On Oct 1, 2008, at 4:39 PM, Michael Luscombe wrote:

> Our discussion started with the idea of objective truth and
> perspective, and I'll bring it back here.

That's a really disingenuous assertion, Michael. At best, objective  
truth and perspective were only mentioned in passing. From the  
initial response, this thread has been about media bias during the  
current presidential campaign.

I understand your desire to take every opportunity to vilify  
Republicans and Bush in particular. I was hoping to have a reasonable  
discussion with you regarding media bias I've avoided taking any of  
your bait. At least mostly. We can resume after Palin kicks Biden't  
ass tomorrow night.

But seriously, during these times we need the best that journalism  
has to offer. We're now getting the worst. I think it's a combination  
of incompetence and bias.

I would vote for Ron Paul if he knew how to restore wide-spread  
confidence in every aspect of our news outlets. The subject is that  
important to me.

I'm not singling you out, but phrases like 'No offense, but I'm not a  
big fan of your "facts"' serve to ensure we never agree on anything.  
That may be the right attitude to take, but it really sucks.

And it's not just facts. It's fairness and uniformity and perspective  
and weight and presentation and hidden bias and a sense of history  
and pride in not becoming a part of the story. It's how they  
characterize the man or woman or group or corporation that is the  
subject of the story.

The same event is presently differently on MSNBC and FoxNews, and  
wildly so. They're fans are just as ludicrous as English soccer fans.  
They relish every opportunity to speak in the most vitriolic terms  
that other news channel and the assholes that it. How dumb is that?

Perhaps the problem will solve itself. The newsprint media continues  
to lose readership, subscriptions and ad revenue. Broadcast news  
outlets continue to lose viewers. I believe some of the extreme bias  
we're seeing is the result of an industry in it's death throes. It's  
only a matter of time before folks realize they can ignore the  
screaming heads, get off their asses and get some important things done.

I know with the utmost of confidence that I'm getting the liberal (or  
Democratic) take on a story from the AP, just as you know with the  
utmost of certainty that Rush Windbag is giving you the conservative  
(Republican) take on a story. If both news/editorial outlets would  
simply declare their allegiance, we would spend more time on policy  
differences than disputing facts.

We would spend a lot less time arguing about the facts or the manner  
in which a story is characterized if both news or editorial outfits  
made their allegiance clear.

I've found that policy differences aren't that hard to work through.  
Especially when you're face to face. That really serves to alleviate  
a lot of stifling hostility. I'm not always successful, but I try to  
write as though you're across the table from me. You may look  
unbathed with a ferocious hangover and have blood shooting out of   
your eyes, but that still works better than assuming you're just  
another bundle of electrons from the ether.

But hey, if you'd rather go Melville on me, here's a new thread for you.


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