Home > Jay Bookman > Archives > 2008 > November > 20 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USThe Fairness Doctrine boogeyman
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Talk-radio hosts play their listeners as well as Yo Yo Ma plays the cello, stroking a string and making their audience respond exactly the way they want. It’s bizarre how easily they can manipulate people who like to think of themselves as sturdy, independent-minded Americans.
Nowhere is that more evident than in the fabricated right-wing outrage about reimposition of the Fairness Doctrine. Under that long-abandoned rule, radio and TV stations that use the public airways were required to give equal time to various sides of every political issue. The rule was well-intended, but in practical terms radio and TV stations found it safer to avoid political discussion altogether rather than risk running afoul of the law.
For that and other reasons, the Fairness Doctrine was abandoned more than 20 years ago, a change that quickly led to the boom in right-wing talk radio.
However, with Democrats in control of Congress and Barack Obama about to become president, the maestros of talk radio are eager to take advantage. They know that the more threatened their audience feels, the higher their ratings get. And what better way to get their listeners riled up than to claim that the Democrats are out to silence talk radio itself, the medium that brings conservatives the truth as they want to know it?
So for months, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and others have been warning their audiences that once in power, the Democrats plan to bring back the Fairness Doctrine. Politicians such as Newt Gingrich have joined the chorus, and the issue is now being cited as a critical reason why Saxby Chambliss has to be re-elected to the Senate. Right-wing pundits insist the issue will be part of Obama’s agenda in his first 100 days in office.
But of course, it’s all made-up nonsense, backed by no evidence whatsoever. In the current issue of the New Republic (subs. req. online), Marin Cogan goes looking for those Democrats supposedly plotting to kill talk radio but ends up empty handed.
Obama, for example, is on the record as very clearly opposing a new Fairness Doctrine (To which the paranoid replies: “That’s exactly what he WOULD say, now isn’t it?”) Other top Democrats questioned by Cogan either laugh off the idea or dismiss it as ridiculous. “That’s a completely made-up issue,” the press secretary to Sen. Dick Durbin told Cogan, stressing that Durbin has “no plans, no language, no nothing.”
The bottom line is that the Fairness Doctrine is not going to come back and it never was going to come back, and those on the right who got suckered by this scam ought to be angry at being played for fools.
But they won’t be. To the contrary, just as quickly as one justification for paranoia disappears, another one is certain to emerge. Among a certain crowd, paranoia is a steady state that continues independent of evidence or proof.
In a famous essay written back in 1964, historian Richard Hofstadter traced the evolution of what he called “the paranoid style in American politics” from the earliest days of the country up to what was then modern times. More than four decades later, his description of the paranoid narrative remains as fresh and accurate as the day it was written:
“But the modern right wing … feels dispossessed,” Hofstadter wrote. “America has been largely taken away from them and their kind, though they are determined to try to repossess it and to prevent the final destructive act of subversion. The old American virtues have already been eaten away by cosmopolitans and intellectuals; the old competitive capitalism has been gradually undermined by socialistic and communistic schemers; the old national security and independence have been destroyed by treasonous plots, having as their most powerful agents not merely outsiders and foreigners as of old but major statesmen who are at the very centers of American power. Their predecessors had discovered conspiracies; the modern radical right finds conspiracy to be betrayal from on high.”
Again, that was written more than 40 years ago, a passage of time that confirms Hofstadter’s wisdom that the paranoid style is enduring. The only thing that has changed is the degree of influence that the paranoid style has since achieved through talk radio, and the grip it now holds on the Republican Party.
In fact, the Democrats have every reason to encourage rather than break that relationship, and they seem to know it. As the paranoid right talks amongst itself on radio, Fox News and conservative web sites, egging each other into ever higher fits of hysteria, they construct an alternative America and alternative reality that is increasingly divorced from the reality perceived by mainstream America.
And when conservative politicians make the mistake of exposing that alternative reality to the mainstream, as U.S. Rep. Paul Broun did recently, they only make that alienation more obvious.
In his piece, Hofstadter made it clear that he was not using the term “paranoid” in the clinical sense. As he put it, “it is the use of paranoid modes of expression by more or less normal people that makes the phenomenon significant.”
“The paranoid spokesman sees the fate of conspiracy in apocalyptic terms — he traffics in the birth and death of whole worlds, whole political orders, whole systems of human values. He is always manning the barricades of civilization. He constantly lives at a turning point,” Hofstadter wrote.
Again, nothing has changed. In a piece this week in the Wall Street Journal, writer Thomas Frank quoted the words of Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus in an Oct. 17 conference call.
“This is the demise of a civilization,” Marcus is quoted as saying about the election. “This is how a civilization disappears. I’m sitting here as an elder statesman, and I’m watching this happen, and I don’t believe it.”
Marcus was not referring specifically to Obama in those remarks, but there’s no question that the president-elect stokes such emotions by his mere existence. Everything about Obama — his race, his age, his intelligence, his name, his back story — feeds the paranoid’s sense of dispossession identified by Hofstadter.
In fact, if you had to design someone to perfectly epitomize their deepest fears, Obama would be it. Over the next four to eight years, he’s destined to make Limbaugh, Hannity and their ilk even richer than they are today, and make their listeners seem even more crazy.
Services »
Comments
By AJC/DNC Management
November 20, 2008 3:17 PM | Link to this
Boogeyman, eh?
Over at HumanEvents.com, John Gizzi has House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on the record saying that the Democratic caucus, far from being agnostic on the so-called Fairness Doctrine, is actually interested in resurrecting it. What’s more, Pelosi herself wants to bring back the policy that could literally silence conservative talk radio.
All that ink wasted, geez.
By NRB
November 20, 2008 3:18 PM | Link to this
Actually Jay, I agree with you on this one. I think the worry over the “fairness doctrine” is quite unfounded as it would be too blatant on the part of Dems.
What worries me more on a personal level, though not discussed much on talk radio, is the possible attempt at a “gun grab” by the new anti-American president with the help of his anti-American congress.
Of course I wish them luck on that, since almost myself and almost everyone I know is better armed than the BATF and Police…oh and we don’t have to follow the Geneva convention either :)
By AJC/DNC Management
November 20, 2008 3:21 PM | Link to this
Boogeyman, eh?
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Tuesday defended the so-called Fairness Doctrine in an interview on Fox News, saying, “I think we should all be fair and balanced, don’t you?” “The very same people who don’t want the Fairness Doctrine want the FCC [Federal Communications Commission] to limit pornography on the air. I am for that… But you can’t say government hands off in one area to a commercial enterprise but you are allowed to intervene in another. That’s not consistent.”-Chucky Schumer, Pinko, NY
By SOUTHERN ATL
November 20, 2008 3:37 PM | Link to this
…..The SOUTH is on FIRE…..
December 2, 2008……GONE WITH THE WIND!!!
By GodHatesTrash
November 20, 2008 3:41 PM | Link to this
(Bookman is actually starting to look at college-level readings in American history and politics, so the ooogedy-boogedy boos rightwingnuts are going to feel even further left behind.)
Prior to writing The Paranoid Style in American Politics , the brilliant Hoftstadter penned Anti-Intellectualism in American Life (and won a Pulitzer Prize for it) which is also very appropriate to your recent conversion to my proposition that the problems with the Republican Party is not its leadership, but the people it attracts.
As long as your reading along this vein, Bookman, I suggest some Mencken. Start with the simply marvelous Sahara of The Bozarts, a short essay that quintessentially captures southern culture, and pretty much anything he wrote during his coverage of the Scopes trial. Hilarious stuff that will provide many a chuckle, especially when you have to read through the dreck and mean-spirited nonsense that your regular rightwingnuts choose to soil the internets with every day.
By GodHatesTrash
November 20, 2008 3:43 PM | Link to this
(Bookman is actually starting to look at college-level readings in American history and politics, so the ooogedy-boogedy boos rightwingnuts are going to feel even further left behind.)
Prior to writing The Paranoid Style in American Politics , the brilliant Hoftstadter penned Anti-Intellectualism in American Life (and won a Pulitzer Prize for it) which is also very appropriate to your recent conversion to my proposition that the problems with the Republican Party is not its leadership, but the people it attracts.
As long as you’re reading along this vein, Bookman, I suggest some Mencken. Start with the simply marvelous Sahara of The Bozarts, a short essay that quintessentially captures southern culture, and pretty much anything he wrote during his coverage of the Scopes trial. Hilarious stuff that will provide many a chuckle, especially when you have to read through the dreck and mean-spirited nonsense that your regular rightwingnuts choose to soil the internets with every day.
By JAY BOOKMAN
November 20, 2008 3:49 PM | Link to this
Care to place a little wager on that, AJC/DNC?
Pick your time frame: Six months from now, a year?
In whatever time frame you name, I bet that no bill seeking to reinstate the Fairness Doctrine will have moved out of a committee or subcommittee in either the House or Senate. In other words, nothing will happen.
You clearly believe otherwise, or pretend to. If you honestly believe Pelosi is behind reinstatement, step up to the betting window.
