Real World

I've noticed that Hardball has moved to the left in earnest. I used to really enjoy the show, and still do, but it's direction of late is disappointing. At any rate, having been a nightly viewer of Tom Brokaw, I totally ditched the nightly news a few years ago when the slants were far too obvious for me to take.


Ken Allard

Ken Allard: NBC sinks too low for this talking head

Web Posted: 02/14/2007 11:04 PM CST

San Antonio Express-News

Like some second marriages and most Hollywood sequels, it's usually a bad idea for a columnist to revisit the same topic. But last week's discussion of renegade blogger and NBC military analyst Bill Arkin proved some larger points.
In case you missed it, Arkin characterized U.S. soldiers as "mercenaries" enjoying "obscene amenities" shipped into the war zone — pampered hirelings who then complain about declining public support for the war effort.


In reaction, many military people and their families wrote in. Some wondered why NBC would continue to give Arkin a platform for spreading slurs about our men and women serving in Iraq — and as volunteers rather than as mercenaries.

Soldiers treasure humor especially when angry, and a bittersweet correspondence followed about the nature of those supposedly obscene amenities. Did MREs count or, for that matter, heat-resistant Hershey bars with a shelf life measured in decades? What about interceptor body armor? A Marine lance corporal in Iraq reported that their tents were newly equipped with heaters: Did this mean they were pampered?

Writing for the National Review, Michael Ledeen argued this week that only "know-nothings" could call American soldiers mercenaries. "Our fighters are where they are because they believe in something bigger than themselves." And also because soldiers are members of a military community "where virtue does not equal narcissism."

Such communities are increasingly scarce, especially in certain precincts of our national media, where narcissism is apparently becoming a core value. Here, it is probably appropriate to note that for more than 10 years, I served as one of those military analysts you saw on NBC whenever international conflicts were looming.

NBC then was a network comfortably resonating to the rhythms of Tom Brokaw and the greatest generation. Especially after 9-11, our rivals at Fox and CNN scrambled for audience attention by recruiting their own military analysts — subsequently known as "Warheads." Especially for a post-draft nation where personal military service is increasingly rare, our band of TV brothers helped fill in some of the blanks about this new kind of war.

Being personally affected by the life-cycle of news stories, none of the Warheads was surprised to see our respective networks gradually reining in their coverage of the war as popular support waned. Audiences were wearying of a conflict with no end in sight, and, unlike the greatest generation, this one was being fought by Other People's Kids.

When you don't have skin in the game, war becomes a matter of sheer personal preference. Channel clickers are wielded, the soldier overlooked or, as we saw last week, even maligned as a mercenary without provoking a career-ending scandal.

It is, therefore, possible to argue that NBC is merely undergoing a delicate arabesque in anticipation of changing audience preferences and the long- hoped-for Democratic restoration (although journalists generally seem reluctant to raise the tough questions that should punctuate the 2008 campaign).

But has anyone else noticed the network's precipitous retreat from journalistic and ethical standards? Not only were no apologies given and no pink slips issued for Arkin's outburst, but on his MSNBC show last week, Keith Olberman went out of his way to defend this "valid criticism" of our military.

In January, Conan O'Brien was allowed to escape without apology after airing a particularly tasteless gay skit deriding Christianity: "Oh, Jesus, I love you, but only as a friend." (Just try doing that sometime using Mohammad's name!)

And only this week, questions have been raised about the cozy relationships between CNBC anchor Maria Bartiromo and the companies she covers as a supposedly objective journalist. The response by Jeffrey Immelt, CEO of GE and godfather of the NBC family: "Substantially, I don't think she did anything wrong."

Fine: Let's hope he's right. But sometimes the only way to show where you really stand is to vote with your feet. And so with great reluctance and best wishes to my former colleagues, with this column I am severing my 10-year relationship with NBC News.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/opinion/...15.39ca78.html

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"The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow-witted man if he has not formed any idea of them already; but the simplest thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of doubt, what is laid before him."
Leo Tolstoy, 1897

mr3putt

I too am tested by the extreme vitriol spewed recently by MSNBC. I think they took the last election results as a blank check to push issues beyond reasonable analysis. Why be rational when you can stand on a soapbox and scream baseless accusations and conspiracy theories.

