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FearTheReaper

FearTheReaper

NEWSWIRE

I'm lost

DEC 17, 2007 02:04 AM



For more than 30 years, publishing companies have been buying up local newspapers. The result is homogenized, shitty news that serves corporate interests and rarely asks questions of the idiots who run our federal government. Tomorrow, the FCC will make the situation a lot worse when they remove the rule that bars companies from buying radio and TV stations in the same town. Hopefully we can get the media down to just one source and rename the country Murdochistan.


Martin wants to lift the so-called cross-ownership ban in the top 20 U.S. markets and allow such combinations in smaller markets if the FCC determines that they would be in the public interest.


Who is Martin? Well, he is Republican. Shall I go on, or is that enough? Okay, Kevin Martin is also a member of the Bush cult.


Before joining the FCC, Martin was a Special Assistant to the President for Economic Policy. He served on the Bush-Cheney Transition Team and was Deputy General Counsel for the Bush campaign.


Most people expected this battle to be fought next year, after public hearings and debate. But those people forgot that the Bush administration is about destroying democracy, not participating in it. Two other Democrat FCC commissioners called for “long-pending reviews” to make sure that the media serves local communities and encourages ownership by women and minorities. The Republicans, however, want white guys to be richer and the population to be dumber and they want it to happen now.

Martin announced in October that he wanted to put these new rules in place and scheduled a couple of public hearings at the last minute. He gave the public a generous seven days notice. The hearings did not go well, especially the nine and ½ hour meeting in Seattle.



Take a moment to soak in how stereotypical Martin looks. Where the fuck do they find these angry, pasty white, little creeps? I’m starting to think they peel off of Karl Rove’s body, slither away to do their own damage to the country and will later return to the mother Rove, with which they will merge in time for The Rapture.

As far as the video, I can’t really disagree with the guy who said this:


Running this hearing with five days notice and then trying to jam media consolidation through by mid-December to me is damning evidence of the total abuse of the process itself that you're up to some kind of no-good. If this is a legitimate issue, then it deserves and demands a legitimate public process to determine the outcome. You ought to be ashamed of yourselves for not respecting the democracy you live in.


Or the Republican who said this:


I'm a Republican and I'm a capitalist, but some areas of our private sector must be regulated. Freedom of information is too important. We must be proactive in protecting that fundamental freedom.


Martin has presented three bullshit reasons why his new media rules must go through: Newspapers are in trouble financially, the rules would only affect 20 large markets and that the rules would ensure “competition, localism and diversity.”

The last one is obviously from the Karl Rove handbook called, “Say the exact opposite of what is true.” Also, newspapers average profit margin was 17% and a loophole could allow these rules to affect every market. So, Martin is a liar as well as an awful human being.

Adding to the deceit is Martin’s cooking of reports. Martin selects reports that favor his position and ignores those that differ, much like Bush did in the lead up to Iraq. How did that turn out? Martin even took an outside firms’ report as the truth over the FCC’s own internal report. He also neglected to inform his fellow Democratic FCC commissioners of his proposals until the very last minutes, tying thier hands.


McDowell and Adelstein complained that they did not receive the FCC's own data from Martin until the night before the meeting. Adelstein accused Martin of suppressing the information in an attempt "to cook the books."


Congress appears against this action, both Republicans and Democrats. They should punish Mr. Martin severely and it is easy to do. Pass a bill that prohibits any FCC commissioner from going to work for any media company for 10 years after leaving the FCC, because this fucker is a self serving douchebag who plans on getting rich after he puts these rules in place.

Our media is a joke, a national embarrassment. Feel free to call your Senator and House Representative to voice your displeasure. This is a very, very big deal.



Renshai

Renshai

Minneapolis, MN
February 2006

DEC 17, 2007 09:29 AM

Bush said this was his plan before he ran the first time, and has been slowly implementing all of this time. Now that he is running out of time, he is trying to push as much through as possible before he leaves office. He figures with everything else that is going on, no one will notice or care about an issue that a lot of people don't understand the implications or damage it will cause.

Coyotemike

Coyotemike

USA
May 2006

DEC 17, 2007 09:38 AM

It is good to see members of Congress from both sides of the aisle agreeing on something. It is good that the people are starting to stand up and say "No More!"

But it pisses me off to no end that it took THIS issue to start communication. Illegal war? Partisan fighting. Health care for kids? Partisan fighting. Torture and invasion of privacy? Partisan fighting. But fuck with TV and the two sides got nothin but lovin for each other.

This does back up one thing I often tell people: You want real news, watch PBS. There will be no stories about Paris Hilton there.

Zarth

zarth

Seattle, WA
December 2004

DEC 17, 2007 09:44 AM

coyotemike said:
This does back up one thing I often tell people: You want real news, watch PBS. There will be no stories about Paris Hilton there.


