I'm starting to reconsider some things

[Bok_Tukalo]

I have always felt that the mainstream media, from CBS to Fox (who is more up front about it) to Time to the Washington Post, were essentially bulliten boards for the Ruling Class; the propaganda arm for the Corporate State which has the Bush Regime, and Republican legislative leadership not to mention the cowed Democratic leadership (up till now, anyway), as its political front.

But this Gannon thing is so (pardon the expression) bush league. It's second rate and not NEAR the level of sophistication that you would expect from a multi-national machine like a G.E. or a Disney.

I think Rove is free lancing and should leave the propaganda to the professionals.

[Freedom_from_Chains]

1. Yeah I don't get what all the preoccupation with this Gannon thing is

At best he sounds like a bit player.

[agitpropagent9]

2. it's red meat

for those that enjoy the intoxication of schadenfreude and it's got sex, lies and videotape. it's just a fun story to run with.

i would submit that folks step carefully through this maze, however, because there can be consequences for both sides.

for instance, the illegitamcy of talon news, and the uproar about that, may severely hamper access for members of the new media, bloggers or whatever, for years to come.

if "those internet whack-jobs" becomes the prevailing attitude, it only serves to stain and marginalize all indy media/political blogs. then we're back to the mainstream media filtering reality for us exclusively.

anyway, just some thoughts.

[Freedom_from_Chains]

3. And some interesting thoughts they are.

But your right, if its got sex lies, and hopefully drugs you can bet its going to be talked about. I just try to pay more attention to the bigger players as they are the ones that are likely to get us blown up.

[bozeman]

5. The story touches a nerve

cuz it gets right to the heart of right wing hypocrisy.

We always knew there was something strange about all the military fetishism in the right wing - now we know where it comes from.

[htuttle]

4. So was Eugene Hasenfus

[liberal43110]

7. The "preoccupation" is with the wrong part of the story

The salacious details about the gay porn and threats to his family are getting the attention, and the picture of him in his underwear is great fodder for laughs and jokes. But he is a likely connection of CRIMINAL activity from the WH in the Plame affair. That is what we should be preoccupied with.

The sex jokes are funny--and the hypocrisy with Republicans and homosexuality is huge--but some of the strongest CRIMINAL connections are with Plame.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

6. These days leave me longing for a simpler, more innocent time,

the days of good wholesome TV shows... like Leave it to Beaver, there was that one time when June said to the father, "Ward, Don't you think you were a little rough on the Beaver last night?"

I guess it was just a warmup for the Superbowl halftime extravaganza of today....

[Freedom_from_Chains]

10. ROTFLMAO

Yeah being a little rough on the beaver, those where the days.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

13. Ahhhhh, someone got it.... I can sleep well tonight!! EOM

[Freedom_from_Chains]

14. Nite, Nite

[HysteryDiagnosis]

15. Zzzzzz..... Zzzzzzz..... Zzzzzzzz...... a graphic you might like....

[Freedom_from_Chains]

16. Too cool!

[K-W]

8. Thats because the mainstream media isnt a conspricy.

And could never be a conspiricy.

It is riddled with corruption, it is not a conspiricy.

Thats the trick, most people in the media dont think they are doing anything wrong.

[Freedom_from_Chains]

12. And could never be a conspiricy.

As most so-called conspiracies are not conspiracies at all, they are like you say corruption. But the idea of a conspiracy sells so well because, well it gives people something to believe in and be indignant about.

Unfortunately life just isn't that simple most of the time.

(Give us dirty laundry)

[amazona]

9. well I have a pretty good idea why it's bush league

It's human nature for corrupt politicians to provide cushy jobs and special favors to their spouses, cronies, lovers, mistresses, etc. I'm sure Mr. Gannon played his military fantasy wrestling games with the right man and was rewarded with a status he didn't deserve. THis is why it appears bush league -- because it was a small personal corruption rather than the huge wholesale control of the news on Fox News or in the Washington Times.

I agree that whoever gave Gannon a press pass should be reminded of the ancient wisdom: Never shit where you eat.

But even Poppy had a girlfriend placed in an official job, who managed to have an auto accident while on government business. That too was bush league. We shouldn't be surprised that small corruptions travel along with larger ones.

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[Freedom_from_Chains]

11. even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country

That's bad news for George Mitchell. :)