FillmoreSlim

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/Con...d=970599119419

Bush unchallenged by media
LINDA MCQUAIG

When Stockwell Day arrived by skidoo in a wetsuit, Canadians laughed. When George Bush arrived by fighter jet in a combat suit, Americans called him a hero.

That says a lot about the difference between Canadians and Americans these days. Canadians aren't so easily conned.

Of course, some might conclude instead that former Canadian Alliance leader Stockwell Day is simply a more laughable figure. But that hardly seems fair.

It's true that Day's waterside "press conference" in 2000 was stage-managed and laughable ? designed so that Day could look vigorous and athletic as he zoomed up in a wetsuit.

But Bush's fighter-plane landing on the deck of a U.S. battleship earlier this month, and his emergence from the cockpit in combat gear and mussed-up hair, was even more stage-managed (right down to the soft-tone sunset lighting and the "Mission Accomplished" backdrop sign perfectly angled for TV viewers). As for laughable, it's hard to outdo Bush ? who went AWOL from the National Guard during the Vietnam War ? strutting around the ship in full battle regalia, carrying his own helmet (I guess there wasn't anybody available to carry it for him.)

But while the Canadian media had a field day lampooning Stockwell Day, the American media largely treated the Bush photo-op as a serious event, if not a nation-building moment. (One had to seek out obscure Web sites to find questions like: Wasn't that a sock stuffed down the front of the president's combat pants?)

Only an administration supremely confident of the media's docility would have risked staging an event like that, leaving Bush open to ridicule from any media outlet that saw its role as more than simply being a chronicler of Tales of Fearless Leaders.

This media docility has allowed the Bush administration to go largely unchallenged as it adopts the mantle of an imperial presidency. Some of the administration's most rabid hawks have even come close to realizing their dream ? implementing the ultra-elitist ideas of an obscure political philosopher named Leo Strauss.

There's been a buzz recently over reports that Strauss, who shaped the neoconservative revolution from his post at the University of Chicago, is lionized by (among others) Deputy Defence Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, widely seen as the architect of Washington's post-9/11 strategy.

Media accounts have focused on Strauss' advocacy of strong leadership, devoting less attention to his anti-democratic leanings. Central to the Straussian vision is a docile citizenry, kept uninformed and easy to manipulate through perpetual fear of external attack. "Deception of the citizens by those in power is critical," explains Shadia Drury, a University of Calgary political scientist and author of Leo Strauss And The American Right.

Accordingly, a terrified American public was kept under the mistaken illusion that Saddam Hussein had "weapons of mass destruction" and would soon strike America if America didn't strike first. Clearly, a vigorous, questioning American media could throw a spanner into the best-laid plans of the White House Straussians, or "Leocons" as they're sometimes called, but there seems to be little chance of that these days.

Rather, anyone questioning the Commander-in-Chief or his policies is promptly dissed by hostile Bush supporters who display a virulent, anti-democratic contempt for public debate or even, often, civilized discourse.

So, for instance, Fox News "host" Bill O'Reilly last February interviewed an anti-war activist whose father was killed in the Sept. 11 attacks. One might have thought that losing a father in that American tragedy would have at least earned the activist a respectful hearing on an American interview program. Wrong. O'Reilly never let up his verbal abuse during the interview, and afterwards promptly told the activist to "Get out of my studio before I tear you to f----ing pieces."

Or, as Chris Hill, business development vice-president for Showtime Digital Media in California, wrote me after a recent column questioning U.S. actions in Iraq: "Please do us all a favor and take a long walk off a short pier, you spineless, leftist, Canadian ---- (expletive for female genitalia)."

In a less coarsely worded attempt to shut down public debate, historian Michael Bliss vehemently denounced the Star's Michele Landsberg for even posing questions in her column that any normally curious person (let alone a historian) would want answered, like: How come the world's best military was unable to do anything about hijacked airplanes flying over its territory for more than an hour on Sept. 11?