I can’t place a monetary bet with a reader, but how about this. The loser posts a statement to the following effect:
“I, (loser’s name), was wrong about the Fairness Doctrine and am clearly less wise and well-informed than the handsome, brilliant, much-beloved (winner’s name) whom I was so foolish as to publicly challenge.”
I’ll even post that as a blog item should I be the aforementioned loser. But that’s not going to happen, now is it?
By Wyld Byll Hyltnyr
November 20, 2008 3:50 PM | Link to this
Jay, Jay, Jay, when you state, “Obama, for example, is on the record as very clearly opposing a new Fairness Doctrine”, you are not really telling the whole truth. Are you, Jay? Obama favors an FCC rule called “localism”, what reqiures that radio and television stations serve the interests of their local community as a condition of keeping their broadcast licenses. Obama wants local boards (i.e. Jay and folks from ACORN) to oversee the local boards. These local boards, in turn, would make it almost impossible for dissenting views to hit the airwaves. In your words, Jay, “That Obama is a sly one.” As a truly great American, Gen. Patton, was known as Ol’ Blood and Guts, I know christen PEOTUS as “Ol’ Jess Wordts”.
By FrankLeeDarling
November 20, 2008 3:54 PM | Link to this
NRB,your post is exactly the kind of thinking Jay’s post is referring to.
” anti-American president with the help of his anti-American congress.” elected by a majority of anti Americans I guess.
Try putting my in between anti and America and you will have a better idea of what is happening to “your” America.
there never has been one America .we are a melting pot and your favorite vegetable has been kicked out of the stew for being rotten
By GodHatesTrash
November 20, 2008 3:54 PM | Link to this
One wonders what Hoftstadter’s brilliant mind would have thought of hate radio, Faux News, Bush’s fear- and war- mongering, the rise of so-called “Christian” fundamentalism, gundamnentalism, and the other looney tunes of the right.
He died at 54 in 1970. It would have been good for America to have had his considerable wisdom during the rise of Reaganism, but it seems once again, the good die young.
Mencken would have simply loooooved the comic material provided by the Reagan and Bush years and their ragamuffin followers, but he probably would have died from writer’s cramp, having a limitless supply of stupidity, assinity, bumpkinry, and hypocrisy to write about, his favorite subjects and targets.
By AJC/DNC Management
November 20, 2008 4:01 PM | Link to this
Another 450 point loss in the Dow.
Is it too soon to begin the recall process against Wonder Boy?
Before we are kaput?
By DB, Gwinnettian
November 20, 2008 4:03 PM | Link to this
Wyld Byll, what you’re referring to is what the FCC used to require of local stations for most of broadcasting history.
Your extrapolation of what it would mean in practice is, well, most entertaining—if entirely fictional.
By FrankLeeDarling
November 20, 2008 4:03 PM | Link to this
And the problem with having oversight into what PUBLIC OWNED AIRWAVES are being used for is?
especially if that use is having a negative effect on the very public that owns them.
By Mrs. Godzilla
November 20, 2008 4:04 PM | Link to this
While I agree that the Fairness Doctrine is never coming back….
Wouldn’t it be hyterical/ironic if a Fairness Doctrine bill was introduced on the Senate floor by the 60th Democratic U.S. Senator…..comedian, founding member of Air America Al Franken?
Wouldn’t that push BOR over the edge?
By Dale Gribble's GOP
November 20, 2008 4:06 PM | Link to this
C’mon Management. Don’t be a girly boy.
By Wyld Byll Hyltnyr
November 20, 2008 4:09 PM | Link to this
GodHatesTrash - I can tell you what Hoftstadter’s brilliant mind would have thought of talk radio, Fox News, that which you call “Christian” fundamentalism, and gun owners rights. He would have thought that they were perfectly normal, because that the way his America, a great nation, believed. Now on to the things that you believe are normal, calling the president a liar, men marrying men, and bailing out mortgage holders, he would have thought your view of the world was an abomination, because it is.
By getalife
November 20, 2008 4:11 PM | Link to this
Andy,
I think they have to swear him in first.
By AJC/DNC Management
November 20, 2008 4:11 PM | Link to this
By JAY BOOKMAN November 20, 2008 3:49 PM Care to place a little wager on that, AJC/DNC?
I never said it would.
You said it was a boogeymen, eating up a thousand words in the process, and all I was trying to do was give the boogeyman some legs.
Because it has roamed before.
But I also doubt it will get passed too, there’s just too many Conservatives out there.
By jacksmith
November 20, 2008 4:14 PM | Link to this
WE HAVE MORE TO DO:
Democrat Jim Martin is in a runoff against Bush Republican Saxby Chambliss for the Senate seat from Georgia. Bush’s Saxby Chambliss voted against spending a few measly dollars to provide health care coverage for Georgia, and Americas needy children. But he supported wasting hundreds of billions of your dollars, and the life BLOOD of Americas finest on an unnecessary war in Iraq.
At a time when 47 million of you have no health insurance coverage, and over 100 million of you with insurance are just one major illness away from complete financial destruction. Bush and Saxby Chambliss voted to make the heart break of bankruptcy relief even harder for all of you to use.
You see, Bush and Saxby Chambliss, and his family don’t have to worry about their health care coverage. They have the finest health care coverage your tax money can buy for them. Courtesy of you. The American Tax payer. In fact, no one but the super rich can afford the health care coverage you the tax payer provide for Saxby Chambliss, and his family for FREE! with your tax dollars.
He supposedly works for you. But he doesn’t think you and your family should have access to the type of taxpayer supported FREE health care that you provide for him, and his loved ones for FREE!. Doesn’t that just make you BURRING MAD!
Vote for JIM MARTIN for US senator from Georgia. Vote for JIM Martin who will be on your side. Vote for JIM MARTIN who will work with President Obama and a majority congress for you. Vote for JIM MARTIN most of all for your-self, your family’s, friends, and loved ones. Vote for JIM MARTIN for a better America, and a better World.
Don’t let Saxby Chambliss make a chump out of you by tricking you into voting against your own best interest. Saxby chambliss is NOT! on your side. He’s not one of you. He is on George Bush’s side. And we all know what a catastrophe the Bush Chambliss administration has been the past 8 years.
Contact all your family and friends and do every thing you can to see to it that JIM MARTIN and GEORGIANS! take that senate seat back for Georgia, and America. No matter where you live in America. This is important to you. President Obama will need all the help, and power you can give him to try and fix this catastrophic mess that the Corrupt Bush Chambliss administration has created.
As I said before you will have to vote in overwhelming numbers to overcome the Bush Chambliss “Let Them Eat Cake” vote fraud machine. Vote early if you can. Then help everyone you can get to the polls and vote for JIM MARTIN. You and your loved ones don’t have to be Saxby Chambliss’s victims anymore.
I know you will get it done. Just like you did for President Obama.
God bless all of you
jacksmith - WORKING CLASS… :-)
By scrappy
November 20, 2008 4:19 PM | Link to this
AJC/DNC Management - why do you ruin every blog on the ajc? Try posting something you have written, about the actual topic of the blog, and stop cutting and pasting.
Nice how you ignored the call out from Jay too… can’t handle the heat?
By Mrs. Godzilla
November 20, 2008 4:20 PM | Link to this
By AJC/DNC Management
November 20, 2008 4:01 PM | Link to this
Another 450 point loss in the Dow.
Is it too soon to begin the recall process against Wonder Boy?
Before we are kaput?
HEY ANDY
SHHH, Can you keep a secret?
Obama planned this whole thing.
Shortly after graduating from VMU (Violent Madrassa University), home of the Triple 6 Division champions the Serpents of Satan, young Barack devised the Progressive Pogrom.
He’s been planning the decline of American civilization as we know it since he was 22 or 23. It’s all in his Blackberry - that’s why they want to take it away from him.
He knew that when the stock market began to tank (shooting for 5600) enough good folks could be deluded into thinking that the guys that broke it couldn’t fix and thereby made it impossible for him to have lost the Presidential election this year.
I told you this guy is awful clever.
The Horrors!
Starting in January…..we members of the Order of Obama are going to start getting your money redistributed to us.
Actually not any of yours…
I’m getting the contract for building oil tankers, 13.8% of all further Sarah Palin revenues - we will be televising our luncheons - and that cute red leather jacket she wore, Official Title: Secretary Of The Gravy, a time share at Camp David and a condo near the Bush Ranch in South America.
I don’t know ALL the details of the other remuneration agreements, but let me leak this: Bosch, Goldie and Midori did VERY well.
I hear Bosch got the remains of Halliburton, CACI and Blackwater. He’s gonna’ make a killin’ - literally! I understand the lovely and graceful Mrs. Bosch was given an Ambassadorship somewhere beautiful and beachy. I’m sure a dozen or so of those pallets of nice clean cash are covered with a tarp in the garage too. But hell, we all got those.
Goldie, well, the NYT is now reporting the Secretary Of Media job is hers if she wants it. Members of her staff whisper she’s thinking about it but has a few demands of her own. Something about crucifixtions and right wing talk radio, a sex change operation for Glenn Beck, no red m & m’s and free movies on demand for everybody in America making under 250 grand a year. Pallets of unmarked cash, moutain lake land, 2 Winnebagos and a Swedish House boy named Nels, nothwithstanding.
