]

I am going to write BW, as well as the author, asking for a correction to that "misleading" twist/characterization of what Eason said at Davos.

I agree with another poster that said they are just trying to "revise" what Eason said so that the sheeple won't know the truth.

[Cyber Liberty]

Let's give Mr. Baker some email to set him straight:

stephen_baker@businessweek.com

[TheForceOfOne]

All our times have come
Here but now they're gone
Seasons don't fear the FReeper
Nor do the wind the sun or the rain (we can be like they are)
Come on baby (don't fear the FReeper)
Baby take my hand (don't fear the FReeper)
We'll be able to fly (don't fear the FReeper)
Baby I'm your man
La-la-la-la-la la-la-la-la-la

lol

[JesseJane]

EXCELLENT!!

I'm going to have this song in my head all day now, and PROBABLY everytime I'm here!!


La-la-la-la-la la-la-la-la-la :)

[Oatka]

"Let's give Mr. Baker some email to set him straight: stephen_baker@businessweek.com "

I also cut and pasted my reply to him HERE just so others could see the criticism, even if only the editor.

[Enterprise]

"Uh oh, sounds like a parody for DFU - Don't fear the blogger (Don't Fear the Reaper). :^)"

Don't fear the FReeper?

EXCELLENT - This calls for a DFU ping!

[okie01]

Is there a way to ensure that the growing blogosphere embodies our highest ideals and not our worst fears? Jump in. The more people who add sensible voices to the ongoing debates, the less power the angry fringe will exert. Responsible bloggers on all sides should keep busier than ever policing other blogs, documenting untruths and exaggerations. The best way to gain a measure of control over this flood of information is to contribute to it.

Really didn't expect Business Week to be possessed of this much common sense.

Along with Peggy Noonan's in the WSJ, this is one of the few rational comments on the Jordan Affair to issue from the MSM.

[doug from upland]

Where were you? It was done July 2004 ---

MIDI - DON'T FEAR THE REAPER - scroll down to Blue Oyster Cult and choose 2nd version

'Cause November's near...there's things you should hear
You must listen to the FReepers...'cause they are always telling it true
(Hear the FReepers) Come on voters
(Please hear the FReepers) You'll know what you must do
(Listen to the FReepers) You can be a patriot
(Please hear the FReepers) We will count on you

Look at John F. Kerry...he is really scary

You'll hear Lifeguard Ted...Mary Jo is dead
The RATS want their power back...and they will do anything
(Listen to the FReepers) They'll hurt our country bad
(Listen to the FReepers) Disaster they are sure to bring
(Listen to the FReepers) And nothing to them has ever been out of bounds
(Listen to the FReepers) Come on voters
(Please hear the FReepers) You'll know what you must do
(Listen to the FReepers) Come be a patriot
(Please hear the FReepers) We are counting on you

'Cause November's near...what to do is clear

(musical break - forward to 3:24 if you like)

Watch what to believe...DemocRATS deceive
'Cause they simply want to grab power back...they'll do just about anything
While we're at war they'll hurt the country bad
Disaster they are guaranteed to bring
And nothing to them has ever been out of bounds
(Listen to FReepers) Come on voters
(Come listen to us) You know what you must do
(We've been sounding alarms so loud and clear) We are counting on you
(Listen to the FReepers) Do what you should do
Follow the FReepers!

[doug from upland]

Check No. 39. I pulled it from the archives.