Some people seem to be hoping we'll all feel too cowed to ask any questions, other than how the president manages to look so rugged and handsome in his uniform. How does he do it?


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Linda McQuaig is a Toronto-based author and political commentator. She writes every Sunday.

__________________
New and Improved Chameleon Submitter 2.0 - Submit to TGP and MGP sites
- GET
YOURS TODAY!

PostWhore

because everyone were stunned by President's Bush Camel Toe

__________________
Ask me how to monetize with adult traffic!

directfiesta

Says it all:

__________________
I know that Asspimple is stoopid ... As he says, it is a FACT !

But I can't figure out how he can breathe or type , at the same time ....

rooster

yea direct, and fools like you believe that, which is why Canada is so backward.

Houca

look at this, it's worth :

http://guignolsinfo.free.fr/we_fuck_the_world.avi (10meg)

directfiesta

Sure:

- We are living under Terror alerts
- Our deficit is the biggest ever in the history
- Our freedom of expression has been troncated
- We are lied to by our government ( well, abit but not to the tune of Dubya)
- Our dollar is loosing ground against every currencies
- Our longtime allies are dispising us

Canada is really backwards.

PS: Rooster, you did your " most stupid post" of the day. Crawl back under your rock.

__________________
I know that Asspimple is stoopid ... As he says, it is a FACT !

But I can't figure out how he can breathe or type , at the same time ....

rooster

lol, thanks for the laugh to get my day going.

Oh no, the french, russians, and the ultra socialist govt of canada despises us, how can I live with this.

Paul Markham

When the Media is owned by a few major corperations don't expect freedom of expression.

How many of the newspapers and TV programs are asking "Where are the WMDs" that people died to prevent their use?

They either never existed, been spirited away to an even more unstable regime than Saddams or he was the worlds greatest magician and made them disappear.

Not one person has stepped forward to point the finger of where they are. How many millions would Bush give for theat info?

Rooster
We don't dispise you, we just don't let our leaders get away with what this US leader get's away with.

Think about it, Clinton was pilloried for getting a BJ and lying about it. Bush has sent men to die, has yet to show the world the evidence and is getting away with it.

__________________



Blowout deal. 880 videos, 2,400 image sets, plus many RAW videos. $500.
PM me for a deal. Skype Paulmarkham70

directfiesta

LOL. had seen it on Canal Plus site ( french tv), but always good to see again.

Dubya with the earphone on his forehead... lol...

The point I think of the article was the fact that Americans can no longuer express dissident views without being labelled as traitors, socialists, US-haters and so on.

Just on Jay Leno: Dennis Miller, spitting out his racist comments, applaused while Bill Mahler couldn't even say a single word on another occasion ( and it showed he felt very unconfortable).

Today, it is : With US or against US, Black or White, Right or Wrong ....

Wait till to get to you porn propagators....lol

__________________
I know that Asspimple is stoopid ... As he says, it is a FACT !

But I can't figure out how he can breathe or type , at the same time ....

theking

Name a period of time since the end of the 2nd World War that this has not been applicable.

Bill Mayler did say more than a single word and some sponsors did not like it so the dollar did his show in and since the media is all about money (including the "news media"). This is just a fact of life with the media.

As for the staged managed landing on the carrier...every time the President addresses the troops or the nation it is staged managed and always has been since the age of TV. The fact is the Commander in Chief has the right to address the troops under any backdrop of his choosing...and the troops love it. In general, the military like Republican administrations because they usually favor greater defense spending than Democrats do.

__________________
When you're running down my country hoss...you're walking on the fighting side of me!

FOR THE LYING LOWLIFE POSTING AS PATHFINDER...https://gfy.com/fucking-around-and-pr...athfinder.html

SpaceAce

Here's a little tidbit from the deep well of SpaceAce's wisdom:

There is no one easier to con than the person who is convinced that he can't be.


Edit: The grammar bothers me. Let me re-write that.

There is no one more easily conned than the person who is convinced he can't be.