Midori - black ops. 007 1/2 M in Manolo Blanick’s and the nuclear football in a Coach bag. Really expensive. They’d rub me out if I told ya any more.
SO, your fear is most certainly justified.
Your life as you knew it is over.
In just a few weeks I can rendition Andy, stash him in my basement (hey that’s a change from his mom’s) and make him watch an neverending video loop of Keith Olbermann while wearing a Randi Rhodes tee-shirt!
By Taxpayer
November 20, 2008 4:23 PM | Link to this
Jay,
You know as well as I that were it not for certain Republicans and their parade of boogeymen, their loyal base would even begin to lose faith and maybe even wither on the vine, as Corporal likes to imagine. The thought just sounds so dehydrating to me though — almost pruneish. Eewww. Besides, comic relief isn’t always outwardly labeled as such. It can come from all sorts of unexpected places. I’ve even stumbled upon one or two right-wing talk shows while out driving and they just absolutely cracked me up. When I tire of the comedy, I have no problem finding some serious discussion on NPR or other similar outlets.
By Taxpayer
November 20, 2008 4:30 PM | Link to this
So, Andy calls Bush “Wonder Boy” now.
By Midori
November 20, 2008 4:40 PM | Link to this
Andy:
BOK, BOK, BOK
By jstrick
November 20, 2008 4:44 PM | Link to this
So, Andy calls Bush “Wonder Boy” now.
same thing I was thinking Taxpayer. No need to recall Bush, he doesn’t have too much longer in office.
By Shawny
November 20, 2008 4:45 PM | Link to this
The “fairness” doctrine is censorship and should not be regurgitated.
On another note, it is nice to see how “progressives” aren’t getting what they thought from Obama. Well, duh. That was all fluff to get them to vote for him. HAH !!!
Fooled ya’.
By Matthew
November 20, 2008 4:45 PM | Link to this
Lets see what happened here…
-Jay makes dumb comment that is completely erroneous (unbelievable that the AJC has a political opinion writer who is unconnected to politics on any level).
Reader points out instances where Democratic politicians have expressed interest in/support of the doctrine.
Jay tries to reframe the dispute.
So who cares if Democrats want to curb the First, it won’t pass anyway! Brilliant.
By AJC/DNC Management
November 20, 2008 4:54 PM | Link to this
But plenty of people believe Obama’s ideas will be somewhere between hurtful and ruinous for investors over time.
Tom Kerr, who helps manage $2.5 billion in stocks for Reed, Conner & Birdwell Inc. in L.A., asserts that many of the policies Obama has espoused are “job destroyers and are bad for all size businesses in America.”
He ticks off his list: “Less free trade … more business regulation … increased union power … higher tax rates on big consumer spenders.”
Kerr also notes that Obama has proposed a windfall-profits tax on oil companies. Kerr suspects Obama would start with Big Oil, then move to boost taxes on other industries – say, the big drug companies.
Any of the well-heeled who need an excuse to sell stocks now, even with the S&P 500 down 40% from its 2007 peak, can cite another Obama promise: his plan to hike the maximum tax on long-term capital gains and dividends to 20% from 15% for couples earning more than $250,000 a year.
Let’s do the math. You’ve got a $200,000 long-term stock gain to cash in. At a 15% tax rate, you’d keep $170,000 of that. At a 20% tax rate, you’d keep $160,000.
There is, however, the potential for the new Democratic majority in Congress to push Obama more toward the kind of government-engineered “wealth spreading” that could be a long-term drag on entrepreneurship and investment.-LA Times
Any questions?
By jstrick
November 20, 2008 4:54 PM | Link to this
So, Andy calls Bush “Wonder Boy” now.
same thing I was thinking Taxpayer. No need to recall Bush, he doesn’t have too much longer in office.
By Taxpayer
November 20, 2008 4:54 PM | Link to this
Mrs. Godzilla,
You really should be more considerate of Andy. That 4:20 post should have been broken up into a minimum of five separate posts and spread out over a week in order to allow time for proper disgestion without fear of more than one boogeyman appearance at any given instant.
By getalife
November 20, 2008 4:57 PM | Link to this
Cons are taking their “thumpin” as well as “progressives” taking the return of the Clinton team.
Sore losers and sore winners.
Geez.
By GodHatesTrash
November 20, 2008 4:58 PM | Link to this
-By Wyld Byll Hyltnyr November 20, 2008 4:09 PM | Link to this GodHatesTrash - I can tell you what Hoftstadter’s brilliant mind would have thought of talk radio, Fox News, that which you call “Christian” fundamentalism, and gun owners rights. He would have thought that they were perfectly normal, because that the way his America, a great nation, believed. Now on to the things that you believe are normal, calling the president a liar, men marrying men, and bailing out mortgage holders, he would have thought your view of the world was an abomination, because it is.-
Wyld Bill - I don’t think Hofstadter’s books on your sixth grade reading list.
By GodHatesTrash
November 20, 2008 4:59 PM | Link to this
-By Wyld Byll Hyltnyr November 20, 2008 4:09 PM | Link to this GodHatesTrash - I can tell you what Hoftstadter’s brilliant mind would have thought of talk radio, Fox News, that which you call “Christian” fundamentalism, and gun owners rights. He would have thought that they were perfectly normal, because that the way his America, a great nation, believed. Now on to the things that you believe are normal, calling the president a liar, men marrying men, and bailing out mortgage holders, he would have thought your view of the world was an abomination, because it is.-
Wyld Bill - I don’t think Hofstadter’s books are on your sixth grade reading list.
By Paul
November 20, 2008 5:02 PM | Link to this
That’s a careful use of words there, Jay.
You state “it’s all made-up nonsense, backed by no evidence whatsoever. .. Marin Cogan goes looking for those Democrats supposedly plotting to kill talk radio but ends up empty handed.”
If you were to replace “kill talk radio” with “reinstittute the Fariness Doctrine” or “sympathetic to” or “think the principle is valid” we’d be on to something.
If you wanted to write about sympathy, or validating the concept, or thinking it’s a fine idea, you could easily cite numerous statements by Sen Charles Schumer and Sen Dick Durbin. I know you cited Sen Durbin as saying it’s a ‘made up issue’ but according to thehill.com “In 2007, Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), a close ally of Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) told The Hill, “It’s time to reinstitute the Fairness Doctrine. I have this old-fashioned attitude that when Americans hear both sides of the story, they’re in a better position to make a decision.”
See? He didn’t say it was time to kill talk radio. He called ‘something’ a “made-up issue” (don’t know what’s made-up. Killing talk radio? Reinstituting the Fairness Doctrine?).
Oh, wait… Sen Durbin said it’s time to reinstitute the Fairness Doctrine. Durbin… Durbin… isn’t he a Democrat?
But he didn’t say “time to kill talk radio.”
I think what the right-wing talk folks are doing is extrapolating the consequences. There is room for debate on that score.
But to assert there is no discussion or sympathy for reviving the Fairness Doctrine is misleading.
But if it were, in some far-out possibility, to be reimposed…
I’ll wager NBC/MSNBC would have more trouble with actually meeting equal-time requirements than would Fox.
Regarding your 3:49: I doubt if a bill will ever be referred. But isn’t the larger question why so many in the Democratic leadership continue to discuss it? And if they don’t initiate the topic, their responses to questions are definitely not of the “this is all nonsense” variety. Do you suppose they are playing to the farfarLeft to keep the boogyman farright in play and keep the donations rolling in?
Mrs. Godzilla 4:06
No, I don’t think it would “push BOR over the edge.” A few weeks back he addressed a guest’s concerns about reimposing the Fairness Doctrine. He said, in effect, it wouldn’t happen, and if the FCC in some strange fit of bureaucracy imposed it, enough corporate big shots with big wallets would have a few discussions with their Democratic lawmakers…. And it would fade away….
So BOR blew the whole thing off.
So much for the bogeyman.
Your 4:20
Hey! I got nuthin! What happened to redistributing the spoils?!!? Just ‘cause I never caught on to all that secret handshake stuff…
By AJC/DNC Management
November 20, 2008 5:27 PM | Link to this
Is it any wonder that when the libs see that one of their policies is damaging them, such as the “Fairness Doctrine” is making Martin little more than a hope, suddenly they throw their ideas over the side?
Just like little Oblahmi became thee staunch Conservative during the presidentials?
Funny though, after the ballots have been counted and they have tricked their voters……….
Reminds me of the Nazis, how they used to hang “shower” signs above the entrance to the gas chambers.
By TW
November 20, 2008 5:29 PM | Link to this
C’mon, Jay. The best part about rushannity’s ‘audience is that they don’t know they’ve got ignorance on their face. Don’t tell ‘em - they might try to wipe it off!
Long live the snake-oil consumer!
