Where’s the Outrage? (Newsweek Hit Piece - Mega Barf/Punch Hole In Wall Alert)

Newsweek ^ | 12/21/2005 | Arlene Getz

[TCats]

Dec. 21, 2005 - Back in the 1980s, when I was living in Johannesburg and reporting on apartheid South Africa, a white neighbor proffered a tasteless confession. She was "quite relieved," she told me, that new media restrictions prohibited our reporting on government repression. No matter that Pretoria was detaining tens of thousands of people without real evidence of wrongdoing. No matter that many of them, including children, were being tortured—sometimes to death. No matter that government hit squads were killing political opponents. No matter that police were shooting into crowds of black civilians protesting against their disenfranchisement. "It's so nice," confided my neighbor, "not to open the papers and read all that bad news."

I thought about that neighbor this week, as reports dribbled out about President George W. Bush's sanctioning of warrantless eavesdropping on American conversations.

[Texas Eagle]

What's a Newsweek?

[Nateman]

There is an unintended irony in this hit piece. The MSM clamored for years against South Africa. Once they achieved their "victory" over Apartheid they ignored the socialist hell that South Africa has become (which they were responsible for in no small way).

[Brad from Tennessee]

Call me a paranoid but I believe these waves of media and political negativism are coordinated. These events happened repeatedly leading up to the 2004 election. Remember that Mary Mapes was in contact with Kerry's campaign headquarters as she rushed the fabricated Bush guard story on to the air. Every major paper ran a version of the document story before it was exposed as a fraud. Many never retracted it. In this latest case you have a New York Times reporter, who is getting ready to sell a book on the subject, drop a manufactured news bomb the day after the successful Iraqi elections. Immediately the rest of the media picks up the chant along with the left wing of Congress. I have never heard such a racket over what will turn out to be a non-story. But it distracts the masses from the administration's achievements. The dilemma is that the watchdogs are the ones rooting through the chicken house. I'd like to see the e-mails that travel back and forth in just one hour between the New York Times, Newsweek and congressional offices.

[TCats]

Just because they are conspiring with each other doesn't mean you are not paranoid! :-)

You hit it right on the head IMO. That means we're probably both paranoid but right. (AKA as Skeptics or Cynics)

[digger48]

You're not being paranoid. You're being realistic.

[DenverCossack]

Hey! Arlene is looking for an Intern. I think should could use some pointers.

INTERNSHIP, NEWSWEEK.COM. Newsweek.com is seeking a reporter/researcher for a paid editorial internship from Jan. 1 through June 1. Open to graduates as well as those still completing their degrees, the internship involves writing stories for the newsmagazine's daily Web site and assisting others with their research and reporting. In the job, you would also edit stories, write captions and produce a weekly letters column. Strong technical skills are not a requirement for this position, but applicants must have a proven ability to write (at least five substantial clips) and must be comfortable with breaking-news assignments, telephone reporting and Internet research. Editorial management experience at a campus newspaper or magazine is a plus. Work week runs Tuesday through Saturday. To apply, please email Arlene.Getz@Newsweek.com or send a resume to: Arlene Getz, Newsweek.com, 251 W. 57th St., New York, NY 10024. (Updated Nov. 15)

[roses of sharon]

I actually think this sounds juvenile and ridicules.

It reads like a High School essay.

[TCats]

I didn't say it was good prose. It will play well in Lib Land though - They aren't too critical of anything anti-Admin/American. :-)

[agincourt1415]

Liberal Media still in search of a news story that will help destroy the Bush Administration.

Lewinski, was OK.

Foster in Fort Marcy was OK.

Bombing a pill factory in Sudan was OK.

Kosovo was OK.

Missle Tech to Chinese was OK.

[Just Lori]

I am so looking forward to the day when these "journalists" are completely irrelevant.

[lowbridge]

Just who is Arlene Getz anyway?

Doing a google search on her name is an eye opener. She's pretty much a liberal activist masquerading as a journalist. Another Mary Mapes, if you will.

