Posted on 07/03/2006 4:41:06 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
by Mark Finkelstein
July 3, 2006
Readers of these columns might have noticed that I occasionally include at the foot the fact that I live in 'the liberal haven of Ithaca, NY.' To give you a flavor for what I'm talking about, consider the today's op-ed page in my hometown daily, the Ithaca Journal. The Journal is a Gannett newspaper. That's the chain [lead by USA Today] that, as I've documented, allows to edit the news someone who believes calling VP Cheney 'Satan' makes for the best commencement speech ever.
Back to this morning's Journal. There are two op-eds, by current or former area residents, and two letters to the editor. Let's have a look. First, an op-ed defending Iran's right to acquire nuclear weapons and accusing the United States of 'terrorism'.
Excerpts: "Given that Iran has been demonized by the U.S. for 25+ years . . . can we not understand why it wants to defend itself?" The piece goes on to allege: "The immoral reliance on militarism has fueled the U.S. Empire and terrorism since WW II." By the way, the author, John Marciano, is a professor emeritus at nearby SUNY Cortland.
On the eve of July 4th, the Journal chose this 'patriotic piece' as its other op-ed of the day: "Mourn, Don't Celebrate, this Independence Day." Excerpt really unnecessary, but, just for the record, the column:
Claims the Bush administration is "attacking the Constitution."
Compares "Bush's rule" to that of a "dictator."
Analogizes the USA of today to the rise of [can you guess?] . . . Hitler.
Encourages people to carry flags upside down in July 4th parades.
The two letters to the editor are in the same vein. The first, entitled "We're Not Stupid, W" accuses Republicans in general and W in particular of "cheap political tactics" in a "feeble attempt to mask the impotence of himself and the Republican party."
The other letter accuses Bush of lying with statistics over the gay marriage debate, somehow associates the president with people holding vulgar signs at the funerals of soldiers killed in Iraq, and ends by claiming the president is engaging in "cheap political exploitation."
See what I mean?
Finkelstein lives in the liberal haven of Ithaca, NY, where he hosts the award-winning public-access TV show 'Right Angle.' Contact him at mark@gunhill.net
Ithaca Journal/NewsBusters liberal-op-ed page ping.
Good Grief..How do you bear it??!
You know the answer: 'liberal' doses of Prilosec ;-)
How sad. It sounds like your part of America has become a kook magnet.
I can't imagine what takes for these people with these beliefs to be delivered of the agony they must feel going to sleep and waking up every morning in the USA. Except I pray for the sake of the rest of us that their "relief" never comes through the ballot box.
HAPPY 4th of July, friend!
What are the people like that live there?
What are their reactions to this insanity?
Thansk, sl!
Ithaca is a college town - home to the very liberal Cornell university, where the government department has one Republican out of 20+ profs, and the equally liberal Ithaca College, where the politics department has . . . zero Republicans. So sadly, the majority of people like what they read. The surrounding rural areas are more traditional, but Ithaca sets the tone for the county.
Thank you for your thoughtful comments.
To illustrate this absurdity I watched a liberal, that I know, start flipping off a boat that was decked out in patriotic colors, and displaying a sign that read, "We support our troops and President Bush", last night at a 4th of July boat parade.
This unbridled hatred of this country is stunning to me.
These people are idiots.
These leftists consider it ok to talk about Satan but forbid mention of Jesus...and then they wonder why they don't resonate well with evangelicals. They've made their choice between God and Satan...and they've chosen foolishly.
Here's a link to the column by Dave Rossie, in which he writes that calling Cheney 'Satan' made for the best commencement speech ever. You could write it off as so much liberal hyperbole, except Rossie's day job is editing the 'news' for one of the Gannett papers.
http://newsbusters.org/node/6081
It's obvious the left is off it's hinges and just can't help themselves to show their true light.
The left will drive American lovers away in droves!
;)
It is interesting that among the eyewitnesses to the terrorist hijacked aircraft flying into the Pentagon on 9-11 .... were so many employees of Gannet (USA Today) traveling on the adjacent highway enroute to their jobs as journalists, editors and publishers. None of them as far as I know, has ever even stood up against the kook fringe 9-11 revisionists.
Mark is to be commended.
My only criticism it that these people must not be referred to as liberal or as liberals. This is newspeak. There is nothing liberal about them.
Many are freaking hypocrites.
They enjoy a capitalist lifestyle, drive their gas-guzzling cars, and refuse to practice what they preach.
To me too. We must make sure these people get plenty of coverage. Their message speaks for itself. Give them plenty of opportunities to get it out and reveal themselves for what they are.
This unbridled hatred of the United States is all-pervasive of the Left, the "Mainstream Newsmedia", and the Democrat Party. The American people need to know it and to see it clearly.
just about any area of the united states with a decent sized public or private university is a prime target to become a kook magnet, if it isn't already. I live within 50 miles of 3 public universities here in kentucky, and all the locals in those towns are nutty.
Its more than just his part of the country. At least 25 - 30% of the US population feels the same way as Ithaca. These people (and they are ALL over the country) are so filled with Bush-hatred that they have become unhinged. They can be found in every state and in every city acoss the country.
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