By AJC/DNC Management
November 20, 2008 5:45 PM | Link to this
Hey, the bet is on-
The Federal Communications Commission has a vague rule called “localism,” which requires stations to serve the interests of their local communities in order to hold onto their broadcast licenses. Obama, who gets to replace FCC Chairman Kevin Martin right away, needs only three votes from the five-member FCC to define localism his way.
The head of Obama’s transition team is John Podesta, President and CEO of the Center for American Progress. In 2007, the Center issued a report, The Structural Imbalance of Political Talk Radio, which concluded there were too many conservatives on the radio because of “the absence of localism in American radio markets” and urged the FCC to “[e]nsure greater local accountability over radio licensing.
Podesta’s choice as head of the FCC transition team is Henry Rivera, a Director and General Counsel of the above-noted Benton Foundation and chairman of the Minority Media Telecommunications Council, which has stated: “Broadcasters must reach beyond the business sector and look for leaders [think community organizers] in the civic, religious, and non-profit sectors that regularly serve the needs of the community, particularly the needs of minority groups that are typically poorly served by the broadcasting industry as a whole.”
Remember that sign above the door that says “shower?”
A Fairness Doctrine of a different name is still a “Fairness” Doctrine.
I accept your wager, sir.
By Mrs.Godzilla
November 20, 2008 5:50 PM | Link to this
Paul….
Yes, but BOR has a real “mad” on for Franken. I also think he’ll only be 59. Much as I’d like to, I don’t think we’ll unseat the Saxter. This time.
Ok, The Secretary of The Gravy will need a Sultan of Sommeliers…interested? I suspect a little graft in the way of dusty cases of fine old wine, maybe a partial pallet of cash and a few of the used Secret Service shining black SUV’s decked out in ways only the corporal could describe - would go with the job.
We do need to maintain the facade of bipartisanship and you are only moderately wrong headed yet clever.
We may have to insert one of the micro-chippy things under the skin of your forearm for tracking purposes.
You could work your way up….you’d have to start as a Webelobama. No jumpsuit but the outfit’s sharp.
A serious question…..we are remodeling while Mr. G is away, why would one commode just bubble? No joke guys. blurp blurp blurpie blurp I’ve heard it a couple of times. No other outward symptoms. We did replace a kitchen sink…we know where the dogs are. Ideas?
By Taxpayer
November 20, 2008 5:57 PM | Link to this
More plagiarizing from Andy? Or, is he trying to make us believe that he’s using his own original thoughts. What is it this time. What a bore. Never willing to consistently cite sources or clearly differentiate his words from others.
By @@
November 20, 2008 5:58 PM | Link to this
jay, I’m bettin media organizations in Russia never anticipated a crackdown on their reporting of the financial crisis. They’re claiming it’s not censorship, just an effort to verify the accuracy of their reporting.
I’m having a really hard time keeping up with Putin these days. He’s all over the place.
Kinda like PrezE Obama’s been throughout his entire campaign.
By Paul
November 20, 2008 6:06 PM | Link to this
Mrs. Godzilla
???? I was referring to BOR’s not giving any credence to this whole “bring back the Fairness Doctrine” thing, not anything about him and Franken. I do think those two have a visceral dislike for each other. They’ve both said as much.
Job’s mine!! I’ll even take the SUVs, I’ll sell’em for a couple hundred each and get on the list for the new Honda Insight (seriously, wife and I were just talking about that car).
Wrong headed? Is that the opposite of ‘left headed’? And if it’s the opposite, shouldn’t I be “right headed”? As in “correct headed”?
I don’t do jump suits. I’m fine with tuxes, though.
Wanna be my official taster?
[[we are remodeling while Mr. G is away]] What is it with you women, anyway?!!? Every time I leave my wife gets to work…. most of the stuff I don’t mind (like the chandelier in the spare bathroom - as one of the kids said ‘you never use that bathroom so what do you care?”) but some of the stuff… well, at least she leaves the kitchen alone.
The bubbling could be caused by a partial blockage in the line. If it happens right after a flush. If it happens when other systems on the line (sink, bath, other commode) drain it may be a blocked vent.
Or an elf blowing bubbles.
By JAY BOOKMAN
November 20, 2008 6:14 PM | Link to this
Great. And what time frame do you chose?
By getalife
November 20, 2008 6:17 PM | Link to this
Betting on Podesta?
What kind of “con” bets on a “lib”?
By @@
November 20, 2008 6:30 PM | Link to this
FCC Commission Hearing on Media Ownership.
Page 21 — Ken Bennett speaks before the commission on behalf of Barack Obama.
PDF Format
By AJC/DNC Management
November 20, 2008 6:31 PM | Link to this
A year.
~~~~~
Oh Great Blubbering and Whiny Taxpayer-
I’d be willing to bet that the italics represent something.
And check this out, hopeless one-
Post this into thee Google search box-
Podesta’s choice as head of the FCC transition team is Henry Rivera, a Director and General Counsel of the above-noted Benton Foundation
and presto-
Obama’s New ‘Fairness Doctrine’
Must I do everything for you?
By RB from Gwinnett
November 20, 2008 6:40 PM | Link to this
Jay, Would you please post something confirming that you have read and understand the following. We’re getting tired of repeating it and you are either sorely lacking in reading comprehension or you are intentionally misleading your readers (just like you are accusing talk radio of doing).
” there’s no question that the president-elect stokes such emotions by his mere existence. Everything about Obama — his race, his age, his intelligence, his name, his back story”
Here goes…
Jay, it has nothing to do with his race, age, intelligence, name, or back story. IT IS HIS SOCIALIST AGENDA!!!
If there is anything about that you don’t understand, please resign immediatly.
Tool…
By Cherokee
November 20, 2008 6:43 PM | Link to this
Great post Jay. And you’re correct of course also that it’s in the Dems favor to encourage the rabid righties of talk radio. Every time Boortz whines about the Mexican Invasion (TM) more Hispanics vote for Democrats. Everytime Hannity shrieks about the culture wars, sane people become even more tied to the Democrats.
So, no, the Dems would be silly to resurrect the Fairness doctrine - and Andy, by the way, wisely chose to cave when called on his predictions….
By GodHatesTrash
November 20, 2008 6:45 PM | Link to this
I used to think that hate radio was poisoning Americans’ minds.
But really, hate radio and Faux don’t poison peoples’ minds, they merely appeal to those minds that are already diseased, poisoned and weak.
This is an important distinction, and Obama understands it.
The surge toward him that started a few days after Palin’s nomination was what elected him, in the end - and that was decent America’s revulsion and disgust, not just with Bush and his administration, but with the people that supported him and his two new avatars, John Hensley-McCain and, especially, Sarah “L-o-l-a” Palin.
While I voted FOR Burack Obama, I also voted not just against Bush/McCain/Palin, but against Hannity Poo, Boor(ish)tz, Shill O’Leilly, Limblahhh, Michael Silly Savage, Twit Hume, and, of course, all of Bookman’s rightwingnut bloggers.
Hate radio’s and Faux’s appeals to the stupid and mindless brings their listeners’ stupidity and superstitions out from under the rocks - and in the end, their stupidity and lies cannot handle the sunshine of the truth. The blathering of angry idiots, even if it is 24/7, 365 days a year is still no more than the blathering of angry idiots, and it appeals only to, well, other angry idiots.
By AJC/DNC Management
November 20, 2008 6:46 PM | Link to this
Uh-oh, malaise has returned to thee land of liberal “utopia:”
“Obama ran his campaign around the idea the war was not legitimate, but it sends a very different message when you bring in people who supported the war from the beginning,” said Kelly Dougherty, executive director of the 54-chapter Iraq Veterans Against the War.
Sniff, sniff.
By Bud Wiser
November 20, 2008 6:49 PM | Link to this
I find it interesting that Jay lumps Fox News with all of the supposed right wing conservative broadcast outlets, especially in light of post-election analysis by many non-partisan observers that said basically Fox was the only unbiased outlet, having @ 40% favorable stories for both Obama and McCain, as well as @40% unfavorable for both.
Putthat against NBC with 82% favorable Obama, 13% unfavorable, 27% favorable McCain and 63% unfavorable, and other left wingnut outlets with even more slanted coverage, and you get the real picture.
In Jay’s apparent opinion, if you are not a lap dog democrat lover in the media, sucking up and swooning over The Token One at every opportunity, then you are some kind of lunatic fringe skinhead.
Why embarrass yourself further when God and the world know that you media nuts were all wanting to be in Obama’s circle (I wanted to say shorts, but demurred), looking for those Washington cocktail party invitations.
Journalism nationally, particularly in this recent election cycle, has sunk to something just below buzzard puke, a vile and wretched concoction that even eaters of the dead regurgitate.
And the point of this article??? Railing against the wind, it sounds to me.
Disturbing.
By Paul
November 20, 2008 7:02 PM | Link to this
@@ 6:30
I don’t believe the issue was Fairness Doctrine but who owns what. Bringing in more owners and having less of this one conglomerate owning the news outlets in an area or nationwide.
Bud Wiser
Jay doesn’t do it, but many use a broad brush to lump together anything that appears on Fox as “Fox News.” Sorry, but O’Reilly, Hannity, Colmes, etc are not “news” any more than “Entertainment Tonight” is news.
