Originally Posted By ecdc <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/03/23/cheney.hotel/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITI CS/03/23/cheney.hotel/index.html</a> I gotta admit, when I first saw this story, I clicked on it licking my lips, hoping to bust Cheney in his extravagant, millionaire lifestyle that we tax payers foot the bill for. Actually, Cheney's requests seem fairly mild, and downright frugal when you read stories about what Hollywood celebrities often require. Kind of a fun little article.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper Well, it makes sense that everything would be prepared in advance. You can't just call down for room service when you are the Vice-President/President due to all of the security concerns. I suspect having an advanced list of needs (decaf coffee, diet coke, etc) makes it easier for the Secret Service. I have seen some of the riders in entertainers contracts. Some things are just too amazing to believe.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper Outside of the foreign press can someone please tell me which news program I can watch that doesn't have a conservative agenda or a liberal agenda? Is it PBS or nothing?
Originally Posted By BlueDevilSF RoadTrip: If I'm not mistaken, I *think* Cheney has what I've got: a combination implanted defibrillator/pacemaker. I seem to remember he also has the same heart disorder that I do.
Originally Posted By TomSawyer Wahooskipper, when the business of the network is to sell advertising, then they are going to be sensationalistic. Their job isn't to tell you the truth - it's to keep you tuned to that channel between the commercials. And their job is to keep you convinced that only their on-air talent is capable of telling you what you need to know. Fox News and CNN are in the same business - they sell advertising. What they put on between the ads is just there to keep you tuned to that station until the next ad comes on.
Originally Posted By woody >>Outside of the foreign press can someone please tell me which news program I can watch that doesn't have a conservative agenda or a liberal agenda?<< It isn't PBS, but the McNeil hour may be the most neutral of their programs. CSPAN is pretty good too. Fox is perceived as conservative due to prevalence of conservative talking heads like Bill O'Reilly and Shawn Hannity, but it does have liberal hosts too like Alan Colmes and Greta Van Susteran. The real shame is the reporting of the news should NOT be an issue of left or right. The denying of bias is worse than the transparency of it.
Originally Posted By cmpaley >>The real shame is the reporting of the news should NOT be an issue of left or right. << Well, finally we agree on something. The reporting of the news should be about the TRUTH, not "fair and balanced."
Originally Posted By woody >>TRUTH, not "fair and balanced."<< Nor is there one truth. That's why fair and balanced is a good compromise.
Originally Posted By cmpaley >>>>TRUTH, not "fair and balanced."<< Nor is there one truth. That's why fair and balanced is a good compromise.<< I don't buy it. Truth is truth. Fair and balanced is that the Democrats put forth their spin and lies and the Republicans put forth their spin and lies. If that's all you get, you are left with nothing but spin and lies. The job of journalism USED TO BE to find out what the truth is and report that, no matter WHOSE ox gets gored. Then again, since I consider myself a member of the reality based community, I must be a odd duck.
Originally Posted By woody The reality is no one owns the news. If there is only one source providing the news although it may appear to be free of bias, it isn't so. The mainstream media believes in advocacy journalism. It believes news should "help" people or change things for the better. That may be a noble cause, but it doesn't make them journalists. They become advocates. Hard news is not pretty. It could be confrontational. It could be cold. It doesn't have to be about "goring" someone.
Originally Posted By cmpaley >>The mainstream media believes in advocacy journalism.<< Yep. And FAUXNews (aka FOXNews) advocates for the Right. Thanks for the honesty.
Originally Posted By cmpaley >>It doesn't have to be about "goring" someone.<< Oh, but for the Right, it does. The Right thrives on violence.
Originally Posted By bboisvert <<Hard news is not pretty. It could be confrontational. It could be cold.>> Just make sure that it's not a dissenting view from the current majority's platform, right? Otherwise... ...it could get you labeled un-patriotic. ...it could get you labeled a "Saddam lover". ...it could get you labeled a terrorist sympathizer. ...it could be misinterpreted as "never reporting the good news". Or the worst one of all... ...it could get you called a "moonbat"!
Originally Posted By woody >>Yep. And FAUXNews (aka FOXNews) advocates for the Right.<< Are you calling Fox News part of the mainstream media? ABC/CBS/ABC/CNN/PBS would not agree. You show your honesty by not knowing the facts. >>Oh, but for the Right, it does. The Right thrives on violence.<< More evidence of not knowing the facts.
Originally Posted By woody >>Just make sure that it's not a dissenting view from the current majority's platform, right?<< News is not the same as opinion. The mainstream media as represented by ABC/CBS/NBC/CNN/PBS is supposed to present the news. They are not supposed to be advocates, but they are. You're mixing opinion and news. They are not the same. You got them confused.