Which is why the Right has been going after PBS for years. After all, reality has a well-known liberal bias.

wildswan

wildswan

I'm lost
June 2006

DEC 17, 2007 09:47 AM

Zarth said:

coyotemike said:
This does back up one thing I often tell people: You want real news, watch PBS. There will be no stories about Paris Hilton there.


Which is why the Right has been going after PBS for years. After all, reality has a well-known liberal bias.



Let's not forget about moves made toward NPR. And they've gained some ground.

erratic_prophet

erratic_prophet

San Diego, CA
December 2006

DEC 17, 2007 09:47 AM

Thank you for covering this, more people need to be aware of this issue as it will affect everyone.

xfinitex

xfinitex

East Lansing, MI
August 2005

DEC 17, 2007 09:53 AM

I hadn't heard anything about this, but thanks for bringing it to my attention. Unfortunately, I'm probably going to spend the rest of the day mad, but its a good mad.

I'd like to say I can't believe this, but I can.

Colinism

Colinism

Atlanta, GA
July 2005

DEC 17, 2007 09:54 AM

Zarth said:

coyotemike said:
This does back up one thing I often tell people: You want real news, watch PBS. There will be no stories about Paris Hilton there.


Which is why the Right has been going after PBS for years. After all, reality has a well-known liberal bias.



Nice try, we all know that your so called "Reality" is a creation of the left in order to confuse people and take them away from Jesus love. Go back to hiding dinosaur bones in ancient rock deposits with your buddy lucifer.....

Colinism

Colinism

Atlanta, GA
July 2005

DEC 17, 2007 09:56 AM

Honestly I am surprised that the left news groups have not tried to consolidate themselves. Lets be honest here it would not be a bad idea to create a larger more powerful news group on the left. Or to campaign for the dissolving of the current more powerful news congomerates.

BDeyeD

BDeyeD

Toronto, ON
January 2007

DEC 17, 2007 09:56 AM

America : Do you really want the world's opinion of your country to go down even further? We look at your "news" and your programming, and we judge you as a people, just as you would do the same if you caught a glimpse of our media communications. Seriously. This isn't funny anymore. Stop this.

Zarth

zarth

Seattle, WA
December 2004

DEC 17, 2007 09:59 AM

Colinism said:

Zarth said:

coyotemike said:
This does back up one thing I often tell people: You want real news, watch PBS. There will be no stories about Paris Hilton there.


Which is why the Right has been going after PBS for years. After all, reality has a well-known liberal bias.


Nice try, we all know that your so called "Reality" is a creation of the left in order to confuse people and take them away from Jesus love. Go back to hiding dinosaur bones in ancient rock deposits with your buddy lucifer.....


Bastard. You just made me spit my coffee on my keyboard.

xfinitex

xfinitex

East Lansing, MI
August 2005

DEC 17, 2007 10:11 AM

Colinism said:

Zarth said:

coyotemike said:
This does back up one thing I often tell people: You want real news, watch PBS. There will be no stories about Paris Hilton there.


Which is why the Right has been going after PBS for years. After all, reality has a well-known liberal bias.



Nice try, we all know that your so called "Reality" is a creation of the left in order to confuse people and take them away from Jesus love. Go back to hiding dinosaur bones in ancient rock deposits with your buddy lucifer.....



Aw, but I was trying to think up the next myth that we could use if this global warming thing doesn't pan out....

Twelve

Twelve

Bay City, MI
April 2007

DEC 17, 2007 10:18 AM

I can't wait until the internet is illegal.

Colinism

Colinism

Atlanta, GA
July 2005

DEC 17, 2007 11:14 AM

Zarth said:

Colinism said:

Zarth said:

coyotemike said:
This does back up one thing I often tell people: You want real news, watch PBS. There will be no stories about Paris Hilton there.


Which is why the Right has been going after PBS for years. After all, reality has a well-known liberal bias.


Nice try, we all know that your so called "Reality" is a creation of the left in order to confuse people and take them away from Jesus love. Go back to hiding dinosaur bones in ancient rock deposits with your buddy lucifer.....


Bastard. You just made me spit my coffee on my keyboard.



Well if we can't silence your news outlets then we have to destroy your ability to access them. wink

Colinism

Colinism

Atlanta, GA
July 2005

DEC 17, 2007 11:18 AM

xfinitex said:

Colinism said:

Zarth said:

coyotemike said:
This does back up one thing I often tell people: You want real news, watch PBS. There will be no stories about Paris Hilton there.


Which is why the Right has been going after PBS for years. After all, reality has a well-known liberal bias.



Nice try, we all know that your so called "Reality" is a creation of the left in order to confuse people and take them away from Jesus love. Go back to hiding dinosaur bones in ancient rock deposits with your buddy lucifer.....



Aw, but I was trying to think up the next myth that we could use if this global warming thing doesn't pan out....



Global warming is caused by all the excess hot air the left spits out with their lies. This bill is not about control of information, it's about saving the planet. Once the control over the "LIEberal" media is achieved we won't have to worry about the planet heating up.