If I may, I don’t believe Pew Research said Fox or any network was unbiased. What they did say was that Fox News was far and away more equal in its treatment (positive or negative) of the candidates than were the other media.
By GodHatesTrash
November 20, 2008 7:12 PM | Link to this
You know, most of Bookman’s rightwingnut Joe the Bloggers are even more confused, crazy and useless than Joe the Unlicensed Plumber and Former Welfare Recipient.
Ooogedy-boogedy boo, yall.
By "The Corporal"
November 20, 2008 7:24 PM | Link to this
To Taxpayer
You know, in the few months I have been on this blog I post a lot of comments and reply by name to many of you my liberal friends.
But I have never posted a fresh comment on a brand new subject and then just in passing inserted one of your names to take a jab or make a point.
I must be getting to you for you to bring me up so much.
You will deny it of course ……………
By lwwmm7
November 20, 2008 7:36 PM | Link to this
The coverage on Fox is balanced, moreso than any other news outlet. If you would only put aside your rabid hatred and watch a few shows, you would realize that they always present an opposing view on whatever they are talking about. Nothing guarantees continued ignorance so much as contempt before investigation.
By AJC/DNC Management
November 20, 2008 7:44 PM | Link to this
The subway system in Washington, D.C., is making fare cards featuring President-elect Barack Obama’s image to commemorate his inauguration as the 44th president.
Cool, when the gangbangers in the DC subway are tugging on your wallet, you can flash your pass card at them and the “unity” will just ooze out all over the place.
Fantastic, isn’t it?
By Taxpayer
November 20, 2008 7:58 PM | Link to this
By * “The Corporal”* November 20, 2008 7:24 PM
To Taxpayer You know, in the few months I have been on this blog I post a lot of comments and reply by name to many of you my liberal friends. But I have never posted a fresh comment on a brand new subject and then just in passing inserted one of your names to take a jab or make a point. I must be getting to you for you to bring me up so much. You will deny it of course ……………
Corporal,
First, all me to say that if I offend you with my posts, you can feel free to just say so. I won’t be offended. After all, they are just words. Next, a few corrections: I am not a “liberal” and the word “friends” should be singular since you addressed just me. You may also wish to leave that in quotes just to be safe. As for your claim to have never taken a jab, I’d have to research that one in order to respond factually but I won’t bother. Moving on — do you post with the expectation of never being challenged? I would call that naive. As for “getting to me”, if you mean that you posted something that I read and felt like commenting on, then yes, you can call that “getting to me.” That would be the extent of you getting to me though. Finally, regarding the denial, I do hope I fully met your expectations. Am I “getting to you?”
By @@
November 20, 2008 8:00 PM | Link to this
Paul @ 7:02:
I don’t believe the issue was Fairness Doctrine but who owns what. Bringing in more owners and having less of this one conglomerate owning the news outlets in an area or nationwide.
And since we’re all gambling tonight, I’m bettin’ one would lead to the other.
Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) recently introduced a bill titled The Media Ownership Reform Act, which proposes the radical re-regulation of the media marketplace in America. His draconian bill (H.R. 4069) would not only undo all the limited ownership reforms that the FCC pushed through last summer, it would reinstate cable–broadcaster cross-ownership regulations that were struck down by the courts and more tightly restrict the number of radio stations a firm can own locally and nationally. Worst of all, the bill would resurrect two disastrous FCC rules that were thought to have been swept into the dustbin of history long ago: the so-called “Fin-Syn” rules and the hideously misnamed Fairness Doctrine. — Cato Institute
Hinchey even admits the link here.
By getalife
November 20, 2008 8:00 PM | Link to this
Yes, it is fun watching Alan happily getting along with Hannity these days.
Good times.
Don’t listen to rush but reading Andy and our other wingnut friends is probably the same bs.
It would be great to actually wait for the new President to actually do something before attacking him.
Not very patriotic, if you ask me. It would seem that “real Americans” would think “country first” and unite to support our new President in this economic 9/11.
By Soixante huitard
November 20, 2008 8:12 PM | Link to this
In fact, the idea of the paranoid style as a force in politics would have little contemporary relevance or historical value if it were applied only to men with profoundly disturbed minds. It is the use of paranoid modes of expression by more or less normal people that makes the phenomenon significant. — Hofstadter
Wahnsinn bei Individuen ist selten, aber in Gruppen, Nationen und Epochen die Regel. (Madness is rare in individuals, but in groups, nations, and epochs, it’s the norm.) — Friedrich Nietzsche
By AJC/DNC Management
November 20, 2008 8:13 PM | Link to this
Oh come on al-Gitmo, all of this talk of “unity” from you libs is so comical.
Need we remind you of how you crawled up GB’s rear end on the very first day and never reemerged even to have a look around for 8 solid years?
You kult members better man up or you’ll never make it through the first disastrous year.
Fasten your seat belts.
By getalife
November 20, 2008 8:18 PM | Link to this
Andy,
w’s approval rating was very high until Iraq.
Lets wait for him to screw up that bad okay?
By SweetPea
November 20, 2008 8:18 PM | Link to this
Sigh. I love God Hates Trash.
By Soixante huitard
November 20, 2008 8:33 PM | Link to this
Management: I never said it would. …
But I also doubt it will get passed too, there’s just too many Conservatives out there.
Chicken.
By AJC/DNC Management
November 20, 2008 8:33 PM | Link to this
Try it on some fellow toady, gitmo, 9/11 outed you savages, you had to be patriotic.
Remember “either your with us or your against us?”
I can just imagine you libs in your ratholes, licking your lips, eyes darting and, yes, trembling fearfully.
Bush busted you out, didn’t he?
By Swami Dave
November 20, 2008 8:34 PM | Link to this
Jay:
Regarding your “bet”, I can only suspect that you (as well as a number of us) already know that there will be no legislative requirement to reinstitute the so-called “Fairness Doctrine”. Like many other bureaucratic rules, it would be done by a committee made up of appointees.
So Jay, if it is indeed reinstituted via bureaucratic fiat, will you pull the weasel and point to the fact that it did not pass via a legislative subcommitte or committee?
Have a good evening.
-Swami Dave
By AJC/DNC Management
November 20, 2008 8:41 PM | Link to this
By Soixante huitard November 20, 2008 8:33 PM Management: I never said it would. …But I also doubt it will get passed too, there’s just too many Conservatives out there. Chicken.
Suxie: We made the bet, Nancy.
By Soixante huitard
November 20, 2008 8:44 PM | Link to this
Management:
Cool, when the gangbangers in the DC subway are tugging on your wallet, you can flash your pass card at them and the “unity” will just ooze out all over the place.
That’s a hell of a jump, and a scenario with real literary potential.
Are you a failed science-fiction novel writer, Management?
Speaking of commemorative fare cards. I was going to ask you if you had a PO box or somewhere safe I could send you a gift for the holidays. I was thinking you’d just love a nice set of coins, or better yet, a set of commemorative plates in your china cabinet emblazoned with our new president elect and his “handsome, expressive eyes”.
Just let me know, Mr. Management, what you prefer: coins or plates, OK?
By Midori
November 20, 2008 8:48 PM | Link to this
Getalife,
a lil picture of Colmes and Hannity
:)
By "The Corporal"
November 20, 2008 8:52 PM | Link to this
To Taxpayer
Again,you avoid the point.
Of course I post with the expectation of challenge. I relish it. And as I said before, if you post something I wish to reply to, I in turn address a post to you.
However, I do not extemporaneously keep including your name in my general posts to others as you do mine in yours.
I’m not asking you to not do that - it’s out of my control. I just wanted to call it to your attention as it appears to me my philosophy must be on your mind.
Now is there something about this difference in the way we debate each other that you still don’t understand?
P.S. Calling attention to ty’pos, speelingg or punctuation!!:;+^ mistakes, etc. are just subliminal attempts to avoid the real issue.
By Stump
November 20, 2008 8:52 PM | Link to this
It is a sign of how far out on the ledge movement conservatism has gone, that conservatives are attacking the concept of “localism.” Apparently if you decry the firing of thousands of local DJ’s (and not a few conservative talk show hosts) since the de-regulation of 1996, and the virtual destruction of local radio news, “buddy, you’re a liberal!”
Any local talk radio host who attacks “localism” should live up to his principles and quit his job, so that his employer may add in yet another syndicated satellite talk show!
By bh
November 20, 2008 8:54 PM | Link to this
By AJC/DNC Management November 20, 2008 8:13 PM | Link to this
“Need we remind you of how you crawled up GB’s rear end on the very first day and never reemerged even to have a look around for 8 solid years?”
Okay, AJC manglement (that’s intended, BTW)— I am so tired of your lying crap! GWB had much more support than he deserved early in his administration (most dems were disillusioned about the outcome but sucked it up, as real Americans do). Further, America’s support for Bush went up dramatically (and undeservedly) after 9/11. Our dimwitted commander in brief squandered every bit of national and international good will he was given. That is hard for the repub true believers to accept, but open your eyes and look at the world around you!!