SpaceAce

theking

The media is controlled by the bottom line dollar (free enterprise) and ones freedom of expression on the media goes as far as the bottom line.

Virtually all of them have, and do ask, from time to time. Just asked today on CNN's Sunday Morning talking head shows.

If I hid 1 ton of weaponized Antrax in the state of California or Texas how long do you think it would take you to find it, assuming that you could find it?

Wrong. There have been multiple occasions that Iraqi's have come foward but what they pointed their finger too, was not the smoking gun that the US is looking to find. We are less than 90 days into this. In three years come back and post that nothing has been found.

President Clinton engaged our military multiple times and people died as a result. Every President since the end of the 2nd World War has engaged our military and people died.

__________________
When you're running down my country hoss...you're walking on the fighting side of me!

FOR THE LYING LOWLIFE POSTING AS PATHFINDER...https://gfy.com/fucking-around-and-pr...athfinder.html

Paul Markham

I think Americans have to understand that as old more established countries we are more secure about ourselves and our country.

We do not equate questionong our leaders as being unpatriotic, in fact it is the absolute opposite most of the time. It keeps them on their feet and makes them KNOW the people are not to be taken for granted.

__________________



Blowout deal. 880 videos, 2,400 image sets, plus many RAW videos. $500.
PM me for a deal. Skype Paulmarkham70

Interlude

Anyone who believes that Bush isn't being challenged by the media is deluded, or just isn't watching the news. He's challenged regularly, it's just that the American people happen to like him... nothing is sticking.

Paul Markham

theking
Are you the same person who yesterday told us the US media, in the shape of Fox and CBS were to be trusted. And yet today you tell us that they are controlled. Not by elected representatives of the people but big business.

So what is it? A free Press, or a controlled one? You seem to want it both ways.

Also I did not say Clinton did not send men to war, so kindly do not twist my words.

I think your media should be asking a little louder than they are then.

Yes if you hid it I would have problems finding it. But that is not what we were lead to believe was the situation. Saddam did not personally hide it; he supposedly got lackeys to do it.

So informants are coming forward in the hope of finding something and getting the reward. Unfortunately again not what Bush led the world to believe?

Bush led us to believe that he KNEW they were there. Unfortunately what is now appearing, as the real truth is he THINKS they are there.

We not only have the right to question our own leaders motives, actions and supporters we also have the right to question Americas leaders in the same way.

Why?
American Presidents are regarded as leaders of the "Free World" and as such the rest of the world has a vest interest in the US Presidents motive, actions and supporters.

We don?t really care or know who is the leader of Portugal; a lot of us are doubtful of where the capital is. Bush however is a very different situation.

He tried to enlist the rest of the world to follow him into this war, without questioning him. When most said no, he went ahead and did it anyway. This gives us non-US citizens the right to question him.

With so much of the worlds economy inter related we also have the right to question him. The illegal rise and fall of companies like Enron and the President overseeing of the US economy also gives us the right to question him. How many non US pensioners were hurt by the fall of the stock market?

Questioning your leaders is healthy.

__________________



Blowout deal. 880 videos, 2,400 image sets, plus many RAW videos. $500.
PM me for a deal. Skype Paulmarkham70

theking

Your first statement is patronizing and ridiculous.

The majority of Americans question the decisions and statements of their leaders from city...county...state...to federal leaders. In fact the majority of Americans do not exercise their right to vote because they think that one politician is just as bad as the next...in the sense that it is believed that they all lie...have agendas other than serving the public etc. There is a major distrust of political leaders. There are thoes Americans that believe dissent...under certain circumstances...is unpatriotic...and even tantamount to treason...and I...in some circumstances tend to agree to this line of thought.

__________________
When you're running down my country hoss...you're walking on the fighting side of me!

FOR THE LYING LOWLIFE POSTING AS PATHFINDER...https://gfy.com/fucking-around-and-pr...athfinder.html

AlienQ - BANNED FOR LIFE

Bush is the fuckin moron of the century.
Not all American's buy this bullshit.

Media is being paid off big time from the administration we all know it, well I hope everyone does...

