Oh dear, gentle reader, I fear a storm is brewing. In an interview with the New Republic, released this morning, President Obama criticized some elements of the media - naming Fox News by name - for helping to feed the Republican obstructionism and hostility that marked his first term in office. And I can already hear the first ominous rumblings of thunder in the distance.
The interview covered a variety of topics - gun control, executive orders, and football - but a lot of it focused on the dysfunction in Washington. When asked about Republicans' unwillingness to work with him, Obama responded: "I don't think the issue is whether or not there are people of goodwill in either party that want to get something done. I think what we really have to do is change some of the incentive structures so that people feel liberated to pursue some common ground. One of the biggest factors is going to be how the media shapes debates. If a Republican member of Congress is not punished on Fox News or by Rush Limbaugh for working with a Democrat on a bill of common interest, then you'll see more of them doing it."
Greta Van Susteren has already written a critical blog post: "Apparently President Obama wants his usual media pass and Fox challenges his policies – which happens to be the media’s job." She also accused Democrat brass of intimidation: "Some Democrats have told me that they want to come on Fox to discuss issues but they get heat from their Leadership for appearing on Fox. Does President Obama know that? So which Party is intimidating its members?"
Van Susteren is one of the more reasonable Fox personalities. I am waiting with bated breath to see how some of the others respond.
(h/t Mediaite for putting me onto this story)
TRANSLATION: I’d much rather remain blissfully ignorant and continue to think Dumbya and Fox could do no wrong (and Obama can do no right) than to have any reality intrude on my fantasy . . .
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CIA disbands Bin laden unit
Suzanne Goldenberg in Washington
The Guardian, Tuesday 4 July 2006 13.23 EDT
Nearly five years after George Bush vowed to bring Osama bin Laden to justice “dead or alive”, it’s the end of the line for the CIA’s Alec Station, the unit dedicated to the hunt for the al-Qaida leader.
The unit, named after the son of a counter-terror official, was disbanded last year, it emerged this week, and its agents reassigned in what intelligence officials described as a recognition of the changing nature of al-Qaida.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2006/jul/04/usa.alqaida
Hm — maybe shutting down the unit that was dedicated to finding bin Laden had a lil’ sompin’ to do with why that mission failed . . .
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CIA who proposed the attack to Vice Admiral William McRoven who took it to higher authority at which Obama enforced the plan, just like any other president would have done.”
“Who knows if he’s [bin Laden] hiding in some cave or not. We haven’t heard from him in a long time. The idea of focusing on one person really indicates to me people don’t understand the scope of the mission. Terror is bigger than one person. He’s just a person who’s been marginalized. … *I don’t know where he is. I really just don’t spend that much time on him, to be honest with you.”* — George W. Bush, six months after 9/11
Well, Kenzie — sure doesn’t SOUND like “any other president” would enforce the plan of getting bin Laden . . .
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Fox News sure does like to hire people who were fired from their former employers for hate speech. Might explain why their viewers are so comfortable preaching hatred and making death threats on Fox Nation.
Oh, and both links to articles, as well as videos of it happening on the network are included with the articles. if you were capable of reading MJ’s links instead of just running your mouth, you’d know that you could turn up the “actual fox news articles.”
*Ray Michaels, the thing is what exactly has Obama done right that people should be complimenting him about? *
Updated and Expanded List of 212 Obama Accomplishments, With Citations!
http://pleasecutthecrap.typepad.com/main/what-has-obama-done-since-january-20-2009.html
You will never see Fox News praising Romney
“Fox’s Desperate Romney Debate Rehab: The Marines Still Use Bayonets!”
http://www.newshounds.us/fox_s_desperate_romney_debate_rehab_the_marines_still_use_bayonets_10222012
“Fox Pretends Romney Leads In Early Voting”
http://www.newshounds.us/fox_pretends_romney_leads_in_early_voting_10192012
“It’s Not Just Bias: Four Fox News Contributors Work For Romney”
http://www.newshounds.us/it_s_not_just_bias_four_fox_news_contributors_work_for_romney_09122012
“Fox News: The Go-To Network For Romney Campaign Speeches”
http://www.newshounds.us/fox_news_the_go_to_network_for_romney_campaign_speeches_11052012
“Who Cares If Romney Lied During The Debate? He Looked Good!”
http://www.newshounds.us/who_cares_if_romney_lied_during_the_debate_he_looked_good_10092012
“Fox News Disappears Romney’s Gaffes In England”
http://www.newshounds.us/fox_news_disappears_romney_s_gaffes_in_england_07262012
“Fox Helps Romney Out by Exploiting 1998 Obama ‘Redistribution’ Video”
http://www.newshounds.us/fox_helps_romney_out_by_exploiting_1998_obama_redistribution_video_20120919
“Fox News Rehabs Romney’s Middle East Blunder”
http://www.newshounds.us/fox_news_rehabs_romney_s_middle_east_blunder_09122012
“Fox & Friends Applaud Romney’s ’47 Percent’ Comments”
http://www.newshounds.us/fox_friends_applaud_romney_s_47_percent_comments_09182012
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Go figure. *
Aside from what Visitor said about MSNBC not having a problem with Democrats and Republicans working together (neither does CNN), they also have no problem calling out wrongdoing from the left.
They called out Obama for policies they feel are wrong.
They called out Anthony Weiner for lying to the people.
They called out Carl Levin for his role in writing the “Indefinite Suspension” clause of the NDAA, and held a debate on whether Obama’s executive priviledge did enough to stop it.
They’ve had no problem calling out Pelosi and Reid when take the bait.
MSNBC has no problem giving honest criticism of Democrats. Fox News, on the other hand, seems to think that the only crime a Republican can commit is bipartisanship- They change the® to a (D) for everything else they can’t just ignore.
Then these 2 chuckleheads proceeded to offer up some silly hyperbole and to bad-mouth Obama which further proved Obama’s points about FOX (you know, a supposed news network that claims to be “fair & balanced”). OMG, the jokes write themselves!
What makes the segment even more ridiculous is that there was a chyron directed at Obama which said “bias alert”. Projection much, F&F? Bwaaah!
I also can’t wait to see Jon Stewart’s and Steven Colbert’s take on this — this is gonna be good!
A Florida court ruled in favor of FNC transmitting lies! What’s the problem?
Why would they get mad or be offended that Pres. Obama is repeating what they’ve been saying for years?
More “outrage” where none is warranted from FauxNews.