By AJC/DNC Management
November 20, 2008 8:56 PM | Link to this
Suxie: Coins will work.
What are they worth, if you don’t mind my asking?
By Soixante huitard
November 20, 2008 9:02 PM | Link to this
What are they worth, if you don’t mind my asking?
Guess time will tell. But maybe they’re also valid for use as Washington Metro fare tokens over the inauguration weekend. :-)
By Midori
November 20, 2008 9:02 PM | Link to this
Taxpayer,
you rock :)
By AmVet
November 20, 2008 9:08 PM | Link to this
I never saw Yo Yo Ma. But did see the equally amazing Miroslav Rostropovich at the Fabulous Fox.
No First Amendment fears here. I’m sure there will certainly be much more of the charming Ann Coulter preaching to the faithful from under the GOP’s big (circus) tent in the near future.
And though the paranoid “center-rightists” will likely send Six Deferment Saxby right back to Congress (to practice yet more fiscal conservatism) he is nonetheless a pathetic farce.
By AJC/DNC Management
November 20, 2008 9:10 PM | Link to this
By Stump November 20, 2008 8:52 PM Any local talk radio host who attacks “localism” should live up to his principles and quit his job, so that his employer may add in yet another syndicated satellite talk show!
Stumped: It took you three hours to come up with this lame garbage?
I know that you socialists have no clue about industry but most radio stations prefer to have good ratings, just ask kookman, he’ll tell ya.
~~~~~
By bh November 20, 2008 8:54 PM Okay, AJC manglement (that’s intended, BTW)— I am so tired of your lying crap! GWB had much more support than he deserved early in his administration (most dems were disillusioned about the outcome but sucked it up, as real Americans do)
You don’t have to hide behind a new name TW, come out and be brave, homey.
CYNTHIA TUCKER (2001:) I’m deeply troubled by the nomination of John Ashcroft to be Attorney General, Terry. I believe that he is not a garden variety conservative. I don’t think he represents the mainstream of even conservative thought. He is an ultraconservative, far to the right of many issues. And issues of justice are critical in this country, particularly to women in so far as enforcing the right to choose, reproductive freedoms and to minority groups, particularly African Americans. There is a long history in this country of African Americans’ struggle for equal opportunity, and we as a nation, I believe, acknowledge that we are not there yet. And the Attorney General is in charge of helping to ensure the minority Americans’ rights are enforced. And I am not sure that John Ashcroft will be up to that.
Bwahahahahahaha, morons.
By Taxpayer
November 20, 2008 9:13 PM | Link to this
Why, Corporal. I do think it is I who has gotten to you. So, I decided to go back to my post that mentioned you just to see what I said that got to you. I haved re-posted here:
[[By Taxpayer
November 20, 2008 4:23 PM | Link to this
Jay,
You know as well as I that were it not for certain Republicans and their parade of boogeymen, their loyal base would even begin to lose faith and maybe even wither on the vine, as Corporal likes to imagine. The thought just sounds so dehydrating to me though — almost pruneish. Eewww. Besides, comic relief isn’t always outwardly labeled as such. It can come from all sorts of unexpected places. I’ve even stumbled upon one or two right-wing talk shows while out driving and they just absolutely cracked me up. When I tire of the comedy, I have no problem finding some serious discussion on NPR or other similar outlets.]]
After reviewing my post, I see that I gave you credit for for your “wither on the vine” comment that I had recalled your using on several occasions in previous threads. Does that bother you. I did use bold characters to make it easy to spot because I like to give credit when I knowingly use a line from someone else. Regarding the grammar and spelling, I was just trying to be helpful. For example, if you had pointed out my use of the word “all” when I meant to use “allow” in my previous post, I would not have been offended.
By @@
November 20, 2008 9:16 PM | Link to this
I swear, I don’t know why I even both to go back and read jay’s previous columns.
A quick google, and this one was worth it.
By: Mrs. Godzilla
corporal
points for cute.
to prevent future injury you might suggest “kegels” to your partner.
When I first read it, I thought “what the heck is Mrs. G talkin’ about?”
I could sooooo embarrass Mrs. G. right now! But I won’t.
It wouldn’t be apparatus…..errr, I mean appropriate.
(snicker)
By Taxpayer
November 20, 2008 9:22 PM | Link to this
Why, thank you Midori @ 9:02. I’ve seen you get on a Roll pretty well yourself from time to time. Hey, it’s all clean fun and mincing words sure beats dropping bombs or other equally destructive activities.
By bh
November 20, 2008 9:28 PM | Link to this
Manglement - I’m not TW and I’m not hiding (who would? it’s a blog!) I’m a regular reader and occasional contributor, who is absolutely disgusted by you and other reptilian true believers who show up day after day.
On the other hand, Ms Godzilla, you made me lmao earlier today. I aspire to being admitted to the Order of Obama.
By Midori
November 20, 2008 9:29 PM | Link to this
lol, Taxpayer - sure you’re right :)
By AJC/DNC Management
November 20, 2008 9:38 PM | Link to this
bh: I cannot tell you libs apart, you all look the same to me.
And as typical for any lib, I made note that you did not bother answering to Queen Pinko’s mindless attack on Bush’s very first order of business.
Maybe because you don’t have an answer?
By sunshine and thunder
November 20, 2008 9:41 PM | Link to this
JAY
C’mon. Since Obamassiah began leading in the polls I recall hearing from the likes of Diane Feinstein, Chuckie Schumer, Dick Durbin, et al. that we should “revisit” or “debate” or “consider” the merits of the Fairness Doctrine.
Hell, the bas**rds passed campaign finance reform. Why stop there? If you’re going to remove free political speech just repeal the First Amendment.
By AJC/DNC Management
November 20, 2008 9:46 PM | Link to this
While we are on the subject, you know what cracks me up, Cynthia Tucker attacked one of Bush’s very first acts in office, that being the “faith based initiative.”
I mean, really, who in the hell could be against something like that?
It’s not like Christians receive government money and then incestuously give it to their friends like democrats do, we actually go out and provide to the needy.
But the funny part, Oblahmi has already said that he will strengthen the faith based initiative and the silence on the left couldn’t be more deafening.
One of the many, many things that Bush “did wrong” that Oblahma has already made policy out of.
Stupid, partisan, mindless viciousness, you libs did it well.
By RW-(the original)
November 20, 2008 9:51 PM | Link to this
Jay B.,
Is Marin Cogan someone you look to for the depth of their investigative journalism? If so you may want to find a few other sources. Ever heard of Jeff Bingaman?
That being said, I agree with Swami Dave that it’s more likely to be done as an FCC ruling than legislatively and frankly I don’t expect it to happen but really hope it does. It’s high time the Supreme Court took another look at why the First Amendment is so selectively granted/denied.
By "The Corporal"
November 20, 2008 9:54 PM | Link to this
To Taxpayer
1) Of course not. As I said, I relish it. Use the die on the vine as often as you like as I will be using it everytime Jay repeats his message.
2) And as I said before, pointing out someone’s grammar/typing mistakes is an attempt to avoid the issue. If we start doing that, it’s all that will be on these blogs.
Back to the Ga. Tech game…
By bh
November 20, 2008 9:55 PM | Link to this
Manglement: Cynthia Tucker’s comment was an editorialist stating her opinion. While I often admire her take on current events, she doesn’t speak for all progressive citizens, so I did not think I needed to justify her opinion (even if did agree with her.) Why are you so narrow-minded that you think all Dems should walk in lock step?
By GodHatesTrash
November 20, 2008 10:08 PM | Link to this
The so-called “Christian” fundamnentalism that many of the Bushbots profess to adhere to is just a bunch of ooogedy-boogedy hooey, childish nonsense.
By Frederick Douglass
November 20, 2008 10:08 PM | Link to this
Why is it that so many bloggers here feel that they should kiss AJC/DNC Management’s rear end? Just an observation.
By RB from Gwinnett
November 20, 2008 10:11 PM | Link to this
“Why are you so narrow-minded that you think all Dems should walk in lock step?”
Because they do.
By GodHatesTrash
November 20, 2008 10:15 PM | Link to this
Bush’s Faith-Based initiative was almost a total scam.
Only a fraction of the money promised was ever appropriated and disbursed, and the program also tended to favor organizations friendly to the White House political agenda, claims Kuo. I have also been told of extremely pro-administration, pro-Republican, and anti-Democratic political rhetoric at meetings of the faith-based initiative grantees. Kuo further alleges that former White House political director Ken Mehlman used the office to mobilize religious voters in 20 targeted races-19 of which were won by Republicans. Kuo says the outreach was directed both at conservative evangelicals and at traditional Democratic allies in racial/ethnic communities that are highly sensitive to religious messages and Republican wedge issues. Kuo charges that this was the exploitation of religion for political ends in which “good and wellmeaning people are manipulated,” and that “God and politics were fused together.
Disgusting.
By getalife
November 20, 2008 10:27 PM | Link to this
“WASHINGTON (AP) - An aide to Barack Obama’s transition team says the president-elect is on track to nominate Hillary Rodham Clinton as secretary of state after Thanksgiving.”