Dumb ass will prolly fuck the vote up again with another chad problem. THen the world is gonna be in some real deep shit.

__________________

xxxdesign-net

only 1 ton?

Couple of things here... maybe never talked about in the US media... but most experts are agreing that we would have found some WMDs if their arsenal was as big as Bush/Powell said it would.

2sd... Dont you find strange that Hussain, with all those WMDs never even use them to kill the American they hate so much?
But decided instead, to get kill, to let the Americans celebrate their glorious victory... while whishing, in heaven(or hell) to have the last laugh when the Americans will not be able to find any WMDs... which can take years... and it can also be fairly easy to fabricate proofs for WMDs... last time I've heard... there was 10 un inspectors for 1000 american ones...


btw, the article is spot on.
The Republicans have done a great job to control and manipulate the media and the population with Patriotism and fear...

Even dumb Joe Liberman fell for it... Never questioning Bush's actions, being a good patriot (campaigning for votes)...

And now, all of a sudden...he's now critizising Bush and want to see proof of WMDs!!

xxxdesign-net

How can you argue with guys like that!?

They are so out of it its scary!

Btw, a muslim guy also think that Bush is being challenge alot by the media!

Maybe you should travel a bit more

eroswebmaster

I saw them debating this staged appearance on many occassions on many talking head shows across the board.

From CNN to Fox, to MSNBC.

The thing is we all have blinders that we wear. And I stress ALL.

Because it's never more apparent than when these little political discussions occur on GFY.

You only see what you want to see and hear what you want to hear, and it's all subjective beginning with the point of view we want to prove.

Most people here debate in only black and white terms as if that's the way the world is, when the world sad to say is varying shades of grey.

Those who think that there is only two ways to deal with things in life and already have those answers in their heads will be challenged by life with that exact question.

__________________
For rent - ICQ 127-027-910
Click here for more details

Betray

Paul Markham

Are you smoking something and can I have some.

So what is it, a free press telling the truth or a media controlled by the dollar?

"The majority of Americans question the decisions and statements of their leaders from city...county...state...to federal leaders. In fact the majority of Americans do not exercise their right to vote because they think that one politician is just as bad as the next...in the sense that it is believed that they all lie"

They question, then don't bother to vote because they think they all lie. Why question someone you think is lying and then do nothing about it?

Bad enough to contradict yourself in 24 hours, but to lose it in the same sentence is really something.

__________________



Blowout deal. 880 videos, 2,400 image sets, plus many RAW videos. $500.
PM me for a deal. Skype Paulmarkham70

ServerGenius

I thought the US already knew where everything was. They had
sat images, documents, photos, recordings, etc, etc.

Perhaps their intelligence isn't as good as they claim it to be.
No Osama Bin Laden (yet)
No WMD's (yet)
No Saddam Hussein (yet)

I'm not stirring shit....but it does make you wonder doesn't it?

DynaMite

__________________
| http://www.sinnerscash.com/ | ICQ: 370820 | Skype: SinnersCash | AdultWhosWho |

theking

Post the quote where I said that the news media is to be trusted. I have posted multiple times that media reports are to be taken with a grain of salt...specifically initial reports. The Media has always been free enterprise and never has been controlled by elected representatives.

You implied it.

FAX the media outlets and give them your opinion. The publics opinion has weight with the media because it is all about ratings and dollars.

Iraq told us they had them in '91. When the inspectors left in '98 there was still X number of this and X number of that that had not been destroyed. 1441 demanded that Iraq prove that the remaining amount of WMD materials had in fact been destroyed. Iraq presented zero paper work they the remainder of WMD materials had been destroyed. Iraq failed to produce any physical evidence that the remainder of WMD materials had been destroyed. Iraq failed to produce any scientists or personell that would have been involved in the destruction of the remainder of WMD materials. So tell me...do you beleive that they destroyed the remainder of the WMD materials?

We not only have the right to question our own leaders motives, actions and supporters we also have the right to question Americas leaders in the same way.

