C-SPAN's Really Shovelling The Kool-Aid This Morning

[KharmaTrain]

Washington Journal is turning into a real stovepipe of talking points and misinformation.

The highlight was the appearance of a reporter for the "New York Sun" who all but ran every Plame lie and distortion as well as the Iraq war lies (Iraq = Al Queda, Saddam had WMDs) and so on. Against him, they had a female black reporter for a small Urban radio network. A nice lady, and probably a very fine reporter, but she was way over her head trying to keep up with this one-man right wing spin factory.

Seemed like there were a lot of pro booosh callers, again...many trashing the Wilsons as being the cause of the current scandal. The memes that Valerie wasn't a NOC and sent Joe to Niger were right there as well. Democrat callers were sparse and limited in challenging the New York sun dude. Several had foreign accents and one appeared more interested in talking about Palestine.

I'm sure there had to be some DU'ers or others out there who were trying to crash the lines to challenge the lies but it seemed the screeners couldn't find one. Maybe most sane people had tuned out...the bs was piling up fast and deep.

Seems C=SPAN likes to spotlight "papers" like the "New York Sun" and the Washington Times...as well as always finding an article that shows some Democrat in trouble or weak. It seems C-SPAN used to keep their conservative leanings on a low boil...but not any longer.

[ThomWV]

1. Lamb Has To Go

Its Brian Lamb, the founder of C-Span, who seems to be the root of the problem.

[KharmaTrain]

2. The Boss Fires The Boss?

Brian gets his big paycheck from the large cable conglomerates who use C-SPAN to shield themselves from charges they aren't "serving the public interest" whenever they try to ram through another dereg package.

I give the guy credit...he came up with this idea, sold it to the government and cable companies and then turned it into his own media empire. He's on the A-list on the drinkie-drinkie party circuit and keeps his corporate masters very happy. Look at how much C-SPAN shills for those companies.

For years, I didn't mind Brian's little Fascist Friday lovefest. Or the regular parading of AEI and Heritage Institute propagandists...because he'd bring on a Joe Connason or Molly Ivins or Tom Oliphant. I can't remember the last time I saw a progressive guest of this calibre on that show.

[Skwmom]

12. But he had Coulter on when he was the host.

Of course now he preaches about too much political animosity and everyone just getting along.

[DemonFighterLives]

3. You forgot Clinton

These dang bush/war lovers are :crazy: They can't seem to find anything wrong with dubco.

[SammyWinstonJack]

6. Even while they are being taken to the cleaners along with the rest

of us. I don't get it? :banghead: They would have fried Clinton for even half the crap bushco has gotten away with. I know they're big time HYPOCRITES but sheesh!

[spanone]

4. It doesn't matter WHAT PEOPLE THINK. It's all about the Grand Jury.

So let them talk till they're blue in the face.

[LoKnLoD]

5. I know I was watching it too

I wanted to call and tell that Bush apologist to STFU. Mr Talking Points. Then I had to laugh when all the Pro Shrub callers were complaining that C-Span is becoming too liberal.

[KharmaTrain]

8. Connie Has This Pained Look...LOL

I've always counted on this show to be where the first GOOP talking points of the day come out. I swear they must have a direct line from the office pool or water cooler at the RNC into the C-SPAN control room...making sure the daily talking points get out.

From there it goes to hate radio where it's Rushed and Hannitized so that by evening a rumor or lie has gone to "fact". I can't tell you how many times I've seen this go on.

Peace...

[Starbucks Anarchist]

7. I have a question.

I recall several WJ shows where only Republicans can call in. Did they ever do something like that for Dems, particularly in the last five years?

[KharmaTrain]

10. Yes They Have...Rarely

Maybe someone can remember a recent one...but it's usually a "how bad did you beat your wife" type question.

[LoKnLoD]

11. Must have been

an abundance of southern accents from all the callers that day.

[kevinmc]

9. Yeh, I had to turn it off. n/t

[iamahaingttta]

13. Here in New York...

... The Sun is generally considered to be a joke. It's a piece of crap. I've never actually seen anybody reading it. I worked at an ad agency for a while, and we would pick up a copy occasionally to laugh at it. The writing stinks and the opinions are those of pimply-faced teen-age boys. I met a guy who works there, as a computer supprt person, and he was just just about the dumbest techie I've ever known. The Sun has no influence in it's home town.

[KharmaTrain]

14. Wanna Bet It's A Repugnican Front?

Another Talon News...a "newspaper" that is really a propaganda operation intent on stovepipping bogus stories and spreading misinformation and lies and duing so under a "legitimate" name.

I've seen C-SPAN use these people in the past and by doing so gives it a credibility that far outweighs its size. Very misleading.

[LibDemAlways]

15. Washington Journal hosts quote from

rags like the NY Sun and WA Times with a straight face. They parade a bunch of chimp ass lickers on to spin repuke talking points, take calls from a steady stream of far-gone wingnuts, and then pretend to be hearing both sides as they mysteriously lose calls on the "line for Democrats" or screen the callers on the Democratic line to allow plenty who are tongue-tied and can't get a coherent message out or start out by saying, "I'm a Democrat but I support President Bush." It's all crap and a waste of time.

[donsu]

16. yes, Lake's lies were not refuted, as he blathered and rambled

and I have a suggestion for April Ryan

don't let the bully boys take your mic time! makes you look weak. fight back!

[SpaceCatMeetsMars]

17. Wasn't it April Ryan that asked Bush some softball religious question

that got a lot of attention a couple of years ago? She must be some kind of mole or plant herself.

[SpaceCatMeetsMars]

18. Yes, to answer my own question. Here it is:

"The president followed a script of names in choosing which reporters could ask him a question, and he received generally friendly questioning." "Generally friendly questioning" is an understatement if there ever was one. Take this offering by April Ryan of the American Urban Radio Networks:

"Mr. President, as the nation is at odds over war, with many organizations like the Congressional Black Caucus pushing for continued diplomacy through the UN, how is your faith guiding you?"

Great. In Bush’s first press conference since his decision to support a rollback of affirmative action, the first black reporter to get a crack at him–and this is what she comes up with? The journalistic equivalent of "Mr. President, you look great today. What’s your secret?"

Newspapers across North America scrambled to roll the highlight tape of Bush knocking Ryan’s question out of the park. The Boston Globe: "As Bush stood calmly at the presidential lectern, tears welled in his eyes when he was asked how his faith was guiding him…" The Globe and Mail: "With tears welling in his eyes, Mr. Bush said he prayed daily that war can be averted…"

http://www.nypress.com/16/11/news&columns/cage.cfm

[KharmaTrain]

19. Excellent Catch!

I remember that softball being lobbed...and now reminds me of how Ms. Ryan said how she admired Condi-liar Rice and appeared very slow to have any command of any of the bare basic facts that were scanty at best.

I wouldn't be surprised if she was a plant...looking weak and "democratic" while Lake, the wingnut, could roll her all over the place and, with the complicity of the host, spew the lies and distortions without any challenge. Shamefull.

[DemonFighterLives]

22. I was wondering if that was the same gal

Maybe it was another Press conference, but didn't she ask dubby if "we should pray for you"?
She didn't hold up well to the wingnut from hell, but maybe that was her game.

[SoCalDem]

20. April is a tool

She's the token black person he always goes to in a pinch..She's happy to be called upon ion TV, so she "knows" what kinds of questions to ask..

[Tomee450]

21. April has admitted

that she got into a lot of trouble with African Americans for using her time to ask such a soft ball question. They contacted her employer asking that she be fired. If I recall correctly, she said it took her a while to get over the hostile reaction.