Posted on 03/22/2006 7:36:58 AM PST by rightinthemiddle
By TERENCE HUNT
WASHINGTON (AP) President Bush said Tuesday that American forces will remain in Iraq for years and it will be up to a future president to decide when to bring them all home. But defying critics and plunging polls, he declared, "I'm optimistic we'll succeed. If not, I'd pull our troops out."
(Excerpt) Read more at adelphia.net ...
Yup...he said no timetable answers. He's been consistent on that one.
Yes Mo there are consequences and they are getting their just desserts. Just takes a little time for it to show.
Even Cris Mathews is starting to report the downward spiral of the print media. They have tried to blame everything and everyone else for this decline but that bag of water has so many holes in it that admitting this reality is not far from becoming reality by these folks.
Gallup and CNN can claim what they want to but we understand why they are seperating.
As usual MO1 you hit a homerun with your post.
People, a huge development is quietly taking place that will redefine this debate in a matter of months, probably before the election.
US casualties are plummetting.
The March count is sharply lower than previous months. A month like this happened before in Feb 2004, but what is different now is there is a trend. US casualties have been sinking steadily since Oct 2005.
It is US casualties that matter. Not very much else. The Iraqis are taking over their own security and bleeding for themselves.
Bush is winning. The inevitable, inexorable reality is simply that. Bush is winning.
Here's a link for the numbers:
http://icasualties.org/oif/
I think that is one reason why the MSM hates Bush so much. They need not be the translaters for the American people like they were with Clinton. No need to read between the lines with W. He says what he means and then does what he says.
In some cases, fine. In lots of cases, it's black and white. There are objective standards. I watched the speech and then saw the headlines and reports, I don't care if you're the biggest Anti-Busher on earth, unless you have ) intellectual honesty, you can't tell me it's a matter of subjectivity. I have very very liberal friends and even they see through it and can admit it.
No matter what action you take or do not take, a section of people will be unhappy about it and will voice their opposition. This in and of itself is not a reason to take action or not to take action.
This is what RUMMY says and it mirrors what you said.
Both of you are right on the money!
Dead on! That's why I like C-Span, though I know it's fallen out of favor among some here and elsewhere. At least they provide raw data. Raw data is the key - transcripts, actual documents, full speeches, describing the sample and methodology when you poll, etc. Look, other professions have standards, excuse, REAL standards, and their are consequences. It's time the "news" evolved.
That is correct, IMO. However, if they represent the "mainstream" how can they be considered enemy #1?
Saying the are the MSM gives them the legitimacy to continue their propaganda. We need to decide if they are the MSM or the ENEMY and act accordingly.
IMO ..... They are the ENEMEDIA and there is nothing mainstream about them.
"How can American stand for that?"
Simple, they have no clue what's going on. Too busy, too self consumed, simply disinterested.
After years of hair loss and near heart attacks (exaggerating), I've changed gears. When I meet someone who's all negative and anti-bush and ranting about the economy, Iraq, etc. I don't counter attack anymore. Instead, I ask, what are you basing your opinion on, where do you get your information? How much/often do you follow these issues?
The nightly news, cnn.com, every now and again. Then I say, oh, ok, I understand why you feel that way now. It's not your fault. The looks I get are priceless. "What do you mean?" Hey, I've got a lot of free time on my hands (ok, poor time management/obsession) so I spend hours on this daily, therefore I have a broader view of these issues. If you went outside the box, you might form a different view. This generally peeks their interest and I can then supply some unknown facts, stats, and sources.
I use MSM just to identify the culprits...networks, metro newspapers, wire services, etc.
Lamestream Media.
Had a very similar conversation with an employee yesterday. He asked me if I was a Republican, and where did I get my news. I told him I watch and read everything, then go to FR for the truth!
Same thing I tell classmates. I tell them, I read the left leaning MSM then the right leaning MSM, then I go to sites like freerepublic and others for the untold truth.
The left lays out the allegations, the right responds, the "scandal" fizzles and we repeat the same nonsense over and over again. It's like a canned presentation, a template. It's gotten boring at this point.
"scandal errupts" "white house in shambles" "impeachment?"
Oh well, you know, yeah, there's some facts we sortta omitted and well ok, there are some other things you should know (confessed at 1AM), but, did you hear about the latest scandal? zzzzzz
Another good chart to look at. The site has tons of info available.
http://icasualties.org/oif/hnh.aspx
You are dead on it. I have been making the same points for a long time. The media has gone over the hill and will have to be restrained by the only thing they understand, public embarrasment and lost customers.
PresidentFelon
ROTFLMHO!!!!! Stop it! You're killing me. LOL!
It is a great honor to be in considered in that context. Thanks.
There has to be real consequences. Product liability if you will. And there has to be national standards. We need to establish criteria for reporting certain things (like polls) and to distinguish between entertainment (news mixed with editorializing) and the news (factual objective presentation). We need a real watchdog too. Again, besides teachers, (and my wife is one), I don't know of any other profession that gets the same free passes. [not an insult to the teacher out there, but the few trash teachers out there]
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