Posted on 06/09/2004 7:51:51 AM PDT by kattracks
Journalists who bashed and trashed Ronald Reagan during the 1980s are biting their tongues this week amidst the outpouring of love and affection towards the GOP icon from a grateful nation.But the cease fire won't last long, judging by the comments of major network new anchors Dan Rather, Tom Brokaw and Peter Jennings yesterday.
Rather told the Philadelphia Inquirer the week-long commemoration of Reagan's life was journalistic overkill and hinted that he was anxious to return to stories he thought were more important, like the Abu Ghraib prison scandal.
"Even though everybody is respectful and wants to pay homage to the president, life does go on," he groused. "There is other news, like the reality of Iraq. It got very short shrift this weekend."
The CBS newsman blamed "herd journalism" for the media's fixation on Reagan.
NBC's Tom Brokaw suggested that the media's current presentation of the Reagan legacy was far too positive, noting, that while he "was a beloved American leader . . . at the same time our journalistic obligation is to put his whole life and his political career in context."
He told the Inquirer that a single day's worth of tribute to Reagan would have been enough. After that, it was time to examine "scandals" like "Iran-contra [and] his failure to recognize early on the AIDS epidemic."
ABC's Peter Jennings concurred, telling the Inquirer, "If we waited for the president to be buried before doing a critical analysis, the world would move on quite a bit."
Washington Post media critic Howard Kurtz seemed to agree that the focus on Reagan was too much, noting during an online chat on Tuesday, "Nixon got two or three days of very heavy coverage, but nothing like this weeklong, nonstop extravaganza."
"If you were too young to remember Reagan and just tuned in since Saturday," he contended, "you'd have very little idea that he was a controversial figure with legions of detractors as well as admirers."
Longtime Reagan watcher and Post reporter Lou Cannon said Reagan critics could look forward to new ammunition to use against their nemesis.
In a separate online chat, Cannon said that still-sealed documents on Reagan's presidency will be released in the coming years, noting, "and what is revealed in these documents may again change our opinions."
Peter who ?
Discussion thread here:
"Kerry: Indecent Exposure at Reagan Library" EDITORIAL CARTOON.
That would be great. I watch Fox 11 every morning, and have for years. I switched over because I couldn't stand watching pompous, liberal jackasses first thing in the morning. I also tune into their 10pm news broadcast. Rarely do I watch anything on the other channels.
I would definitely watch an early evening news hour on that station.
Six o'clock locally for an hour(half hours which are really 20 minutes do not justify all the world news needed to cover) with Brit Hume would bury the competition!
"you'd have very little idea that he was a controversial figure with legions of detractors as well as admirers."
What a pant load. The man was elected, and reelected by a landslide. The American people loved him. The libs like to fantasize Bubba could have won a third term. Not. Reagan if his health held up could have won a third term in a walk.
His detractors were a minority of whacko politicians, so called journalists, and big government commie types.
The aforementioned people know this. That is why they hate him so. HAHAHAHAHA
I think Brit Hume would do a great job. 6pm would work for me. Those Simpsons reruns are getting old.
And these networks were talking 24/7 over the OJ, Kobie, Lacie stories, and all of the rest of this dribble.
You know, I wonder how the masses will react when they can go back to "real" news and they start up with the prison thing again. I think people (at least out here in "real america") are getting tired of hearing about it over and over and over and over...... Perhaps they will revolt from the lib news media and all they represent at the voting booth this fall!! A girl can dream, can't she??
Krauthammer, as usual, had a great observation last night on Hume's show.
"Iran Contra is a footnote, nothing more. To say otherwise is akin to saying "Franklin Delano Roosevelt, President of the United States, known for interning Japanese Americans....oh and btw, won World War Two...."
The Iran Contra affair was correct in principal, wrong on the tactical. The fact the Contra's won the elections that resulted shows this beyond doubt.
Unless, of course, you are a fool or a Democrat.....(grin)
Agreed re the gasbags...Brokejaw, Blather and deJournos all have one thing (at least) in common with the hot air generators in Hollywierd...they all spew what they're told to in their scripts, but somewhere along the road, they somehow got the notion that they were thinking for themselves, that they have some idea what's going on in the real world. They are like a computer...perhaps capable of some fancy output, but there is no original content. They have to be programed, and it's GIGO (garbage In, Garbage Out). And the closest a computer (or talking-head/spin-meister) can come to self-awareness or original thought is artificial intelligence. Come to thinke of it, if any computer kept going off on tangents like these bozos, it would be unplugged.
What an idiot. Check out the lines of people moron.
MAn, does that p- me off! The guy isn`t even buried yet, not even his memorial service has started and this scum mutt wants to get back to bashing Iraq and that Aru Gharib BS.
Actually, Clinton's legacy is abused cigars, abused women and mysterious deaths. If anyone's guilty over the WTC, it's nonfeasance; Clinton's culpability is for malfeasance.
We despise these thugs....
[B]"...his failure to recognize early on the AIDS epidemic."[/B] Yep, that was Ronnie's fault all the way. Rampant promiscuity coupled with unprotected sex is certainly not to blame.
Wait. During the Clinton years, I thought the monta was "what 2 people do behind closed doors is their business", as well as "Republicans just want to spy on people in their bedrooms". Reagan followed this and he gets critized?
Peggy Noonan was right earlier this week. She said the MSM would not make it through the week without going off their meds over Ronald Reagan! It must be killing them that 110,000 "common, regular folk" Californians came in dignity and respect for one of the two great Presidents of the 20th Century. Get ready for the insanity period as the action now moves to Washington, DC. They can't help it! They will go nuts with Reagan hate, and the American people will see the low life for what they really are! I was getting worried about America, but I now clearly see the American people get it! John Kerry and his Democrat "traitor" Party are toast!
Great cartoon - hahaha.
Speaking of cartoonists - Hannity and Colmes went after Ted Rall last nite - here is a partial bit of transcript which Fox says is "edited for clarity" - I saw it and Hannity really lit into the guy on national television using words I have never heard before - it was pretty creative....
Political Cartoonist Ted Rall Condemns Reagan Legacy
http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,122264,00.html
...as conservatives we should expect this onslaught of Reagan and the comeback of America that he was responsible for.
It is time NOW, to start preparing and researching to quell the soft pine arguments of our heaven leftist friends. There will be a great debate on Reagan's legacy and we need to do some work and keep our powder dry.
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