This from a person who hates the current administration.

Seymour93

NBC's ratings are up due to Heroes and the NFL while MSNBC was the only cable news channel with ratings growth the past year.

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Harry Boy

NBC
It's amazing how fast these so called "Educated Savvy Business People" can self destruct, do they really think they can shove their "Left Wing *****" down the throats of the American people, don't these Hater Liberal Bastards realize how many other news outlets there are out there, we sit in our chairs with a clicker and can shut them out in a second and from what I read and listen to that is exactly what the people are doing to NBC.

Did the big brains at NBC take any notice to what happened with ***** head Al Franken?

If you really want to see something sickening watch them in the morning when they are out on the sidewalk with their earmuffs on and all the dorks from Indiana are waving their signs that say "We Love You Matt", listen to that whiny disgusting Ann Curry when she trys to get in her little "Hate Bush Digs" she always looks like she's getting ready to puke.

Al Roker seems to be the only dignified one on there you never hear him say anything hateful or insulting against the country or other people and there is talk now that he will be bailing out also.

Is it any wonder FOX NEWS leads the pack, if Jenna, Jeb and Barbara Bush discovered a cure for Cancer tomorrow Matt Lauer would never tell you about it, you would have to use your clicker and go Fox then you would hear all about it, fair and balanced.

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Harry Boy (Genius)

In The Absence Of Law And Order Society Will Surely Destroy Itself

Fogbuster

Damn!! What took this guy so long??? Must be nice to be so young and naive. Welcome to the world, son.


//

I've noticed that Hardball has moved to the left in earnest. I used to really enjoy the show, and still do, but it's direction of late is disappointing. At any rate, having been a nightly viewer of Tom Brokaw, I totally ditched the nightly news a few years ago when the slants were far too obvious for me to take.


Ken Allard

Ken Allard: NBC sinks too low for this talking head

Web Posted: 02/14/2007 11:04 PM CST

San Antonio Express-News

Like some second marriages and most Hollywood sequels, it's usually a bad idea for a columnist to revisit the same topic. But last week's discussion of renegade blogger and NBC military analyst Bill Arkin proved some larger points.
In case you missed it, Arkin characterized U.S. soldiers as "mercenaries" enjoying "obscene amenities" shipped into the war zone — pampered hirelings who then complain about declining public support for the war effort.

Fogbuster

It's only going to get worse. These types are like piranha when they smell a few drops of blood in the water. All it takes is for the "big boys" in the media to swing their spin the other way, and all the little toadies follow along. They're like paparazzi, all trying to get the "killer shot" of the next big "scoop". The lust for Pulitzers is what drives today's media. Principle?? Dream on.



//

Real World

It's pretty obvious to most people. The slants and bias of all media is growing. It's really disturbing to me.

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"The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow-witted man if he has not formed any idea of them already; but the simplest thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of doubt, what is laid before him."
Leo Tolstoy, 1897

Real World

We were talking about NBC's nightly news, and MSNBC was dead last, so you would hope they'd get better. It's like going 1-15, then going 3-13, and saying "see, we're good".

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"The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow-witted man if he has not formed any idea of them already; but the simplest thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of doubt, what is laid before him."
Leo Tolstoy, 1897

Harry Boy

I've tried many times to watch that noisy yelling Chris Matthews but he is disgusting, he drools, screams and is probably the rudest bastard on TV.

I can't understand why people agree to to go on his show, he never lets them finish a sentence, he asks them a question and when they try to answer the idiot will cut them right off, but I suppose the liberals like him, he had one guy on there that wouldn't take his insulting ***** though, Zell Miller, he kept trying to cut Miller off so Miller just came out and told him to "shut up" and let him finish, Matthews tried to laugh it off but Miller set him right on his a$s. People have written in asking them to show that interview again but "Drooling Matthews" wants no part of it.

The old days of CBS, NBC, ABC and PBS feeding you all their Left Wing Crap are over, just use your Clicker.

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Harry Boy (Genius)

In The Absence Of Law And Order Society Will Surely Destroy Itself

mr3putt

You can kiss my ass Moonie.

Stay overseas forever punk...and take your God with you