Her choice of sources for her reports is somewhat revealing:

NEWSWEEK's Arlene Getz spoke to Asia expert Radha Kumar, a senior fellow in peace and conflict studies at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, about the latest developments in the region.

NEWSWEEK’s Arlene Getz spoke to Warren Bass, a senior fellow specializing in US foreign policy and Middle East studies at the Council on Foreign Relations

NEWSWEEK’s Arlene Getz spoke to Rachel Bronson, director of Middle East Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations

[lowbridge]

Hey, Newsweek. Aren't your circulation numbers low enough?

[BattleBoar]

Saying that Bush is tapping "American" conversations is something that I keep hearing from the MSM, but it is entirely misleading.

First of all these conversations are NOT being intercepted on American soil. They are being tapped by varios stations OUTSIDE of the United States, hence why it falls under "Gathering of Foreign Intellegence" as outlined in the executive power to employ electronic wiretaps without a warrant.

Secondly, just because a conversation is initiated from or received within the US, that does NOT mean that there is an honest, law-abiding AMERICAN citizen on either end of the phone.

Thirdly, The wiretaps being employed were initiated for a reason. The government believes the people being tapped are enemies of this country, not John Q. Public having an afternoon chat with Mom.

Honestly, if you have monitored 20 calls initiated from somewhere within Syria to various parts of the world, does it make sence to disconnect on the 21st because it happens to be to a number in Newark, NJ?

It just bothers me that the image being portrayed is not reality. I know, I know, and I do know better, but it never ceases to amaze or disgust me.

[Brad from Tennessee]

Thanks for the e-mail address. I sent the following a moment ago:

Savannah TN 12-21

Dear Ms. Getz:

The farther Newsweek descends in readership,
advertising and editorial quality, the weirder the
writers are that show up in its fading offices.

I don't want to hurt your feelings but the piece
comparing Botha's South Africa with Bush's America
came off like something written after a night spent
drinking hard liquor and sucking on a crack pipe.

I generally don't agree with anything in Newsweek.
Jonathan Alter has turned into an hysterical old
woman. Or, more rightly, a male Helen Thomas. Yet it
saddens me to see this once great institution on its
last legs. But you are proving it doesn't have to go
out in a whimper. It can go out with a shrieking,
twisted, delusional scream.

Brad (last name)

___________________________

[agincourt1415]

If I were the President, I would go before a special session of Congress and say this:

Tonight I am here to tell you point blank.

If you call overseas to other countries, we will scan your calls for keys words. If you call certain counties we'll listen to that call and record it.

Its for the protection of the nation, END OF STORY.

If you want us to stop PASS A LAW and stop it.

If you Pass the Law to stop it, and another Airplane hits or another Terrorist act happens on US soil, its on your HEADs.

[sydbas]

Doing a google search on her name is an eye opener.

Wow thanks for doing that, really. That's more work than I would have done on her but I really appreciate the info.

[TCats]

I sent the following to Newsweek on their site;

Just a note to tell you that, after readng the article drawing the comparison between NSA call monitoring and Apartheid South Africa, authored by Arlene Getz, I have solemnly committed myself to never, ever buying or reading your 'News' offerings again. And, contrary to your assumption that I am some Neanderthal Neocon, I am not. I AM a discerning reader and this story was just so much tripe. For shame.

I know it won't make a difference but I feel better for having done it.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

BTW, does anyone know exactly how many individuals were actually listened in on? I've heard as few as 28. Is this accurate?

That was just one call on a party line. We are doing such a good job of shutting off the money the A-rabs are having to economize. :-)

[Mears]

When Newsweek finally dies do you think they will call it "Transition"?

[Lancey Howard]

As people wander into their dentist's offices over the next few months and perhaps carelessly grab this issue of Newsweak off the rack, they will likely glance past this story and skip to the celebrity gossip and entertainment news. Then their names will be called by the dental assistants and the magazines will go back on the rack and be completely forgotten.

I wouldn't worry abouut anything Newsweak prints. Zero impact.

Regards,
LH