Interesting lessons in media manipulation:

[PCIntern]

This unfortunate crash of the Blue Angel jet pointed out some fascinating textbook aspects of the MSM which we've been noting for years here:

1. The first reports were greeted with some journalistic doubt, appropriately, I might add, since it had not been confirmed. However, and this is the big 'but', it was simply the first step in what was to follow.

2. When the existence of the large black cloud was announced, the MSM which I was watching, that is FOX and CNN went into direct prove-the-competence mode of the pilots. Full-blown propaganda machine went into full-steam-ahead mode instantly,noting the remarkable history of the Air Force PR team
(my words, not theirs). Rather than discuss the relative dangers of having these shows over civilians and civilian property, placing them at risk, we were treated to remarkable tales of the exploits of the pilots and the crews responsible for the planes.

3. Then the anomaly: cut to the weather lady on CNN, where she was asked if weather could have played a role in this possible crash. She was as surprised as anyone that she was stating that the weather was basically perfect for flying. Good thing there wasn't a cloud within 50 miles of the place.

4. Then the usual incompetence: the video of FIVE planes flying when the CNN announcer states, "You can see the six planes flying in formation." WTF? It was like Dan Rather's account of the head snap when he viewed the Zapruder film in Dealey Plaza, "forward and to the right" as Kennedy's head went back and to the left.

5. Repetition now for the next 48 hours.

[MADem]

1. AIR FORCE PR team??? Funny, since it was a NAVY aircraft that went down.

This formation sometimes looks, from a distance or from another angle, like only five a/c when it is in fact six--three, two, one:

[PCIntern]

2. It was the instant after the plane had gone down...

and they dispersed right away...and they kept saying Air Force until they were corrected.

[Obamarama]

3. It will be interesting to see how they can tie it into the VA Tech tragedy....

They'll no doubt try.

[maine_raptor]

4. Here's one point that seems to have been left out:

From what I can gather, the pilot steered his plane away from some houses. He stayed with the plane rather than eject.

That, to me, is the most important fact of the crash.

[TheMadMonk]

5. A background link would be nice.

For those of us who, for whatever reason, don't know what the hell you are talking about.