[conservatism_IS_compassion]

I know this is like regretting the passing of the dinosaurs (i.e., they ain't coming back) but it wouldn't be such a depressing prospect if we at least had some media outlets that would do their jobs.

Ah, but what is "their job?"

• Part of their job is to say that giving us "the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth" is the job they do.

• And part of their job is to report enough of the truth to keep people believing.

• But the real job of journalist is to promote journalism. They don't just promote their own newspaper, they promote the institution of journalism generally.
  • They promote journalism by claiming that journalism is objective, which is pretty much the same thing as claiming that journalism is wise.

  • They promote journalism negatively, by attacking the reputations of everyone who undertakes to do anything important.

  • And they promote journalism by promoting anyone else who promotes criticism of the productive, the exemplars of humility, and the valiant. Which is why they call such people "progressives" or "liberals."

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1780597/posts?page=105#105

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

If you wonder how it came to be generally acknowledged "fact," accepted by all men of good will, that Joe McCarthy was a monster, that Alger Hiss was innocent, that mankind is causing global warming and that we're losing the war in Iraq, try watching the rewriting of history nightly on MSNBC. Don't forget to bring your time machine.

Well put, as always. She has the libs nailed --- don't we all?? They are too easy now.

For many FReepers, yes - but by no means all. You still see FReepers taking for granted that Edward R. Murrow was the straight shooter he claimed (and was acclaimed by all of journalism, not just CBS News) to be. And yet he was leading the pack on putting the hit on the reputation of Joe McCarthy. Who, as Ann so ably pointed out in Treason, was far from being the ruthless demagogue portrayed by "objective" journalism. If I say, "McCarthy was a reasonable man" you recoil - because you have been conditioned to head for the tall grass when his name is mentioned.

The claim that McCarthy was a dangerous demagogue is of a piece with the claim that the US is forced to accept defeat in Iraq because we have lost, not 50,000 men as in Vietnam but 3000 - including accidents. We lose far more people to auto accidents in a year - but no one seriously suggests banning the automobile. Absurdities are accepted as unassailable facts if they are repeated often enough and not disputed vigorously. And when I say "vigorously," I mean as in "suing the socks off of someone."

Yellowcake and yellow journalism (ann coulter)
World Net Daily ^ | February 7, 2007 | Ann Coulter

If you wonder how it came to be generally acknowledged "fact," accepted by all men of good will, that Joe McCarthy was a monster, that Alger Hiss was innocent, that mankind is causing global warming and that we're losing the war in Iraq, try watching the rewriting of history nightly on MSNBC. Don't forget to bring your time machine.

Well put, as always. She has the libs nailed --- don't we all?? They are too easy now.

For many FReepers, yes - but by no means all. You still see FReepers taking for granted that Edward R. Murrow was the straight shooter he claimed (and was acclaimed by all of journalism, not just CBS News) to be. And yet he was leading the pack on putting the hit on the reputation of Joe McCarthy. Who, as Ann so ably pointed out in Treason, was far from being the ruthless demagogue portrayed by "objective" journalism. If I say, "McCarthy was a reasonable man" you recoil - because you have been conditioned to head for the tall grass when his name is mentioned.

The claim that McCarthy was a dangerous demagogue is of a piece with the claim that the US is forced to accept defeat in Iraq because we have lost, not 50,000 men as in Vietnam but 3000 - including accidents. We lose far more people to auto accidents in a year - but no one seriously suggests banning the automobile. Absurdities are accepted as unassailable facts if they are repeated often enough and not disputed vigorously. And when I say "vigorously," I mean as in "suing the socks off of someone."

Yellowcake and yellow journalism (ann coulter)
World Net Daily ^ | February 7, 2007 | Ann Coulter