Tallboy66

Tallboy66

Chicago, IL
January 2005

DEC 17, 2007 11:27 AM

Colinism said:

xfinitex said:

Colinism said:

Zarth said:

coyotemike said:
This does back up one thing I often tell people: You want real news, watch PBS. There will be no stories about Paris Hilton there.


Which is why the Right has been going after PBS for years. After all, reality has a well-known liberal bias.



Nice try, we all know that your so called "Reality" is a creation of the left in order to confuse people and take them away from Jesus love. Go back to hiding dinosaur bones in ancient rock deposits with your buddy lucifer.....



Aw, but I was trying to think up the next myth that we could use if this global warming thing doesn't pan out....



Global warming is caused by all the excess hot air the left spits out with their lies. This bill is not about control of information, it's about saving the planet. Once the control over the "LIEberal" media is achieved we won't have to worry about the planet heating up.



The LIEberal medaia or the CONservatives?

Colinism

Colinism

Atlanta, GA
July 2005

DEC 17, 2007 11:42 AM

Tsunami66 said:

Colinism said:

xfinitex said:

Colinism said:

Zarth said:

coyotemike said:
This does back up one thing I often tell people: You want real news, watch PBS. There will be no stories about Paris Hilton there.


Which is why the Right has been going after PBS for years. After all, reality has a well-known liberal bias.



Nice try, we all know that your so called "Reality" is a creation of the left in order to confuse people and take them away from Jesus love. Go back to hiding dinosaur bones in ancient rock deposits with your buddy lucifer.....



Aw, but I was trying to think up the next myth that we could use if this global warming thing doesn't pan out....



Global warming is caused by all the excess hot air the left spits out with their lies. This bill is not about control of information, it's about saving the planet. Once the control over the "LIEberal" media is achieved we won't have to worry about the planet heating up.



The LIEberal medaia or the CONservatives?



Obviously it's the LIEberals, because the CONSERVEatives would not be so wasteful. wink

ThatTalentedHack

ThatTalentedHack

San Antonio, TX
July 2007

DEC 17, 2007 11:48 AM

scott_ian said:
"When an angel poops, it poops truffles."

In lieu of this brilliant revelation, a correlation must be made....
When an angel poops, it poops truffles :: When a republican poops, they wipe with the constitution.

StopSnitchin

StopSnitchin

Hudson, NH
February 2004

DEC 17, 2007 11:59 AM

1984??? shocked

code_red

code_red

Portland, OR
July 2005

DEC 17, 2007 12:17 PM

I am wondering if this stuff took place during previous wars (the censoring and lying), and if so, what they did to combat it.

It really does scare me, and thank you for the wonderful article.

pariah002

pariah002

Yugoslavia
July 2003

DEC 17, 2007 12:36 PM

I think the saddest thing for me is that at this point in the game this does not surprise me nor does it shock me.
Given this administrations track record this falls right in line with their agenda and that agenda sucks serious ass. puke

emotedcreations

emotedcreations

Germany
July 2006

DEC 17, 2007 01:20 PM

Welcome to the world of ad-rags.

When did the news become about making money rather than disseminating reliable information?

ongoingnightmare

ongoingnightmare

Denver, CO
April 2003

DEC 17, 2007 01:23 PM

they already own most of the radio station from that big radio station grab a few years back.
lost really good rock station here because of it. and on the rock station they own now has a nice little 2 hour hangout every thursday with some ladie from 9 news to talk about the news

and our 2 newspapers here are pretty much the same company now.

wildswan

wildswan

I'm lost
June 2006

DEC 17, 2007 01:32 PM

emotedcreations said:
Welcome to the world of ad-rags.

When did the news become about making money rather than disseminating reliable information?



I'm pretty sure we've never had a genuine 'golden era' in information media. It's just really, really disappointing to not be headed in that direction.

emotedcreations

emotedcreations

Germany
July 2006

DEC 17, 2007 01:58 PM

wildswan said:
I'm pretty sure we've never had a genuine 'golden era' in information media. It's just really, really disappointing to not be headed in that direction.

Maybe it's just 'cause I wasn't alive then, but I've always sort of looked at the 60's and 70's as a type of Golden Era. When honest journalists were hero's and admired by the public. Walter Cronkite comes to mind. I can't think of modern reporter/journalist held in such esteem except perhaps Hersch, but he is and will always be a 60's/70's era reporter to me.

Also, I worked at one of the big twelve newspapers mentioned in the CBS clip and I don't have to tell you, but the editors and journalists I worked with were fucking idiots. Some of them hadn't even been to college (not that it's necessary, but it's interesting given they were retarded). We used to have intelligent reporters. One of my professors in college used to be a White House reporter during the 60's. How many of the reporters now you think will end up becoming college professors? Anyway, I realize the sort of looking at the past in a golden light is often horribly misleading, but I'm not so sure in this case. But, as always I could be wrong...

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