As tweety would say ,”Ha!”
By Taxpayer
November 20, 2008 10:31 PM | Link to this
I pointed out my own typo last time, Corporal. Does that mean that I am avoiding my own “issues”?
By Soixante huitard
November 20, 2008 10:42 PM | Link to this
Why is it that so many bloggers here feel that they should kiss AJC/DNC Management’s rear end?
Are you talking about my offer of commemorative coins/plates?
Why it is the season of giving, after all.
By "The Corporal"
November 20, 2008 11:04 PM | Link to this
To Taxpayer
Come on. You did that after I gigged you for pointing out typos.
It’s a waste of time. Let it go.
To All
The Headline read: “S&P 500 closed at an 11-1/2 year low as fears of a prolonged recession sparked a massive selloff. It should have read fears of an Obama administration because that is what is driving this now.
By @@
November 20, 2008 11:09 PM | Link to this
Frederick Douglass:
You’re right, there is a lot of kissing azzes on here.
By Midori November 20, 2008 9:02 PM | Link to this
Taxpayer,
you rock :)
By Taxpayer November 20, 2008 9:22 PM | Link to this
Why, thank you Midori @ 9:02. I’ve seen you get on a Roll pretty well yourself from time to time. Hey, it’s all clean fun and mincing words sure beats dropping bombs or other equally destructive activities.
By bh November 20, 2008 9:28 PM | Link to this On the other hand, Ms Godzilla, you made me lmao earlier today. I aspire to being admitted to the Order of Obama.
By Midori November 20, 2008 9:29 PM | Link to this
lol, Taxpayer - sure you’re right :)
Didn’t see anybody kissing Mgmts. though. Unless you’re talkin’ about all the dems who kiss jay’s.
Andy, otherwise known as AJC/DNC Mgmt. KICKS AZZ!
Goodnight Freddie.
By Carlos Navarro
November 20, 2008 11:17 PM | Link to this
Democrats are not about to invoke the “Fairness Doctrine” any time soon, if at all. What with the economic catasprophe facing the nation, conservative talk shows is the least thing on their liberal minds. Considering how the all-out efforts of Limbaugh, Hannity, Savage, O’Reilly, Imus, Boortz and others had such little sway in the ‘06 and ‘08 elections, Democrats for now have nothing to fear from them. Nor they would have much to lose if Chambliss wins in Georgia and Coleman in Minessota. They still would enjoy a sizeable majority in Congress.
Conservatives at this juncture would be well-advised to hang back for a while, wait for Democrats to self-desturct and, in the meantime, come up with new strategies and fresh voices to win over the American voter.
By Taxpayer
November 20, 2008 11:28 PM | Link to this
Corporal,
I think you need to let it go with the fear-mongering. The movement in the stock prices is not due to anything Obama has done. He’s still President-elect. You could at least wait until he has the power to do something before you go blaming him. Bush is still president so give him the credit that he has so rightfully earned — 11 trillion dollar deficit, an unnecessary war, stock market that is worse off than when he took over, deficit spending, enormous job losses, etc.
By the way, I’m still trying to get you to highlight some issue that I avoided by using a typo/grammar distraction. I still cannot spot any such occurrence on my part.
By Taxpayer
November 20, 2008 11:32 PM | Link to this
@@ is feeling left out. Well, you could always bend over and kiss your own or you get Andy to kick it for you. Did that help.
By Soixante huitard
November 21, 2008 12:07 AM | Link to this
Corporal says: It should have read fears of an Obama administration because that is what is driving this now.
That’s quite some insight Corporal.
Are you able to personally speak for the markets?
That would be quite a talent to have. And lucrative I would think.
By Soixante huitard
November 21, 2008 12:16 AM | Link to this
Andy, otherwise known as AJC/DNC Mgmt. KICKS AZZ!
Ok now, everybody, pucker up.
Let’s go, bend him over. Pucker up!!
Hey, get that paddle out of here.
WHACK!!!! (THANK YOU SIR MAY I HAVE ANOTHER!)
WHACK!! (THANK YOU SIR MAY I HAVE ANOTHER!)
Hey, stop that!
Oh, never mind!
By GodHatesTrash
November 21, 2008 5:39 AM | Link to this
In his piece, Hofstadter made it clear that he was not using the term “paranoid” in the clinical sense. As he put it, “it is the use of paranoid modes of expression by more or less normal people that makes the phenomenon significant.”
“The paranoid spokesman sees the fate of conspiracy in apocalyptic terms — he traffics in the birth and death of whole worlds, whole political orders, whole systems of human values. He is always manning the barricades of civilization. He constantly lives at a turning point,” Hofstadter wrote.
Yes, the sky is always falling for these Chicken Littles…
Must really suck.
By AJC/DNC Management
November 21, 2008 6:41 AM | Link to this
Washington —- No matter how careful he is, sooner or later President-elect Barack Obama is likely to make a bum nomination or two.
“It’s unavoidable,” says Paul Light, a New York University professor and expert on presidential transitions.
It may happen because a nominee has lied about his or her background to Obama’s team, or because something that was dismissed as minor turns out to be a big deal.-Urinal/DNC
Yeah, like Bruno’s “husband.”
By Mike
November 21, 2008 7:12 AM | Link to this
Jay:
Please recognize that you are no different than the conservative pundits you despise, your supporters are as mindless and hateful as their supporters and you are as big fear/hate monger as they are.
You are no different than conservative partisan pundits. You are as intellectually dishonest, intolerant and divisive as they are. If you truly are disgusted with their behavior, you need to understand that most of the population feels the same way about you and the other partisan liberal pundits. Just like most of don’t see Bloods or Crips, we just see criminals, we also don’t see conservative or liberal, we just see intellectually dishonest and divisive pundits.
The truth is that you and the radio-talk folks are much the same. You are both arms merchants in the partisan online hate war, with you sole beneficiaries as our country suffers the consequences of a citizenry bitterly divided over the narrowest of differences. You are both equally destructive.
Maybe you can take a break from judging everyone else’s behavior and evaluate your own. In doing so, I am confident that you will discover what a world class-hypocrite you are.
By TW
November 21, 2008 7:23 AM | Link to this
The truth is that you and the radio-talk folks are much the same
Actually, Mike, those who read are far more intelligent than those who mimick sheep (you, of course, being an example of the occasional exception).
On a side note - bwa…bwa…bwa…
God I miss the real Republicans.
By Mike
November 21, 2008 7:31 AM | Link to this
“By TW November 21, 2008 7:23 AM | Link to this The truth is that you and the radio-talk folks are much the same
Actually, Mike, those who read are far more intelligent than those who mimick sheep (you, of course, being an example of the occasional exception).”
Truth be told, the partisans on the other side as convinced of their intellectual superiority as you are. Do you think any group walks around thinking they are stupid and wrong? Please.
“On a side note - bwa…bwa…bwa…”
This is a feeble response. Do you never complain about anything on blogs?
“God I miss the real Republicans.”
I’m not a Republican. I just think Bookman is a partisan hypocrite, as I do Sean Hannity. Assuming that anyone who doesn’t share your views about Jay Bookman must be a Republican is silly.
By AJC/DNC Management
November 21, 2008 7:41 AM | Link to this
Remember what the know it all democrats were whining about yesterday?:
What is wrong with a company like GM having a private jet for executive business? If anything, this meeting in Washington is the most important one in the company’s history. Its entire business future depends on it. If you are a GM employee, would you really want the CEO stuck in Cleveland and missing the hearing that might decide the fate of the company because he missed his connection on Continental?
This story goes beyond lunacy, because it is a glaring example of how journalism has failed to accurately report the things that were happening that caused the financial meltdown. The majority of the major stories seem to follow the same themes: exuberant corporate bonuses, corporate excess and the wacky things that corporate America does (AIG going to a spa). If the media did their job, we would be a lot more informed as to why we are in the situation we are in right now. I’m still waiting.-WSJ
Word up.
By TW
November 21, 2008 7:46 AM | Link to this
Mike - silly?
Your tantrum is silly, Mike. You eagerly seek to divide. This makes you part of the problem.
I apoligize if I seem to have missed your extensive critique of the ‘w’ admenstruation. After all, swatting vigorously at Bookman surely pales in comparison to the words you must have hurled at the man who ruined the country. Right?
By G
November 21, 2008 7:46 AM | Link to this
It is simply a way to keep the folks in the stands fired up.
They are coming to take away your right wing radio just the way they are coming to take away your guns (in their black helicopters).
A similar meme is the “amero,” the imaginary plan to institute a North American currency to take the place of our good ole dollars. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amero)
Absolutely not a chance in the world that this could take place, but it sure is helpful in feeding paranoia.
But it’s all good. Progressives should understand that anything that increases the influence of right wing nuts in the Republican party helps Democrats at the polls.
As long as voters are aware that what concerns the right is this kind of stuff and not jobs or prosperity, the political power of the right will continue to decline.