See post above.

__________________
When you're running down my country hoss...you're walking on the fighting side of me!

FOR THE LYING LOWLIFE POSTING AS PATHFINDER...https://gfy.com/fucking-around-and-pr...athfinder.html

theking

They don't vote because to them one party is as bad as the next and the differences are not that great and they distrust all poiticians. Explain specifically what I lost in the same sentence.

__________________
When you're running down my country hoss...you're walking on the fighting side of me!

FOR THE LYING LOWLIFE POSTING AS PATHFINDER...https://gfy.com/fucking-around-and-pr...athfinder.html

theking

I do not use pot. As to the press...I will repeat the press in the USA is free enterprise. Sometimes they misquote...sometimes they exploit...sometimes they are caught fabricating (just happened recently with the NYT)...eventually they get it right. The News Media is now driven by the dollar and years gone by this was not the case. FOX News is more conservative than CNN and both have their core audience and sponsors.

__________________
When you're running down my country hoss...you're walking on the fighting side of me!

FOR THE LYING LOWLIFE POSTING AS PATHFINDER...https://gfy.com/fucking-around-and-pr...athfinder.html

Paul Markham

I may have to you, but to the rest of us I implied he got a blow job.

You implied that Fox and CBS (I think) could be trusted to tell the truth over the BBC regarding the alleged staged rescue. You then tell us the US media is controlled by the business and now you tellus it's free enterprise. Make your mind up.

Do you know I'm getting very bored arguing with you so.

I'm very sorry.

Bush was totally right to go and kill thousands of people on the evidence he had of WMDs.

Happy now?

__________________



Blowout deal. 880 videos, 2,400 image sets, plus many RAW videos. $500.
PM me for a deal. Skype Paulmarkham70

[Labret]

and they lied to me about shock and awe.

theking

You did not imply that "he got a blow job". You stated that he was "pilloried for getting a BJ and lying about it". He was pilloried for lying about it and that is a fact. The implication of your next sentence is that Bill Clinton did not send men to die.


Post the quote where you think I implied that I believe Fox and CBS "could be trusted to tell the truth over the BBC regarding the alleged staged rescue". I do not think that you can.

Business and free enterprise are one and the same.

__________________
When you're running down my country hoss...you're walking on the fighting side of me!

FOR THE LYING LOWLIFE POSTING AS PATHFINDER...https://gfy.com/fucking-around-and-pr...athfinder.html

Paul Markham

Does any one else see where I implied it or just this moron?

OK again you win I did imply it. BJ = people getting killed, well sperm people.

__________________



Blowout deal. 880 videos, 2,400 image sets, plus many RAW videos. $500.
PM me for a deal. Skype Paulmarkham70

theking

Anyone that has an average IQ and keeps up with world events know that "WMD's" was only one of a multitude of reasons for the US invasion of Iraq. It is fucking juvenile to keep repeating the President said this or the President said that. Presidents do not tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, for a multitude of reasons and that applies to every President in my lifetime and also applies to the leaders of every country on this earth.

Future Presidents will continue to do, as all Presidents have done in the past, and that is they will do whatever they choose to do as long as they have the backing of Congress, the Courts, and the people...the rest of the world be damned. Get the fuck over it.

__________________
When you're running down my country hoss...you're walking on the fighting side of me!

FOR THE LYING LOWLIFE POSTING AS PATHFINDER...https://gfy.com/fucking-around-and-pr...athfinder.html

theking

Even if you were not in "shock and awe" (we basically only saw a small portion of the "shock and awe" from cameras in Baghdad) the Iraqi military forces were, as overall there was only small pockets of "light" resistence and zero major battles (Division size or even Regiment size).

__________________
When you're running down my country hoss...you're walking on the fighting side of me!

FOR THE LYING LOWLIFE POSTING AS PATHFINDER...https://gfy.com/fucking-around-and-pr...athfinder.html

markell

bla bla bla bla > us owns u all

__________________
blah blah fucking blah