Posted on 11/07/2008 6:04:58 AM PST by 6SJ7
According to some media observers, interim “Meet the Press” host Tom Brokaw has been showcasing – reluctantly, as he clearly covets a return to network news - candidates for the late Tim Russert's media chair. Witness the endless panels of NBC news correspondents every Sunday.
Who's next? Are we really ready for blabber-wocky Chris Matthews - maybe even sports-hack turned petulant pol-wonk Keith Olbermann? Can any of the contenders for Russert's job be a new beacon for integrity and objectivity at NBC News?
In this same vein, recall the recent suggestions by Democratic senators Clinton, Boxer and Feinstein that - because market-driven talk radio has evolved (strangely, on it's own) to be so overwhelmingly conservative - we should return to an FCC-enforced fairness rule for "balance" in electronic media.
And Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has given her strong support for the revival of the Fairness Doctrine, which was abandoned during the Reagan Administration.
Regardless of how these mini-media dramas turn out, I have come up with an idea that will virtually guarantee TV news impartiality. And, there will be no need for new "fairness" rules - or even for NBC news to try and convince us that they are impartial.
Here's what inspired me: When you see Senator Windbag on “Meet the Press” or some other talking head show from Washington, you know that the senator is a Republican or a Democrat because of that little "D" or "R", on the bottom of the screen.
So, you're not surprised to hear the Democrats criticizing the Republicans, and vice – versa - in fact, you expect it. However, you also understand Senator Windbag's subtler point of view on other issues – just by that one letter.
Now, hold on to your hats, because when the networks adopt my idea, we will no longer care about the bias or point of view in what their anchors, reporters, correspondents or commentators say. And liberals will rejoice because conservatives will have to stop complaining about the so-called "liberal bias in media".
My proposal:
Let's have the FCC require that the networks designate their news people with either a "D" or a little "R". Some examples: "Katie Couric (D-CBS)", Wolf Blitzer "D-CNN", "Keith Olbermann (D-MSNBC), "Chris Mathhews (D-MSNBC), Bill Moyers and Gwen Ifful (D-PBS) and yes, Joe Scarborough (R-MSNBC). Get the idea?
If FOX News is really "fair and balanced" - like they say they are - let's make them put a "D" or "R" under the person's picture as he/she talks. I want to know for sure if that feisty Irish guy on the "No Spin Zone" is a Democrat or a Republican – and not, as he alleges, an "independent."
A caveat: I'm afraid if we let FOX use an "I", then all the networks would want to use it and we would end up exactly where we are now. So, to keep the system brutally honest – absolutely no "I's" would be permitted. After all, that's what they all say they are now.
Also helpful would be short bits of bio information, like: "Stephanopoulos (D-ABC) was Bill Clinton's press secretary", "Buchanan (R-MSNBC) ran for president three times, was a speech Writer for Richard Nixon, and communications director for Reagan," "Matthews (D-MSNBC) was press secretary for former House Speaker Tip O'Neil (D-MA)" and "Mark Shields (D-PBS) worked on several Democratic presidential campaigns".
NBC must already be concerned about its liberal political image because they hired this guy Chuck Todd as their so-called "Political Director" [an odd title – as if they are somehow in need of "political direction"].
And, NBC lists him as having "practical political experience in national campaigns" – however, and a really big surprise here - this turns out to be the 1991 presidential campaign of super-lefty Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA).
But none of this would matter with my proposal: They would simply caption Political Director Todd as "D-NBC" - right along with the jabbering Matthews and sulking Olbermann.
Is this a neat idea, or what? Perhaps the only real question now is who will have the courage to do it voluntarily, as I have here:
Daniel Gallington was a liberal "D" in the 60's - now, he's more of a conservative "R" with some definite libertarian leanings.
Too early for constructive ideas. You are dreaming. Save that for 2010. Heres mine:
Cheer up gloomy freepers. All that pre-election doomsday talk about crazy stuff like ‘Fairness Doctrine ’, ‘get rid of 401Ks’, ‘prosecute Bush”. I dream that they would be stupid enough to try a bunch of crazy liberal stuff . They won two elections by playing careful, now we need to go to democratic websites and encourage the Cindy Sheenan’s to challenge their leadership to go Chavis LOL.
A “Fairness Doctrine” Act that targets talk radio would be un-constitutional as:
1) An infringement of the 1st Amendment. But even if they found a countervailing public interest to require equal time then:
2) An arbirtrary and capricious application of the law so as to discriminate against who is protected. This violates the “equal protection” clause, as do the “hate crime” laws.
No, but they'll fit great in the Obama controlled media.............
IMPEACH OBAMA!
So what happens if the reporter claims to be independent?