By RightWingChicken
November 21, 2008 7:54 AM | Link to this
Everyone duck! I think I just saw Osama bin Ladin in my shrubbery.
By Republicans Killed America
November 21, 2008 7:57 AM | Link to this
Ming, the Merciless; Conan, the Barbarian; Bush, the Destroyer. If only they had all been fiction.
By DB, Gwinnettian
November 21, 2008 8:06 AM | Link to this
With the disclaimer that I haven’t read but a few of the comments so far, and that Mr. Bookman will probably post something in a minute or two and dead-thread this, I invite you all to listen to an enlightening discussion of the Fairness Doctrine by Nicole Sandler, who was subbing for Rachel Maddow this week, linked near the bottom of this blog post.
From the looks of what I’ve scanned in this thread so far, and no offense intended, um, many of you could use some enlightenment.
By AmVet
November 21, 2008 8:11 AM | Link to this
…because it is a glaring example of how journalism has failed to accurately report the things that were happening that caused the financial meltdown. The majority of the major stories seem to follow the same themes: exuberant corporate bonuses, corporate excess and the wacky things that corporate America does (AIG going to a spa). If the media did their job, we would be a lot more informed as to why we are in the situation we are in right now. I’m still waiting.-WSJ
Yes, thank god the Wall Street Journal was not complicit in this ongoing attempted corporate destruction of capitalism, right?
Just like they’ve adequately indicted this horrific administration for it’s enormous role therein. Riiiiight.
What? It’s published by the Dow Jones & Company! Owned by who? Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation?
No way! No wonder.
If you mindless maroons on the fringes are waiting for THESE people to inform you about the crooks and swindlers who are in bed with them, and who belong in prison, but will never, ever be held accountable, you missed the information boat a long, long time ago.
I hope you and your children and their children enjoy picking up the gangster capitalist’s “free market” tab…
By Sam
November 21, 2008 8:16 AM | Link to this
It is readily apparent why “Corporal” never rose above that rank.
By Ben
November 21, 2008 8:23 AM | Link to this
It’s not much different than all the ridiculous theories the left seems to have about the right and Bush and such. I’m reminded of some proverb about stones and glsss houses…
By Joey
November 21, 2008 8:29 AM | Link to this
I am very late to this show, therefore, maybe not worth the time.
I am convinced that the Fairness Doctrine is a real concern. I believe it can be implimented without congressional action.
I am convinced because Radio Talkers are genuinely concerned about their ability to continue receiving the pay that they now receive.
The Fairness Doctrine is a threat to their ability to talk, but the bigger threat is to their ability to earn millions each year.
By Paul
November 21, 2008 8:44 AM | Link to this
Jay
Yesterday you asserted, “Obama… is on the record as very clearly opposing a new Fairness Doctrine …Other top Democrats…laugh off the idea or dismiss it as ridiculous.”
This was the “Talking Points” subject on BOR last night (print version available on his web site). It led with a Fox Producer going to Capitol Hill for comment. First up: Spkr Pelosi. Question was “Madame Speaker, do you support reinstituting the Fairness Doctrine?” Her answer: “I always have.”
Care to guess who will be the first Democratic Representative or Senator to tell Speaker Pelosi her idea is ‘ridiculous’?
By Ray
November 21, 2008 9:08 AM | Link to this
To appeal to a prospective listener, a blog, radio talk show, etc. has to have something that the listener wants to hear but not disagree with. Liberal radio, ie Air America and similar shows appeal to a segment of the population much like the conservative outlets. How many liberals have listened to Neal Boortz? Very few. But they do tune in NPR on a regular basis. While not in your face like many of the Hannity type programs, NPR is decidedly left in all of their programing and news presentation, much like AJC. Not like the AJC, they are subtle about it for fear of losing their tax subsidy but it is there day in and day out. I listen every day for about 6 hours in my boat shop and mostly tune in on the classical music segments but when the commentators surface like Terri Gross, Neil Conan, Robert Segal, etc., they never have sources other than the NYT, rarely offer dissenting views and almost always agree with their sources and guests.
Air America and shows like this have not been overly successful in the liberal community. Most of these are carried on AM stations like the right leaning shows but many only carry one commentator and that is usually Franken.
An attempt to silence opinion, no matter who where it comes from, however, will not serve the public well. It may rattle our cages when we hear what we don’t want to hear , but it is our 2nd Amendment right and we have to respect every citizen’s right to voice his/her spin. Just don’t try to silence one segment selectively…… that serves no one.
By "The Corporal"
November 21, 2008 9:10 AM | Link to this
To Soixi
Interesting read from this moring ….
Obama has:
… promised to raise capital gains taxes, perhaps even double them.
… promised to sign the so-called “Card Check” bill.
… promised to raise income taxes on the largest jobs producing segment of our economy, small businesses.
… promised more business regulation.
and that’s just for starters and you wonder why the market is down ?
By Chip Shirley
November 21, 2008 9:37 AM | Link to this
Limbaugh and Hannity are the political equivalent of Hulk Hogan and the rock.
It’s pure theater except or more to the point, propaganda.
These two gross liars claim to be the most patriotic and ‘self-made’ Americans out there, but both of them dodged military service while the Rev. Wright served and has an honorable discharge.
When are Americans going to wake up? These two hateful vulgarians laugh like ‘Snidely Whiplash’ as they mock the memory of FDR!
FDR beat Hitler, Limbaugh and Hannity would have licked his boots to get jobs in his propaganda machine.
By RealityKing
November 21, 2008 10:48 AM | Link to this
In September of 2007, Senator Barack Obama wrote a letter to the FCC promoting localism and media diversity. President Obama needs only three votes from the five-member FCC to define localism in such a way that no radio station could legally air any syndicated conservative programming.
Liberals have always used word play to define their terms of free speech. And if your not with them, your against them..
By fed up in gwinnett
November 21, 2008 4:07 PM | Link to this
Sorry Jay, Nancy Pelosi was just questioned if she still supported the fairness doctrine and her answer was I always have, chuckie schumer wouldn’t answer the questions so you’ve wasted alot of hot air (once again) Not sure if Obama’s answered that question along with a few others.
By Bruce becker
November 21, 2008 5:13 PM | Link to this
I see the wise comment from someone about capital gains. Really? I doubt anyone in this GOP-made mess has any capital gains at all.
Lets focus on the immense tax reduction the middle class is going to get if we can just end the Saxby Chambliss filibuster before he starts the blah blah.
Lets end the DO-NOTHING party before Saxby starts it.
VOTE MARTIN. lower your taxes.
By Todd Pollard
November 26, 2008 3:53 AM | Link to this
The Fairness Doctrine needs to be leveled on the TV News, not talk radio. Rush Limbaugh is 98% truthfull, The main stream media did a ugly smear campaine on Sara Palin her because HATE is all they know how to do. All the liberal media did was spend all their time with there tonges up Obamas dirty black a* hole. White America, you are loosing your country. Listen to Shawn Hannity on WSB 750 and WAKE UP!!!
By Tom Johnson
November 26, 2008 4:03 AM | Link to this
The Fairness Doctrine, in effect from 1927 until Regan repealed it in 1987, applied to the public airways only (basically, radio.
It did/does not apply to cable tv). It required broadcasters to devote some of their airtime to discussing controversial matters of public interest, and to air contrasting views regarding those matters.
Contrasting views could be done through news segments, public affairs shows or editorials. Even by not hanging up on people who are not “dittoheads.”
In 1969 United States Supreme Court called it the single most important requirement of operation in the public interest for grant of a renewal of license. The airwaves belong to the American people, and station owners may NOT run a station as a propaganda arm of the any political party (See WSB)
So, what does the Fairness Doctrine NOT require:
It does not require that each program be internally balanced.
It does not mandate equal time for opposing points of view.
It does not require that the balance of a stations program lineup be anything like 50/50.
With regard to conservative talk shows, they have always flourished, even when this was in force. Also, not one Fairness Doctrine decision issued by the FCC has ever concerned itself with talk shows
While it may be true that it was “a pain to enforce” its main value was in its codification of the principle that broadcasters had a responsibility to present a range of views on controversial issues.
In 1987, the Fairness Doctrine was repealed under Ronald Reagan and conservative radio swept that land as radio stations saw no need to offer a counter point to these opinions. In 2002, Edward Monks, a lawyer in Eugene, Oregon, studied the two commercial talk stations in his town. He found 80 hours per week, more than 4,000 hours per year, programmed for Republican and conservative talk shows, without a single second programmed for a Democratic or liberal perspective. This was in EUGENE OREGON!
Monks rightly concluded that “Political opinions expressed on talk radio are approaching the level of uniformity that would normally be achieved only in a totalitarian society. There is nothing fair, balanced or democratic about it.
By Radcliffe
February 22, 2009 9:32 PM | Link to this
Hola ;) Yesterday I was browsing and came here, still wanna come back ;) Would like to chat ;). I am from Albania and learning to speak English, please tell me right I wrote the following sentence: “Covers weight loss diets, pills, exercise programs, nutrition, fitness, fitness model pics and exercise.”
Regards :-) Radcliffe.