That is so silly. Impeach Obama before he takes office. Did you notice how careful Pelosi was the past two years even while dems were bugging her to impeach Bush? We need to encourage them to do crazy stuff, you want to lose another election? jeeze
I like this idea:
June 18, 2008
Meet the Press: John Stossel is the Man for the Job
http://www.tableofwisdom.com
Reading John Friedman’s column today at marketwatch.com - regarding potential replacements for the late Tim Russert of Meet the Press, I
I agree with what seems to be the common consensus about Chris Matthews not being the right choice to replace the late Tim Russert.
I used to enjoy watching Matthews during the time of the Clinton impeachment but since then, he has become more blatantly partisan than ever. His syndicated Sunday morning show is like an infomercial and he doesn’t even bother to put one token conservative on his liberal think-tank he calls a “panel”. I also think his skills are diminishing as he no longer makes an effort to modulate his voice. His nightly show is like one hour of incessant screaming with a few commercials in between to break the monotony. If they were going to consider Matthews the job, they might as well also consider Billy Mays, pitchman for Oxy-Clean, Mighty Putty and the Samurai Shark knife sharpener. At least Billy Mays is much more affable and has arguably brought something useful to our lives.
John Stossel would be an interesting choice. As a well known Libertarian, I believe he would clearly be the most objective of any choice thus far propounded.
He is a “no holds barred” type of journalist. He would not shy away from confronting ANY politician, liberal or conservative. No matter what your political affiliation might be, you will sometimes love him and sometimes despise him but at least he wouldn’t be a partisan activist like the other choices.
Stossel doesn’t come from a “talking head” background but he does know government and is bright enough to transition into the role. He’s a Princeton grad, professional journalist and has 19 Emmy awards to his credit.
It is time to think out of the box and remove the recycled, usual suspects from consideration. The executives of GE/NBC have a fiduciary responsibility to shareholders to pick the best person for the job and not to use this network as a tool for their own personal political agenda. Their boss is not the DNC. It is time to make these people accountable to their bosses, the SHAREHOLDERS. If they want to put their own personal political agenda ahead of profitability, especially in times like these, than the DNC needs to start a private equity firm and take the company PRIVATE.
Would that be 2010 the space odyssey?
I think the one thing we can do is start working on taking out the leftists.
Notice michael moor laid low, he is still a person we can hurt ecconomicly.
but first, we take out Oprah the racist. No amount of coaching from Dr. Phil can save her.
On the other hand, talk radio could institute a fairness doctrine of their own.
Get a co-anchor who is a liberal. One as dumb, poorly spoken and ignorant as the average liberal and use them and their wacky ideas as a poltical punching bag!
You know, somebody with an I.Q. just a little above Larry King’s.
White people don’t have rights. The government gives rights (inalienable? self-evident?) and the governments job is to protect and take care of minorities, women, non-Christians, and non-heterosexuals.
We have a chance now to win and have fun doing it again. Cheer up.
Get the momentum started early so that by the time his undeserving ass is sitting in the oval office there will be a full fledged movement ready to remove him from office the day after we inevitably get hit by the muzzies again.
We need to encourage them to do crazy stuff, you want to lose another election? jeeze
Have you lost your mind? The 'crazy stuff' will be irreversible.
These people will alter the Constitution and elections will be a third worldesque formality.
IMPEACH OBAMA!
I agree, pipe dream. But it’s good that people are focusing. And oh yeah, would they go ahead and dive right in and push people around and say this is how it’s gonna be. They’ll find out soon enough what Americans are or they aren’t.
Arm up people, buy as many guns while you still can. And don’t forget to buy more bullets. All you blue state consevatives, move to a red state if you can. Let’s win in 2010 and take back the peoples house, that is if we are allowed to still have any fair elections by and still have a country that hasn’t been blown up by our enemies within or outside.
Are you nuts? (no offense) They just won everything and they have the media Do you have three wishes? Why didnt you use one Tuesday?
Look, if we do this right and Obama worshipers get discouraged then the public will turn on MSNBC and Oprah by about mid next year automatically. We want Oprah and Mathhews to have to defend the undefendable like we had to. Lets not screw this up with silly stuff. Pelosi kept her Moonbats in line.
I know you upset but calm down please!
All that pre-election doomsday talk about crazy stuff like ‘Fairness Doctrine ’, ‘get rid of 401Ks’, ‘prosecute Bush”. I dream that they would be stupid enough to try a bunch of crazy liberal stuff . They won two elections by playing careful keeping Moonbats chained up like Sheenan, now we need to go to democratic websites and encourage the Cindy Sheenan’s to challenge their leadership to go Chavis LOL.
What's to say the FCC’s agenda wouldn't be to paint “I” commentators as “R” so that anything in the middle would get called ‘right wing’ and only the loony lefties got “I” by their names?
HOw about a fairness doctorine for our tax dollars first.
not at all we can do exactly what I suggest by doing what you suggest.
Keep them exposed, hold their feet to the fire.
KEEP OBAMA’s socialist ties in the front as much as possible.
In the end it will be like the “smear letter” the senate signed to attack rush.
One humble radio host humiliated all those senators.
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